<p>Hi, im an international student. I'm doing the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. I feel I'd be able to get a predicted/anticipated score of around 43-45 points out of a maximum 45. My SAT score is 2180 (Reading : 700, Maths : 780, Writing : 700). I have a above average co-curricular activity record with a decent level of community involvement. </p>
<p>I plan on majoring in Engineering. Okay now here's the issue. My family may not be counted as financially needy but due to various factors my parents are only able to contribute 25k $US a year. So if i want to get into any colleges like Cornell, Uni Chicago, Stanford, Texas A&M how could i finance my education (taking a loan as last option) ?</p>
<p>thanks =)
any comments will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Nikhil</p>
<p>Are you Nikhil from ACSI? You don’t have to answer me but if you’re realistically thinking about college in the US, you need to think about several things:</p>
<p>First, is the issue of financial aid. Financially needy or otherwise, if you’re only going to be able to contribute about half of the cost of attendance then you’re going to need financial aid. As you may already be aware, the pool of international students applying for financial aid is fiercely competitive and unless we’re talking about need-blind schools (of which I only see Stanford above), you’ll be in that pool. As such, your “above average co-curricular record” won’t really stand out there. Your SAT score, assuming you’re an applicant from Singapore, won’t impress (though it won’t disappoint either) admissions officers who often turn down even overqualified internationals for financial reasons. </p>
<p>Second, I can tell you’re being rather blind towards your college choices. Did you cobble that list together from your perceived notions of prestige? For one, UChicago doesn’t even have Engineering. So please do get your facts right. </p>
<p>So on whole, I guess you’re better off lengthening that list by adding schools that will be realistic choices for you as an international FA applicant. The public universities aren’t likely to give you aid, so avoid schools like UIUC and the University of California (Berkeley, UCLA, etc.) system. If your family is comfortable with a loan, then that remains an alternative option which will increase you chances of acceptance but leave you with debt at the end of your education. </p>
<p>Hope this helped.</p>
<p>hi, well, i mentioned university of chicago because im still torn between engineering and economics. Thanks for the help though! (:</p>
<p>Torn between engineering and economics? Alright, interesting enough.</p>