changmike

Hi

I am international student and I will be applying to college for next year. I am already done with my SATs (R:630, W:770, M:780) and other requirements for college. So I'm thinking of applying ED/EA to one of the colleges below. I had researched on all of them quite extensively:

Princeton / Chicago / Cornell / Brown / Lehigh

And since I would require financial aid, I was thinking that Princeton may be the best choice (since its need blind). And even though Chicago & Brown aren't need blind, they do offer quite generous amount of aid. But Cornell & Lehigh have really high ED acceptance rate, so they are quite appealing as well.

Suggestions would help

Princeton2017

ed would mean you have to enroll if you get in. Only Chicago and Princeton offer early action which is non-binding. Go for one of them.

changmike

I don't really have any problem attending any of the colleges i mentioned above. But just out of curiosity, is it possible that the college I apply ED to does not offer me any financial aid at all?

Rhebar

Yes, it's very possible. However, If you do not receive enough financial aid I'm pretty sure you can opt out of binding ED.

vonlost

Correct, ED asking for FA is binding only after accepting the FA offered.

changmike

Out of the five I've chosen, these are the acceptance stats Early / Overall (got them from here https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org)

Princeton 21% / 8%
Chicago 17% / 16%
Cornell 35% / 18%
Brown 20% / 9%
Lehigh 64% / 33%

So, would it be a better idea to apply early to Cornell, since its ED acceptance is so high? If they don't offer me enough financial aid, then I can opt out of the ED agreement and apply to the others

Waverly

ED acceptance rate at these schools mostly represents the fact that most of the athletes and legacies are accepted in that round. As an international needing aid, you will NOT have a better chance ED.

Lehigh, being much less competitive is the exception here and you would have a much better shot there other than on the aid front.

I think it would be insane to apply to Cornell ED in your situation. They are not need blind to internationals.

You've only given us scores, and they are not very competitive for top schools. To advise you we'd need to know more. Those scores might fly if you're from Africa, but likely won't if you're from Asia or Europe. Do you need a lot of aid or A little? If you're from a country sending many full pay applicants these schools will wait to see the full pool RD before accepting an intnl needing much money. Your chances are way better from a country sending few applicants.

bruno123

I don't think you will be accepted ED at Princeton or Chicago with your stats (especially, considering you are an international student). Lehigh is your best shot academically speaking.

changmike

@ waverly, sorry i forgot to post other stats
i'm from Nepal & i'll graduate this may
Class size:79

Rank: school doesn't rank but my overall percentage is 89% (if i compare my percentage with others i'd probably be 4th in class)

A-Levels: exams will end in May & my predicted grades are 2A*, 3A (i hope u r familiar with A-level grading system)

SAT II: Math-800, Bio-780, Chem-760

ECA:
School Prefect (not sure whether it counts as an ECA but i was a prefect in grade 12)
Debate Club (Member since grade 9)
Soccer (Playing in school team since grade 10, Vice captain in grade 11 & 12)
Music (Guitarist, performing on stage for 6 years)
Community service (Volunteer for Lions Club since grade 11)
Teacher's assistant in grade 12 (assisted the math teacher during the extra help classes)

Employment:
No record yet since there aren't too many opportunities in Nepal, but I will be working for my school after graduation as assistant coach for the Debate Club

My financial need is quite significant. My parents can pay ~$15k per year.

Btw, besides the colleges i mentioned above, i'm also considering:
Washington & Lee, Colgate, Bard, Bates, Grinnel, Richmond, DePauw

zephyr15

OP -- unless there's some very different standard for international students, 630 SAT-R is very low for most of the schools you mention.

Zephyr

muckdogs07

Looks from your stats that you are much more mathmatically inclined, but lack Ivy quality numbers. Of the schools you mentioned, I would sugest Grinnell (boat loads of money) and Lehigh.

changmike

i know that most of the colleges on my list admit student whose SAT CR scores are 700+, but isn't it still worth trying for 1 or 2 ivies (since they do admit small percentage of students with average SAT scores)?

zephyr15

Definitely worth trying -- the worst that happens is they say no.

(Much of the small pct below these numbers are 'hooked' students, i.e., athletes, underrepresented minorities, etc.).

changmike

^
just out of curiosity, are international students even considered among other athletes? i'm asking only because i'm doing quite well in soccer.

& which other colleges do u think would be suitable for me, given my stats