Hey guys, I’m an international student in USA. I come from Serbia, and this is my first year in US. I’m senior right now. In Serbia we have different grading system than here in US, back there we have around 13 classes per year, we don’t have credit. We only have GPA at the end of the year. GPA is on scale 1-5. My average GPA in High school(9th, 10th and 11th grade) in Serbia is 4.67. I don’t have SAT or ACT test. I’m planning to take SAT in December, but I’m not really optimistic about it because I will be doing it with zero preparation.
Here in US I have 9 classes, and I’m expecting to end up with GPA 4.00. I’m interested mostly in Computer Engineering, so I was wondering which colleges should I apply for. Cost of college is not really important to me, as much as it is worth it. I wouldn’t like to pay 60k for something that is not worth it.
My main goal in College is to expand my network of people. To make connections. So I’d like as many people as possible in College. Also I would like college to be near city, doesn’t matter which one. I don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere. My high school is in the middle of nowhere, and I don’t really like it. Academics is not the most important thing to me, but I also wouldn’t like to go somewhere where I will not learn anything.
I’m not great with international grade conversions (perhaps @MYOS1634 or @skieurope might know?), but it sounds like your grades are strong.
Do you have a green card? If so, then I believe you would apply as a “domestic” applicant. If not, however, I believe you’d be applying as an international applicant. (Others need to verify this, as I’m not 100% sure.) Odds of admission are higher for domestic applicants than for international ones.
How much can your family pay per year, without taking out any loans? What state are you living in now?
Once we get the answers to those questions, posters will be better able to suggest appropriate options for you to consider.
Were you in a high entrance score or specialty gymnasium? what “course” were you doing (STEM, Philology, etc)?
What exact classes are you taking in the US?
Are you an exchange student (supposed to return to Serbia to graduate) or a regular student whose parents are here on H1B or E visas?
Do your parents support your plan and what’s their budget for each year of college?
You MUST prep for the SAT - use Khan Academy and take old tests then review where you made mistakes and study from there. A high score is necessary for an international.
You’ll make connections at all colleges but at residential, tight-knit colleges it’ll be easier. Highly selective universities and liberal arts colleges would work for that but Computer Engineering is not offered everywhere.
You should apply ED2 somewhere to increase your odds.
For now, look into Olin, WPI, Tufts, the flagship(s) for the state you’re living in (ie. if Michigan, that would be UMichigan and Michigan State, if VA it’d be UVA, W&M, and VTech, if PA Penn State and Pitt, if Wyoming UWyoming…)
I do not have green card. I’d be applying as international student to college.
My parents are ready to pay around 50 to 60k. If it’s worth it even 70 isn’t a problem. I wouldn’t like to pay 70k for something that 30 or 40k can get me at different place.
I’m playing basketball at prep level, and I have 2 practices a day. I would have time to prepare only on Sundays, when we don’t have games. Which is not a lot of time.
This is in case that I don’t recieve any “good” offers based on my Athletic ability. Just to be safe.
I was attending Special gymnasium, course Computer science.
In US I’m taking: AP Physics, Survey of American History, British Literature, Ethics, AP Precalculus(first time AP precalculus is this year, it’s similar to Precalculus with honors), Graphic Design, Health, Intro to Economics. Till the end of the year, I’m also planning to take AP Financial Accounting(1 trimester). In my US school we don’t have any classes related to Computer Engineering.
SAT, problem is that my day here is pretty much programmed. Every day tasks take my time from 5.20am-9pm. So I decided to take SAT without preparation.
Time is of the essence for you, as some Early Action deadlines have already passed at schools that would have been good options, but that fill up almost entirely via EA rather than Regular Decision (RD). Some schools, like U. of Pittsburgh, accept students on a rolling basis and the most popular majors will fill up sooner, leaving strong candidates who apply later in the season without a spot. And San Diego State is part of the Cal State system…which has a priority deadline of 11/30.
But if you’re wanting large schools in locations with stuff to do, some schools you might want to consider include:
D1 recruiting is basically over. If you haven’t been invited to visit&play, haven’t applied, etc, I’m afraid that ship has sailed.
Recruiting for D3 started in June - have you heard from some coaches ? Most want applicants to apply ED ie., Nov 1. There may be some with Nov 15 deadlines, have you been in contact with those?
At this point there mostly are D3 opportunities where coach support is a hook and financial aid depends on your family’s income. The networking opportunities in NESCAC (highly selective colleges, sometimes called Little Ivies) are among the best, with extremely loyal alumni, however they don’t offer Computer Engineering. Would CS work?
(In addition, the demands of Engineering are not easily compatible with high-level sports. )
Look into Macalester, Skidmore, Whitman (CS only but athletics could be a hook and they’re in nice towns). Then Bucknell, Lafayette, Trinity CT, Lehigh for Engineering where your sport may help you get in.
For CE, Olin is a reference, but highly selective and collaborative. Read up about them. No varsity sports.
WPI, Illinois IT, RIT?
Your current state’s flagship would work (without sports) for CE.
UAlabama Honors also would - Dec1 deadline.
Making connections at a large flagship will be easier through the Honors College but many had Nov 1 deadlines.
You could have 2 lists: one for CE where you don’t expect to participate in sports, one for CS with a sports hook.
Precalculus rather than calculus for a CS/CE major is going to be a problem at highly selective colleges, especially since you previously attended a specialist gymnasium where presumably you either took calc in Grade 11 or would have taken calc in grade 11.