Understanding the admission process and filling the application - Help and advice

International Students
1

I’m an International student from Italy, a senior from a scientific high school, graduating in July 2016. I am completely absorbed in the application process for U.S. universities at the moment, but still confused.
I desperately need your help. I’m going to be as clear as I can.

SAT -
I started studying two months ago, I prepared for the SAT and took it on 3th October; the results may arrive at any moment, but I don’t think I will score above 2000 (beacuse English is not my native language, primarily).
(I could also take the Subject test, but first I want to be sure that I’ll absolutely need them.)

GPA -
My school’s reports place me in the top 5 of my class, with a mean of 9.30/10 (but I can’t say which would be the corresponding GPA, any help?)

MAJOR -
I intend to major in Engineering, in a highly ranked school, specific for my study’s field.

COST - The problem I’ll have to face is affording the tuition. I can’t afford to pay it and I absolutely need to cover most of the cost with F. Aid and Scholarships. I also thought about trying a Community College, but the cost would still be high.
How does it work, in general, for fin. aid form? When should I start worring about it? After the CommonApp?

At the moment I am compiling the COMMONAPP, and having trouble with the essay (any help? examples?), the counselor (who doesn’t exist here) and documents for transcripts, fin. aid, etc.

SCHOOLS - LOOK FOR MY BEST
I am highly attracted by MIT, Caltech and other top specialized institutes (also of Ivy League), but I don’t think scores would minimally allow me to compete for financial aid. I also considered Columbia University beacuse the location and its profile seriously attract me; do you think I could do it with Early Decision (another point of mess)?

For this reason, I have to consider more accesible schools, such as Harvey Mudd or Worcester Polytechnic Institute (less competitive, I’d like to go a little higher).
I trying to say that if I have any chance of reaching one of the highest, I’ll try, hard as I can, because I’m looking for my best.

There is still too much CONFUSION.
To sum up, I’m searching (in order of importance):

  • appropriate institute for my specific Major, a “prestigious” one, where I can study hard and truly satisfy my interest for the subject
  • F. aid for international students
    but also, if possible (less important):
  • A school close to a large urban aera, a city (such as New York, which would be my dream)
obviously, with at least a chance for me to be admitted.

I tried the SuperMatch College Search on this website, but it doesn’t provide specific info for intern. students e f. aid.
I had different results from other search engines such as BigFuture from CollegeBoard.
With this great number of possibilities, I’m losing my path.

2

MIT does not offer merit-based financial aid, just need-based aid. If you are admitted, they will give you the aid that they think you need. The big problem is getting in.

Engineering is hard wherever you study it, so don’t worry about identifying only “prestigious” institutions.

How much can your family afford to pay? Start with that figure. If your family cannot afford at least US$ 25,000 each year for all four years, then you need to only look at places that offer need-based financial aid and/or merit-based scholarships to international students. You can use the Big Future search engine for this. Click on the tab “Paying”, then click the box next to “Financial aid available for international students” to find places that might offer you the money you would need.

3

Thank you for your reply, I truly appreciate it!

I’m aware of the need-based aid at MIT and I believe that it can absolutely work, economically speaking (but the problem, with my scores, is getting in, as you said).
My parents don’t earn a lot, surely not enough to pay for my education in the U.S.
I could provide US$15,000 (with sacrificies and probably loans), not more.

I should find the balance between prestige (challenging, future perspectives) and cost (F. Aid for international st.), but I’m having trouble selecting just a few schools.

4

up

5

You aren’t the only one, at least you can afford a bit of it. just work hard INSANELY hard and you will have a chance.

6

If you can afford $15,000 you can look into all the universities that offer full-tuition scholarships:
Temple, UMiami, UAlabama…
HURRY because the deadlines are soon.

7

Also apply to Howard University. THey have very good merit scholarships. However, you will have to take African American history classes as mandatory because it’s HBCU