I’m an Indian wanting to pursue my undergrad degree in the US for a multitude of reasons. My grades until my senior year
have been really bad. We don’t use the GPA system but instead, we’re graded according to the percentage system. These are my grades throughout high school;
Year 9-42%, Year 10 10-51% Year 11-52% and Year 12-84%.
I’ll be answering the SAT in a few more months and I’m expecting high scores. Would It be possible for me to to get admitted into a University (doesn’t matter which one it is) with a full OR at least about full scholarship? What are my chances? Which Uni’s should I apply to?
I’m fine with any state uni as well as long as it’s in the US. I may come across as “desperate” to study In the US at any cost but trust me, I have my reasons.
I don’t have any extra-curricular’s as well. Please advise me on what I can do about that. Remember, I come from a country which places very little importance upon anything other than education during my school years hence the “perfect Storm”.
I will be blunt: your idea has very little chance of succeeding. With poor grades I doubt a single college will give you any kind of scholarship, let alone a full one. You have no test scores either. Come back when you have test scores. MAYBE if you score high, some school might want you, but even then, no one will give you a full schoalrship with poor grades. What incentive is there for a college to give an international student with poor grades a full scholarship?
Come back when you have test scores but US universities aren’t free. Merit scholarships are out there for those who the schools want to attract and entice to attend but I don’t see an international student with mediocre grades fitting into that category.
There are thousands of universities and colleges in the US. Getting admitted somewhere is the easy part. Paying for it will be the hard part – you seem very unlikely to get much in the way of financial aid.
Go to a university in your country and get stellar grades for a couple of years. Get involved in the community or on campus. Maybe then you can transfer, but getting money will be tough.
No ECs is definitely gonna hurt you. I know the Indian system is heavily academic and numbers focused, and it’s hard for families to afford and send their kids to decent universities in the US. Almost every university uses ECs in the admissions process.
US universities almost always prioritize kids in the state and country. International kids, even stellar ones, are at the bottom of their list for financial aid. If you’re international, they’re expecting you to pay. Hopefully the system gets better, but it’s really unfortunate. However, there are plenty of internationals (especially from India) who come to top tier schools like MIT for Grad school, while doing undergrad in their home country.
Firstly the excuse of the Indian system being heavily academics focused for not having ECs is not at all justified. I know a lot people with a stellar academic record and amazing ECs. Next, let me be blunt, your scores are bad. While your 12th grade scores are fine, 9-11th grade break your application. Assuming you get a 1600 on the SAT, it’ll still be very tough for you to land a decent university let alone a top university.
Now the problem with going to a ‘decent’ university is money. There are more than 1,845 universities in USA and a grand total of 5 are need blind for international students, and these 5 are extremely competitive schools. Some other schools offer aid to international students but they need an incentive to do so. The lack of good scores and no ECs in not at all an incentive.
So, just stay here for your undergrad and apply for post graduation in the US.
The only way I can see it happening if you prioritize the idea of your positive trend in grades and try to make a hardship case. Because at the very least your senior grades are fine (junior grades are killer though), as long as you have some excuse, even if its bad behavior or a tough family situation, it will make you look better. But there is virtually no way to get money for this, as you will be a risk coming in. I would just stay in India for now until grad school
Even if you were a US citizen your grades are not high enough to get a full scholarship at any school in the US. Scholarships or grants are awarded based on need or merit, and MANY students get nothing. If you want a top school, you have to have top grade and scores. If you want a full ride, you still have to have very good grades and then be willing to go to a school that may be ranked much lower (but those are rare too).
You are desperate to come to the US at "any cost’, but you don’t have the money to come at any cost.
Contrary to what you believe, US schools and universities are not raining in tuition dollars.
Where are you getting your misinformation that the US is desperate for mediocre students from other countries???
The US has thousands upon thousands of US citizens who do have the grades and scores and would also like what you want; they don’t have the money either.
Plus, you come from India which seems to have thousands upon thousands of Indian students who want to come to the US for their educations and they want it for free. Not happening.
If you want funding, as a non-US citizen, you need to enter a lottery with amazing grades and test scores where, even the top best international students aren’t funded, and worse, don’t get in.
For the benefit of other students, post #9 is just completely inane. NO college in the US admits kids because they feel sorry for them and certainly NOT because of bad behavior. Bad behavior is not going to earn you an acceptance, let alone money. Tough situations and bad behavior are not qualities that colleges are looking for or giving money for.