Demographics: South Asian,Female, International student
Applying test optional, didn’t took any test
Course : Don’t have the option of taking AP or honors classes, took 13 courses in phy,chem,bio, computer science,eng,Math.(which are mandatory for all high school seniors,no option of taking courses)
GPA -5/5 unweighted, class rank 1
Eca
1.Volunteer tutor for 12 underprivileged students
2.Class representative (2year)
3.Extempore speaker and mentor for speaker team
4.Quiz team leader,1st position in school comp, mentored the team.
5.Excutive for online organization,received best employee
6.Peer tutor for 8 students
7.Collaborated with other schools on a project
8.Sub editor for a small magazine
9.Virtual summer camp(nothing prestigious)
Honors
1.Academic award national level (top 0.0008% receive)
2.Was one of the top 15 participants in a national level leadership program
3.Attained position in bio Olympiad (regional)
4. Achieved award as the best student based on academic performance
Major - Environmental studies, Economics
EFC - very little,need full ride
Recs -8/10,knows me pretty well due to my involvement in school activities
I am well aware about the low or near zero chances of an international applicant seeking full aid and I have backup options in my country.But I want give my dreams their best shot before I give up.
School list
ED 1 was Washington and Lee - was deferred
Thinking of doing ED2 in Bowdoin
Based on my profile, what colleges should I apply for ED2 and RD? Thank you in advance.
You seem like a strong enough applicant. The acceptance rates for international students for all the colleges here are very low…but you could be one who gets accepted.
Bowdoin is a good option as it is need blind and meets full need for all international students accepted. And the school has been test optional for decades so you are good there.
But considering your financial limitations, I do have to ask…why are you applying binding ED?
So as you mention, needing a full ride as an international applicant is a very daunting requirement. Only a very few US colleges both promise to meet full demonstrated need for internationals (and they define what that means) and also to be need blind in admissions, and those few colleges are very tough admits.
But, Bowdoin is one of those few colleges. So combined with your interests that makes them a very good candidate for ED 2, assuming you are comfortable with their definition of need:
The others are Amherst, Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Yale. It is not a coincidence that these along with Bowdoin are some of the wealthiest colleges per student. Bowdoin is the only one of these with ED 2, so, that settles that.
There are some other colleges that are full need for internationals, but are also need aware. I think that makes them less suitable for ED 2, but maybe you could consider them for RD. I’d suggest checking out Middlebury, Vassar, and Colgate, and possibly Trinity.
Bowdoin is a reach for any applicant - and even more so for an international student needing full aid. You are a fine applicant but it is impossible to chance you. Apply, give it your all, and see what happens.
You would be wise to apply to colleges in your home country as well.
Bowdoin is need blind for admissions for international students. The admissions office won’t have any idea this international student needs aid when they evaluate admissions.
The main reason for applying to ED2 is to show my demonstrated interest in Bowdoin. Besides it is one of my favourite colleges.By running their net price calculator, their financial aid package seems affordable to me and they are very generous too.
I think you are in good shape, then. Bowdoin is a good ED 2 choice (given your report that it seems affordable), you are applying to other US colleges that might also be affordable and would be good for your interests, and you have backup options in your country if none of that works out . . . I think it is just a matter of seeing how it goes. Good luck!
Per Bowdoin’s FAQ only 7% of students are enrolled are international students so I’m thinking it is a factor (I could be wrong but there are more Maine residents than international students enrolled). Bowdoin Facts and Figures | Bowdoin College
How many students are enrolled at Bowdoin (In Residence, Fall 2023)? 1,850
How many international students? 129 (7.0%)
How many from Maine? 180 (9.7%)
How many students are in the first-year class (Class of 2027)? 504
How many international students? 41 (8.1%)
How many from Maine? 49 (9.7%)
My two cents is a general problem that international applicants face is that even though many highly selective US colleges would love more international students, they have concerns about whether all their international applicants–who are often coming out of very different educational systems–will really thrive at their colleges. This is particularly an issue for highly selective private liberal arts colleges, because that is a form of college that is extremely rare outside the US.
Of course academic and personal fit is a big deal with US applicants too. But I think it is even more an issue for internationals, including because their pre-college curriculums are quite different in many cases, they don’t necessarily do similar sorts of activities, they can have different norms for what even counts as a good college experience, and so on.
But obviously some international applicants succeed, and indeed these colleges want some to succeed. I just think there is some truth to the fact that international applicants can face a lot of challenges when it comes to assuring a Bowdoin they are actually going to really contribute to and benefit from being at such a college in the ways that Bowdoin is hoping.