Hi everyone!
I’ve heard a lot of contradictory information about the admissions process for international students.Therefore, it’s really hard for me to determine my chances for some universities.
So my question is, is there a quota for internationals and as international am I going to be compared to other internationals or to ones from my country?
There are no quotas, and there is no simple formula for international admissions. Details in this process will vary from school to school. In general, you will be compared to, first, students from your own country. But if you’re from an over-represented part of the world (for example, parts of Asia) you may ALSO be compared to other international students from your part of the world.
In short, to get into the handful of top elite schools – especially if you need financial aid – you have to be OUTSTANDING, period. If you’re a good but not outstanding student, the other criteria for admission is money. A full-pay international student ($55,000 per year) can get into many very good schools.
What schools are you looking for?
How much can you pay?
What are your credentials(school grade, test scores, anything you did in high school)?
What is your intended major?
Does prestige matter(at least for your future job employment in your country)?
MIT has a quota on internationals so that they can afford to be need-blind. http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/international_men_women_of_mys
@katliamom I thought that top tier schools have quota for int students…at least MIT does
I guess it depends on what you mean by “guota” – are there limits? Probably yes. Is there a specific number of required places saved for international students? Probably not. In terms of admissions, these schools do pretty much whatever they want and aren’t restricted by any specific quotas. Of course, this applies to the few phenomenally wealthy private institutions. The elite public schools are in a different situation as are 2nd-tier privates.
@paul2752
What schools are you looking for?
Admission to Amherst would be a dream come true but I don’t know if I really have a chance.
How much can you pay?
I’ll definitely need financial aid.
What are your credentials(school grade, test scores, anything you did in high school)?
4.8 or 4.9 on 5.0 scale, I have about 15 subjects
test scores: 700+ each section
-cancer research , big leadership position,various projects(all selective entry),worked abroad, student council, drama group …
Does prestige matter(at least for your future job employment in your country)?
I’m from a small country so US college degree means a lot, even if the university isn’t ranked highly
I.Amherst college is one of 6 colleges that is need blind for international school as well. Your FA status won’t affect your chance, theoretically.(But who knows what really goes in admission office…) Where else are you applying?
II. Your stats are very nice. You can get some merit scholarships from some schools. Where are you from? Some schools may require you to use third party to “translate” your school grading system.
III. So the prestige doesn’t really matter. If so, great! I would recommend University of Alabama for full tuition scholarship, and Howard University for virtually full ride merit scholarship. Both are fine school, but the former is better. Can you specify how much you can pay? That can play a huge role in need aware schools.
I was thinking of Alabama too, because of the excellent( as far as I’ve heard) engineering department.I’m from Croatia,family income is about 27-30 000 $ a year.I could afford 20 000 $ if my aunt helps, but if I don’t get some great scholarship/financial aid my parents are probably going to tell me to stay in Croatia.( Here, I have a guarantee admission to some engineering schools because of math competitions and 8 000$ a year would be enough to cover ALL costs-college,books, room ,food etc.)
@raven5 Not many people come from Croatia, so your nationality might play in favor for you, but not much.
U of Alabama has excellent, if not the best, programs for engineering. We also have very good engineering facilities. The reason I am strongly recommending UAlabama is that it has both great engineering programs AND have scholarships for international students with high state.
As I said earlier you are most likely to be eligible for University of Alabama’s full tuition out of state scholarship, which is also awarded to INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. I am attending the school with that scholarship as an international student.
Plus, since you are gonna do engineering, you will also receive 1250$/semester extra scholarships for 8 semester. Two combined, the cost of attendance is drastically reduced.
Read the following link
http://is.ua.edu/future-new-students/admission-to-ua/cost-of-attendance/
While you do have to prove that you need the fund(including scholarships) to stay for summer as well, if you don’t, then the actual cost is much much lower.
Let me calculate the potential actual cost when you are NOT staying for summer in the school(which means going back to Croatia for summer):
Tuition: zero
Freshman unlimited meal plan: 1681$/semester
Health care: 600$/semester
International fee: 75$/semester
Course fees: approx 400$/semester
Dormitory fees: 2800(cheapest)~4900(most expensive)/semester
Dining Dollar 325$
Book prices: average 600 per semester
MINUS engineering scholarship 1250$/semester
Total cost per semester: about 5880~7900 minus 1250 per semester=4680~6670 per semester
If you choose to live the cheapest dorm AND gets approval to get downgraded meal plan(which I did), you will pay less then 4000$/semester. If you live in better dorm, your dorm cost may range from 3300~4900 per semester. You might have realized that the cost of the dormitory is a huge chunk of the payment. After your 1st year, you are NOT required to get meal plan and dormitory. That alone cuts the cost a lot. There are many off campus housing that offers bus commute between the housing and the school
ALSO, UAlabama offers payment option to divide the cost into 5 monthly payments with no interest. Only requires 55$ fee when you sign up for it. It’s called Bama Plan.
One thing you need to know is that UAlabama doesn’t have many international students, probably less than a thousands among 34,000 undergrads. That means you won’t find many Croatia students. However, since you are very good at English, I m pretty sure you can socialize with many UAlabama student.
Also, you may be required to send a copy of translated-as in converting your GPA and school grade into American system-using third party. Ask @MYOS1634 in this matter. They are a bit expensive(around 150~300$) but hey…you don’t want to miss full tuition and extra engineering scholarship, do you???
PM me if you have more questions about how to reduce the cost. Also, PM mom2collegekids for more information about UA in details. Her sons graduated the UA, and she is one of the best source of information regarding UA and tuscaloosa, the city in which the school is located.
Thank you so much, Alabama is definitely gonna be on my list!
Are you female? If so, definitely look into Smith College, a very good women’s school that can be very generous with financial aid.
I would also add:
Howard University for virtual full ride.
Macalester College
Kenyon College
Clark University-apply for LEEP scholarship
And, Mount Holyoke and Scripps College if you are a female
Yes, I’m a female.
Is it hard for females in engineering?I’ve heard some rumors about discrimination, professors not taking female engineers seriously etc.On the other hand, I also read a couple of comments about how it’s easier for girls to get in.
I have no idea why professors would be mean to female engr. students…but no that’s not true.
Yes, it is actually easier for female students to get into as engineer majors that it is for male students. American colleges are trying to be ‘well rounded’, for example, if there are too many male engineering students, then the school will prefer to accept female engineering students.
However, such logic works in prolly top 40? colleges. Many state colleges or mid-tier(roughly above 110 and below 60? Someone correct me if I am wrong) private schools won’t care and will accept you regardless majors unless you are applying for business major or nursing major, which is quite competitive.
No, it’s GOOD to be a woman in engineering: there are far fewer of them, so schools welcome female engineering students.
@paul2752 From my experience, only dodgy schools ask to translate intl grades to students. Most of the colleges employ evaluation agencies themselves.
There are some schools that aren’t really experienced in international student matters…like UAlabama(not really proud about that but true). I know many international students in UA who had to translate their transcripts for admission
The CS/Engineering world can be tough for women, but some universities are trying to offset that and “change the culture”. There’s a lot of awareness and thinking going on to improve things. Look into Smith, Olin, HarveyMudd. Agnes Scott, with its GTech partnership, is a great possibility too.