Suitable US universities that I can admit with full financial need

College Search & Selection
1

Hello everyone,

I’m an international student from South Asia.
I have following qualifications,

SAT Reading and Writing - 550, Math - 650
I was always in top 5% in high school ( A/L’s majoring Physics, Chemistry and Biology)
Best student of the school in 2012

International Science Olympiad (Two gold medals and one bronze medal)
Two times Intel ISEF (USA) finalist
Many National Honors including special appreciations from the heads of government

Represented National Music band in international folklore festivals
National winner in Music ( classical)
Volunteer experience since grade 10
Involved to many extra-curricular activities in school
*I’m a first generation college student

I have accomplished all these achievements by hurdling lots of barriers since my parents were separated when I was five years old and my mother’s monthly income is about less than 200 USD. I have one brother and It’s really hard to manage our daily needs because still two of myself and my brother are not earning for the family.

QUESTION - Can you please suggest suitable US universities that I can admit with full financial need (As my family can’t afford the payment)

Your comments will be highly appreciated. Thank you!
Pawan.

2

You should retake the tests, after preparing hardcore (use Khan Academy, plus Erica Melzer for English.)
It’s imperative you score higher if you want to study in the US - also, prepare yourself mentally for having to take a gap year, since the more money you need, the less likely it is that you’ll “make it” the first time you try.

Look for posts from @evelynne1996 for instance.
It’s incredibly difficult to get into a college with a full ride. Even full tuition is very difficult, and full tuition wouldn’t help you at all.

Have you taken the TOEFL?
If so, you could apply to Bowdoin.
Have you tried the ACT? You’d probably do very well on the “science” section.

First, plan to apply to Berea College. The Deadline is coming up soon, and it’s the deadline when they should have RECEIVED everything, including your test results, your recommendations, etc. Start working on gathering everything NOW.

Second, look into HBCU’s - full rides are possible, but only if your scores go up. Unfortunately, the colleges where the automatic full ride scholarship threshold number is low, aren’t very good, and as an International Science Olympiad winner + Intel finalist, you ought to aim for colleges where you’ll flourish.
Get on the mailing list and/or fill the “request info” for: Harvey Mudd, WPI, Union, (MIT obviously), Barnard, Mount Holyoke, Smith, UNC-CH (look into the Robertson), UVA (look into Jefferson scholars as well as Echols scholars), Colby, Carleton, Macalester, Dickinson, Olin.

Those will ALL require you to have much higher test scores so start working on them now. If you can"t bring your test scores to a high level this Fall, you’ll have to apply for Fall 2018.

3

A number of the top universities in the US will meet full financial need if they accept you – at least for US students and sometimes for international students as well (the policy is less clear). However, getting into those schools is difficult and your chances with your current SAT scores are honestly low to none. I definitely agree with @MYOS1634 that your priority needs to be improving your SAT scores so you have a chance at a good school that will give you the financial aid you need.

Look at this page for a list of schools that (apparently) meet full financial need:

blog.prepscholar dot com/colleges-that-offer-complete-financial-aid

Besides the list from MYOS, I’d say look at Rice, Grinnell, Vassar, Kenyon, Oberlin, Emory.

4

You should also look at colleges in your home country.