Turkish Student! Can I do it?!

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>Hi everyone;</p>

<p>I am originally from Turkey, but I am studying in an advanced private high school with scholarship for 2 years...
I got 3.67 GPA with some advanced (IB Physics) and some poor classes (Precalculus)
I got 83 in TOEFL and 23 in ACT(30 Math)
I played football, I was the founder of Web Dev. Club in my school, I also play in concert band and drum line, participated media and visual art projects.
My dream is to get in UMASS Amherst, I am not sure if I can get in with my current scores and activities, but I will also need scholarship! because I can't afford it. I am also applying to ASU, San Jose State University, Drexel.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Can I get in? or how can i get scholarships ?</p>

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<p>You know its your Dream School , apply it anyways or else you will regret in the future , that had I applied , I would have known my chance.
Good Luck and All The Best!</p>

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<p>mak1792, you don’t sound like you’re an international student who needs financial aid or know about their situation. It’s very very hard to get into an American university and get financial aid. Odds are divided in two compared to American students. </p>

<p>@YsaKucog:
First, you need to retake the ACT because a score of 23 will not get you any scholarship anywhere. Practice using <a href=“https://www.number2.com/[/url]”>https://www.number2.com/&lt;/a&gt; until the questions you used to get wrong are right.
Next, how good are you at soccer (European football)? Were you in a club that won championships? Can you be recruited?
Understand that in American English “participated in” is code for “didn’t win any prize or recognition”, so think about anything that brought you awards. We also know that not all cultures value clubs or competition and award prizes, but rather encourage students to do things on their own, but if you have any proof/external validation you need to be able to list it/them, so think about what you got before you start on the CommonApp.
How much money can your family afford? $10,000? Less? More? It’ll be very difficult if your family can’t afford $10,000.
yes you can get into UMass with these scores but you wouldn’t get a scholarship. Same thing for ASU, San Jose State University, and Drexel. Your academic performance is solid and with better scores you could get a scholarship - if you want to study engineering, there’s a scholarship that starts at 30+ at UAlabama. Francis Marion University, in South Carolina, has an honors program that’s probably accessible to you (your IB curriculum would probably make up the missing ACT point) but I don’t know whether that’d come with a scholarship; they do have a varsity soccer team so if you’re good that might be a solution. [Francis</a> Marion University - Academics: Program Description](<a href=“http://www.fmarion.edu/academics/programdescription]Francis”>http://www.fmarion.edu/academics/programdescription)
Overall, public universities have very few scholarships even for American citizens who aren’t from their own State since their primary goal is to educate students from their State.
So either you can get to merit award levels or you should look at the sticky threads on the financial aid forum:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1505285-automatic-out-state-tuition-waivers.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1505285-automatic-out-state-tuition-waivers.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;
These are three threads you need to read carefully.
Next, look at these colleges:
<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/[/url]”>http://www.ctcl.org/&lt;/a&gt;
Fill out the “Request information” form. They’ll send you free brochures so you can think about the ones that match you more. Ask about scholarships.
If your family makes less than $50,000 a year, look into Berea College. You can also check out Alice Lloyd.</p>

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<p>Hi,@ysakucog,I know a couple of students from turkey applying to colleges in the US(including a quite plausible amount to Amherst),but their acadmic records are very strong as most of them are silver and gold medallists at various science and maths olympiads,except that they have really low scores in TOEFL,and some in SAT.Their achievements are strong,ao admissions from your country would be competitive but they aren’t any engaged with extracurricular activities or communtiy activities.So what am I trying to say?You can do yourself a lot of good by up-ing your TOEFL score to above a 100.And if you’re taught English at school,you should do the SAT and try to get a score within or above Amherst’s average admitted student’'s score.This would additionally distinguish you from the others as you have a better EC.Also write good essays and then you’ll have a good chance.Listen to what the posters have said,too(I dont have to repeat):)</p>

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<p>ysakucog go for it ! Don’t worry too much about your scores. I think if you focus on your personal statement and write about something which will make you stand out, the admissions committee will judge on your personality rather than your scores. You sound like a very interesting student I’m sure you have a lot to talk about which will impress them. As for the scholarship since you have lots of skills maybe you can find a scholarship related to them. ASU is after all a research university so I’m sure you can find something.</p>