Non-traditional international applicant (GED, gap years) aiming for any school with sufficient aid

Chance Me / Match Me
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1

Demographics

  • International student
  • Dammam, Saudi Arabia
  • Independent High School (Bangladesh International School, Dammam)
  • South Asian
  • Other special factors (first generation to college, legacy, athlete, etc.): x

Intended Major(s): Philosophy, Physics, Sociology, Mathematics, English Literature, Architecture, Biology

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.86 out of 5
  • Class Rank: 1
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1590

Coursework
Cambridge IGCSE Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics & E2L
Cambridge AS & A Level Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics
GED Math, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Social Studies, Science

Awards
→ Math Olympiad (1st place, school-level recognition, 9th & 10th grade)

→ English Essay Writing Competition (1st place, school-level recognition, 8th-11th grade)

→ Bengali Essay Writing Competition (1st place, school-level recognition, 7-11th grade + honorary certificate for continuously securing 1st place for 5 years)

→ English Spelling Bee Competition (won honorary award in 11th grade for securing first place for six years in a row)

→ Cambridge IGCSE Honor Roll (10th grade)

Extracurriculars
→ Anti-Verbatim Press (founder and president, 9th to 11th grade, after dropping out I continued it in my private tutoring):

  • I rewrote and printed simplified versions of class notes that inspire understanding and discourages verbatim memorization, only for all sections of my grade, for free.
  • Me and 2 of my friends shared the work and switched printer usage.
  • After dropping out, I continued to do this by myself for the kids I had been tutoring since 11th grade.

→ Tutor for Freshmen’s Math Olympiad as a sophomore:

  • I was chosen to be in the group of the three tutors from my grade; 4 of the students I taught secured 1st place.

→ Computer Building Club (founder and president, 9th and 10th grade)

  • Held 2 monthly conferences (where we discussed computers and tech news. Watched a bunch of Linus Tech Tips.)
  • Held 4 yearly workshops (everyone brought their home PCs and had fun disassembling and discussing upgrades, exchanging parts etc. with no serious goal in mind other than becoming more familiar with the process and parts)

→ Tutored sixth to eighth graders from 2021 - present, none of my students ever scored below a B

→ Taught at a private coaching centre for 1 year (opened by a group of a teachers to help students until 6th grade that the school couldn’t legally enroll due to the students’ visitor visas)

  • Taught 5th and 6th grade for about 5 hours daily; will continue to until I get into college
  • It was an incredible opportunity to freshen up my teaching skills by shifting from a private tutoring environment to a classroom, loved it.

Essays/LORs/Other
I think my essay is the strongest part of my app other than my stats.
LORS: 1 very strong counselor LOR, 1 math coach LOR, 1 employer LOR

Cost Constraints / Budget
Maximum tuition budget is $2500 a year, but I would love to hear about the lowest possible costs even if they’re higher than $2500

Schools

  • Safety: Berea (I know it isn’t exactly safe, but it’s the best shot I can shoot in the US afaic; but the reason I’m posting is to be proven wrong)
  • Likely: Bowdoin, Brown, Amherst, Vassar
  • Match: St. Olaf
  • Reach: Columbia, Princeton

P.S. I am aware of having myopia about what my chances are, and that’s exactly why I’m posting this. Please educate me about my best and worst shots.

2

These are all reaches

As I said on your other thread, you would have to apply to the School of General Studies, and SGS is not generous with aid.

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3

As far as I can see…you have no sure things on your list…at all. Finding a college here where you will only have to pay $2500 or less is unrealistic. In many cases, your health insurance and travel costs will exceed that amount (and those aren’t always included in your need based aid award).

You have mentioned getting a bachelors in your own country as an option. If this is affordable, you really need to highly consider that option.

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4

Your class rank is 1, but you have a GED?

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5

Here is the poster’s other chance me thread which provides additional information.

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6

I asked this in the other thread, but have you run NPCs (the net price calculators) for any of the four colleges you feel are your most “likelies”? You really need a better idea of whether you are just chasing your tail in terms of this idea that you are eligible for a “full-ride” from any American college.

ETA: Just a reminder, that on the other thread you have already stated that at least one of your parents has a college degree.

7

Both my parents have college degrees, yes.

I did run NPCs for places other than Berea, but I kinda just wanted to give myself a reality check from real people who have experience about colleges in the US. Plus, getting a 50% merit-based from UAlbany last year with the lower GPA transcript makes me think I might have a shot at a full-ride with my actual GPA. But I don’t know if I do.

8

Yeah, I completed 12 years and dropped out 2 months before the A2 Level exams

9

That makes sense, I didn’t really put a lot of thinking into topic like health insurance. If by some turn of luck I get into Berea, what would my costs look like?

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Then you have incorrectly tagged this thread “first-generation”. I will remove that for you.

11

My mistake, did not realize that.

12

I don’t understand your reply. Berea only awards full-ride scholarships, so there’s no point in running an NPC for them. What did Amherst say your cost of attendance would be after grants, and work-study are deducted (and assuming no-loans?)

13

I last ran it a year ago, but it was around $7200

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14

That amount from Amherst is three times what your budget is.

15

My budget used to be $9000 when applying last year as I referenced in my other thread, but I just talked to my parents about it the other day and they said anything above $3000 isn’t really practical to expect from them now. So I see Amherst is less of an option right now but it’s still in my list.

16

Unfortunately, Amherst represents the apex of American generosity when it comes to financing private college education. In other words, your best hope is that their NPC somehow is underestimating your need.

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You know…you can apply for admission and aid…and see what happens. But money seems to be a factor, and you will need to pay for the applications, and Profile to be sent (if required).

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18

The University of Alabama which is one of the few state-run universities that award full-ride scholarships to international students, should probably be added to your list.

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For an international student needing full financial aid, every college (including the ones you listed as safety, likely, and match schools) should be considered a reach. Apply and see what happens.

I do concur with @thumper1 that it would be wise to also seek out an affordable option in your home country.

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@ nn1nasif

“Likely: Bowdoin, Brown, Amherst, Vassar”

While generous with aid to admitted international students (+need-blind), these schools are very tough admits for int’ls and focus on fit more than just stats. Bowdoin/Amherst (2%-3%), Vassar/Brown (<5%).

I have helped advise several strong international applicants needing full FA over the last few years, and despite tremendous effort and applications, they were not successful gaining admission to selective U.S. colleges. They happily ended up at schools in Europe (Netherlands/Belgium/U.K.) with great financial packages, so hopefully you can add European (and Canadian schools) to your list.

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