Safety and Match opinions ?

College Search & Selection
1

I would need some suggestions for some matches and safeties knowing that I am an international student who needs financial aid (I can pay 5000$ per year)

Here are my stats

General + exams

White Male (from Romania) , income <22k / year
Intended Major : Geophysics or Astrophysics or Planetary Science (even physics or geology would work … )
GPA ; High school doesn’t have , but I got 9.5/10 as average for 9th,10th and 11th years .
School doesn’t rank , but I’m in the first 5 or 6 from 59 (it is a small but selective high school)
SAT : 1450 (will retake it in december) with 800 on math and 650 on ebrw , and 6/6/6 at essay
SAT II’s : Math II (800) , Physics (800)
No ap’s or honor classes since we do not have such things , but did 2 years of Calculus and physics at level similiar to that of AP pysics 1 and 2
Toefl ibt : 111 /120 (30 Reading , 28 Listening , 24 Speaking , 29 Writing )
My class is very competitive . I have class mates who participate at national olympics at physics , mathematics , literature , and religion .

EC’s :

Not too much volunteering . I have just helped at the construction of a church , a park , and helped at an eldery asylum .
I did swimming for about 2 years , not for competitions .
Participated in two internships in Netherlands .
National olympic at gegraphy for 3 years in a row (hoping for the fourth) . This year I got on the second place . In 2016 and 2017 I have qualifid for the eliminatory phases for the international geography olympiad .
This year I have been admitted in an excellente group for mathematics where I do undergrad level mathematics (diff. equations , multivariable calculus , advanced linear algebra , group and sets theory etc…).
I was in the curch’s orchestra (mandolin) for 2 years (I quit because I wanted more time for learning).

There are not many opportunities for clubs in my city . I was called by an astronomy club and an athletics club but I do not have enough time for them since I am learning 6-8 hours daily at physics , mathematics , georaphy and geophysics at college level (from books like those of Apostol , Irodov , Feynman etc).

Thanks in advance !

2

With a budget of $5000 you have no safety schools in the US and will have difficulty finding any Match schools also.

Look to your own country for safety schools. What about schools in Germany, UK or Canada? They might be more affordable than any schools in the US.

Here is a link that might help, but since you are an International applicant, you would need to check with each school if you would qualify.

http://www.thecollegesolution.com/list-of-colleges-that-meet-100-of-financial-need/

3

Another link that may help: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/2006094-2017-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p1.html

4

Thanks , right now all my universities are on the list you gave me .
I am also granted a place for geophysics at the best universities in my country because I got silver at the geography olypiad at nationals ,but I thought about applying in US because even the best university in my country barely makes it in the top 800 world wide .

5

Take note, however, that some of the best undergraduate colleges in the U.S. may also not appear in a World university ranking.

6

For strength in geosciences, look into Hamilton, Colgate, Colorado College, Washington & Lee, Denison, College of Wooster and Beloit. You can then cross-reference by other factors such as strength in physics. In terms of admission and receiving a financial offer, your SAT II scores in particular should earn you serious consideration at most of these schools.