Bennyzor

Hello guys. I was reading this forum for about a year now. However registered just now. I am an international student very interested in studying in America. Originally i am from Estonia, Russian speaking male. However in 2012 i came to UK to study A-levels in comprehensive(not private) school but i am still Estonian citizen. I am planning my future already and considering US universities very seriously. I want you to chance me and tell at which universities i have a good shot and to which i can apply as to reach schools with less but still possible chances. My stats (some i already have and some are predicted):

4 A's at A levels ( Maths,Economics,Politics,History )
~2100-2200 SAT
2 SATs in Maths I and US History~700;700

Tennis 3 years
Speak fluent Russian and English
Member of Historical Thinking club in school
College Council member
Peer Mentor
Volunteering 200+ hours
Took Philosophy university level summer course at University College London (UCL)

Will require full financial aid becuase my parents total income is about $30k.

Half of these stats are predicted considering what i already have/doing now. I have 2 years before i apply to universities so any advice about ECs i can do and any other advice is welcome.

Thank you!

Lelyke

You stats seem good but what colleges are you looking at, they may not be good enough for some others, there are just too many people with your grades you have to offer something better.

Bennyzor

I understand that in my stats there is nothing outstanding but it is due to the fact that in my origin country there is no ECs or any other kind of opportunities AT ALL. So everything i will have - i will have from 2 years i spend doing my A-levels in UK.

About colleges- i would be happy to get into any top 25 university. However i can't apply to state schools such as UCB or UMichigan becuase they don't offer financial aid to internationals. I know that i am not good enough for HYP so i am considering schools such as Brown , UPenn , Cornell , Dartmouth , Chicago , Duke , Middlebury , Swarthmore , NYU , Georgetown , Vanderbilt and a few others.

So what you guys think? And what can you suggest?

Bennyzor

It's really important for me!

Bennyzor

Any thoughts on my situation?

Bennyzor

Bump !@@@@@@

katliamom

Bennyzor, there's not much that we can tell you that hasn't been said here many times before: it will be hard. As an international student needing full financial aid your competition will be top students from around the world, many of them with exceptional accomplishments such as academic olympiads, for example. Go to the international students forum and read it carefully. There's a lot of very helpful information there. Finding a school that offers you FA can be hard - and expensive. To increase your odds, you'll have to apply to many schools. There are strategies for applying intelligently, but getting in with sufficient financial aid is unfortunately largely a matter of luck.

Bennyzor

Thank you very much for reply. I understnad how hard it is to get full ride as international. Ohh...i really want to study in US. But what can i do if all chancesare against me? (nothing outstanding, no hooks,require full aid)...

katliamom

You can apply intelligently (in other words, to private schools where your stats are in the upper percentages for incoming freshmen) and hope. That's about it, unfortunately.

Bennyzor

What schools are that?