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

[twoinanddone]

I think you are looking at the entirely wrong tier of colleges. At the top colleges, you are competing with the top students from the US and around the world. Some of those students have more money than you, higher scores, connections. It is a real long shot for you and if you get in you may not be able to afford it.

I suggest if you want to study in the US, look for the hidden gems. Schools in less popular states - South Dakota School of Mines, Montana State, New Mexico, Idaho, Arkansas. What will you get? A CS degree! Others above have suggested the HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Many have scholarships, and already start with lower tuition. There are also the Tech schools; some are well known and probably less likely for you (Virginia Tech) but others are still growing and looking for students (Florida Tech, Illinois Inst. Tech, ). Embry-Riddle is another option (campuses in Florida and Arizona). Also, the smaller state schools might work. You aren’t getting into U of Colorado Boulder with enough aid, but you might be able to cobble together funds for U of Colorado-Colorado Springs or CU-Denver (good engineering).

Many students in the US can’t afford to go to college right out of high school so get a skilled job and then work to pay their way through. The kid next door went to an auto mechanic (tech) school and then could make $50-75/hr fixing cars while paying his own tuition at CU-Boulder (where he decided he didn’t want to be an engineer so switched to the aeronautics program at Metro State Denver to become a pilot but still paying his own way). My daughter loved to ‘do hair’ as a child so I wanted her to get a license to cut and style hair to pay her way thru college but she had other ideas. In CS, many go to coding schools and work as coders thru college. Or work for companies (Starbucks, UPS) doing anything that will pay their way through college. Or go to college online for a time before finishing college on a campus (or not). My SIL has done his entire masters degree online, paid for by the GI Bill because he joined the military after undergrad, and started his new job in that field last Monday, 2 months before graduating. Everyone in the US is not a full time college student especially if their families can’t afford even $12k per year.

Long post, but understand that all American students, even those with good grades and scores and money, can’t just apply to 20 top colleges and get to go to them. Applying to the top 20 colleges is not spreading a wide net. Applying to lesser known (not lesser, just lesser known) schools, applying to schools that need YOU more than you need them (although you DO need them), having to buy a very warm winter coat may be the road to a college for you.

Or going to school in India while you work may be your best option.

[MMRose]

I think he might be referring to any scholarships associated with applying EA.

@MYOS1634 , can the OP apply EA with his current test score and then update his scores with the colleges if he does better in November or December and still be considered for any merit scholarships associated with EA?

[thumper1]

@MMRose

think he might be referring to any scholarships associated with applying EA.

His original list of colleges was comprised mostly of colleges that do NOT give merit aid at all. And for those that do…very highly competitive (which he knows). But most give no merit aid at all.

[MMRose]

Agreed.

[aunt_bea]

@tsbna44

You need to open that mind if the goal is to come to America. I sent you last night Southern Miss - yes, it’s a regional public - but it’s in America. Based on what they show, you don’t get to the $$ - but another student recently posted their friend got a full ride. So schools like that, like Troy which with your stats could be free for a US Student - that’s where you need to look.

And yet you only responded to posters who provided “high ranked” schools.

You say you want to be in the US - but now are you really saying, I only want to be at elite?

Why?

You can’t study CS at non-elite schools?

Your goal is to study in the US…or isn’t it?? If your goal is to study only at what you perceive as elite institutions, then you’ve made it harder for yourself.

Completely agree that you are setting yourself for a huge disappointment if you only want to apply to “”elite” schools!
I know that international students, especially students from India, are confused about the quality of US universities, especially the publics. Indian students tend to only apply to a small list of those elites, and then are ”shocked” that they don’t get in.

The US has about 4000 universities. If those schools want paying students, they have to provide a quality education for, not only those students, but also for their future employers. Employers do not want to employ college graduates with poor skills or education. That’s is why the US university education is tough. Otherwise, why would you want to attend schools in the US?

(As an example, California has 23 CSU [California State University] campuses and they have 10 UC [University of California] campuses. These are public schools and a number of them are the best in the world. Why do you think Google and Apple are in California? Why do you think Silicon Valley is in California? I’m not including the private campuses like USC, Caltech and Stanford. These are all VERY unaffordable for you. I’m mentioning this, however, because we get a great education in our state {like the Cal Polys and San Diego State} which aren’t ivies, but they are phenomenal education powerhouses. New York has the State University system (SUNY) with phenomenal and historically famous graduates.)

My point is that there is a finite number of seats at those “ranked” universities. Most US families cannot afford those schools, so they have choices to apply to affordable choices or in-state schools. They get great educations, and become employed/successful.

If you won’t accept alternate, affordable school suggestions, (offered by these reasonable posters) then why ask?
If you only want ranked, unaffordable choices with admissions statistics that indicate extremely limited chances of admission, you will be sunk when those rejections appear frequently.

The universities here will educate you, but they will expect you to return to your country after providing a 4-year education. Your student Visa will expire. The universities do not guarantee to provide future employment, housing nor immigration. That’s a US immigration issue.

If you really want to study in the US, then you need to take a look at what’s affordable for you and what your options are because you’re asking schools to give you money, when they don’t have to.

[MYOS1634]

Yes, indeed.
At most colleges, at least. OP would have to email them after sending the September scores to know whether he can send December scores and they’ll update the app& scholarships - but if the app is late, it doesn’t matter whether the December score is higher since the application won’t be considered. So, OP needs to send his applications to universities with merit with the September scores.
I already indicated to OP that he must get applications to the universities with solid merit, often for 1400+ scores, by Nov1, (including Honors colleges if that’s the deadline but some have a later deadline) anywhere from Delaware State to UCentralArkansas to Southern Miss to UMN Morris, and if he takes the SAT again he should designate those that will accept updated scores as universities getting the free scores from College board.

An issue OP has, like high need internationals, is that universities that meet need for internationals (whether need blind or need aware) are all highly selective.

@Charann :
I meant Cornell Cals - Information Science with a concentration in UX, or Behavioral Informatics, or Systems and Markets, would be excellent but being less well-known as the usual majors in Engineerong or A&S, tend to get fewer applications, especially from India, meaning you’ll stand out a bit more easily.

Information Science Major

But there’s also

Global Development Major

Your odds there are probably the same as for Bowdoin, Brown, or Amherst; although it doesn’t have an open curriculum so you might like it less, it’s a possibility for ED beside your other 3 top choices.

Right now, can you list

• ED1 universities under consideration (with net price as indicated by NPC, after adding amounts of “Pell grants” back in since only IS citizens get Pell grants).
• universities with merit and Nov1 scholarship or Honors deadlines where you’re preparing an application
• any other EA application?

In addition, look at the European universities and ask questions wrt anything that’s unclear. That deadline is Dec 15 so you have a bit more time.

[Charann]

Yes, I was talking about the scholarships associated with EA

[thumper1]

Which colleges on your current list offer merit scholarships? Yes, you need to apply by the deadline. You would have to check to see if they allow later submissions of SAT scores. In my experience, EA…once you have submitted by the deadine, that’s it.

[Charann]

Almost all the Honors colleges are public, meaning that my financial need will barely be met, there is sadly no point in even applying to them, even with the merit scholarships going on it would be impossible for me to cover it.

Those Cornell majors are completely out of my interest.

I thank you for the reply

The only ED1 i am considering is brown.

I don’t know what to do for the EA applications everything I hoped just died down. I need to change my list drastically

[MYOS1634]

For scholarships, some (directional/smaller public especially) colleges with automatic scholarships or competitive amounts added to the automatic amount will “update” scores even after the application deadline because first the student has to be admitted then only is the scholarship app considered. Many colleges that open their application portal in July or early August will accept Sept or October SAT updates.
Rule of thumb: OP needs to email the colleges where he’s applying for merit.

[Charann]

I have Umiami scholarship deadline exactly on November 21 if I take the sat, the result day will be the same as deadline. I don’t know if this would work or not.

I have been hearing negativity about Umiami aid, I think its worthless to apply to it.

[Charann]

I don’t see any scope for public universities they are going up to 20k USD with all boarding, which is not possible for me to afford.

[Charann]

all the colleges that you have mentioned have a bare minimum of 15k USD per annum to invest. That is a bit of a burden for my family. We can’t go over 12k at all. Only private universities would seem to give any funds that would match my efc sadly. I really do not want to stay in India at any cost, I just feel scared here.

Wow, I am surprised to know that only 38% of the whole US population has a bachelors degree.

I am pessimistic about schools needing an intl with a 1430 SAT and giving him huge aid.

I’ll try my best to be on the look

Thank you so much for the effort in your post

[MYOS1634]

@Charann

Almost all the Honors colleges are public, meaning that my financial need will barely be met

Some offer full tuition, full tuition+housing, and full ride scholarships. These don’t depend on financial need, only on test scores and Gpa×rigor in relation to their application pool or according to number charts. Now, odds are that you won’t get full tuition+housing or full tuition but it’s been done and thus is not hopeless.

Can you give us your current list?

ED1= Brown
ED2= ?
EA/Priority= ?
Non US =?

[MYOS1634]

UMiami: They can be generous but they tend to admit students who can afford more than 12k.

I understand 12k is a huge stretch for a lot of families.

Your SAT score is evaluated in relation to the pool they have and the one they want to attract. So if most students score 1480+ your score isn’t good enough for merit but if most students score 1150 then your score shines. Lots of American students take the scholarship that pays for their high scores so you wouldn’t be alone.

Do you have an application fee waiver on Coalition or CommonApp?

[tsbna44]

Really - you missed this. Reach out to Troy U and find out if international is included. And given another intl poster mentioned southern miss and full ride - apply there. You are wasting time at brown quite honestly. Apply - it won’t hurt - but stat wise you are not close.

Btw you need to show proof of funds and other things - health insurance - so $12k might not be $12k.

The Scholars Award at Troy - is less than $12k find out if you are eligible.

• Students with a 30-32 ACT/1360-1440 RSAT and a 3.7 GPA will receive tuition and basic housing

[Charann]

My bad, I am sorry that my intentions were not stated properly. I would at this point go to any university in the US which offers a decent CS program and would match my EFC.

I am by no means, judging public universities of your country. I am only sad with myself that I cannot afford them.

most of the posters here are mentioning Public universities, which I do not think will match my EFC considering my profile. It is quite weak.

It is expected that I will be rejected, and would be in despair, it obviously would hurt my esteem that the work that I done through have gone awry. I am emotionally enriched.

I believe those 4 years of education would really have a great impact on skills, I currently do not think about getting employed but about being educated.

Thank you for your time.

[thumper1]

@Charann

I have been hearing negativity about Umiami aid, I think its worthless to apply to it.

The school meets full need for international accepted students as they calculate that need to be. School is need aware for admissions.

Apply and see.

[SJ2727]

@thumper1

You would have to check to see if they allow later submissions of SAT scores. In my experience, EA…once you have submitted by the deadine, that’s it

At least one of the schools on C26’s list allows EA applicants to submit updated scores by a certain date to still be considered in the admission decision, but I’d guess that’s really only going to make a difference in borderline cases. (And this particular school is a public that won’t meet need for out of state or internationals.) Others are firm on deadlines for everything. So yes, school by school basis.

[Charann]

I have checked many public universities pages and returned in disappointment, but I have not checked all I might have a chance as you said.

All my plans have drastically changed.

I was planning to EA Umiami but I think it is pointless now, considering the negativity I got here.

no decided colleges on the left.