I’m an international student from Asia, and i’m following the stereotype by applying to most of the A-list schools (HYMS, UCB, JHU, etc.) I would really like some suggestions for schools that are more a match or safety for me. My ultimate safeties are my local unis, but I would like to apply to some pretty decent match/safety schools in the US.
Stats:
SAT: 2320
Doing SAT subject tests in May, but should be high 700s-800
School doesn’t do GPA/ranking, but top 5 percentile of the most competitive school in my country who sends the most kids to ivy league
Co-founded a community service project, raised over 5000 dollars, worked with major organisations, won a national competition, represented my country at international competition and won international first place
Participated in yale young global scholars program
Have worked on a national-level talent program for young writers for the past 3 years, was selected as a participant but now I help to organise and plan the program, leadership position
Student journalism, other typical stuff
Can your family afford the full cost to attend these schools (up to $60K/year or more)?
If not, then as an international student you really don’t have any US safety schools.
Only 6 colleges (all of them super selective) claim to be need-blind and to meet the full demonstrated need of international students.
http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-6-need-blind-colleges-in-us-for-international-students
The following page lists schools that are need-aware, but relatively generous with need-based aid, for internationals. I don’t know how up-to-date or accurate it is. If financial aid matters to you, you can check the Financial Aid section (section H6) in each school’s Common Data Set file.
http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-25-financial-aid-colleges-in-us-for-international-students-need-aware
If cost does not matter to you, then you have more choices. You don’t say much about what you’re looking for (major? size? location? etc) so it’s hard to single out specific schools. You could try scrolling through the US News “national university” ranking (and perhaps the “national liberal arts colleges” ranking, if those schools interest you.) For admission match schools, start with schools in about the #25-#75 range.
I’m trying for scholarships from my government/local companies, but if I don’t get any, I’m very lucky and thankful that my family is financially able to pay for my college.
I’m looking to major in biochem (or chemistry) and economics, and for practical reasons, I’m hoping for a school that has a good global reputation (ie when I go back to my country and look for a job, companies will be familiar with the college). Secret wish is for warmer weather (I can’t stand the cold!) but I’ll gladly deal with snow if it means a good education 
U Michigan, UCLA, UC San Diego, UT Austin, U Washington.
Warm Weather:
Stanford
University of California, Berkeley
UCLA
University of California (other Campuses)
University of Florida
University of Miami
Not so cold:
Emory
Georgia Tech
University of North Carolina
Duke
Run any of the college-matching search engines using your stats. If an institution would be very safe for a domestic applicant with your stats, you can probably consider it a match. The only real safeties for international are those institutions that guarantee admissions for specific grades/test scores, and that extend that guarantee to international applicants. Everything else is an admissions reach or match for you because you are an international applicant.
To identify places that admit by the numbers, check through these threads:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1562918-updated-list-of-schools-with-auto-admit-guaranteed-admission-criteria-p1.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1678964-links-to-popular-threads-on-scholarships-and-lower-cost-colleges.html#latest
Considering your stats, apply to UAlabama by December 1st and you’re guaranteed admission to the College of Engineering, with full tuition scholarship, $2,500 stipend, Honors College, Honors Dorm, opportunity to apply for CBHP (apply before Dec 1st) and/or Stem-MBA.
This is a safety, a guarantee (once your transcript and credentials have been verified by an external service).
Another good safety for you, with an excellent College of Engineering, is University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Higher ranked, but it’s cold. Warm and high-ranked, basically almost a safety for you too: Tulane (in New Orleans, with its distinctive culture, food, and music.)
UT-Austin has become very competitive for out-of-state admission. I agree with Tulane and U. of Miami, and might add Pitt.
Are people in your country familiar with US universities? If not, it may matter little whether you attend Harvard or CUNY. Check out Arizona State U. (ASU). It is located in Tempe, AZ, which is an awesome college town. The summer weather can get very hot but sounds like you won’t mind.
Thanks for replies and suggestions, guys! Yes, I heard UT Austin has gotten really competitive for OOS recently, so I don’t think I’ll try my luck there.
I would like to apply to these match colleges, but I’ve got somewhat of a problem - the scholarships that I’m applying for will only sponsor my education if I go to a local university or a top 50 college in the US/top 10 in the UK, which significantly narrows my choices. And my parents are somewhat reluctant to fund a US education (really expensive for OOS) if it’s not a college of a similar standard.
So thanks for all the suggestions, but I’m probably gonna end up applying to crapshoot colleges and hoping for the best, or I’ll study at my local uni (a really good uni, by the way, and I’ll be happy to study there, plus it’s much more affordable)
Actually, I have another question for any kind soul who would like to give me advice - is UMich considered a match? It’s a very good school, and admission rates are surprisingly high, but as an international I’m not quite sure if it’s a match or a reach.
Apply to top 50s (remember that there are two lists: Research Universities, and LACs, and add top 10 from Regional Universities).
Check out the thread on the UAlabama and UMN forums, and you’ll see they’re quite competitive, especially for the Honors Colleges. Those would offer their own scholarships, based on merit -that’s why they’d be safeties (and being in the Honors College at these universities would compare favorably in resources and opportunities to any local alternative, even if the overall quality of the student body may be different - and ultimately, opportunities and resources + 4,000 super bright peers should serve you better than a university where everyone’s bright but research is restricted to last-year undergrads or even only Master’s students.)
Any college with a 30% acceptance rate or less should be considered a reach, although in your case it’s a low reach, especially since you’re full pay.