International Applicant (French BFI) – 17.5/20 GPA, 10 yrs Conservatory Piano, 3 Sci Internships. Do I stand a chance at a Full Financial Aid / Full Ride?

Chance Me / Match Me
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Hello everyone!

I’m a French student currently enrolled in the BFI (Baccalauréat Français International). I would love to study in the US/UK/China/Europe/abroad, but given my financial situation, I would absolutely need a full financial aid package / full ride to make it happen. I’m trying to be realistic about my chances and would love some honest feedback on my profile and where I should target.

Academic Profile:

GPA: Around 17.5/20 (French grading scale, which puts me near the top of my class in a highly rigorous international track). I have also received the highest academic honors (“Félicitations”) every single year.

Curriculum / Specialties: Taken Math, Physics, and Biology/Earth Sciences (SVT) in 1ère. Kept Math and SVT for my final year alongside the heavy BFI bilingual literature and history workload.

Extracurriculars & Achievements:

Music: Played the piano at a conservatory for over 10 years. Earned my music diploma (Brevet de Musicien) a few years ago and still practice regularly.

BFI: It’s an intensive program in which you have intensive hours every week. It requires managing a massive workload of extra bilingual classes, extensive essays, and oral defenses, making it significantly harder than the standard French Baccalaureate.

Science: Completed 3 different internships related to STEM/science, research programs online (3 currently)

School life: Active participant in a couple of school clubs

Dance : did ballet for 6 years (but not sure it’s relevant cause I stopped 5 years go)

Due to the intense demands of the BFI, I finish school very late every single day. That is why my extracurriculars are not really amazing.

I know my academics are strong, but my extracurriculars feel very weak , I don’t have crazy leadership titles or international awards.

Do I have a realistic shot at top-tier universities that meet 100% of demonstrated need for international students? How can I best frame my profile in my application, or what can I do in the remaining months to improve my chances?

Thank you so much for your help!

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International Applicant (French BFI) – 17.5/20 GPA, 10 yrs Conservatory Piano, 3 Sci Internships. Do I stand a chance at a Full Financial Aid / Full Ride?
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Please fill out the Chance Me template to receive better feedback. Be sure to include how much you are able to pay for college if any and also what you are considering for majors. Have you checked any of the Net Price Calculators for any of the schools you’re interest in? While less accurate for international candidates, you could get some indication if these schools would even be a possibility for you financially. But definitely do the template.

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Do you have at least one school that is highly likely for admission and affordable in France, or elsewhere?

@MYOS1634

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Please go back and use the Chance me/Match me template as it’s written. I realize some info won’t pertain to you as a French student…but most of it will be able to be completed.

What you have posted here is not complete information.

There are only a small number of colleges that are both need blind for admissions (don’t consider your financial need when admission is considered) and guarantee to meet full need for international students. And they are highly competitive colleges with very low acceptance rates for international students. With more complete info, the folks here can better give you an educated guess on your chances.

Your ECs are fine.

What is your intended major?

What do you plan to do once you complete a degree in the U.S. as it’s highly likely you will be expected to return to your home country once your education is completed.

Did you take the ACT or SAT and what were your scores. Some of the colleges here that meet full need require one if these tests as part of their application.

When will you graduate from high school. There isn’t anything meaningful you can add in just a few months.

Most of these questions would be answered if you completed the Chance Me/Match Me template…as it is written.

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Send me a DM QUICKLY I’m going to try and help you more specifically.

Where are you applying?

What do the NPCs indicate?

Do you have a budget?

Are you applying to a major related to BFI specific classes (easier/higher likelihood) or to your current spé?

Complete the template as requested .

For US readers, 17.5 BFI is well above what Oxford requires.
This student probably has four or five safeties in France (although that’s hard to know for sure due to the holistic AND odd nature of Parcoursup - one of many reasons for the student protests.)

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Are you interested in pursuing music at university? If so, look into dual degree programs: Dual Degree Music Programs | What You Need to Know I believe all the universities listed here except for UMichigan and USC give financial aid to international students.

Many top US unis offer the option for students to submit a music portfolio, so research what they ask for and consider preparing your repertoire.

What language is your BFI in?

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Thanks @MYOS1634

One thing…the net price calculators are not always accurate for international students. The student would need to see if the NPC asks if they are international. Otherwise…use results with extreme caution.

@user282839 you sound like a strong student with excellent and long term ECs.

Biggest question for me…when are you hoping to start college??

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Because OP is new to CC, they probably can’t PM yet, so you will have to PM OP to kick things off.

OP, myos1634 is an expert in helping international students identify college options.

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Oh, I see. Thank you! I’ll do it

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Yes, in France there’s probably a lot of schools. But I really want to try to go study abroad. I understand if that’s not possible though

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Hi! Thank you for your reply!

I’d like to study something related to science : either biomedical sciences, biology, neurosciences, biological sciences.

After completing my degree, if possible, I expect to find a way to keep studying in a country abroad.

No, I didn’t take the SAT or ACT. It’s not really common in France

I will graduate around July 2027

Yes I will do that​:sweat_smile: I’m new on the app so I didn’t really understand much at first

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Thank you for your help!

I hope so​:crossed_fingers: I’m just a bit worried that they’re not really related to what I want to do.

I want to apply to a science undergraduate program

I’m hoping to start college in September 2027

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Hi! Thank you so much for your help.

I tried and couldn’t find the DM button?

But I saw that I would need to have at least 15 posts to send a message.

Could you send me a message first? It says I can still answer if someone starts a conversation first.

Right now, I’m thinking of applying mostly in China. Like duke kunshan university or Zhejiang university.

My major is linked to my spé

And yes, I think there are probably a lot of schools in France I could go to.

But with parcoursup, I’m still a bit worried sometimes.

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Hi! Thank you for your reply.

I don’t think I’m really interested in these music dual programs. But that’s a great idea, I’ll look into it.

As for the option to submit a music portfolio, yes I saw that! I’ll probably send one.

My BFI is in English (I’m in the British section)

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The American offshoots in China are mostly for Chinese students who can’t go to the US though.

Can you run the NPC on Bates, St Olaf, Oberlin, Grinnell, Lafayette ? (You probably haven’t heard of these but they’re elite institutions. They’re also very different from one another. And, finally, they may calculate need differently.)

What’s your budget?

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Yes, I saw that

I’m sorry, what is NPC? Is it an option on this app?

As for my budget, it’s really low​:sweat_smile: since I have a sister, I can’t afford more than 1500€ for accomodation + food in a year

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Ok never mind, I searched it up.

I understand what it means now

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I tried to run the NPC on these universities, but they all say that they are “only able to provide cost estimates for U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents living in the United States.”

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Hello! Thank you for you answers.

I’m a french student trying to apply to universities abroad. However, since I need a full ride scholarship (or at least somewhere where the accomodation + food expenses are not too high if I get a full tuition), I want to know if I have some changes of getting accepted in one school.

I already have some ideas of schools (mainly in China)

But, I’m open to other suggestions as well anywhere in the world.

I considered US universities as well, but I know it’s really unlikely that I’ll be accepted.

Demographics

  • US domestic or international student: International student
  • State/Location of residency: France
  • Type of high school: French high school (BFI - Baccalauréat Français International)
  • Other special factors: First-generation student

Cost Constraints / Budget

  • Budget: Full financial aid / full ride

Intended Major(s)

  • Intended Major(s): STEM / Science-related like biomedical sciences, neuroscience, biological sciences

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: around 17.5/20
  • Weighted HS GPA: I don’t know?
  • Class Rank: I don’t have the exact rank, as it’s not common in France. Since I’m at a competitive high school, I’m not so sure. I know that I was 3rd in a science class only (out of around 25 students)
  • ACT/SAT Scores: I don’t plan on taking those

List of HS Coursework

  • English: BFI Bilingual Literature and Advanced English coursework
  • Math: Advanced Mathematics (taken in 1ère and Terminale)
  • Science: Physics-Chemistry (1ère), Biology/Earth Sciences (SVT - 1ère and Terminale)
  • History and social studies: BFI History-Geography (taught and assessed at an advanced bilingual level)
  • Language other than English: French (native), English (bilingual/advanced), mandarin (good at comprehension but not at speaking), Spanish (probably A2+)
  • Visual or performing arts: Conservatory piano (over 10 years, earned a diploma, Brevet de musicien)
  • Other academic courses: Intensive BFI core curriculum and research programs

Awards

  • Academic Honors: 'Félicitions" received every single year
  • Arts: Conservatory music diploma
  • Other: maybe that I got accepted in a BFI school?

Extracurriculars

  1. Conservatory Piano: Played for over 10+ years, earned a conservatory diploma, regular practice.
  2. STEM Internships & Research: Completed 3 STEM/science internships and currently participating in 3 online research programs. (One of them is for my CDM project)
  3. School Life: Participated in some clubs. + Sports clubs
  4. Ballet: 6 years of classical dance/ballet (but stopped 5 years ago).
  5. Academic Rigor / Time Management: BFI heavy workload requiring late school finishes daily, limiting time for traditional leadership roles.
  6. Hobbies : running, baking, reading, walking

Essays / LORs / Other

  • Essays: I haven’t started yet. But I will in a few days
  • LORs (Letters of Recommendation): already got my letters

School

Not sure yet

Mostly from France

BUT I’m posting this because I want to try

-Zhejiang university (biomedical sciences dual program with edinburg)

-duke kunshan

-westlake university

For percentages, they all are extremely low, especially since I need full ride scholarship.

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There is a list of US schools that are completely need-blind for int’l students, and that will fully fund int’l students who are accepted. For most of those schools, one would need to be one of the top students in one’s nation, or have truly extraordinary achievement in some extracurricular field, probably both. However, there are a few of them that are smaller liberal arts colleges and are not quite as selective. You can easily find this list on here, and on the internet. In addition, many schools that do not commit to fully funding int’l students still offer massive fin aid to int’l students.

It is not too late for you to take the SAT or the ACT. It really helps, when applying to US colleges, to have a very high score on one of these standardized tests. It is possible to prep yourself for them, and to take one of them, soon. First find out if you can take the ACT near you in France - it’s offered in fewer places than is the SAT - and if yes, then look online for the free practice test offered by their websites, and try them, under strictly timed conditions. Decide which of the tests you’re better suited for, get the practice book for them, and do the practice tests, self-correct them, review what minor points you get wrong. And register to take the test.

Applications are due in early January, so you should have a test result before then, to submit. Even if your results come back after the application deadline, you can still submit them and they will be added to your application. You need to follow up on this diligently to make sure that every school you’re applying to has received all the elements of your application.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/colleges-that-offer-the-most-financial-aid-to-international-students