Match American citizen living in India [rank 1, IGCSE 8A*, A-level predicted 4A*, 1A, 1560 SAT, <$10k; physics / math]

Chance Me / Match Me
41

Thanks for your reply.
Make sure tour GC specifies you took all available IGCSEs (you won’t be penalized for not taking classes your school doesn’t offer but you will be if it’s left blank, giving the impression you chose not to take these classes.)

What about Pell? What’s your SAI? (Did I miss your reply?)

Check whether Reed and Washington&Lee have a wellness dorm (also called “substance free” dorm).

It’s a good list overall:-).

Due to your parents’ income, provided your GC checks the “income guidelines” box on the GC form on CommonApp, you should get free apps, so I would add a few universities.
I would keep Yale and St Olaf, adding Carleton and Grinnell.
But first see if you can iron out the wrinkles with a couple apps at public universities already accepting apps and providing quick decisions.
You could apply to (including the Honors College and related scholarships) at University of Cincinnati, UMass Lowell, UMinnesota Morris. See them as practice and ways for you to secure one or two positive decisions before the big stress of app season hits.

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42

I can answer for W&L.

“Alcohol and other drugs are not permitted in FY residence halls at any time, but Substance Free Housing (Sub Free) goes a step further. Selecting Sub Free Housing indicates you will abstain from using alcohol and other drugs at all times, and that you wish to live with other students who will do the same.”

W&L housing FAQ

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43

I was reading about Grinnell based on the previous suggestion but inclusion on a high alcohol list posted yesterday.
It has several halls but does not require you to be substance free outside of the halls. I’d think most likely would be though.

Just curious - how do these kids, if you know, integrate into Greek life ?

44

I have no experience with Grinnell so don’t feel qualified to answer your question.

47

Sorry - I meant at W&L

That was a difference with Grinnell. These kids aren’t limited outsude wheress W&L appear to be - in regards to substances.

I was just noting that difference with Grinnell.

How do these W&L kids integrate - if at all - into Greek life if you know ?

48

I’m still not sure I understand your question as I don’t know Grinnell well enough to provide a comparison.

I can say W&L’s Greek life is open and inclusive. Not the stereotype of Greek life. It’s a rural area so clubs, including Greek organizations, provide the majority of social activities, hence the high percentage of participants. Other than a few formal events, Greek parties are open to everyone whether or not they participate in Greek life and there is no obligation to imbibe.

As far as substance use, that is up to the individual. As noted, there is substance free housing for anyone seeking a drug and alcohol free lifestyle and wanting to surround themselves with similar individuals. One commits to the lifestyle when registering; that differentiates it from the other underclass dorms which are all substance free in the residence hall but make no restrictions on lifestyle choices. The university provides regular shuttles on “party nights” (I believe those are Wednesday and Saturday) plus a free university car service. Any driver or monitor on those services that observes an inebriated individual automatically delivers them to health services for assessment.

I have no idea how that compares to Grinnell.

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49

Unfortunately I dont have a state flagship

50

Thanks. This maybe a dumb question but what is GC (I am not really good with abbreviations)?

51

GC = Guidance Counselor

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52

Thanks. I will, but it is not that hard of a requirement.

53

So that would be my school counselor right? I am coming from a relatively small school that has little experience in this (only 3 kids went to US from my school) so I am having little guidance.

54

Yes, your school counselor.

55

Sorry for asking the same thing, but how do avail myself of the fee waiver? Should I submit any tax documents or a simple acknowledgement is enough?

56

Thx

That was the real question. Was there ‘pressure’ or would those kids even go - sounds like yes.

The only comparison to Grinnell I was making was that kids were not required to be substance free outside whereas W&L says they are required to be.

That’s all. But it sounds like there’s still inclusiveness. Grinnell was mentioned upstream is all.

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57

Your guidance/school counselor checks a box indicating that you qualify due to parents’ income. With such a low SAI it shouldn’t be a problem. You’re allowed to help your school counselor and translate for them etc.
You may have a box about a fee waiver on your own common app so all you have to do is check it too.
There’s no submitting proof then but of course you’ll submit documents to Financial Aid too.

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58

The whole college application process is about a month’s salary for us, so will I qualify? From what I checked, I am not sure how to estimate my aid because the calculator at the FAFSA website is not accurate for foreign taxes.

59

If your family makes (earns) 45,000 dollars a year from whatever source (i.e, work income, investments, rent others pay to you …) then you qualify for a CommonApp fee waiver.

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60

Do you guys think I should be applying to Northwestern for ED or Rice? I like them both, but Northwestern allows me to double major easily and I really like their ISP program.

61

If you can’t visit - you’ve said why you like Northwestern. Why do you like Rice? Based on what you wrote above, it seems like you like Northwestern so…

Do you like cold weather?

62

I regard Northwestern as atmospherically dissimilar from the University of Chicago. I mention this because the University of Chicago appeared on your recent list, but Northwestern did not. If the University of Chicago still appears as one of the more desired schools on your list, then I wouldn’t suggest that you apply ED to Northwestern.

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