Skidmore or St. Olaf?? Desperate international student here!!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello everyone,

I’m an international student from eastern Europe whose family contribution is about 25-30k per year+personal expenses. I have a 33ACT, around a 3.8 GPA, good-ish EC’s, recs and other stuff.

I'm thinking of applying to either Skidmore or St. Olaf, but I'm not sure which one I'll get in and which one's diploma will look better for finding a job after graduation. 

Their acceptance rates and average test scores are almost identical. Also, St. Olaf offers merit awards and Skidmore doesn't, so maybe I have a higher chance of acceptance at St. Olaf?? I'm not really sure.. The schools are need-aware so maybe covering a part of my need with a merit scholarship would be better??

As you can see I’m really lost and I would appreciate all sorts of advice/opinions!

2

If you can afford the fees, why not just apply to both?

3

I have very limited space for colleges left on my Common App so I really have to choose one :frowning:

4

I’d go with St. Olaf, then.

5

Thank you! Do have any idea of their generosity in terms of international FA?

6

I presume you mean merit aid, as you mentioned before? See here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/financialaid/international-student-information

Need-based financial aid for international students at American universities tends to be very limited.

7

They tend to be very generous.