Please chance this international student...

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hi, thanks for taking the time to chance me…. I’m an international student looking to apply for college in the US.

Intended Major: Astronomy/Physics, Computer Science, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Gender: Male

Race: South-east Asian

UW GPA: 91 on a 100 scale/ 3.64

W GPA: I don’t know, the school doesn’t provide.

SAT : 1360 (M:770 EBRW:590)
I know this is a bad score especially the EBRW, so I’m gonna take the ACT and see if I can get a better score. (Not retaking the SAT because of the schedule not compatible with mine)
Indonesian IPA (science) 2013 curriculum

Extracurriculars:
-Debate Club: Helped get the debate club back on its feet because for the past few years it’s been inactive. (12 hours/week, 30 weeks/year) 10-11 grade.
-Student Council: Head of the English section, organized various English related and non-related activities. 10-12 grade.
-Astronomy Club: Group studies for the national science Olympiad, taught juniors, organized informal night time observations.(12 hours/week, 30 weeks/year) 11-12 grade.
-Event Committees: organized various fully student run events, I founded a new English themed event.

Awards:
-Selected to be on the national team for the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2018. (The competition is in early November this year)
-Bronze Medalist for the National Astronomy Olympiad (National)
-Finalist in the Asian English Olympics 2016 Novice Debate (international)
-1st place regional for the national debate competition 2017 (state)
-2nd place regional for the national debate competition 2016 (state)

Recs:
I’m willing to say that both my teachers are going to give great recs, but they’re pretty inexperienced in writing recs and writing in English. My principal is going to give a pretty good one, we’re pretty close. For the counselor I’m using one of my English teachers since we’re close and the school doesn’t have a guidance counselor I’m also getting one from one of the lecturers who selected the national team for IOAA.

ESSAY:
They’re still work in progress but I’m pretty optimistic about my essays. I haven’t reviewed them with anyone though.

EXTRA INFO:
I’ve lived in America before for 1.5 years, Australia for 3.5 years. Both were on my dad’s scholarship. My family also can’t afford to pay the tuition fees so I’m looking to apply for need-based FA or full-ride scholarships.

COLLEGES:
-Amherst College (ED) (FA) (NEED BLIND)
-Vassar College (ED II) (FA) (NEED AWARE)
-Bates College (RD) (FA) (NEED AWARE)
-Washington University St.L (RD) (FA) (NEED AWARE)
-Case Western (RD) (SCHOLARSHIP)
-Carleton College (RD) (scholarship based FA)
-Denison University (RD) (FA) (NEED AWARE)

Sorry if there’s any mistakes in my English and thank you for being honest. I know some of these schools are extremely selective and high reach and my numbers aren’t great either. If anyone read my previous post sorry about that, I’m doing all this just based on the information on the net.

2

Read the Featured Threads at the top of the International Students boards. They will give you a lot of helpful information. Things change, so you will have to research each college you want to apply to.

A full scholarship at Denison or Case Western (who don’t meet full financial need) is going to be unlikely - they are very rare even for American students. Asian males are overrepresented in all of those majors, so while your ECs and awards are great, your GPA and test scores are on the low side. You’ll want an ACT of >32 to improve your chances at Amherst and Vassar.

3

Do you have any majors that you could recommend based on my current choice of majors? @Groundwork2022

4

I can’t choose your major for you. From your list, however, while they are all really great schools, the two or three I think have better known computer science and engineering programs are also the 2-3 less likely to give you a full scholarship (either they don’t meet full need or the school’s website indicates only one full ride - tuition AND room/board - scholarship is available). Although in CS your talents and skills matter more than where you went to college, at least in the US.

5

From your comment I realized a few more things for my application, thanks for your advice on my choice majors.

6

@Groundwork2022, are you confident that “skill trumps degree” would apply in this particular context?

There’s only so many companies that sponsor work visas for entry-level jobs, and they seem to recruit mostly (or exclusively) from selective universities.

7

For an American citizen, yes, skills in CS will trump degree. Internships and work experience will go far in helping get a job. In the context of an international student, maybe not. Work visas are limited and valuable, so companies can be choosy. Although after a couple years of work experience, degree will matter less and less, and skills more, even for an international student. Note that companies don’t just recruit from American universities, but many recruit people from overseas with skills, but no American diploma.