Are these Universities good enough for an International seeking low contribution? [3.78 GPA, rank 1]

[tsbna44]

It could be seen as less interest for those who track. So EA could be better.

I would let your SAT needs dictate.

[Ihopethebest]

@MMRose

public colleges

I don’t know if this is limited to public colleges but I think that If I get my december score and the announcements get announced in about January for EA, we would have no idea whether they have already considered me or not.

So RD is not bad in this scenario according to some colleges/

[tsbna44]

No all but many public schools mostly fill up from EA leaving few spots open RD. Which publics are on your list ?

If you apply RD, they won’t have considered you EA unless maybe if you applied well b4 the deadline.

But they all (privates) give you decision dates. If it’s March, they won’t have evaluated you in Dec. You can still get your updated SAT in.

[MMRose]

Many public schools accept most of their students in the EA round and there aren’t very many slots left to allocate for RD. So your chances are much less RD than EA for those types of schools.

Your current SAT will likely be well above the average for most of the southern public schools that have been recommended to you— recommended because they are inexpensive and because they are likely to admit you because you will be a stronger student than their typical applicant. So you are very likely to be completely fine to apply EA to those types of public schools, and in fact, that would be recommended if it is an option.

[MMRose]

Editing to add that these types of schools usually don’t have supplemental essays, so no extra work to apply EA assuming your common app essay is done —which it will be if you are applying ED anywhere.

[Ihopethebest]

I do not need to submit ISFAA Forms to universities where I am applying merit right?

Thank you.

[Ihopethebest]

I have taken the ISFAA Form from Amherst but the text does not align with their given format while I try to edit it. I emailed colleges for ISFAA forms , and been waiting for response.

Does anyone have a download link to the original ISFAA form? I tried searching nothing comes up except amherst.

[Ihopethebest]

I will apply EA to public universities.

[MMRose]

Unfortunately, i think you need to ask the individual schools.

[SJ2727]

@Ihopethebest

I do not need to submit ISFAA Forms to universities where I am applying merit right?

I seriously doubt any school is going to give you enough merit to cover cost. You mostly need need-based aid, maybe topped up with merit. You will generally only get merit aid at colleges that offer it (not all do) and where your stats are well above average of the student body. Funding like the Johnson is rare.

[Ihopethebest]

Just for reconfirmation.

Should I list my grades out of 100, or the letters? (my board gives both). I think letters will look better.

[Ihopethebest]

I am looking into them thank you.

[SJ2727]

@Ihopethebest

Should I list my grades out of 100, or the letters? (my board gives both). I think letters will look better.

The colleges will understand your system and it won’t make a difference what “looks” better. If the official transcript will list one then use that, otherwise use whichever you want but it almost certainly won’t make a difference. (For example if both a 91 and a 99 are an A, the college will give it the GPA it assigns to an A.)

[MMRose]

Based on their feedback, are your essays in good shape or do you still need a lot of work on them? If the latter, that’s where your time should be focussed right now.

[MYOS1634]

You need both and a scale indicating what is top 1-2% nationally, what is top 5% nationally, what is top 10% nationally, what is top 10% , top 20% top 25% top 30, 50%… in your State. That’s usually done by the GC or done by the student and validated by the GC.

[SJ2727]

@MYOS1634

That’s usually done by the GC or done by the student and validated by the GC.

Do these schools have guidance counselors? (In my home country it would be very unusual to have one - generally only at the private international-curriculum schools that have students aiming at college overseas, because local universities are almost solely grades-based, and things like transcripts are just part of admin.)

[MYOS1634]

A person acting the role of GC will need to upload a document (transcript, including scale, school profile, etc.)
If there’s no college adviser, no head of year, no headteacher, or anyone who has an overview of the student’s work, then the headmaster, dean, or principal would review the documents carefully presented by the student and approve them or ask for changes. Someone from the school with a verifiable school or education email would upload the approved document into CoalitionApp or CommonApp.

[Ihopethebest]

@MYOS1634

verifiable school or education email would upload the approved document into CoalitionApp or CommonApp.

My principal has a personal email, will something go wrong?

[SJ2727]

I’d be surprised if a lot of these schools have a school profile, at least in the way that is useful to adcoms. I would assume they have some way to rank the student in terms of at least the state or country.

[aunt_bea]

@Ihopethebest

Suppose I get into Southern miss or some other lower ranked universities. Could I transfer to a more prestigious university?

I googled about this, but there is a lot of mixed reviews going around.

@tsbna44

That’s not necessarily in the cards. Can’t count on it and at some schools, transfers are non existent - Swarthmore or aid is less for transfers at some.

You wanted to come to America so badly - but now it’s prestige ?

You are adding roadblocks.

@thumper1

As an international student, it is my opinion you will have difficulty “negotiating” aid period. Actually, don’t even call it negotiating. You will be asking for reconsideration of your need based award.

Most colleges view international students as a means to garner significant cost dollars. Unless there is some change between when you apply for and when you receive your financial aid award, I will guess this will be very challenging and something you should not expect to yield significantly more aid.

-You are applying to an insane amount of schools, begging for admission, begging for free money, expecting to live in the US continuously- for free-during the year and your summers, and having insane expectations throughout 380 posts.

-You don’t want a “lower ranked” school because of whatever crazy, imaginary idea you and your compatriots have about non ivies.

NEWSFLASH, you need a Plan B.

You:
-Applicant from an over-saturated country applicant pool.

-Limited income requesting thousands in aid.

-Lower GPA compared to stars from your country.

-Indicating that you need to desperately leave your country, but indicate you won’t stay at a lower-ranked school? If domestic transfers get limited aid, how will you pay those fees? Best aid dollars go to attract new freshman.

-Need summer income that pays for housing and living expenses.
-Don’t seem to understand that no two schools are alike in the US. It’s not just about getting in, its about fit.

US schools are large, small, far, urban, suburban, rural, mountainous, desert, dry, wet, cold, hot, religious, secular, technical, artsy, vocational, etc.

We have 4000+ colleges and universities that HAVE to be good or they won’t receive accreditation or tuition from parents nor government agencies. They HAVE to meet high educational standards to be approved by the Government. This is not any other country, and this is why you and hundreds of thousands of students want to come to this country.

You don’t want to hear from posters who are telling you to have a PLAN B. You’ve already assumed TRANSFERRING because these schools aren’t good enough for you.
Get off this page. Write your essays.

Start your plan B research.