I don’t want to overwhelm you with information, but the last point I would emphasize is that at the end of the day, admissions to these colleges is not a judgment on your objective merit as a kid, it is simply a calculation that admitting you will help them satisfy one or more of their institutional priorities.
This is particularly stark with Internationals. Different US colleges manifestly have different institutional strategies when it comes to Internationals, and so whether they will be interested in admitting a given International could very much depend on that strategy. And then also who else applies, and whether enough of those Internationals seem like just a bit better of a bet for their strategic purposes.
So I see a lot of people generally, and sometimes Internationals in particular, take it kinda hard when they don’t get what they were hoping for out of highly selective US college admissions. But many of these kids are in fact great kids, many in fact are going to be very highly valued by some other institution. In that sense, it truly was not a judgment of individual merit, it was just that things did not line up quite right, that year, for that individual, at those colleges.
So you need to be prepared for it not quite working out at these colleges, and have a good alternative plan. But then maybe it will work out! Only one way to find out.
You’re right honestly. At the end of the day one (especially an international) cannot be sure of their acceptance no matter what. I’ll prepare myself accordingly and look deeper into this whole “alignment” thing. Some alumni friends emphasized it a lot, saying you have to show on your essay that you’re a good fit for a certain campus, basically aligning yourself with your targeted colleges values. I’ll see where it goes honestly.
Dartmouth is very picky with student fit. What made you apply to Dartmouth, specifically? I sure hope it wasn’t because it’s the "bottom Ivy’, as Dartmouth is particularly sensitive to how a student comes across in their writing.
Many schools allow you to submit a musical supplement. Consider doing so. Also, quantify this more - how many kids, how much material did the courses cover, what age, etc.
I agree Dartmouth is particularly sensitive to “all the Ivies” applications. Like their Dean of Admissions has specifically spoken about why that is a pet peeve for him.
But I also think they are all pretty uninterested in kids who just see them as a “prestigious” name to put on a degree that will then be worth a lot of $$$. They are interested in kids who really seem excited about the actual experience of college, and then specifically at their college, in an informed way.
I think this can be a real shock sometimes to kids who think of COURSE that is why they want to go to these colleges! That is basically what the whole conversation is about with these colleges within their family, peer, and other social circles.
But that’s not what these colleges want, so you somehow have to get out of that mindset and starting see them the way they see themselves.
And in the US, this can mean only applying to some, or indeed none at all, after reflection. Internationals in need of a lot of aid, though, have to be more aggressive. But that just means they need to put even more work into really understanding and embracing what these colleges actually value.
Last year a friend from my school got into Dartmouth, that same friend was the first person to introduce me to us college admissions a few years back. At first I wasn’t targeting dartmouth but later i found out about their support regarding undergraduate research, which I really need, so I decided to stick with it as my main school, that I tell to people when they ask.
I’ll go into more detail about my musical career in the common app, i didn’t want to write too much on the thread. Will make sure to submit a musical supplement.
Pretty much every Ivy (really, every top school) has excellent research opportunities. Honestly, Dartmouth does not come to mind when I think “Ivy with research opportunities”. [I think you should look at the list of need blind universities - pretty much every one of these will have research opportunities] (although W&L doesn’t seem to have much specifically in astronomy) (Need-blind admission - Wikipedia)
The University of Notre Dame is also need blind for international students, and they have a lot of physics research opportunities.
I completely agree on understanding college values. It shouldn’t be seen like branding yourself. In the case of me let’s say submitting EA to Dartmouth, I’d really have to show why (as an international) I belong into their school, and their school only. I’ll have to get more research in to actually take a step to show this in my essay though.
OP should be aware that Notre Dame is a Catholic university. You absolutely don’t need to be Catholic to attend - -but one should be comfortable seeing religious symbols on campus and taking required theology/philosophy coursework. Great school if it works.
Universities like W&L or Notre Dame have only just entered my list, as I’ve stated I began to expand my school list recently, and I feel like my “target university” will change multiple times in the next 8 months, hopefully landing at one where I’m aligned with the necessary values.
I’d also like to state that this whole US admissions effort of mine doesn’t come from me reading about Harvard one day or wanting to “be an ivy leauge graduate” just to have that brand on me. It rather derives from my wish to socialize in the US. I grew up with an English speaking household and I guess I’ve always had that wish to have friends who grew up with the same culture that I did. So I don’t see Dartmouth as my “dream school” but rather another door that opens to my path of getting my education in the US.
I think you are approaching this with the exact right attitude, including acknowledging that you are going to need a period of study and reflection to really understand where to apply and how to write the best possible applications. That process can be a lot of work, but I hope you also find it interesting and rewarding as well. And at any stage of the process, if you want to discuss things with us, I know many of us will be happy to help.
You would only be allowed to work on campus - if not included in your financial aid package, you can always request work study (it’d institutional not federal but for you it’d be the same) and it’d be up to you to find a job somewhere. You’re limited to 20H/week but typically as a freshman would get 8-10H and even later anything over 12-15h is likely to affect your grades. You have to find the job yourself and are paid bi monthly, so you can only use the money for personal expenses such as buying toothpaste, pizzas, socks…
Also, during your interview, do not mention work and of course not that you may want to stay as it’s grounds for immediate dismissal - as a student, you must be focused on your studies and your 4years, and it must be pretty clear that you have plans to return/what you’ll do after your degree.
Finally, it’s good you have Plans Bs in Germany and the Netherlands.
Thank you so much for this, my biggest problem during my journey has been finding a second opinion, and the fact that cc and its users are so helpful are such a relief. I will make sure to write again in case I need help, once again, thank you all.
I seem to understand the working atmosphere a whole lot better now. And yes, my plan has always been leaving after 4 years, I probably won’t go back to Turkey, but also won’t stay in the US.
All in all, you have a very strong profile , there’s just no way to predict what will happen, whether you’ll be admitted somewhere or not.
Dartmouth will request a friend letter, so try to think of the person who’d write it for you and ask them. They’ll need lots of anecdotes that show who you are as a person.
, there’s just no way to predict what will happen, whether you’ll be admitted somewhere or not.