Junior needs help with college selection [international, 8.5/10, IB predicted 42/45, need some FA]

Hey all. I’m an international student looking to study in the US. I’m from an eastern european country. My freshman grades were about 8.56/10 and sophomore grades were 8.5/10. (some websites convert my grades into 3.7 some into 3.5 so I don’t now what gpa I have. let’s assume for first 2 years of high school its 3.6). I am a IBDP candidate and have a 42/45 predicted. I will (hopefuly) keep my grades up in senior year.

I will require some financial aid (most colleges have similar price ranges, so if one of them could cover at least 20% it would help immensly).

My couselor told me to shoot high and into t20s and ivy’s. Not only because my ib predicted score is good but also because they offer decent financial aid. I am not sure what to do, I definetely want to get into a good uni, so I am asking your help.

What would you like to study in college?

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Maybe neuroscience? Something health related.

I assumed that most US universities do not admit by major?

Prep for and take the SAT or the ACT. Most colleges will really want to see this, because a very high score confirms your readiness for college, since they dont know your high school. You want to figure out now whether you have access to both tests, and if you do, take a free diagnostic test for each, then choose which seems better for you, then prep intensively. You can get advice here on how to prep, also on reddit. Take your first real test this early summer or sooner, and if necessary, prep again and retest in September.

If your class rank or percentile is lower than top 10%, Ivies and T20s are probably out of reach, unless you have something they want, such as you are an expert athlete for a sport they have, so that you would be a recruited athlete.

Flagship state universities run about 65k max, some cheaper. Top private colleges 85k. Yes, top schools might give aid, but many wont for internationals. Look for the thread on schools which will meet full need for internationals.

There are less expensive flagship state universities in the mountain west. You should probably look at these too for safeties.
Make options in your home country for safeties too.

After you have an SAT or ACT score, you will get better advice. Plus it would help to know what you are interested in studying.

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If you are interested in med school, you are better off going in your home country and then coming here for residency.

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Thank you! My school doesn’t rank as far as I know. And I will try to prep for the SAT but because of where I live it is most likely that I will need to travel someplace else to write it. I won’t write it more than once since it is very uncomfortable for me and pit of reach.

My counsellor said the same thing about SAT and ACT’s, however she mentioned that because i am doing IB, an internationally recognised program, I would be fine even if I didn’t take the SAT. She said US uni’s value Ib diploma a lot.

I am looking into that too. I am just not sure what exactly I want to do :))

You are correct. Many schools do not admit by major. However, it’s important that a school (1) has your intended major and (2) offers a reasonably strong program in your intended major.

Regarding neuroscience specifically, it is generally taught as an interdisciplinary science in the U.S., with a reliance on substantial elements from the disciplines of biology, chemistry and psychology. Direct applications to health may not be apparent on the undergraduate level.

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The problem is, will you have IB final results before you submit applications?

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After. But there is no other way to apply, everyone applies with predicted grades.

If i wanted to apply with final grades i would have to take exams in may 2025 and apply for fall 2026.

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Why would that be a problem?

And here you run into the difference between the US and the rest of the world. In the US, you get many shots at education, and you can switch majors, even go back later to change fields. All it takes is time and maybe money. But as an international, it is almost impossible to get into med school here, and impossible to borrow money for school. I believe your only feasible route into medicine is getting into your home med school right out of high school. So go shadow docs in the office and in the hospital, see if you really want it.

You and your counselor must have some idea how you compare to your classmates. The counselor will have to somehow convey this to colleges.

If you only have one shot at the SAT, you had better be super prepped for it, with many practice tests.

Because predicted is not actual! Do you finish some IB with final grades this spring?

This is why I think an SAT is so important in your position.

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Okay, thanks! Im still very unsure about med school. I would just like to study in the US for undergrad. I have had my sights set on columbia university and NYU for for a while now. Do you think with my grades it would be feasible? (Lets assume im test optional since i have no idea how i will do on the SAT yet).

My predicted grades are based mostly off of the mocks that we do. My school doesn’t have grades ir gpa’s. Just predicted grades based off how we do in tests and mocks.

Honestly? No. You would need to be one of the top students in your country to get into Columbia, but they would then give you fin aid. NYU, slight chance but doubtful. But they did start meeting need for internationals.

You must have some idea how you compare to your classmates. Are you the top student in your school? Also, do you have some very strong extracurricular achievement?

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Oh okay, thanks… as far as I know, in my country’s IB schools I am one of the few who has over 40 predicted. So thats why I jumped the gun haha :))

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Please be aware that some schools are going back to requiring SAT or ACT test scores. Here is a thread discussing it. Make sure to check the requirements on the websites of any schools in consideration.

There are free resources for test prep, such as Kahn Academy. It would be worth spending that time to prep for the test.

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Predicted is not done. A 1600 SAT would go a long way towards supporting that. You might do very well. Your written English is great, and I suspect that your math is strong, based on IB predicted score.

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Thanks. I will definitely try to do well on the SAT then :))