Chance a broke international living in the UAE

[Study_s]

Guidelines

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• Please do not include your race.

Demographics: African in the UAE

• US domestic (US citizen or permanent resident) or international student
• State/Location of residency: International
• Type of high school (or current college for transfers):private non feeder
• Other special factors: (first generation to college, legacy, recruitable athlete, etc.): none

Cost Constraints / Budget: no idea will vary but could be 5k to around 13k or maybe even 0 (dad suddenly lost his job just now)

(High school students: please get a budget from your parents and use the Net Price Calculators on the web sites of colleges of interest.)

Intended Major(s): Econ

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores:
5A*’s and 2A’s in IGCSE
AAB in as level (A is highest possible, I’m I cooked cause I got a B?)
AAA* predicted in a2

• College GPA: (for transfer applicants)
• Class Rank: school doesn’t rank but I’m probably the 3rd out of 4X students.
• ACT/SAT Scores: never took it, will prob take in august

List your HS coursework; a level and IGCSE’s. Student can take max 3 subjects in a level and 6 in igcse (I took 7)

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

• English:
• Math: (including highest level course(s) completed)
• Science: (including which ones, such as biology, chemistry, physics)
• History and social studies:
• Language other than English: (including highest level completed)
• Visual or performing arts:
• Other academic courses:

College Coursework (Transfer Applicants)
(Include college courses taken while in high school if not included above.)

• General education course work:
• Major preparation course work:

Awards:
-$500 grant for good grades

Extracurriculars
(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience):

-I founded the largest restock tracker page for 2 specific products in the UAE. I worked with Amazon to deliver links to customers. I’m the biggest restock tracker in the UAE (and probably the Middle East). 1000+ items bought (worth more than $600k). 4000+ followers and made around $2000 from links.

• Started an initiative that helps those wanting to send money back to their famalies in my country to those who has an account in one specific app (after war started in my country u can only send money thru this app and most people didn’t register before the war). more than $6k worth of donations sent, reaching 27 families in 10 states of my country, collaborated w 2 local shops.

-import and export reselling business. 100+ items sold, approx $60k+ in sales, 100+ customers from multiple countries.

-hosted cultural gathering iftars promoting my countries local food, 100+ attendes, made a cook book w collab w a restaurant.

-recycling initiative - recycled 10k+ bottles (w friends) and installed recycling bins in a couple of buildings.

-student council and sports team vice captain in skl.

-robotics internship at local uni

• I also manage real estate protfoilo for a relative (paying service charges and stuff) but I’m prob not gonna mention this since I think it’ll affect my chances of getting aid.

–some other ECs that are small and not worth mentioning.

Essays/LORs/Other
(Optionally, guess how strong these are and include any other relevant information or circumstances.):

essays no idea I still didn’t start but LORs my English teacher LOVES me he will prob write some fire LOR’s

Schools
(List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified): planning on shotgunning, LAC’s, ivy’s basically anything that gives aid.

If a scholarship is necessary for affordability, indicate that you are aiming for a scholarship and use the scholarship chance to estimate it into the appropriate group below; also, for colleges that admit by major or division, consider that in chance estimate.

• Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability):
• Extremely Likely:
• Likely:
• Toss-up:
• Lower Probability:
• Low Probability:

[Study_s]

I meant 3 A stars for predicted

[thumper1]

So…you are asking for suggestions? Is that correct?

As an international student, the vast majority of colleges that guarantee to meet full need here are need aware for you…meaning that they will take your financial need into consideration when they evaluate your admissions application. And these colleges are reaches for all.

It sounds like you need a full tuition award of some kind at least…either need based or merit. The colleges will determine your financial need based on your parent financials…and yours.

You don’t give us much info to go on…like location, size, etc.

[Study_s]

I’m okay with any university but I just want to know my chances (and see if it’s worth applying especially for top schools) since I’ll not be getting a fee waiver and application fees are huge - don’t want to waste them.

[thumper1]

Your chances at elite colleges as an international student are lower. Look at the acceptance rates and divide them in half. Some are single digit already. These colleges are reaches for everyone but even more for international students.

@MYOS1634 any suggestions.

[Study_s]

Woah okay makes sense. Thank you so much:)

[skieurope]

@thumper1

Look at the acceptance rates and divide them in half.

The OP is a high need student. Dividing by 3 is more realistic

[Study_s]

even crazier, so basically I have less than 1% chance of acceptance lol.

Thank you!!

[NiceUnparticularMan]

Long story short, if you are flexible about exactly where you go, with high numbers, a good college prep program, good English, and such, I think it is relatively easy to get down into the $30s, possibly high $20s with merit, annually.

With a budget below that, I think there simply is no guarantee you can get the combination of admissions and aid you will need. So I think you need a good alternative plan to going to a four-year college in the US, and then you can look at some of your better bets that may or may not work out.

[happy1]

Sounds to me like you will basically need a full ride. And even with a full ride, your family may need to pay for expenses such as health insurance, travel, books, incidentals, etc. which could quickly add up to thousands of dollars annually.

You are an impressive candidate. But as others have said upthread, it is extremely difficult for even very well qualified international students to get a full ride to a US college.

I’d apply to a broad range of colleges and give it your all. But it would be wise to seek out affordable options in your home country as well.

[SJ2727]

Have you looked at NYU Abu Dhabi? I don’t know an awful lot about them but my understanding is that their acceptance rate is low but they are very generous with funding with those they admit. And you wouldn’t have to worry about the added costs like international air fares, US health insurance etc. it may be worth a look.