If you need financial aid, remove the UCs (they don’t offer any).
Apply to Appalachian State Wilson, U Miami of Ohio, UMN Twin Cities (+ honors college), by November 1.
Among the meet need colleges: Colby, Bates, Williams, Amherst.
If you’re a girl apply to the women’s colleges.
The reality is that as an international student needing a lot of financial aid, your chances are going to be very very low. It is OK to apply, but make sure that you have a backup plan. At a lot of the schools you are likely competing for one spot among students that need a lot of financial aid from your country ( or group of countries). For example, Harvard admits about 5 students a year from India. Maybe 1 of them requires financial aid.
For strong physics programs at well-funded colleges that would take a very close look at your application, research Haverford, Swarthmore, Wesleyan, Hamilton, Williams, Colgate, Harvey Mudd, Reed, Carleton, Grinnell.
@Eyeore123 is absolutely correct.
If you need financial aid, you are stuck. UC’s are out; you’re not a resident and aren’t eligible for any financial aid as a non-resident.
Caltech is out for a couple of reasons-
1). you are from India and will be competing against the thousands of your peer/countrymen who will be applying to Caltech.
2). your limited funding of $3k will be used to pay for required medical insurance fees that are not covered by financial aid.
3). Travel to Pasadena and living expenses for that area would severely impact you. It is California. It is in expensive Pasadena real estate.
4.) They only take about 200 students per year-world-wide. Most of them are domestic students.
There have been other viable suggestions made for other schools by @MYOS1634 and @Merc81. Take advantage of those suggestions.
Congrats on all your hard work and success in high school!!
Yes to all of Merc81’s suggestions, especially Grinnell. Add Mt. Holyoke, Smith, and Wellesley if you are female.
Be sure to sign up for emails from all the colleges you apply to, follow them on social media, and participate in any skype sessions they offer. You can also request a skype interview. Small liberal arts colleges want to know that you are truly interested in attending and will keep track of your interactions with the college. Students who demonstrate interest have an advantage.
If there is one college that you really like I encourage you to apply Early Decision to give you best chance for admission. This means if you are accepted you are committed to attend. But you should only do this for colleges that meet 100% of need based aid for international students.
Alright, are there any alternatives to financial aid like merit scholarships?
Is it worth taking a loan?
What are my chances if I take a loan and do not apply for financial aid?
For your question regarding loans to be meaningful, I think you would need to tell us how you anticipate being able to borrow over 60 thousand dollars per year.
In case there’s some uncertainty, several colleges mentioned on this thread, such as Carleton et al, can easily be regarded as tier 1 schools. The key would be getting in.
Thank you. Sorry for so much pestering, but can you tell me what are my chances at Carleton et al? See a poor kid needs some admission security coz dad cant take risks. And how much costs will i still have to incur?
By actual numbers, Colgate, for example, posts that it recently accepted 7% of its international applicants. Your own chances under this and similar scenarios would depend on the degree to which you could demonstrate strength in your application. On the bright side, if you do get in, your financial need may be met.
