Do you think it is possible to get a full ride when I am an internaitonal student who is taking a gap year?
thanks guys
Your grades and your test scores matter. What are they?
SAT: 1340 and GPA: 3.75. I might take SAT again if i need to.
A gap year won’t affect your chances one way or another. But you will likely need higher SATs. Full rides for international students are rare, and very, very competitive. Most international students who get significant financial aid in the US are among the top students in their country, and many have interesting/impressive accomplishments outside the classroom. (Leadership positions in clubs, olympiads, national awards, etc.)
What do you mean by full ride? Do you need money for transportation, books, and all personal expenses, or do you only need money for tuition, fees, housing, and meals?
Does it matter to you where you study in the US?
There are a very limited number of institutions that guarantee admission and scholarships for international students based on grades and test scores alone. Here is one old list. Not all of these scholarships are open to international students, and many of the details have changed, so check each institution’s website for current information. http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
@happymomof1 full ride: money for tuition, fees, housing, and meals
and it does not really matter where I go for college in US, as long as it is full ride.
Then carefully check the places on that first yolasite list, and look at these too: http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
I will be honest: your chances are NOT good.
To be competitive for such a huge financial aid package, you will have to raise your SATs - even the generous University of Alabama requires 1450-1600 for its full tuition scholarship (note, you would still have to come up with money for housing, meals, books and fees.)
Really, there is only a handful of schools that offer so much money to students - and they’re highly selective, many limit the number of international students they accept. Applying to these schools is like playing the lottery. Unless you’re among the top students in your country, have near perfect SAT/ACT score and interesting accomplishments outside the classrooms, the odds are hugely against you.
Here are a few lists to look over. Please note, schools change their financial aid policies often, and you have to go to each school’s individual webpages to verify.
@katliamom what if i retake the sat and score 1500+?
@TuyTuyTuy I would say you should first achieve that score; lots of students “aim” for a high score and it doesn’t work out.
@TuyTuyTuy – with 1500 on the SAT your chances would be better – but still NOT good. You’re talking about schools that reject 90-95% of their qualified candidates - and the rejection rate is still higher for internationals. Education in America is very, very expensive. If your family doesn’t have ANY money to contribute, and you’re not an AMAZING applicant, then your chances aren’t very good. That’s just the reality.
If your dream is to study in America, you could consider applying as a graduate student, after doing your undergraduate education in your own country.
While user is int’l, he resides in the US.
@mom2collegekids does University of Alabama look at SAT or ACT scores taken AFTER high school graduation for determination of merit awards?