I’m an international student from Uruguay (female). I graduated last year in the top 5 percent of my class, and although I personally don’t think my grades were perfect, my high school, which is public and also one of the most recognized in the country, has a rather… peculiar way of grading, something I guess they will have explained in the profile.
I’m also totally blind, I’ve been blind all my life. This has brought me some problems, especially considering that I was the first visually impaired student in my city to go to high school and graduate. Many teachers refused to adapt the materials for me, or forced me to do work based on images (with only images and no text, it was strange), so the first few years I studied quite independently, taking online courses and getting some materials on my own, I did quite well, and I was also lucky enough to get some very cool teachers (one of them even learned Braille!). Over the last 2 years most of my teachers have been great.
Currently I work as a freelancer for American and British media (I contribute regularly to Foreign Policy and Euronews, and I have also written for Business Insider, The Telegraph, HuffPost…) and that has given me the possibility not only to be known in the field of journalism, but also to interview and learn from many people, politicians, economists, etc.
I learned English by myself. I also co-founded a regional non-profit organization that has been recognized nationally by America Solidaria and UNICEF, participated for 2 years in the international model UNESCO, and do a lot of activism in relation to disability (I give workshops for NGOs, for example, I have spoken at international conferences and created a blog about it). I have also been selected to create content for UNICEF platforms, and I participate in UNICEF Uruguay projects, working especially with the environment, which is also the focus of my non-profit organization.
I was the first person in my family to graduate from high school and go to college, and I am from a fairly low-income family. I am aware that this will affect me negatively in terms of admission.
I intend to apply to a 100 percent unlikely college ED, and either Clark University (which I already had an interview with them that went really, really well) or New York University in ED II. I also have a list of colleges to which I intend to apply in the regular cycle. I’d like to think I have some possibilities, but I understand that being international, from a low income family, and totally blind can really kill my chances. I would appreciate any comments. I apologize for the length of the pst. I am doing all of this alone, with the help of some of the editors I work for (one of them from an internationally recognized magazine submitted a rec) who advise me as much as they can, because no one in my family speaks English. Thanks again.
As an international student requiring financial aid, there are 5 need-blind universities for international students: they are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton and Amherst (which offers ED.) Many other schools will meet your full need if admitted, though this is dependent on the level of your need. I would recommend applying widely (safeties, matches, and reaches,) as there are many other schools in the US offering merit scholarships based on certain GPA thresholds.
Where are you considering applying ED? Has Clark offered merit scholarships or offer financial aid? I believe NYU is need-aware and doesn’t guarantee to meet full need.
Thanks for replying! Clark offers the Global Scholars Program, which can be combined with other merit scholarships and need-based aid, and also has presidential scholarships, which cover the costs of tuition, room and board for 4 years.
As for the rest of the universities on my list, as reaches I have Harvard, Hammerst, Stanford, Northwestern and Princeton (I know I’m more likely to win the lottery than be admitted to one of these), and then I had in mind Syracuse, University of Missouri, Boston University, ASU, George Mason, and some liberal arts colleges (beyond Hammerst). I’m sure these options will change, haha.
Woops, I forgot this and don’t know how to edit my comment, sorry! And when it comes to ED I… I really don’t know. but probably Harvard. I know the chances are just minimal, so I don’t expect to get in. Maybe I should apply ED to a more likely one?
NYU is need aware for internationals and does not promise to meet full need, but occasionally it can be very generous to internationals. I certainly think your background will catch their attention, and is definitely worth an application.
Harvard does not have Early Decision, only Early Action which is not binding (there’s a boost, but not as much as applying ED somewhere.) I would strongly not recommend applying ED2 to NYU given that it is need-aware (as @SJ2727 points out,) but RD is fine. You might consider UChicago for ED2, as they do promise to meet full need if admitted, though they are need-aware for international applicants.
I am not familiar with Clark University’s policies, but if the Global Scholars Program is not automatic, I would not rely on it being offered unless told otherwise. It’s good that you’re applying to ASU as they offer automatic merit scholarships based on test scores/GPA, though confirm that there are not further eligibility requirements an international applicant.
Do you have any test scores: SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, AP, IB etc? Or are you planning on applying test-optional?
You have a strong backstory and yours is a case where it does make sense to apply to your favorite reach (one that offers 100% need based aid to internationals.) You are clearly empowered, have taken on some serious challenges and done well. Now make sure your application includes other aspects that make you seem a fit for their “community,” (engagement with peers, eg, not just on an organizational level. You seem to have nailed so many of the other bullets- determination, resilience, the ability to self advocate, and more.)
Of course, the tippy top colleges are always a long shot. But I think they’ll give you a solid look.
Many of the generous colleges still expect a “student contribution.” Often we call this maybe 6k/year. Make sure you learn the policies of the individual targets. Some waive this the first year. But it’s based on their re-working of your financial aid application information, per those policies.
Thanks all! I think that one of my main problems is that I haven’t been able to take any tests this year (I’ve been told that it would be more difficult to get accommodations because of Covid, and my father is about to undergo surgery on these weeks and has had several health problems, so it has been quite uh, difficult for me to travel) and I honestly think that, even if the universities say otherwise, that will play against me. Is there any way, besides the essays, for example, to show more interpersonal qualities? I completed the list of activities already (besides this, I’ve also done a lot of volunteering in a hospital because of…well, another family story that I won’t tell in the application because I wouldn’t like to play the sympathy card), and I participated in the high school choir and also founded the acapella group, and during the summers we played in a band with some friends (I didn’t give much importance to this because I actually learned piano by myself, for example, and I imagine that it won’t have much weight). Sorry for so many questions! These months I have been guided mainly by what I read on the internet, and I never dared to ask these questions to anyone. As far as finances are concerned, I’ve been working quite a lot these months, and I hope to have, by September next year, between 10,000 and 15,000 dollars saved. It’s not much, but my parents lost the biggest source of income because of Covid, and there was a time (4 months or so) when I covered all the expenses of the house, and I still pay some things, so I can’t save as much as I would like. I am also applying for external scholarships.
The “Meet Full Need” colleges will likely add something for your travel expenses when they calculate your aid package.
Yes, include choir, a capella, and band, they’re group activities, they go a long way toward showing that very little holds you back and you interact well with peers. Hospital vol work also shows you don’t let limits stop you.
I don’t think you should worry about standardized tests. Lots of applicants will be missing them this year, because of covid. I don’t think you realize the strength of your accomplishments. I do think adcoms will appreciate this. Don’t let worries stop you now.
Thanks for everything, lookingforward! The last question (I promise, I’m sorry!) Would it be okay if I mentioned my disability in one of my essays? My common app essay is about journalism (basically I start with the moment I was writing one of my most, let’s say, well-known articles, and I connected it with my passion for journalism, my parents’ hesitation for me to study journalism or work as a journalist because of the money, and what happened next - the recognition (the article was shared by universities and embassies, and was featured in one of the biggest newspapers in my country) and how really beyond all that recognition, the only one I cared about was that of my parents, and how they are the ones who uh, push me on - writing it like that seems like an orrible essay! ) and the supplement does address my disability, and while I did focus a bit on the challenges and how my country’s society sees my disability and sees me (On the street, absolutely always someone tells me that I would be happier seeing and things like that) and I connected it with the fact that for me my disability was not really a problem, but an opportunity, and that it was, in part, the cause of many of my passions (and I gave concrete examples). I thought it might be interesting, but maybe it’s counterproductive.
“that for me my disability was not really a problem, but an opportunity, and that it was, in part, the cause of many of my passions (and I gave concrete examples)”
Yes, the idea is “Show, not just tell.” I think your accomplishments very well “show” you have an intrepid spirit. (That is, they prove it.) In the US, we generally suggest applicants let the guidance counselor explain some of the challenges. But yours and the triumphs are closely interwoven. I don’t see a problem mentioning the disability. It is the context- or, as you say, an opportunity, a springboard. Just remember that in addition to suitability for the college coursework, the top holistic colleges are also looking for the general personal and social aspects- how one gets along with others, and more.
And any writing can briefly mention cultural or societal challenges, but not to overwhelm the picture of person you have become, the person who would be a great add to their campus community, today.