International student seeking advice

[vesselina]

<p>Hello everyone!
I am an international student and I come from Bulgaria. Right now I have to make some really important decisions concerning college selection, and I hope that you can assist me. First my stats:</p>

<p>SAT I - 1450 (750 Verbal, 700 Math)
SAT II Writing 710
TOEFL CBT - 290 (6.00 on the essay)
High school record - 5.92 out of 6.00</p>

<p>Some of my most meaningful ECs:</p>

<p>Student government - Vice president during 9th and 11th grade, and student body president during 10th grade.
Volunteer at the school's informational office - 8th grade; position held: coordinator of media resources and PR; hours spent: 30
Animator in UNESCO projects during 9th and 10th grade - animator of Media workshops.
YMCA volunteer - hours spent: 30
Internship at National DARIK Radio - 10th and 11th grade
Reporter at National DARIK Radio - 11th and 12th grade
Work experience as a reporter and interviewer in the creation of a documentary movie about the American University in Bulgaria.
Volunteer service at English Language Club - 10th and 11th grade. hours per week: 20, weeks per year: 28, total: 1120
Peer tutoring in English
School's athletics team: 12th grade
Published articles in local newspapers</p>

<p>Academic achievements: </p>

<p>1st place in an English language national writing contest on women's issues. - 9th grade
1st place in an essay writing competition. - 10th grade
Essay on European Citizenship ranked among top 10, given special prize and published.</p>

<p>As for colleges, I am considering Grinnell, Macalester, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Vanderbilt, Cornell, Bates, Brandeis and Hamilton. What do you think of this college list? Do I stand a chance to get admitted and receive full financial assistance? I know that those schools provide full scholarships for intls, but the competition for them is quite keen.
So, thanks for taking the time to read this rather long post:)</p>

<p>Looking forward to your replies,</p>

<p>Vessy</p>

[reidm]

<p>Those are all great schools, and schools that are very receptive to international students. Internationals are reviewed in a separate pool from domestic students though, so I don't have as good a handle on your chances as I would have on a U.S. senior.</p>

<p>That said, you have an excellent record and I would expect you would get acceptances and reasonably good financial aid from among that group of schools. The only thing that concerns me is that the schools are in a somewhat narrow band of selectivity. It would be good if you had 2-3 less selective schools on your list. They might be more inclined to offer a strong aid package than schools of greater selectivity.</p>

<p>Thinking of schools that are somewhat like those on your list, but less selective, makes me think of a few more options for you. In order of selectivity they would be: Scripps, Occidental, Boston University, College of Wooster and Kalamazoo College. There are others, and posters on this board may know of some specific schools that have initiatives to increase their interational student percentage.</p>

[vesselina]

<p>I was a little surprised to learn that international applications are reviewed separately. Yet, I hope this would not put me into an unfavorable condition.</p>

<p>Reidm, I checked the colleges you mentioned, but unfortunately they require a proof of funds, which I cannot provide. As for safeties, I can assure you that it is very, very hard to make a list of matches, safeties, and reachies, when one lives overseas..
Thanks again for the advice! I'm on the lookout for some less selective schools now</p>

[system]

<p>Hi! I am an international student also. I strongly recommend that you consider williams college. They do not discriminate international students even if they can't pay much. It's also the best liberal art school in the nation, which has need-blind admission policy for them. Your academic stat won't help you get in, but it won't keep you from getting in ( means you fall in the midrange). If you write nice essays, and really convey your interests, I think you have good chance.</p>