So let me get this, I’d have a better shot at need-aware Vassar than I would at need-blind Berea? Factoring in acceptance rates too? (genuine questions, no sarcasm intended. I feel like it could be misread as such)
Forgive me. When you keep asking open-ended questions like “Should I apply?”, or “How do they compare?” I forget that in almost every circumstance, you are asking, “Which is easier to get in?”
Someone - anyone with a 1540 SAT - would have an infinitely better chance of getting into Berea (even with a full-ride) than they would at Vassar.
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I don’t think Berea is need blind for internationals, but they do meet full need for internationals for the first year of attendance. Costs and Financial Aid for International Students - Berea College
I’m a bit worried that a retaken SAT 3 years after having dropped out of high school, that has climbed to a near perfect score, and a transcript that initially had to have had your name on it, that was a 3.4 and now has become a 4.86/5, coming from outside the US, when there has been a known issue with fraud in international applications, may get flagged for very close examination.
Most college freshmen are 18, some 19. If you’re much older than that, I am not sure that a small liberal arts college like Amherst would be the right fit.
You need massive fin aid. Have you considered some large state schools which might give full tuition for an SAT score like yours, and which would have graduate students who are closer to you in age, for a more comfortable social life?
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Reading this entire thread I’m realizing how little I know about the choices I have. Please elaborate about the sort of school you’re talking about, that may award me with a full-ride for my 1590 SAT.
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And I just turned 20 yesterday, I was on the younger side in high school. Was supposed to graduate at 17.
Yeah I should have been clearer, I’m just really used to phrasing it like that with my relatives when we discuss college where “should” is synonymous with “does it make sense to in terms of odds”.
So you think Berea should be the one I have the highest odds of getting into?
Not only that, but I think you should re-phrase the heading of your thread because it’s only going to skew the replies toward colleges that are equally hard to get into as Amherst.
The challenge with Columbia is OP would need to apply to the School of General Studies since he’s a non-traditional student, and SGS FA isn’t generous.
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Berea only admits about 1 student per country or region (depending on the country’s population - and of course they may admit 2 or 3 sometimes, this is a rough estimate so you understand your chances), about 50 a year. These are fully funded. But it’s a reach because there’s no guarantee you’ll be this year’s pick for your country.
The only US safety for internationals is a university with automatic- for- stats scholarships that suffice financially; add automatic scholarships for honors college where a student meets the Honors College’s criteria and where the Honors College’s selective but not overly so, with added scholarships for honors within Honors (UAlabama, UCincinnati do that for instance). Automatic full rides and full tuition scholarships, which used to be rather plentiful (relatively speaking) in 2004-2014 have almost vanished for all applicants, save for US students named NMF. Competing for selective scholarships is a possibility though (like McDermott).
Some universities don’t open their freshmen scholarships to internationals but most do.
You build the best app you can, make use of your 20 slots on commonapp (or use Coalition App), and know it’s going to be rough. 
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I only did that because when I was writing it, I genuinely thought I had decent odds for Amherst. So, summarizing,
4.86/5 unweighted school cGPA
1590 SAT
704/800 GED
(if helpful) 2 A* 2 A 1 C in IGCSE (2019)
and of course, the more aid the better.
Including Berea, could you confirm what schools I would be most likely to get into and be funded at? You can really include all sorts of schools and aid, could be automatic scholarships or need-based. Could be need-aware or blind. I’d just like to hear where you think I have the best odds.
I actually got 50% first-year and around 35% each subsequent year covered by a UAlbany scholarship last year! But it was still not close to being affordable. If I apply there again with my new transcript there’s still the inconvenience of excessive screening and fraud protection protocol I’d likely have to take part in, like you said.
I think @MYOS1634 has the last word on this:
I’ve tagged @tsbna44 who has his own outlook on this. I’m only here because I know a little bit about Amherst.
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I see. Thanks a lot for your input (genuinely) and everyone else’s. This is the first day I’m trying this site out and it’s been more helpful than whatever I tried from the first day of researching US universities until today combined. I think I’ll open another thread about my exact situation.
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Here are the colleges that are both need blind for admissions AND guarantee to meet full need (as they calculate it to be) for all admitted international students.
There are 8 (@circuitrider )
- Amherst College[3]
- Bowdoin College[4]
- Brown University[5] (Brown will be need-blind for international students beginning with the Class of 2029.)
- Dartmouth College[6]
- Harvard University[7]
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology[8]
- Princeton University[10]
- Yale University[11]
These colleges are very highly competitive for admissions and even moreso for international students. But you can’t get accepted if you don’t apply.
In addition to these colleges, there are need aware colleges that DO guarantee to provide full aid to all admitted international students. BUT this means they monitor those international admissions and the costs to fund them. They prioritize less needy students and when their funds are out for internationals, they just don’t accept them. But again…you could be one of the ones who gets accepted.
But you will need to have some good things you have done in your many gap years. Not just taking the GED, and the SAT. What exactly have you done during that time that would be something that would catch the eye of an adcom.
Do you have affordable colleges in your home country?
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You might add Washington and Lee University to your list of schools to research. While they do take need into account with admissions, they are also very generous to international students.
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Just want to mention:
– In general it is extremely difficult for even a very qualified international applicant in need of significant financial aid to get an affordable offer to attend college in the US. By all means apply and give it your all but it is also important to seek out affordable options in your home country (or perhaps London with your aunt).
– A SAT taken after HS may carry less weight as the SAT is an exam meant for HS students.
–And to answer an earlier question a “hooked” applicant is one where a college wants that person to attend the school for a specific reason (ex. to play quarterback on the football team, the applicant is the child of a wealthy alumni, etc). Very few applications have these kind of hooks and if you had one you would know.
I wish you the best and hope you find an affordable way to continue your education.
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You might add Franklin & Marshall. Yes need aware. And Washington & Lee and apply for the Johnson scholarship - if that hasn’t been recommended.
Btw your budget is $9k but how do you know any school will determine your need to be that level ? Have you spoken to any school about your finances? What you think and they think may not agree. And they win !! So look into that.
I don’t know of any public to get you to $9k all in.
Keep in mind that the $9k contribution may be needed for items such as plane fare and other transportation expenses, required health insurance, books, and other costs that may not be covered by a scholarship.
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