<p>I'm a prospective freshman from mainland China who wants attend a top prep school in the States with full aid(desired term of entry: fall 2011).
Since the school I'm currently attending sends 5% of its seniors to top 20 US universities/LACs, I will ONLY apply to highly selective ones.
Due to my financial status(actually because of the currency. My parents get relatively decent salaries here), my chances will be pretty low.
School list: SPS, Deerfield, Andover, Groton, Milton + a girl school. </p>
<p>Should I apply?</p>
<p>Pros:
Increases my chances when applying US colleges;
Improves my english;
Makes me more mature;
The BEST choice for a girl who dreams to be a translator who introduce books to 1.5billion people;
Giving me the chance to meet a more diverse group of people</p>
<p>Cons:
Chances are tooooooo low(like 1 in 200?);
Distracts me from my entrance exam(there're 3 years of middle school here, we take the one and only test in june 2010);
Cost too much(if I fail to get in with aid, the cost of app and the cost of attendace will be like ....) but I won't go if they offer 30,000- aid. </p>
<p>My stats:
I'll take toefl and ssat in July and November. Estimated scores are: TOEFL 110+, SSAT 2250+
I'll emphansize on my interest in translation and drama/theater. I helped to translate the Chinese copy of an american short stories collection and have translated 40+ videos on ted.com. I'm the director of my school's prize-winning drama.
Recommendations will focus on my intellectual curiosity(I learned Spanish on my own), participation in class discussion and critical thinking. </p>
<p>An earliar education conducted in English at a prestigious school is definitey my best choice. But the test registration fees+application fees,etc will be over 70,000 RMB while people here earn 4,000 a month.
If I'm not that likely to get in, it won't be wise to spend a large amount of money+time on the applications. But I DO LOVE American prep schools!
There's a girl from my school who got into hotchkiss with full aid several years ago.
People have been telling me how unlikely is this over and over again....</p>
<p>What do I do now!
Should I apply?</p>
<p>Thanks so much! I'm super grateful for all your help!</p>
<p>I´m an international applicant to a few US prep schools myself.
In my opinion you should definitely apply! You can ask the schools for fee waivers for both the test fees and the application fees. And you don´t need to travel to the States for an interview, since you can have it via Skype or phone. I was granted application fees for all the schools I am applying to.
I would recommend you to start your application process for 2011 entry as soon as possible. Especially for FA applicants from countries other than the US there is a lot of paperwork to be done. You or your parents will have to fill out a PFS by SSS and you need to sent them translated tax returns, wage statements etc… If your parents speak English there should not be a big problem about this, but if they don´t you will have to put a lot of time in filling out the financial forms, because you probably will have to do lots of research on finding your countries equivalents to the American IRS forms. At least I had to, so this is just my experience.
Anyway, in my opinion you should ask all the schools you want to apply to for fee waivers. If they don´t grant you one you can still ask for one at other schools or pay it if it is possible to you.
And regarding your entrance exam… You would still have plenty of time for your application after the exam. You usually can´t start your application earlier than September anyway, I think.</p>
<p>@TKD where’re you from? Your suggestion is so helpful! Is it okay for me to fill out those FA forms now as they don’t change from year to year. Unfortunately, my parents both work in a top University but they are like 3-year-olds who only know basic vocabs. </p>
<p>@ Ro
I know. But I just want to get a bigger picture of the pool and my chances. You know, int’l students applying to top schools + aid is not that easy and for most of the time, you need luck.</p>
<p>I am also an international applicant who needs a full financial aid too.
Though it’s really hard to get in, you should try just as the others said. It will be definitely worth it once you get there.</p>
<p>The schools have said in no uncertain terms that financial aid is primarily for American nationals. Who am I, though, to say you don’t have a chance (which you do–how much of a chance is the question at hand). Whether the time and effort spent in pursuing such schools is a choice left entirely to you. Make sure you go over the facts/figures with your parents and make clear what you expect of them and what you can expect from them. </p>
<p>There is an alternative, however, which may be the “best of both worlds”, so to speak. I am not sure if you are familiar with the concept of “United World Colleges”, but I suggest you look it up. They most certainly do not foster the “NE Prep” attitude, but they certainly have the caliber to match. You won’t have the variety of courses as you would in Exeter, but you would have an adequate substitute. I suggest you check it out. The cost is very reasonable, as it is aimed at an international audience.</p>
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