<p>One of our students is interested in studying in the states but her family has no funds. Her father died when she was 11 (I was there when she was first dealing with this tragedy) and her mother has used up all her available funds to send her to an American International School. She is a junior in our IB full diploma program and is averaging 5s and 6s in her subjects. She is organized, motivated, responsible, and wise beyond her years. She is multi-lingual, her English is good. She hasn't taken her SATs yet. Her gpa is 3.6. She is ranked 4. She works part-time modelling. She plays tennis. I found the thread on international scholarships that Caroline posted including such schools as Carleton, Drexel, University of Miami, Washington U, Vanderbilt, Brandeis, Illinois Wesleyan, Boston U, Susquehanna U, Hollins, Clark, Lawrence and Wooster. She has family in California and Texas. Any other suggestions.</p>
<p>Overseas, I would recommend getting a good comprehensive guide to colleges for international students. Peruse Amazon for some ideas. Applying as an international without money is a difficult undertaking. A list of colleges that give merit and financial aid to internationals is vital. There are many schools that give zero financial aid to internationals and limit merit aid severely. Her SATs are going to be imperative in her desirability--more so than US student and foreign students who do not need money. Because she cannot even get a student visa without an accounting of how she is going to meet her expenses, she will need to restrict herself to those schools that offer complete packages. She should target schools where her test scores put her in the very top of the stack, schools that give full scholarships to internationals.</p>
<p>Thanks for responding, I did some searching around today and have made a list of some that do have full financial aid packages: Grinnell, Smith, Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Kenyon, Macalester. I know that Lawrence and Wooster help out 1/2 way. Bard is a possiblility depending on what she has to offer them. She is an excellent science student. I told her today what you have also stated, her SATs are real, real important. I will look around for a guidebook on Amazon. I have been so focused on my own son's quest as an overseas American and now will shift gears to try and help out someone else. It is definitely harder for her as an international than it was for my son.</p>
<p>Definitely, try Ohio Wesleyan University. They love internationals there (read: they give out a lot of merit aid) and the new president has said that he'd try to lower the merit aid for domestic applicants but increase it for the ones who need it more (minority applicants and international students).</p>
<p>Thanks, it looks good in several departments and good financial aid as well as a large international population.</p>
<p>I have no idea if it's the right school for her, but Swarthmore gives need-based financial aid to 53% of their international students. </p>
<p>The average aid package for the international recepients is $35,500 per year. So, they spend a pretty hefty sum on financial aid for internationals, including a lot of free-ride deals to get to that average.</p>
<p>Swarthmore is on her initial list for that reason. She is a "with it" kid who has basically raised herself and worked jobs to make ends meet. Very bright.</p>
<p>Overseas:</p>
<p>She sounds like a strong applicant. Ironically, she may end up getting the best deal at the "elite" colleges. I think I would recommend working with her on an "informational request" e-mail containing basically what you posted and use that inquiry about finanical aid policies as an introduction to the international adcom, say sometime during the summer before she would apply. Then, I'd try to keep the communication going. I think a case like hers is going to have the best chance if she can develop a "champion" in the admissions office. That's how I would attack it at a place like Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Swat had a couple of interesting students this year. I believe they were from a university in Belarus, spending a semester abroad in the U.S. (not at Swarthmore). While they were studying in the U.S., their university back home closed its doors! They were left high and dry. The State Department worked out a deal to place them at Swarthmore, along with some partial funding. Interesting situation. I have no idea how they ended up doing.</p>
<p>Colorado College gives two full scholarships to international students every year, but the competition is fierce. Last year there were 240 "qualified" applicants, but only 2 got the award.</p>
<p>I wish I knew more, but as I say about myself, "я не знаю ничего об ничегом." (My spelling is probably waaay off, but it's been many many years...)</p>
<p>Thanks. Interesting information. I will convey it. She is the type of kid who is working on the Duke of Edinburgh Award. When all the students go hiking for the weekend, she may have to leave a day early so she can work. Employer won't give her a break. That said, she is not a whiner, pretty level-headed and sees things as they are for a 17 year old.</p>