I do not know where is my percentile since my school doesn’t provide it, but average GPA in my school is 3.67
Google the college name and net price calculator. Here’s Swat’s:
https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/swarthmore
NPCs can be inaccurate for international students though. You can contact the school’s international admissions officer and ask if the NPC would be accurate for your situation.
Bigger picture, all the schools on your list are need aware for international students, which means your level of need may impact the admission decision. Schools have limited FA dollars, and choose which applicants they will invest in. There are precious few spots for international students with full financial need.
The 4 schools in your post do meet full need (as calculated by the school) of the students they accept.
Because you have full need, you should consider all US colleges reaches. Do you have an affordable option in your country or elsewhere?
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yes
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My two cents is you might want to take a shot at some LACs with robust merit programs. You’ll have to check, though, if they get up to 100% for Internationals. Many will still expect some contribution.
Just as an example, forum-favorite St Olaf offers quite good aid to some Internationals, but unless you attend a United World College, the max aid even with loans and work study is going to leave you about $7-10K short:
https://wp.stolaf.edu/financialaid/international-student-information/
So if that isn’t doable, I think you can scratch St Olaf from your list.
Nearby Macalester, though, is a 100% meets need college for Internationals. That alone is a bit dicey because they define need and also they are very much need aware for Internationals. However, Macalester also has an International merit scholarship program, the Turck Scholarship. All this is very competitive but I think it implies if Macalester wanted you badly enough they could make it affordable for you.
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Note that even when colleges do meet “full need”, that scholarship does not always include things such as travel, health insurance, books, spending money, etc. which can run into thousands of dollars. Understand what a “full scholarship” means at each school and be sure your family can manage any other costs.
It is fine to take a shot at some US colleges that appear to make financial sense – and I’m very glad you have affordable alternatives elsewhere.
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Applying TO makes a lot of sense for internationals because standardized tests are very poor indicators for students who come from excellent systems where such tests don’t exist.
However students in that situation MUST come from systems where corruption doesn’t exist AND where there are external/national exams.
Some of the colleges that require tests actually accept external/national exams in replacement for the SAT/ACT (more content, more meaningful, etc.)
Unless OPs school is used to sending students to selective LACs and the transcript is thus understood at face value, a very high SAT/ACT score would be needed if there’s no AP, IB, ALevel… score.
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My son did not go to Reed. Three main reasons.
- Cost was way way more.
- Didn’t find admission staff/professors interested enough to engage with student.
- Mixed reviews about environment and student body. Especially so for a economically center right and apolitical kid.
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