<p>Hi everyone. I'm having trouble cut down my list as I'm unsure of what my safeties, reaches etc would be (if you take into account my financial need)
Please advise! I will appreciate any posts:)</p>
<p>Application for Fall 2009
SAT1: CR: 700 M: 640 W: 600
SAT2: Still to take: Biology M and Math1 (and possibly Literature too but Im not sure if I need it)
Nationality: South African citizen and Canadian Permanent Resident (I currently live in SA)
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: White
Grade: 12th grade
Class rank: 1 / 159
Overall percentage (we dont have GPA): 88%
School subjects: English, Biology, Math, Drama, History, 2nd language (isiZulu)
I am currently top of my class in Biology, English, History and Drama and am close to the top in Math and isiZulu.</p>
<p>Extra-curricular/Community involvement:
Member of youth group worship team (2004 2006)
Founder of on-going Students Christian Association (2005/06)
HIV/ AIDS Awareness Campaign Planner (2005/06)
Senior Mentor (2006)
Sunday School teacher (2004/ 2007)
Vice-President of Representative Council of Learners similar to students activity council (2007)
Free-lance journalist for community newspaper
International Peace Camp delegate (one of 50 international students to attend)
AIDS Centre, TB Clinic and hospital volunteer (2007/08)
Head Prefect in charge of basically running all student and discipline affairs in school (2008)
School sports: Volleyball, Cheerleading, Model United Nations debating, School plays, Waterpolo and choir</p>
<p>FINANCES: I am an only child from a single parent family. My mother can afford to spend about $3000 a year on university fees (not much I know!)
Major in Neuroscience or Biology (with a concentration in genetics or immunology depending on the university) and a minor in Global Health Studies or similar. </p>
<p>Which of these would you recommend?
Lafayette College
Berea College
Macalester College (Maybe target?)
Capital College
Grinell College
Bucknell University
Colby College
Connecticut College
Franklin and Marshall College
Hamilton College
Kenyon College
Oberlin College
University of Chicago
Smith College
Mount Holyoke
Wesleyan University
Cornell University
Williams University
Brandeis University
Vassar College
Colgate University
Wellesley College
Lehigh University
Middlebury College</p>
<p>You have a good shot at Macalester...i know people w/ similar test scores and worse ECs that got in....w/ your scores, Cornell and UChicago are not likely to accept you...it seems like you really like lacs and they often times are better w/ finaid b/c there are less students asking for money...</p>
<p>Smith is a national center for parasitical genetics research and genomics, and a very substantial number of students receive STRIDE scholarships - paid research assistantships in the first two years, often resulting in publication The</a> Department of Biological Sciences | Smith College There are also $3,700 summer research fellowships.</p>
<p>The only bad thing about Macalester is that they're stingy with financial aid. If money is an issue, I wouldn't recommend Mac.</p>
<p>Your best bets would be: Mount Holyoke, Brandeis, Smith, Connecticut College, Franklin and Marshall, and Berea (the free tuition there = amazing). These are safe matches and will likely give you decent money. </p>
<p>The others might be too reach-y. It's hard to say.</p>
<p>mvogel, I think you have to strategize here a bit: What colleges/universities would be interested in attracting a high achieving, low income White South African? The answer would probably be a qualified "all" but (again, this is pure speculation) I would think that your chance of landing financial aid would be greater at LACs, which use internationals to bring cultural diversity to the campus mix.</p>
<p>Basically, there's not a lot of money out there for internationals, especially if they are White. Many of the colleges on your list do offer need based aid to internationals, but the catch is that they don't admit too many. Merit aid for internationals is also hard to come by. You should learn the difference and do some research on the spending habits of the various aid offices.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry too much about your SAT scores. They won't keep you out or get you in. I would concentrate on your essays, your recommendations and your resume. You have a lot of diverse interests so you'll need to focus your application on those activities that are the most important to you. Your essays and recommendations should reinforce and amplify your areas of interest.</p>
<p>You've cover quite a range of ambience/character in your list. If your criteria are good science and good finance for internationals, then it's hard to eliminate. Most have the former, and few have the latter. You could, however, narrow down the list by focusing on other characteristics like location (urban/rural/suburban), politics (very liberal/less liberal/moderate), sporty/nerdy etc. Not sure if you'll be able to visit so you really should spend some time on understanding FIT.</p>
<p>I would definitely keep the following on your list: Smith, Hamilton, Grinnell, Kenyon, Macalester, Williams, Wesleyan.
I would also add Amherst.</p>
<p>you think I'd have a shot at Amherst? and Williams and Wesleyan? I'm honoured - my mum thinks they are crazy reaches so its nice to know I have some fans lol :)
Thank you so much for these posts they definately give a lot of direction:) </p>
<p>I wasn't aware that being white is a possible disadvantage - should I indicate what race I am then on my forms? "South Africa" gives the African feel but then my english name may make it obvious.... I'm hoping to do well on my SAT2s to kind of make up for my lack of math in SAT1. </p>
<p>Oh and what are "LACs"? Sorry <em>blush</em></p>
<p>mv, Williams and Amherst are reaches for everyone. Wesleyan only slightly less so. The point is that if you need money you have to go where the money is!</p>
<p>Colleges, especially small ones [LAC=Small liberal arts college] use international admits to increase diversity, not just racial but also cultural, religious, economic. In short, they're looking for students who will bring a different outlook to the campus community. </p>
<p>I wouldn't worry so much about your SATs, I or II. Just take them and forget about them. If a selective college wants you it will be because of your life experience (and of course ability to do the work) NOT because of your SAT scores. </p>
<p>I wouldn't try to disguise your race on the application. It sounds like you have a story to tell: get it out there.</p>
<p>Focus your energy on researching which colleges are spending money on kids like you and crafting a strong application that will convince the admissions committee that you have a lot to contribute. My guess is you could be very successful on the latter part at quite a few colleges/universities. The money part is more difficult to predict; YOU have to do the homework.</p>
<p>Speaking of scores, depending on what you will have covered in math, you might want to consider taking the Math IIC instead of Math I. The curve is better.</p>