<p>jhl,</p>
<p>It’s really difficult to say. While admissions officers would never admit to a quota of any kind, I’d imagine they try to avoid admitting too many international students from any one country. Remember that most colleges are aiming for diversity of their student populations!</p>
<p>My thinking is this: if a college was aiming to enroll approximately five students from a particular country, why would they not choose the most qualified five? The “top five” (most impressive SATs, GPAs, extracurriculars) would most likely succeed academically during their college years while serving to increase diversity numbers. It becomes a win-win situation for both parties, don’t you think?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, you are unable to choose the qualifications of the other applicants from your country. That’s ultimately what’s so unfair about college admissions…your chance for admission to a particular college depends on the quantity and quality of that year’s applicant pool, which varies year to year. Although unlikely, you just might be the only student in your country to apply to Lafayette this year. Conversely, you might be one of fifty highly-qualified applicants “fighting” for one of five coveted spaces.</p>
<p>However, since you have no power over the other applicants’ skills and abilities, there’s no use worrying. Just put together the best application you can, cross your fingers, and hope for the best!</p>
<ul>
<li>Justin</li>
</ul>