Top math/physics colleges/universities with fin.aid and my chances

International Students
1

<p>Hello.
How are you?
I’d like to know what colleges offer good financial aid to international students.
I’ve heard that Harvard, Yale and Princeton do.
Anywhere else?
The following is a brief summary of my C.V:
I am taking my SATs this October and November
Bronze medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad 2005
Subjects taken at the 12th grade equivalent level here in New Zealand are English, Mathematics with Calculus, Statistics and Modelling, Physics and Chemistry
Top scholar in Mathematics with Calculus scholarship exam in New Zealand
Have taken 1st year university papers in Linear Algebra And Calculus and Ethics, Law And Religion In A Secular Society, 2nd year papers in Linear Algebra, Quantum Physics, and Electricity And Magnetism, expecting A+.
Various achievements in mathematics including Australian Mathematics Competition medals and 1st place in Eton Senior Mathematics Competition in NZ.</p>

<p>School’s senior A debating team member in the two previous years and coaching the team this year.
Regional representative at the national debating championship in the two previous years.
Various Best Speaker awards.
Selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand as one of two New Zealand students to participate in the USA International Space Camp, recipient of the Talented School Students Travel Award several times
Member of the New Zealand delegation to The Hague International Model United Nations
Currently working towards ATCL in Piano Recital (equivalent to Dip.ABRSM)
Member of the school rugby team (C team)
Academic Pillar Head Prefect at the school
Have tutored/coached/lectured both privately and at the school for various classes including scholarship classes for calculus, statistics, physics and debating for the past 3 years (some of them, I was paid by the school)</p>

<p>I am quite sure that I will be able to get excellent references, and I am currently spending time on preparing for SAT and the essays.
As is probably clear from the above, I would like to study mathematics and physics (equal interest, mostly mathematical/theoretical physics) and hope to take a couple of philosophy classes as interests, and have some sort of musical things going on in the uni (although these last two points are not so important).
I definitely need financial assistance for a large proportion of the fees.
Could people please tell me what colleges/universities fit these criteria, and tell me how much of a chance I have at these places?
Some comments/remarks regarding the school’s social side, strengths/weaknesses, tradition, prestige, general environment, the feel of the school, etc. will be much appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks very much.
Kind regards
Eric</p>

2

<p>ur ecs look gr8 and wud be no prob… however if u cud get some community service it wud be gr8… adcomm like it very much…</p>

<p>Also what r ur grades…
anything above a 1500 in sat wud be gr8 in sat 1 ( CR and Mat)</p>

<p>Ankur</p>

3

<p>Then you must be Eric Kang. I knew the guy who won calc schole 2 yrs ago and I heard that he got admitted to Stanford. So Good Luck for you.</p>

<p>PS. Are you applying as a transfer student? Or did you win calc schole when yr12?</p>

4

<p>Hmmm…cool…I was wondering when an IMO person (or some other international olympiad) person would post…</p>

<p>I don’t want to assume your SATs will be good, but I think you will make sure they are…</p>

<p>Also, have you thought about MIT or caltech </p>

<p>I’m not sure, but Caltech does give out some merit aid (not too sure if you have to be a citizen or not), but it is given to some other uber-math people like yourself.</p>

<p>You should also post something on AoPS (Art of Problem Solving, if you know what that is)</p>

5

<p>Hey, yeah i won the calc schole in year 12. Im not applying as a transfer student. Thanks for the suggestion, I am considering MIT and CALTEC aswell.
Hey how do you know me, baggiocool? Are you from NZ or something?</p>

6

<p>Yeah, I am studying in NZ currently. I heard you before from someone and I checked the top scholar list as well. Personally I think you will probably match the top Unis according to both your strong academic and EC background, and all you need is decent application material plus a bit of luck.
So are you gonna do the schole exam this yr as well?</p>

7

<p>Yeah, I think so.
I’ll sit calculus, statistics, physics, chemistry and English.
You?</p>

8

<p>omg this is not a good news for other candidates :slight_smile:
I’ll take calculus, statistics and physics, but my preparation is really poor.</p>

9

<p>It’s a news with no consequence to other students.
So what school fo you go to?
Are you like an American who’s studying here or something?</p>

10

<p>hehe, hopefully =)
Rangitoto College from AKL.
Nah, I’m an Asian who’s studying here as an international student.</p>

11

<p>i feel so out of the bubble…</p>

12

<p>some ppl here are so excellent …top of the world…</p>

13

<p>Guess anyways …world if full of exceptions…</p>

14

<p>smartmind.
You aren’t being serious, right?
I am so not that excellent, it’s not funny.</p>

15

<p>u stats are as of now… cool . . . . . Gr8 work go on…and i am serious</p>

16

<p>Seriously
:):):)</p>

<p>:D:D:D</p>

17

<p>heheh humans can never be quite satisfied with their achievements.</p>

<p>I thought I was supreme in math until I discovered AoPS. My friends kill me when I tell them how I say I’m a complete ■■■■■■ in math (and I am! I can’t solve or even understand a single USAMO question when numerous others have achieved in solving IMO questions)</p>

<p>awesome resume eric!</p>

<p>focus on your essays more and try to reveal how passionate you were for math. </p>

<p>good luck!</p>

18

<p>Thanks people.
It’s really encouraging.</p>

<p>I am currently working on my Princeton ED essays.
My drafts are way too long, so I am working on them.</p>

<p>Regards
Eric</p>

19

<p>cool… make correction on essays each time u read… that way it will come out the best after a no. of attempts</p>

20

<p>Princeton essays are pretty open ended which is good. the max word limit does help you plan how much detail you go into. Just make sure you have people who are good writers to read your essays and make suggestions and stuff.</p>