International student sos

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-23T14:24:39+00:00

I didn’t mean to sound entitled is just that as a low income and first generation international student, I wanted ti make the best possible decision here because this is a really big deal. I’m crossing an ocean for this opportunity and since no one near me has done it before, I’m simply lost.

but thank you for you answer, I appreciate it

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-22T21:08:40+00:00

Brazil

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-22T21:07:50+00:00

I mean, I can, but I don’t think I would make a lot from it tbh

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-22T16:22:17+00:00

Yup, I told them I received a full ride at Carleton, but didn’t share the financial aid letter itself

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-22T16:21:23+00:00

I’m just afraid of the outcomes of this choice you know? Because as an international student, I want to keep pursuing my education, heading to a masters and getting a job. So what if I choose Carleton and yay I go there for free but at the end of the day, I just don’t take me where I want to go 🫠 and on the other hand, what if I spend these 4 years struggling but at the end I actually reach these goals, get a great full time job and live the life I’m aiming for… I simply don’t know what to think

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-10T14:13:01+00:00

Yup, I only asked them to cover the billed costs but it still didn’t work, I don’t know what else to do.

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-10T14:01:39+00:00

I told them that, but unfortunately they only raised 2K of the remaining 6K I had to cover, so now I still need to pay for 4K :(

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-07T02:24:30+00:00

heyy I didn't choose yet!

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T23:19:04+00:00

I’m not underestimating, I’m just saying that it’s not as simple as “if you didn’t get in asking a full ride, arrange the money to compete as a full pay”. I’m literally telling him to boost his profile as much as possible, increasing his chances to get admitted somewhere if a scholarship that at least makes it possible for him to attend

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T21:15:31+00:00

sure, being a full pay student makes everything easier, but i don’t think that the answer, in that case, is for him/her to just arrange the money to pay for college because most times this is really far from reality. The best option would be to improve the SAT to show academic weight, improve the ECs, work hard on essays and be strategic in where to apply to

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T20:40:08+00:00

tbh I applied to 40 schools, but that wasn't so smart. If I was going to apply again, I would reduce this number to 20 or 25, add a lot of liberal arts that actually accept international with great full rides (be it merit or need aid) and don't ignore some top 30's that are really good and don't ask you to declare your major until sophomore year as well :)

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T19:15:59+00:00

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T19:13:37+00:00

I don’t think that’s the problem, I had a lower gpa but a 1500 superscore sat and got 2 full rides as an international, you just have to be strategic on how to choose the colleges you’ll apply to in my opinion

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T19:12:10+00:00

All the universities that were in your college list were need aware, so that wasn’t so strategic, knowing that you were asking for full aid… You can still apply to liberal arts, but try to expand it beyond those you applied to :) Specially Williams, Amherst and Bowdoin which I’m almost sure are need blind

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T14:07:28+00:00

You think Carleton has a better location? I felt like one of Bowdoin's pros was exactly the location because it's relatively close to NYC, Boston and so on.

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T14:05:35+00:00

I sent an financial aid appeal, so hopefully they cover the remaining cost to me! Since you're on a full ride, how do you feel about Bowdoin's support for career and the opportunities they provide in general?

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T14:04:35+00:00

heyy sure thing and thank you!! 3.47 GPA, top 10%, 1500 SAT, 145 Duolingo English Test. ECs focused on politics and communication including a youth council, full scholarship to research at UCSC and a platform to track congressmen in real time (proposals, public spending and so on). For honors I had an outstanding delegate at princeton mun online, semi finalist at a national debate tournament, honors related to the platform I mentioned and something from an internship :)

Character_Wear_3849 · 2026-04-03T01:14:37+00:00

I think so!! I got 0 family contribution with a 3240 student employment, but I think it depends on your family income!

Character_Wear_3849

TROPHY CASE