<p>You are not so much compared with the students of your school when you are considered for admissions and aid at a school like Bowdoin as you are compared with all of the kids applying the same time you are. It goes without saying that you have to be an excellent student, but kids coming from private schools where there has already been a preselection are not as scrutinized as to their rank. So, yes, your grades have to be way up there and the courses taken have to be considered rigorous (if you are going to a school that is so known, that is pretty much a given). But your competiion is whoever else is applying from every and anywhere, especially the international crowd. </p>
<p>Yes, Amherst is need blind, so it does not have the extra constraint of being cut for the money, but because international students know that,the competition for a spot there is more intense. You survive being cut for need, but you are up against more applicants. Amherst is more selective than Bowdoin overall, and for internationals since it is known that it is need blind for them, one of the very few schools that are. </p>
<p>According to an older book written by a former Dartmouth admissions officer, Michele Hernandez, it is very competitive for international students, and yes, many very qualified international students are rejected because of their financial need. Had they been US with their resume, they would have been very likely to be accepted but the funds limit admissions at that school. And I believe Dartmouth, though also still need aware for international applicants, has more available for them than Bowdoin. So it is a tough situation for you. </p>
<p>Ironically, the less need your family comes up with in the process, the better your chances. In many schools, they would rather take two kids each with $15K of need that are highly qualified than 1 who needs $30K. So it is also possible to be accepted and Bowdoin or other such school deems your family makes to much to get any aid, and the decision then is your family’s hands. Do run the NPCs and see what they come up with. If you come up with a $70K expected contribution, unless there is really something big missing from the financial situation (and it’s not a sad story, but something concrete), you aren’t getting any aid. Doesn’t matter if your parents can show a budget that they cannot possibly pay more than $X. US students run into this all of the time. You have an income of $Y and assets of $Z, then you are expected to pay $A regardless of your personal financial commitments, debts and situation. Too bad. Sell the family property, mortgage the house, take out a loan.</p>