Hey, I am from India and I applied to a few competitive and semi-competitive schools. Got rejected from most, except from some colleges that want me to pay $30K a year- even after scholarship.
I am unsure what to do… this is a moment of heavy distress for me and I am wondering if I should enroll in a college here and try to transfer maybe next year.
Stats:
SAT - 1900
10th - 7.8
11th - 80%
12th - 80%
Branch : CS
ECs: Well above average.
I can pay upto $20K a year (after taking an education loan)
What are my opinions ?
If I decide to enroll in college in India :
Will I have to take SAT again ? And will I have to see my school principal again to get all the counselor stuff done on CommonApp ?
Will the chances be better ? I am ready to work hard in college.
If I complete 2 years in college here, will my transfer be considered as in for my 3rd year or is there some other governing factor ?
Getting in as a transfer is extremely hard for international students. Only the top 6 need-blind schools provide substantial aid, and getting admitted is close to impossible. (for transfers).
Maybe taking a gap year, and improving your SAT score to high 2200-2300 can improve your chances for a merit scholarship.
I am pretty sure colleges will not accept new SAT scores after you start college. They are intended for HS students, but taking one during a gap year is okay.
As a transfer you will likely be a full payer. There are hardly any colleges that will give money to int’l transfers. US students are pretty much in the same boat. I knew one student who did go to Brown with aid after studying in his country but I don’t know that any classes transferred. I think he started as a freshman. An unusual situation. I really don’t know that schools accept credits from overseas, not sure how that works.
The problem is that I have already taken a gap year
I can’t get my SAT score anymore high, it is just not the test I could handle. I’ve read about 10 SAT books and even more tips/tricks book, 3000 vocab yet 1900 is what I got. I asked if I would have to retake mainly because I have hopes with Redesigned SAT (it is more practical and majorly no reductions for wrong choice).
As I said I can pay 20k, I know that’s not a lot but hey it’s better than most of Indians asking for 100% aid.
Also I think taking a second gap year would be disastrous.
You could have tried the ACT then. SAT vocab. is not all about the no. of words you learn.
I don’t think you ought to take a 2nd gap year. I would suggest you look at pursuing undergrad in India, and saving that money for postgrad abroad
What if I try to transfer from american college to Stanford ? I got accepted in kind of religious ( ? ) private college with enough financial aid. It is a mid-tier school, nothing ‘fancy’, as in prestigious, I must say though.
Now I know that prestigious schools shouldn’t be obsessed like this especially from someone with my grades and SAT but I would like you all to consider a the fact that Stanford was the only ‘prestigious’ college I applied to. And I really want to attend Stanford (said a million people. a million times).
I’ll do everything in my hand and beyond to be the best kid in the school I got in >.>
33 transfer applicants got in out of 1764. That’s an acceptance rate of 1.7%.
You are an international requesting aid. During the last couple of years, only Karthik Sawhney ( visually impaired, but amazing achievements), and Akshat Bubna (IOI Medal, and other accomplishments) got in to Stanford with aid. (Indians)
This was when they applied as freshmen. Stanford openly states that getting in as a transfer is even harder. They also consider your high school transcript, and your testing scores.
I just stated the facts. I don’t have any intention of dissuading you. But please consider all this before applying.
I see… Well, I have an RD application on Stanford as of now awaiting decision on April 1. Of course, I am not hoping anything out of it. I guess I should just push the Stanford dream to Graduate study ? What do you say will that be considerably easier ?
Also a general advice if you may answer: Is taking a loan of around 20k - 25k for four years (80k) worth it ? For undergrad study at some mid-tier american college ? Of course, as I am now I would say it’s worth even 30K for Stanford but strictly if I were to put that amount of debt on myself for non-ivy college would it be very unwise act ?
Oh and just another general question @hezekiel where did you get accepted ?
@hezekiel Mentioned in the OP. But I’ll try not be a rude say it again, it’s CS.
@LizzieElizabeth C-Community College ? Is that even a thing for internationals ? Especially from India ?
Also first thing that comes in mind is where the hell will I stay ?
WAIT! This reminds me, why do colleges estimate off-campus housing around 13K ? It has to be cheaper than that… right ?
While community colleges are a good option for Americans seeking to reduce college costs, I don’t think they are a good avenue for the OP. Many students who choose to go to a CC for two years and then transfer to a full 4 years university are transferring into not very selective 4 year colleges. I cannot imagine Stanford or any Ivy or any highly selective school accepting a transfer from a community college…unless the student cured cancer during that time or something.
You MUST get off the “Stanford is the only school for me” bus. The best advice when applying to schools in the US is to apply to a few reach schools, a few match schools and a few safety schools. The idea being that most likely you would get no financial aid at all at the reach schools but would get significant aid at the safety schools. The point is, Stanford is not guaranteed for ANYONE and if you have your heart set on it…chances are you will be disappointed.
If you did get into a good school that has your major…that is great! Now, the hard part. Is it worth $80,000 in debt. I have to tell you more and more Americans are saying no to college debt. Kids are going to their safety schools where they got more aid. One kid got into ALL 8 Ivies and Stanford…and he chose to go to U of Alabama - because they gave him a full ride!
I wish you all the best, I really do. Perhaps you need to rethink your strategy. If you need financial aid (and you qualify for financial aid) you need to look at schools who will give you money. These may be less name recognized schools but I think what non-Americans don’t realize is that even way down deep on the ranking of schools you are still finding schools that will give an excellent education.
Here in Virginia, our CC has guaranteed transfer programs with the major state universities (UVA, George Mason, etc.). A kid can attend the Northern VA CC for two years with guaranteed admission to UVA for the last two years.
You really don’t have the stats for Stanford, even if you were US not needing aid. I’m sorry. So I would let that go for now and do what is reasonably likely for you.
Don’t underestimate the cost of housing. Many college towns are very high rent as well. I realize it seems like a lot, but those figures also include food.
