Which factors hurt admission chances the most?
- Being international/Asian
- Requiring financial aid
- No legacy
And how can I compensate for them? Scores? Grades? Essays? LoRs?
If it is a school that gives international students need-based financial aid, then the combination of being international and requiring financial aid would make admission more difficult.
I don’t know if there’s a way to “compensate” - very few outstanding international applicants will be offered admission and financial aid. There’s just not enough aid/spots for every outstanding applicant.
The only thing you can do is choose your college list wisely – make sure the school actually funds international students, that your academic record is a match with previous admits, and that your essays and communication with admissions show your interest and fit with the school.
not being a legacy is certainly not a detriment… its just having that legacy is a boost.
Can you change anything? You are Asian, an international applicant, need financial aid, and you are not a legacy. You have to concentrate on the things you can control. Write a great essay. Get the highest grades and scores you can. Research your chances at schools. Have some schools where you are likely to get merit aid
an surprised that your admissions chances would be minimized because you are an Asian international student, require financial aid and are not a legacy. I expect most people are neither legacy not able to attend college without financial assistance. International Asian may be more of a challenge. Put together an excellent package to submit. You might try a larger number of schools that fit you. Just relax and also spend some time exploring a range range of schools. For example, are there some schools that are nearer to where you live and may have greater experience admitting Asian international students.