I got rejected from Colgate and I am totally disturbed. It was my dream college.
But I guess I should move on. Please suggest me some other colleges. Also I a thinking of applying to Reed through ED 2. So here are my stats:
International applicant(Indian) -->1500 (Maths:790, Verbal:710) on SAT.
SAT Maths II-800 SAT Physics-750
–>Class 9- 9.6 Cgpa
–>Class 10- 9 cgpa
–>Class 11- 91%
–>Class 12- 80.2% (Scored 58/100 in Maths due to communal riots and typhoid. However, my maths teacher would mention this in her recom)
–>I am the 4th ranker of the world’s largest inter-school quiz, Aqua regia which included more than 140,000 students.
–> worked on a research project on Ferroelectrics with a college prof.
–>Have been teaching Physics poor and underprivileged children from 2 years,
–>Maths and Science Quiz champion for 2 consecutive years at school level,
–>special award by principal for excellence in Physics,
–>debate champion at school level,
–> Collected a fund of 20,000 INR for Nepal earthquake relief,
–>organized a peace rally after communal riots in my city and delieverd a speech in the rally,
–>founder of StarGazers Club in my society.
–>First student from my city to apply to US universities.
–>Very strong recom letters. Expecting a “once in a Life-time student” sentence from both Physics and Maths teachers. Needs almost 35k Financial Aid.
Preferred Major- Physics/Computer Sceince
Please suggest me some good colleges and also chance me for Reed.
I will be really thankful.
Reed is a very different kind of place than Colgate. If you are looking for schools like Colgate, that are selective but not quite as selective as Colgate, look at
Bucknell, Lehigh, College of the Holy Cross, Colby
As an international student needing so much financial aid, you should only be applying to schools known for being very generous to students like yourself. Your ECs are impressive, but it might be the money issue. Make sure Reed will give you $35k.
Your stats/ECs put you in range for both Colgate and Reed. Getting rejected by one does not imply rejection by the other nor by similarly selective schools. Plenty of people are rejected by one top school and accepted by others. Nothing is guaranteed, but don’t let it hold you back from applying.
Colgate leans more toward athletics and partying than the average lac - that’s why ounre suggested bucknell etc, which have a similar culture. Reed on the other hand is very alternative and intellectual. Totally different vibe.
I suspect that your rejection had more to do with your need for financial assistance than with your academic qualifications.
Very few American colleges are need blind for international applicants, partly because it is very expensive to provide such aid and they generally reserve their aid dollars for American applicants, and partly because it is very difficult for the schools to verify the true financial circumstances of overseas students. Some schools accept such students but cannot not provide all of them with sufficient aid, while other schools simply deny admission. It sounds like Reed takes the first approach and I suspect Colgate takes the second approach.
There are only five colleges in America that are need blind to international applicants AND promise to provide full aid to international students who are accepted. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Amherst College, and MIT. Unfortunately, those schools are all extremely difficult to get into. I would try them, but recognize that the odds are not great and they do not have ED2.
If I were you, I would look toward the wealthiest LACs. Places like Amherst, Williams, Pomona, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, and Grinnell. These schools have enough money that they might be willing to provide full aid and not hold your financial circumstances against you in admission, although Amherst is the only one that guarantees it. Reed is a terrific college, but it does not have that kind of money.
Of those, Pomona, Swarthmore and Bowdoin have ED2.
Reed does seem like it would fit your academic interests but if you were drawn to the social vibe of Colgate maybe stick with the east coast schools. @wisteria100 's list of alternatives is excellent (plus Franklin and Marshall).
Hey, I know this is out of context, but I have not been able to find answer to whether Reed accepts the DECEMBER ACT or not, as the scores are sent in mid-february. Sorry, and thankyou if anyone could answer this