<p>I'm a geeky but sociable person. I like mingling with other geeks, but can get along just fine with regular folk. I am also a big political activist and a strong supporter of individual rights. My focuses not only range in computers, but spill into politics, music(Modal Jazz/Post Rock/Avant Garde), and art. I also earned a Cisco certified entry network technician certification.
I had a nice big list of great colleges I had a huge chance of attending. They were extremely great, high ranking, and affordable.
It was going along just fine until I found out that I can only apply as an international student. International students get little to no financial assistance in these colleges. I feel completely hopeless. The only colleges I can afford are the top colleges because they would pay for my financial need. But my SAT scores and GPA are pretty average.
I am a DREAMer so I am an immigrant who is allowed to study and work here thankfully through the dream act. My family's Income is $20,000.
Please give me recommendations for good colleges? I want a little bit of hope restored in me.</p>
<p>SAT I: (too late to retake )
CR: 620
Math: 620
Writing: 560
SAT IIs: (too late to retake )
Physics: 470
Math level 2: 550</p>
<p>Jazz Guitar player (matters?)</p>
<p>GPA: 3.6</p>
<p>ECs:</p>
<p>Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher program member for all my high school years. President of the club Junior year.
Skills USA toner recycling President for two years in a row
Contributor to different C and C++ open source projects like cmus.
Unpaid/family volunteer Barista/waiter at my family's new coffee shop.
Web admin and designer for family's coffee shop website.</p>
<p>LGBT activist
Socialist/Liberal political activist</p>
<p>Dislike: Big loud party scene
Like: artsy, musical, intellectual scene or research focused college</p>
<p>Field: Computer Engineering</p>
<p>Prospective colleges:
Cornell Engineering <--- I'm thinking a very low chance to get in here, but hopefully my essay helps
NJIT <---safety?
Northwestern?
Northeastern?
Duke U?</p>
<p>Your two cents is worth more than gold to me!</p>
<p>I would suggest constantly searching for colleges you would enjoy going to that have generous F. Aid. Though difficult to get in, a lot of the upper echelon schools will pay full tuition based off your need. </p>
<p>As of now, your SAT II’s and SAT’s are not to your advantage. Can you not take another SAT or SAT II? Or even the ACT? I know most colleges if not nearly all of them accept late test scores as far as January and even the February ACT.</p>
<p>Apart from that, your chances for places like Duke, Cornell, and NW will be slimmer than most, reach to high reach. I’m not so sure about NE and NJIT, so best of luck to there. Just write the best essay you possible can and give it your all. I would definitely look for more colleges that are towards the safety-match level. </p>
<p>Hi! As you analyze my comments, please take everything with a grain of salt. I’m a hopeless college applicant as well.
Cornell engineering- really high reach. depending on how strong your essays are, this could be shifted into a reach.
NJIT- not familiar, sorry.
Northwestern- high reach. again, depends on your essays.
Northeastern- reach/low reach.
Duke- reach/low reach.</p>
<p>Good luck with your future ventures and hopefully we can all get through the college application process with our sanity intact!</p>
<p>I might take the ACT, but not both SATs. Thank you, Luckywinner.
Vee, thank you so much for your chancing. We’ll see where life takes us.
I just need some good safeties/matches now. :(</p>
<p>alextld, Anytime! Also, I just thought that you might want to consider Purdue University, Case Western Reserve University and University of Illinois Urbana Champign. I’m not too sure about the financial aspect- I just know that these universities have outstanding reputations in Computer Engineering.</p>
<p>Those were three schools that were on my list before! Those are amazing schools that deserve all the reputation they get. Too bad they aren’t very good with financial aid for international students.</p>
<p>That sounds rough. My best advice would be to call/email/write to these universities and explicitly tell them what is going on. You never know, if they want you badly enough, they might just give you some extra aid. This has happened with one of my friends.</p>
<p>Also, would you mind chancing me? I have a thread called “Yet another chance thread. Chance me maybe?” It should be under the latest discussions forum. Thanks!</p>
<p>Try researching on Illinois Institute of Technology. It is a private university and has a decent engineering program. It also offers financial aid for international students! You should be able to get into it easily.</p>