<p>I think Americans just like to complain because they’ve got so much choice. </p>
<p>GB: Hell yes. My pigeon shall be named after gappy to be nice. But I hope we end up at Amherst together (although you like Harv better so here’s hoping you end up there for your sake!)</p>
<p>Edit: Eh, what can you do, cheese? Some people have brains, some people have money, some people have - er, other things. It’s unfair, but…bleh. And please don’t make me wish I’d applied to Wooster (I’m beginning to wish that, just because I’m getting all insecure about my choices and it seems like I could’ve gotten in. Crap.) Oh, and our schools talk a lot of crap about where they send us. Some get into Ivies, sure, but the vast majority end up at state schools. They’re just the ones not talked about.</p>
<p>Edit II: More meritocratic than India is, at least!!!</p>
<p>Should have applied to Wooster. </p>
<p>And Quasi! Yeah! Let’s do that. Mine shall be named Archibald XVI. And will wear a pilots cap. And I’d love to go to Amheeerst! It would be so cool if we both end up going there! (Or to Harvard hehe). It is all close to Boston, whatevs. Boston is the best city in the world!</p>
<p>EDIT: True. I could be slightly biased because the Netherlands are really, really awfully rich, so everyone gets opportunities, we have a lot of social security etc., so other countries look bad in comparison (except for maybe Sweden or Switzerland or Luxembourg) Meeh. Like, everyone here is middle class. The upper class is pretty small. We don’t really have an under class (that sounds so awful) I guess. Sorry, this is rather uninteresting. </p>
<p>EDIT: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSTON! baby.</p>
<p>I approve of the Boston love.</p>
<p>Eeck, that sounded like tetris.</p>
<p>YEAH BOSTON!!! <em>waves pompoms</em> (There, more me.)</p>
<p>@Quasi and cheese: Do the majority of applicants from your schools apply only to the top few universities?</p>
<p>Also, Quasi, MSN?</p>
<p>@GB - really? I think US offers so many opportunities for lower-income students, comparatively to my country. For us, there’s one big scholarship (I think they give it to about 2000 students) after we finish our studies that’s aimed at low-income students. If you win it, that’s good, you’re set, bonded to the government for 6 years (if med/dentistry - 10 years). This government scholarship used to take race into account but after a huge backlash over a number of years (losing elections, etc), the federal government changed this system to meritocracy last year only. You might have the option to study overseas. We have a few other scholarships, like telecommunications scholarships etc, but all require bonding after graduation, meaning you work for them for x amount of years. US, on the other hand, give institutional aid (well, at least the elites do). That’s like unheard of here. Also unheard of, alumni donations, government grants for low income students, CCs, etc. etc. US, IMO, tries (fails but still tries) to level the playing field unlike my country which doesn’t even bother. To be fair, our unis really can’t afford it. And neither can our government.</p>
<p>@cheese : Does wooster give merit scholarships? How much did they give you, if you don’t mind me asking?</p>
<p>What’s wrong with approving of the Boston love?</p>
<p>B-TOWN!!!</p>
<p>No, you are right about the US, I wrote a bit about Holland in an edit above your post,
There are few other countries that are so ideologic when it comes to equal opportunities; but I think these opportunities are mainly there for people who have the right abilities. I mean, we are all applying to the top colleges in the world, but when it comes to people in the US who might not have the capacity to, idk, go on to be a lawyer or a doctor, they are pretty much shuffled aside and not taken care of. There are a lot of western countries that do a better job at this, I think, although that isn’t necessarily true either. If I ever have the opportunity to change things, I think I would help exactly these people… In the Netherlands we have a pretty extensive welfare state, everyone has health care, gets to retire, etc. It is by no means perfect, but there are very few people here who live in poverty. But because of the fact that the Netherlands are predominantly middle class, there are few opportunities to really change things, or to really accomplish yourself. And most people don’t feel the urge to do so. In that respect, the Netherlands are not the most exciting place to live, because most people feel content with the current status quo. </p>
<p>Sorry, ranting!</p>
<p>About 80% of the people who have applied to places in the States have made up their college list by randomly selecting places from the top 30 of the US News rankings. Virtually everybody has applied to Harvard “for the heck of it”. The remaining 20% have actually researched their colleges. One of the guys who applied to UCLA didnt even know what it stood for. That is how they have selected their colleges. Its really pathetic.</p>
<p>EDIT- wooster does give merit-aid, most awards are upwards of $20000. I got merit aid+a very small grant+work-study+a load option</p>
<p>But what other country offers one the academic freedom that the US does?</p>
<p>EDIT: Wow, that’s pretty sad. I don’t have a whole lot of fellow US applicants in my school but I don’t think any of us applied anywhere “for the heck of it.” Actually, no one applied to Harvard. Too lazy to do that third Subject Test :p</p>
<p>@GB - So true, I’m already thinking of becoming a college counselor. After a year on CC and longer lurking, I think I’m qualified.</p>
<p>Oh man, I wouldn’t wanna make a life out of CC-whoring.</p>
<p>@cheese - Wow. I started with financial aid for internationals. Then narrowed from there.</p>
<p>But in the end, I did end up applying to places that don’t quite fit me like a glove. as an intl requiring aid, I don’t really like my safety. My low match, I can learn to love.</p>
<p>Harvard needs 3 subject tests!! that is going to ruin the day for so many people who still think that is subject test optional…hahahaha</p>
<p>You should realize that I’m one of the handful few people from my school who ARE applying for aid. Most, actually about 90% of the applicants, are full pay.</p>
<p>Haha people think Harvard is Subject Test-optional? Funny :p</p>
<p>Oh, how I wish it wash Subject Tests optional. I would burn my books this instant.
Although, Bio is pretty interesting!</p>
<p>^ um, wow. Haha, 90% is a lot. I only know of a few people who applied to Stanford without asking for aid last year (you know, cause its acceptance rate is f-ing 3% for intls needing aid) and they got in. So they could afford to pay. But then one of them got into Princeton, applied for aid cause its need-blind and only had to pay like half the COA. So that was a good deal, and off to Princeton she went.</p>
<p>Yay Bio! :D</p>
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