<p>I'm a German "high-school" student (I'm 18 and have still 2 years to go :D), but I would like to study in the US, especially in one of the Ivy League colleges ;)
My question now: do I have a chance to get into one of these (and I need a full scholarship from the college, because my government doesn't really support students going abroad outside of the EU) although I'm German?
I heard that the admission offices think that Europeans are too rich for scholarships (well...yes I do have more money than someone from the Indian slums, but I still won't be able to afford a $50 000 tution per semester!), is that true?</p>
<p>I really need your feedback, because if you tell me that I have not a chance....then I will save my 70 bucks per college for the applications :D </p>
<p>Thanks a lot!
Tania</p>
<p>PS: I always wonder about the "poor" kids from developing countries: from where do they get their education which is then good enough for HYPS ;) ?
PPS: no offense meant...I'm just frustrated :D</p>
<p>One of the least attractive impulses people have is to look at people who have far less than they do and start insinuating one’s own greater level of entitlement.</p>
<p>To be frustrated because you think someone else might not hand you a free education at a luxury college in another country is to have a skewed view of reality.</p>
<p>You may as well be frustrated at Lamborghini for not giving you a new car. You can feel as frustrated as you want to about that.</p>
<p>The reason Ivy and Ivy-peer colleges seek out students from developing parts of the world is because those students bring an element to their campus that makes the school more global, more diverse, it affords the domestic students the opportunity to personally engage with people and cultures they would likely never have the opportunity to do. It makes the college experience deeper and richer. And students who excel in circumstances of great hardship are very, very special people.</p>
<p>You just need to remember the decision to support international students is because they fulfill something the college wants. It isn’t based on what you want or feel entitlted to.</p>
<p>That said, European students to come to the US to study. Some go to Ivy league schools, some go to other schools.</p>
<p>The amount of scholarship aid available to students who are fortunate enough to be accepted at Ivy schools is completely determined by their financial circumstances. (The college determines the level of financial need, not the student or the family.) However most schools are not need-blind in admissions for internationals, so the fact that you need a tremendous amount of financial aid would likely make acceptance more difficult at most colleges. (A few are need-blind for internationals.)</p>
<p>The biggest obstacle is even getting accepted. If you can swing that, then you can address the affordability. If you have extraordinarily high academic stats and outstanding extra-curricular pursuits and/or are a singular person in some noteworthy way, then I wouldn’t think it a waste of $70 to apply. If those things don’t describe you, it would be money ill-spent.</p>
<p>Your best source for information about which colleges/universities admit students like you from your country, and whether or not those students receive sufficient financial aid, is the advising center of EducationUSA that is closest to you. Read everything (and I do indeed mean everything) at [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov/) Then make an appointment with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. There are several in Germany [EducationUSA</a> - Find an Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/Germany]EducationUSA”>Germany | EducationUSA)</p>
<p>Ivy league schools give only need based aid. That’s it. NO merit scholarships at all. Most do meet the need of international students to some degree at least. You would need to check the policies of each school regarding need based aid. If your family qualifies for need based aid, the Ivies do have generous need based financial aid…however their generosity for international students may not be the same as for U.S. students…at some Ivies it is…At others, I don’t think it is…you would need to check.</p>
<p>BUT the first hurdle is to get accepted. 90% or so of those who apply to the Ivy League schools do NOT get accepted. Their fabulous financial aid incentives do you no good unless you are accepted first.</p>
<p>You are blessed to be in Germany. As I understand it, you can get an excellent university education for free. Thousands of American kids would love to be in your shoes. </p>
<p>The Ivy League is kinda our academic Olympics (MIT, Stanford, CalTech and our service academies are of a similar level). Why would they want you? Well, if you have something remarkable to bring to campus, then they would want you. If you are 18 and have written a best selling novel, or an original symphony or are an accomplished actor (Emma Watson is attending Brown this year), then there is interest. If you are a world class athlete or heir to a very large fortune, then there is interest. </p>
<p>But if you are one more bright, nice kid . . . then shouldn’t that spot go to a bright, nice American?</p>
<p>All is not lost. Instead of a four year degree, it may be possible to do a semester or a summer at a quality school here (Keep in mind that the US has some 4,000 colleges and only 8 are the “Ivy League” – lots and lots of other quality choices to be had). </p>
<p>If I were in your shoes, I think I would carefully research each of the 8 Ivies and target the one or two who had strong German programs. Does one have a German house on campus where students speak German constantly? That is where you might be most welcome and have a specific thing to offer that could be valued. </p>