what colleges I should consider? helpppp!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a junior in high school just starting the college search process, and I'd like some advice on the colleges I should consider applying to next fall.</p>

<p>US citizen currently living in India.
SAT: 2220 (760 W, 660 M, 800 CR), 2270 (780 W, 690 M, 800 CR)
planning to take SAT Lit, Math II, and maybe Bio</p>

<p>9th & 10th grades: CBSE program (Math, English, French, Science, Social Studies)
CGPA: 10 (out of 10)</p>

<p>Currently in the IB Diploma Programme
11th & 12th grades:
Biology HL
History HL
English HL
Chemistry SL
Math SL
French SL</p>

<p>work experience:
-2 week internship at insurance office (10th grade)
-1 week internship at Penguin books (11th grade)
-1 month internship with national online magazine (11th grade)
-working as a correspondent with the same magazine since september 2012</p>

<p>in brief: </p>

<p>main extra curriculars:
-student council (10, 11)
-sub editor of school magazine (9)
-editor of school magazine (10, 11) helped to launch an online magazine for the school
-playing keyboard (9, 10, 11, 12) will be in grade 4 at the time of applying
-training as a dancer (ballet, lyrical, contemporary), at least 8 hours per week, performing at various shows (9, 10, 11, 12) </p>

<p>main volunteer experience:
-working with underprivileged students (11, 12)
-working with special education needs kids (9, 10)
-organizing bake sales to raise money for charity (11, 12)</p>

<p>what colleges should I apply to as safeties? would UVA be okay?</p>

<p>thank you!</p>

2

<p>UVA is never a safety. Their acceptance rate is too low. Apply to it if you like, but not as a safety.</p>

<p>I’m missing what you intend to major in or do for a living as well as whether you will be full pay or need money for college? Answers to those two questions will make a difference in suggestions.</p>

3

<p>My major is undecided, and yes I will need financial aid!</p>

4

<p>Have you checked out the International Forum here:</p>

<p>[International</a> Students - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/international-students/]International”>International Students - College Confidential Forums)</p>

<p>There are threads that talk about the financial aspect…</p>

<p>If undecided, which general fields do you like? (Science, English, Math, etc)</p>

5

<p>munchnik3 -</p>

<p>There are several US citizens living in India who have posted in the various forums here at CC. One worth looking for is nocensure who often posts in the India sub-forum of the International Students Forum. That student has already been through the application process and should have useful ideas for you.</p>

<p>Since you are a US applicant for financial aid, the Net Price Calculators at the college and university websites should work pretty well for you. Convert your family’s financial information to USD at the exchange of the day, and run a few of them. You need to have a good idea of what the colleges and universities will expect your family to pay. You also need to know what your family truly is ready, willing, and able to pay because that figure will tell you how deep and far you will have to search to find an affordable college or university. There is a lot of good information about that in the Financial Aid Forum. Read the threads on guaranteed merit-based aid. Your SAT scores qualify you for some of those scholarships.</p>

<p>If the school you are attending sends students to the US every year, your own teachers and counselors will be able to help you with your list. You also should contact the closest office of [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov%5DEducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov) The advisors there are expert at helping students from your part of India navigate the application process. If none of them have worked with a US citizen lately, they surely have colleagues in other offices who have!</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>

6

<p>How much financial aid do you need?
Or to put it another way, what is your budget (the amount your family is able and willing to cover)?</p>

<p>Estimate your “Expected Family Contribution” using the following calculator:
[FinAid</a> | Calculators | Quick EFC Calculator Results](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid)
Then ask your parents whether they are able and willing to cover that amount.</p>

<p>If your budget is much lower than your EFC, then (depending on the amounts) you may need to focus on low-cost colleges or schools with guaranteed large merit scholarships for students with your stats. If your budget can cover your EFC, and if your EFC is much lower than prevailing costs of attendance, then you may want to focus on need-blind, full need schools ([Need-blind</a> admission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission]Need-blind”>Need-blind admission - Wikipedia)). However, most need-blind full-need schools also are quite selective. </p>

<p>Do you have resident status in any state? The public flagship for that state may be a good safety school for you, unless it is an unusually selective state university (like Berkeley or UVa).</p>