<p>Freshman at Northwestern University right now, 4.0 out of 4.0 GPA during the Fall quarter, took 2 econ classes, an econ seminar, and a calc class. Also, all these schools rejected me last year, but since then I won the international Kangaroo Math competition in Bulgaria (I'm Bulgarian), and received a national diploma by the minister of education of the country for exceptional performance in high school (awarded to 50 people or so) + a bunch of smaller distinctions at a local level (Rotary scholarship, Math competitions etc.) I like NU, I'm decided to go for econ and NU is one of the best out there, but the problem is the financial aid they offer me. Do you think there is any point to apply now as Stanford, Yale, Harvard rejected me only a year ago?</p>
<p>wow, great stats. However, if ur an international and ur in need of financial aid, that could be a problem. The competition at those 3 places is stiff and they take very little transfers, like none.</p>
<p>Yep, tell me about it. Do you think the new info will have any effect whatsoever on them, or will they pay more attention to my high school stats? I mean, they were OK ( 6.0 out of 6.0 HS GPA, SAT I V 700, M 800; SAT II W 700, M1 770, M2 800), but obviously not OK enough to be admitted to these schools.</p>
<p>did u go to high school in bulgaria or in the states?</p>
<p>Bulgaria. Do you think it's a pro or a con?</p>
<p>ur high school GPA means very little to united states universities b/c they are not that familiar with your courses unless u took AP or IB exams and those type of exams.</p>
<p>Yes, but as a transfer this will be overshadowed by the 4.0 at NU. You have a very good shot at all three schools; because of the EC's you've got, your chance is as good as anyone's. I predict you'll get into at LEAST one of those schools, possible two, assuming you still have that 4.0 at the end of the year.</p>
<p>I don't know about yale and stanford since I'm not applying there, but I know that Harvard doens't give much aid to transfers period, and typically international students always get the last available money, if there is any, which is probably why whatever NU gave you isn't sufficient. I absolutely feel your pain, I'm at a lame state school I don't want to be at because some private schools gave me absolutely zero financial aid. Perhaps you could try to find some scholarships in Bulgaria that offer aid to students studying abroad? I'm not sure if such things exist, but if they do I'm sure you'd be really competitive.<br>
I just think if Northwestern didn't give you much as a freshman, HYS aren't likely to give you more, especially as a transfer, and perhaps not any at all.</p>
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but I know that Harvard doens't give much aid to transfers period
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<p>Hmmm...</p>
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Transfer students are eligible to apply for financial aid, which is awarded according to family financial circumstances, in the form of scholarships, loans, and jobs. The Financial Aid Office works with each family to ensure access to the Harvard education students have worked so hard to secure. Applying for financial aid does not jeopardize a student's chance for admission. Indeed, the Admissions Committee may respond favorably to evidence that a candidate has overcome significant obstacles, financial or otherwise. All of Harvard's financial aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need - there are no academic, athletic or merit-based awards. Harvard meets the full need of every student, including international students, for all four years. In 2004-2005 the average financial aid package, including a combination of grant, loan, and campus job, is expected to total more than $28,000 and the median debt of a graduating senior in the class of 2004 was $8,000.
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<p>Two things I notice. First, taking math 1 and math 2 is not really two sat subject tests, rather than one. This might be the first reason you got rejected. I am from BG and I know a lot of kids do that. Big mistake. You hope they won't notice, right? Lol, typical. But they dooo, they dooo. Secondly, you do have a chance, just take serious classes next semester and ace your midterms, so that when the time for the midterm report comes you'd have something to show.
Oh actually a third one - don't believe dismissive people who really think that whre the gpa is from is really effin matters. He is a cool kid but he seems to believe that GPA in Cornell is deflated and you kill yourself over it while everybody elses grades are bs.
Good luck with your transferring, maybe we'll see each other at Harvard.</p>
<p>Yeah, martinibluex, I know that taking Math 1 and 2 is stupid, but I didn't have much of a choice - I had only one month to prepare for the SAT IIs and I spent most of the time preparing for the Writing test. I chose Math 1 and 2 since I didn't have to prepare at all for them. I know it's stupid, but I started considering applying to the States in the beginning of July, some 4 months before the SATs. Not to mention that I wrote most of my essays on 30/31 December. I'll try to approach things differently this time, starting off early. For Shaganov, if you are right and they don't offer me more money, I'll just stay at NU, where I'm happy so far (except for the money.) Provided they want me after this, of course.</p>
<p>nooo, i meant that they WILL offer you more money :) - they are need blind unlike NU
it's late and maybe i skip lines when i read.
and i don't think it's stupid, i just said it because i know you'd have had better chances just by taking one extra SAT II. i don't know if you need it now, though... I can't really remember which colleges wanted them. I am taking them mostly for MIT so that's why I am sending them to all.
also, you'll like it a lot better out of the midwest.</p>
<p>where are you from in BG? which school? I was in math competitions too btw :)</p>
<p>The foreign languages high school in Kardzhali.</p>
<p>but u only finished one quarter, which is only 1/3 of the entire academic year, right? I think these schools will probably want to evaluate your second quarter as well. Keep up the good work man P:)</p>
<p>They will look at your second quarter. You have a shot for sure, but be aware that these three are crazy tough admits for transfers. You might want to hedge your bets with schools like Duke, Penn, etc that might also give better aid.</p>
<p>duke doesnt give any aid for transfers to Internationals...</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm aware that you have pretty slim chances of admission to these three, unless you are a Noble laureate by the age of 19, but I thought I should give them a try. If it happens, great. If not, NU isn't bad for me at all. Just the fin aid. So I don't think I'll be hedging my bets at all. The cool thing is I'm not all that desperate. At least not now...
I'll try to be strong during the winter quarter as well, since it ends like in the middle of March, so my second quarter GPA might be crucial for their decision.</p>
<p>duke doens't have better econ either.</p>
<p>looks like you want to transfer only due to prestige reasons. If you're doing well, why not stay back and study at NW? It's a fine school.</p>