<p>IB Diploma: 37/42 Econ HL, Bio HL, History HL, French SL, English, SL, Math SL
Honors or High Honors for every marking period since the start of High school.
Won the prize for best GPA in G10.
ACT: 31 (x2)
TOEFL: 115/120
SAT II: French 800, Bio M 680
No class rank</p>
<p>International student from Switzerland.
Private International School with around 1000 high school students.
Competitive tennis at regional level. (12 years)
Competitive badminton at varsity level (10 years)
Many other physical activities (skiing for 13 years, hiking, ice hockey).
NHS President in G12 and NHS Spokesperson in G11.
Got selected to represent my school at biggest Model United Nations conference in the world in G11 and G12 (also got academic credit for this).
Speak 5 languages fluently (English, French, Danish, Hungarian) and am learning 2 (German, Chinese)
Lots of Volunteer work (salvation army, other charities, economics tutoring)
I'm pretty sure my teacher recs are excellent and that my essay are good too. I focus a lot on my international background and my experiences with diabetes in them (I have had the disease since I was 7). </p>
<p>I'm considering applying ED2 to increase my chances, but not sure yet. What do you think?
Also, do you think that being international would help me get admitted? I was thinking that maybe the college would be trying to increase diversity as they only have 7% international students...
I would really appreciate your opinions, thank you :)</p>
<p>BubiNuni, Hustle and apply ED2, but only if you can afford your estimated cost of attendance. Your ACT is low but it seems to me that it is offset by your TOEFLS and language skills. Please supplement with a serious essay for the Chancellor’s scholarship. Not a fluffy recitation of your activities but a serious essay. </p>
<p>In the Southeast, I think you should also consider the University of Virginia, although many Virginia instate students have ties to Washington DC families in government related industries and offices, so your international status may not be as unusual there. </p>
<p>In order for your application to be taken seriously, you should project what aspects of a university’s vast resources would likely be accessed and used by you. You should make some prediction on where on campus you would be active. </p>
<p>I am friends with a college senior who manages diabetes, and know that it is a serious matter that requires a great deal of maturity early in life. Vanderbilt has a very good Children’s hospital on campus and there are always newly diagnosed young people who need mentors. </p>
<p>Two good liberal arts colleges come to mind in the South east that allow you to self schedule final exams which is a very helpful perk for someone with a chronic illness to manage: Davidson and Washington and Lee. Both of these colleges are increasingly selective so your ACT is an issue but your overall application might win the day. Both colleges meet financial need without loans, so consider the LACs as well.</p>
<p>Vandy is a reach for everyone now.<br>
Are international students a hook? JP Morgan said people do things for two reasons: one that sounds good and the real one. The growth of international students in US universities for “diversity” sounds good but the real reason is to expand the search for well funded students. Universities that need more well funded students tend to look abroad and tend to offer little financial aid to international students. Some U’s have a “surcharge” for international students. So make sure you can cover your expected COA. Talk to each U you plan to apply to and see how financial aid works for IS.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answers!
I am not applying for financial aid, do you think that this would be a significant advantage for colleges such as Vanderbilt where international admission is not need blind? </p>
<p>Yes. My admissions counsellor, when visiting my high school, told me straight away that financial aid for international students is limited and that applying for it reduces your chances of admission, unless they REALLY want you! </p>
<p>Unfortunately, financial aid does play a part in your admissions decisions and not applying for it will increase your chances. Of course, you have to be a qualified applicant to get in, but not asking for aid does help you. I still applied for aid as I couldn’t afford Vanderbilt without it. I got 0 need based aid, but the CV scholarship was more than enough to enable me to attend Vandy,</p>