I am an international student c’o 2016 (very underrepresented) who needs a lot of aid. So far, I look to apply to Princeton SCEA, some other Ivys and Lamar University regular. However, I might need some more safety schools (maybe ones that i can qualify for aid/ scholarship). Any recommendation?
Some info:
GPA: 3.94 (Class schedule - hardest classes offered)
Extracurriculars: Soccer (3 years), volleyball (2 years), Student Council (9-class rep,11- head,12-class rep), Piano (5 years)
Summer internship at a lab (biggest yet in the city), assisted a Envi. sci. class at a local uni
Volunteering: 300+ hours & teaching human rights at an organization
Awards: Teachers’ award, MIP, School Science Fair Winner, Honors, 1st Engineering Fair Exhibitor
Intended Field of Major: Chemical (or Biomedical) Engineering
I’m not sure the schools you are looking at give significant financial aid to international students. I could be wrong, however. But the biggest issue is that many amazing international students apply to the Ivy League schools… with way better scores. I’m talking about your ACT/SAT2 scores. Honestly if you need that much aid and can’t get the high 34+ on the ACT that most international students have (even at ISU, unless they are rich they all got 35-36 on the ACT) then find less prestigious schools.
this might not be an excuse, but i’ve really exhausted all the resources that i have. I don’t really have the opportunites (like koreans/chinese) to take sat or act courses and have self-studied off online resources.
i do understand that it’s a reach (and am applying to only those that are need-blind) and that is why i am looking for safeties.
That’s understandable, but I hope you understand that Princeton/other Ivy Leagues are not the end all, be all of American education. Many international students start off in community colleges (to improve their test scores, work on English, and supplement their HS education) or go to state schools. Honestly, if I were you I wouldn’t bother applying because even if you do get in, you won’t be able to afford it. I’m not saying don’t apply, I’m saying what I would do. I would look at schools like University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, University of Arkansas, University of Portland, etc, and try and find a financial fit as well as one you like.
Princeton has so many international students applying (as do the other schools) that you will get overlooked because of stats. It’s unfortunate that it’s more difficult to go to an American school if you’re international, but that’s how it is.
You googled highest-paying jobs after graduating. Then you googled universities that are need-blind for international students.
Where are you from, OP? Your approach to applying to American colleges as an aid-seeking international is almost guaranteed to deliver failure, and I really don’t want that to happen to someone who has who worked hard in high school. I have written about how to apply to American colleges as an aid-seeking international in multiple threads before. I would do it again here, but I’m pretty tired of explaining it so I would rather try to find my old posts. Alternatively PM me to understand how to be more realistic.
@International95 I don’t know how you thought I googled “highest paying job.”
I loved all my Math and Chemistry classes and thought I would pursue sthg that has things to do with those two. Thanks. I’m going to look through some of your old posts and possibly PM you.
