So many, simply because I need hefty financial aid. Apart from these, do you think there are any I should switch out for better financial aid chances?
I’m an international student from India applying with hefty financial aid ( ugh ). I intend to pursue a human rights // international affairs // public policy and philosophy oriented major.
SAT: 1480 ( 770 Reading/Writing and 710 Math) - terrible I know
Essay: 22/24
Class rank: Top 5-10%
GPA: We don’t get one, I’m doing the A-Levels and my predicted grades are A,A,B.
I focus a lot on my ECs.
-Organized a musical fundraiser to raise money for LGBT women
-President of the school fest, hosting 5 schools and 500 people one year and 10 schools and a 1000 people the next.
-I run a charity to rehabilitate stray dogs in India. Government recognized, affiliated with hospitals.
-Prefect in the student council for 2 years.
-Debate team for 4 years, won inter-school and national debates. Same for MUN, several awards.
-Worked with Apne Aap, an organization working towards the rehabilitation of sex workers
-Ensured the employment of female workers at a petrol pump when I interned at a firm that owned it
-Published in 3 short story anthology books. 1 in India and 2 international.
-Several other community service and social justice related activities
My recommendations will be stellar, I’m mostly sure. I write a lot and I feel like my common app essay is strong…do you think it’ll make up for my SAT score and want for financial aid?
^ @chemiodad: this student is international, comes from an over represented country, and needs a lot of financial aid. Therefore, all universities on this list are reaches to high reaches.
@slaythedogma:
Frankly if your top choice is Pitzer, I don’t think you’ll get into McKenna simply because they are polar opposites in terms of fit (social justice v.making money) and at this level of selectivity fit matters a lot.
What’s your budget?
This is going a driving factor for decisions.
I will comment in your odds based on that criterion. (For everything else, your profile is stellar.)
I would apply to a few universities that provide merit aid: Miami Ohio, Temple, Ohio University HTC, UMN Liberal arts/Honors; perhaps UTD AES (only if you’re interested in STEM or business). Hurry, the deadline tends to be Nov 30 or Dec1st.
CMC is my top choice owing to its somewhat corporate approach to human rights but human rights/social justice is my primary interest. I really was conflicted between these two schools but definitely pictured myself at CMC more…I didn’t know much about Pitzer till recently.
My budget is well, negligible. I come from a single parent family and I live with my mother who has a struggling business. The EFC is going to be well, close to nothing, let’s just keep it at that.
My guidance counselor in school is just one of the best in the business, and most of the colleges on my list have been suggested by her after understanding my financial need…so I’m hoping it’s not completely hopeless. I’ve also interviewed with most of them and plan to interview with all, and I show my demonstrated interest when I can.
I did look at the schools you suggested but only Miami Ohio seems to both fit and provide sufficient aid…I applied to University of Miami, Vanderbilt and Rollins owing to their merit aid. I sure hope not all of it is a lost cause! I’d love to hear some more input.
Honestly I don’t think there are any safeties as an international applying from an over represented country with a need for a great deal of financial aid. Be sure to explore options in your home country as well.
^^^ With the phrase that he/she needs “hefty financial aid” my hunch is that the OP needs more than $20 - $30K (although I’d be happy to be wrong).
And FWIW unless CMC guarantees to meet full need (and I don’t know if that is the case) I’m not sure that applying ED is wise as the OP forgoes the chance to compare offers between schools.
It’d help if we knew OP’s budget.
But typically “hefty” means either full tuition or full ride. @slaythedogma : the issue is that you’re very competitive, yet if you need a full ride, the colleges will only choose one, and there’s no way you can know whether it’d be you.
What’s your budget?
I’d need a full ride, guys. It’s scary, I know. I’m willing to take out a loan if they give me close to that but there’s no way to negotiate that either.
So I’ve submitted my applications to most of these places a long time ago, like 15 of them. So I have about 4 spaces left (I’m applying to one in Germany on the Common App) and I’d love for you guys to help me decide where to apply. If it’s not on the list below and on the list in the OP, I’ve already applied. Do select schools I’d have a good chance at.
Macalester (It's a good fit and I think I'm within the range)
Hamilton (I love it but it's a reach)
Haverford (It's such a reach but I love it so much)
Kenyon (not particularly got my courses but aid)
Gettysburg (got my courses, within my range)
Pitzer (honestly wouldn't mind appying ED2 there if it made sense)
Lafayette
Union
I need to get this down to 4! Paired with any suggestions you guys might have.
Based upon 1) your expressed affinity for the programs at several of your potential choices and 2) the possibility that your well-resourced (and therefore well-funded) reaches may be obtainable, you might want to consider applications to Macalester, Hamilton, Haverford and Pitzer.
@merc81 those are the 4 I’m most keen on! Might switch out Haverford for Gettysburg for safety…but those are the dream 4 yes.
@Corinthian I can’t really have a safety I know, owing to the competitiveness of international aid at these schools… however my stats are somehwat above Oxy’s so in that respect it is a safety school (that I wouldn’t think twice before committing to because of its DWA program!)
Fellow international from India here, apply to one ivy like Yale which is need blind. I know it’s a crapshoot but just do it because I have heard too many miracle stories,
