Suggestions for Safety Schools [Biology, international student, needs financial aid]

College Search & Selection
1

My son is an international student from India. Post bachelor he wants to do research career with MS/PhD in a research University.

Unweighted GPA: 4.0
SAT: 1480
EC: Teaching assistant at school in Biology, Started a foundation for internet addiction support, Published a research paper about the work done in the foundation, Foundation work has been covered in Indian News Papers, Started math club at the school, held an international competition in mathematics, Coach for basketball for kids at his high-school.

Thanks to everyone on this community we have been able to finalize the list of Reach and hard targets for doing the early applications. Also putting out the admission chances as per CollegeVine:

  1. University of Richmond (EA, 33%)
  2. Colorado College (EA, 11%)
  3. Reed (EA, 40% )
  4. Grinnell (ED, 23%)

We are looking for two safety liberal colleges (which ideally offer EA) to add to this list. Any thoughts and guidance please? Thanks for all the help.

@merc81 @circuitrider @dad9000 @gardenstategal

2

I would think about University of Vermont as a safety. It is a lot bigger than those you mentioned, but has a liberal arts feel to it and is still smaller than most public universities. Another one like this is College of Charleston.

Others (smaller, like your list) that came to mind:

Clark
College of Wooster
Elon

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Holy Cross, Lafayette

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Thanks will check it out. Do let me know if anything specific about Biology/research programs there.

5

Thanks much will study these.

6

I have a friend who is a biology professor at Clark, and I know that he has undergraduates involved in his research projects. I don’t think the Biology department is huge (although they do have a really nice, newish biology building), so you would need to read about the research interests of the professors to see if any of them aligned with your kid’s interest.

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7

Montclair State and William Paterson, both in New Jersey, have good biology programs and should be safeties for your son.

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8

Thanks much! WIll find out more.

9

Thanks. Will definitely find out more.

10

Denison. Strong biological sciences, good facilities. Offers supporting data analytics major, potentially an important consideration for your son’s interests.

Connecticut College. Notable for botany, in particular. Worth researching for other biological sciences.

Wheaton (MA). Strong in biology. Nice science building.

Dickinson. Strong in biology. Worth exploring.

St. Olaf. Strong in biology. Good facilities.

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11

Are these the admission rates for international students?

Also, are you fully finding college or are you applying for need based aid? These schools are need aware for international students, so your ability to pay might factor into the admissions decision.

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Thanks @merc81 . Truly appreciate your help in this whole process.

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These are the predicted probabilities of the collegevine online calculator based on the information I have provided. It uses the fact that you are international and that you are applying for financial aid as factors in the model. Totally understand that the model output may not reflect the reality which will soon come forth:-)

As for funding we can fund it partially. Approximately 30-40% of the overall cost will be the family contribution based on online calculators.

14

@Andygp - I missed that you were an international applicant from your original post. Although I’d still look at HC and Lafayette as great LAC safety(ish) schools for your son. Look at Brandeis in Boston as well, good research and very International Friendly for aid.

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Where will the other 40-60% come from? Are you applying for need based aid?

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16

I don’t think there are any true safeties for you in the US, considering that you are looking for substantial financial aid.

Denison, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Dickinson, St. Olaf, Elon, Vermont, are not safeties…the first three are reaches. The remaining are matches, but may not be affordable if accepted.

Agree that Clark, CoC, Wooster, Montclair State, William Paterson may be highly likely for admission, but they may not be affordable…meaning there could be a large gap in funding, should your student be accepted.

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Yes we have completed the CSS and will be applying for Need based.

18

Thanks much. We were looking at Brandeis before. Will certainly add it to consideration.

19

So…you need to fund a lot yourselves. Can you do that?

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Understood. Yes we are certainly ready for an eventuality that we get rejected from all the LACs in USA.

However, I closely know a case where one student with much worse profile got @50% need based funds from a B+ grade LAC last year. Fingers crossed :slight_smile: