Chances of getting in?

International Students
1
  • GPA: 18.04/20 (extraordinary in my country)
  • SAT: 1470
  • SAT Subject tests: 800 French with listening and 780 Math Level 2
  • Fluent in 4 languages

Honors:

  • Top 3 at school’s maths olympiads in 9th and 10th grade
  • 3rd prize at National Science Awards
  • Recognition of excellence for being ranked 1st out of graduating class during all high school
  • 1st in math and Top 3 in physics and chemistry all high school

ECA:
Mostly tech+environmental protection because I’m interested in computer/environmental engineering. If anything is not considered an activity please correct me.

  • US Department of State's TechGirls program: 3 week exchange program for 27 MENA girls where they acquire technological and personal skills.
  • Technovation Challenge: international girls contest and 3 month program where they build apps that solve a problem in their community. Won 2nd prize in my country in 2015 and participated in COP22 edition this year.
  • IT/communication committee at a national NGO (social media manager) which aims to get more teenage girls involved in STEM.
  • Head of IT and Communication at National Company Program: contest where young students found their companies and each one gets a role (took care of website and communication etc). Ours was a Green one.
  • Secretary general in my school's environmental club in 10th grade
  • Founder and president of a community service and civic engagement club in my school
  • Organizer of an environmental awareness conference for high school students and attended many important conferences about the subject
  • Startup Weekend Cleantech: similar to company program (founding companies in the environmental protection field
  • Soon to organize a coding workshop for young girls

I am not sure whether I can/should include:

  • Coding (as a frequent activity)
  • Vice Secretary General of Model UN club
  • Music theory for 9 years and guitar for 4

I need a 90%+ scholarship/grant, and plan to apply Early to Chicago, Columbiaengineering, UVirginia, Villanova, Tulane, TexasA&M, and Jacobs.

Based on the information above, where do you think I have good chances of getting in with full need met? And where do you think I should apply regular? On my list are UAlabama and a few ivies (I know it’s very hard but my ECAs and academics are outstanding for someone from my country so I thought maybe it will help) but I need more suggestions of fairly good schools where I can get in.

2

I assume you’re female – if so, check out all-women’s schools such as Mt. Holyoke, Smith, Wellesley, They can be very generous with financial aid and are quite prestigious. However, since they’re not universities (rather LACs - liberal arts colleges) do check whether they offer enough CS, tech majors if that’s the path you want to take.

3

A friend got into Smith and told me about these schools’ generosity so I looked up their majors, but they don’t seem to offer what I would like to study… Do you think I have a good shot at getting into any of the above or Illinois Institute of Technology please?

4

your education sounds great! Can I ask you what country you’re from?

5

Thank you! I amMoroccan :slight_smile:

6

It’s SO HARD to estimate any international student’s chances! Academically you have what it takes; you’re female and from (I think) an under-represented part of the world.

Write a compelling essay, and get some good letters of recommendations (admissions people are always looking for statements such as “one of the best students I’ve ever taught” or “a born leader”) and you definitely become an outstanding, attractive applicant.

But.

But the international competition for full financial aid is huge, and the pool of available scholarships relatively small. Your chances are affected by how many other talented, accomplished students from Morocco/North Africa happen to be applying next year. It’s affected by the economy, the schools’ financial situation, your prospective major and even the strength of the department(s) you might be studying in.

So let me just say your chances appear as good as the best international students’ … and maybe more so since, again, you’re a woman.

But whether you actually get in with the financial aid you need – is really hard to say.

Still – apply. Apply widely to both elite and less-selective schools. I’d think with your credentials you will get in SOMEWHERE…

7

Tulane sounds like a potential fit. They give merit and need based aid to international students. And Tulane has per its website about 150 undergraduate international students out of 6700+.

So if there is a fit, and available funds, Tulane might work. Seems they want more international students. Peer schools have a multiple of the rate of internationals Tulane has.

8

U have a good shot!!