Is Dartmouth the only U.S. university that lets international students choose between applying as a first-year or transfer student, even after completing university studies ( 2 year university ) in their home country ?

I have heard that financial aid for international students is mostly given out during early admission, so I am wondering if it is better for me to apply EA in order to secure a full ride.

Or is it better not to waste a spot on the Common App (since I can only apply to 20 schools) and instead apply to more schools during RD?

title basically

I'm looking for Africans who have successfully moved abroad to study or work, and I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences.

For those who went to the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, UAE, or Europe for a bachelor's degree with a scholarship:

- Which universities and scholarships did you apply to?

- What websites did you use?

- How did you complete the application process with your Africa Final Exam results (WASSCE)?

- How did you secure funding for tuition and living expenses?

For those who secured jobs abroad with employer-sponsored visas while still in Ghana:

- Which websites did you use to find vacancies?

- What types of jobs did you apply for?

- How did you find an employer willing to recruit you from Ghana?

- What were the steps from submitting your application to getting your work visa?

I've watched a lot of YouTube videos and TikToks, but most give general advice without explaining the actual process.

I'm hoping to learn from people who have personally gone through it, especially those who started in Ghana without a university degree or much money.

I'd appreciate any practical advice about the websites, documents, application forms, costs, timelines, and mistakes to avoid.

I'm not promoting anything or looking for an agent. I simply want to learn from the experiences of fellow Africans who have done it successfully.

Thank you! 🙏🏾❤️

12th grader, Male, Indian
SAT: 1420 (640 R&W and 780 Math)
Scores: | 82% - 9th grade | 85% - 10th grade | 70% - 11th grade |
Before you stop reading further yes i know i am cooked but still give my EC's a read

• National Semifinalist – IIT Bombay TechFest (Top 20 Nationally): Shortlisted among the top 20 teams nationwide in Grade 10. Selected to present a functional prototype in person at the IIT Bombay campus.
• 1st Place – IIT Roorkee Data Science Hackathon: Won first place overall, competing in data science and machine learning problem-solving against high-level participants.
• INSPIRE MANAK Awardee (Top 10% Nationally): Received a national innovation award and a government financial research grant for an engineering/hardware prototype.
• Selected Finalist – Young Innovators Program (YIP) (Top 30 Nationally): Selected as a national finalist among the top 30 candidates nationwide (unforeseen circumstances prevented in-person attendance).
• President, Entrepreneurship & Development Council (Grade 12): Leading the student council; conceptualized and executed mentorship workshops for 100+ high school and pre high school students on standardized test preparation, study-abroad pathways, and profile development.
• Joint Secretary, Entrepreneurship & Development Council (Grade 11): Organized school-wide venture/scaling initiatives, overseeing raw material sourcing, product synthesis, branding, and complete inventory sell-outs.
• Committee Head (Grade 10): Headed and moderated a 50+ delegate committee for a major inter-school MUN conference.
• Best First-Timer / Delegate Award (Grade 11): Awarded top honors in competitive circuit MUN.
• STEM Educator & Volunteer: Collaborated with local NGOs, old age homes, and orphanages to deliver hands-on STEM education, workshops, and learning kits to underserved students.

i can retake SAT in november, can explaint he grades and their dip if that helps

Applying to:

U of Alabama
Texas Tech
U of South Florida
UT Dallas
Iowa State
Missisippi State
Ole Miss

These are all safeties as far as I have researched, but I am open to recommendations for colleges with or without scholarships, as my affordability level depends on how good the university is. Please recommend any universities you think I stand a chance at getting into. Peace!

Hi there, I am wondering what is the english-language proficiency test requirements for me, Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Context: I am a US citizen living in India. I have studied in a english-medium school all my life, I can speak/write/read/listen english as fluent as a native person. My SAT score is 1540 (740R/800M split).
I am applying to MIT EA really soon. So just wanted to make sure that I am not missing anything in my application.

Thanks a tonne for taking the time to read and hopefully respond aswell! :))

GSU OR GT ?

My first time taking the SAT, is this good enough to get into any school with a decent Com Sci program and not get into crazy debt?

If there are any people from the Caribbean in here who are willing to help me out with info about applications, i’d be so happy 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

• Under CBSE (India):

88.3% in 9th Grade

91.6% in 10th Grade

93.6% in 11th Grade

96.8% in 12th Grade (predicted)

Note: There is significant grade deflation in 9th and 11th grades in our school, which, the counselor says he'll mention in the additional information section of his common app form

• SAT: 1560 (760 in R&W, 800 in Mathematics)

• DET: 150

Intended Major: Applied Mathematics (first choice), Economics (second choice)

• Qualified for Indian National Maths Olympiad (INMO) (top 1% out of 130,000 students)

• Got into the USACO platinum tier (top 300 worldwide)

• John Locke Essay Competition High Commendation (top 3% of all entrants worldwide)

• Selected in Regional Maths Olympiad (top 6 from my State)

• Won multiple Regional level Creative Writing competitions

• Created a system of quick flood relief in Assam (my state) through crowdfunding, logistics and actually gathering people and going knee deep into the floodwater

• Conducted various 3 day digital workshops to teach rural elderly people on how to use the latest technology for things like transactions, banking, taking photos, social media, identifying scammers etc.

• Conducted many Bansuri (Indian Bamboo Flute) workshops around my state with many students, alongside my Guru.

• Studying Indian Classical Vocals since 2015 (the Age of 5 years old), completed Visharad Part 2 from Bhatkhande Sangeeth Vidyapeeth (which is considered a bachelor's degree in classical music)

• Studying the Indian Bansuri since 2022.

Influence/De-influence my college list. International student from Central Asia who needs full ride scholarship (IELTS 8.0, SAT 1510, GPA 3.7/4.0, humanities major)

I'm trying to separate things I actually need in the US from things people say I need because they assume I'm staying forever. A local bank account makes sense. A credit card is where I get confused. If I'm here for one semester at tetr college, is building credit even useful, or am I creating an account I wont need in a month?

I don't want to apply randomly and collect rejection emails. For people who came for a short exchange, what did you use for everyday payments, and what did you wish you'd sorted before arrival?

Thinking of applying in the summer term to save time, is it a good choice. Differentiate on basis of seats and scholrships, admission chance, course lenght.

I have been the smartest kid in class since forever but the SAT just doesn't work for me for some reason. Anyways, I got fairly strong ECs (fully funded math program in the US, research, work experience, etc, ), a 4 gpa, and absolutely unique essays.

I need a full ride (For the people who are gonna comment that my chances are slim, well, thanks for the new info).

1. Should I go test optional for ED and EA?

2. Which school should I ED to? I am looking at Notre Dame and W&L (need blind and test-optional) or the need-aware but generous like Vanderbilt, Swarthmore, and Haverford maybe.

3. I love Duke but it's a looong shot, it's not worth it right?

october SAT scores came out and, as this is my fourth retake, i think im officially done with the SAT. I got a 1490. my top choice for the US are T20s and ivies (Yale). i have a 44/45 IB predicted and 9A*s and 1B at IGCSE. am i going to get filtered out?

I come from a very, very small and niche region with no EC culture. i have okay ECs but compared to those from big cities it’s not impressive numerically but i do engage with the community a lot. my largest strength is essay writing, and im afraid my essays won’t be enough.

im high school senior student how can i get scholarship in europe or usa or any other place, i just want strong university and full scholarship for engineering fields, im from jordan btw

title

Hi everyone. I'm a student from Papua New Guinea, and I'm looking for honest advice because I'm feeling really lost about my university plans.

I've been applying to universities in the United States for Fall 2027. I've submitted applications to several universities, including Notre Dame, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Amherst, Dartmouth, Williams, and others. I've spent months working on my applications, essays, and financial aid research because studying in the US has been a dream of mine.

My main interests are psychology, sociology, and political science. I want to study psychology because I'm interested in understanding the human mind, mental health, and how people's experiences and environments shape their lives. Eventually, I'd love to use what I learn to help people in Papua New Guinea, where mental health is still heavily stigmatised.

However, I've recently run into a serious problem. My parents have told me to find a scholarship that doesn't involve them.

To clarify, they don't intend to contribute financially towards my education. They also don't want to participate in the application process or provide financial documents, including the information universities might require for financial aid applications.

As an international student, I can't afford American university tuition and living expenses on my own. I was relying on substantial financial aid, but I've realised that some universities require parental financial information even when parents aren't willing to pay.

I've already started completing the CSS Profile, and the process has been incredibly stressful. I'm trying to be honest about my family's finances, but I'm worried that I won't be able to complete the required documentation without my parents' cooperation.

I'm now wondering whether I should continue pursuing my American university applications or focus on fully funded scholarships in other countries, such as government scholarships in Türkiye, Japan, South Korea, or New Zealand.

I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has experienced something similar, especially international students who funded their education without financial support from their parents.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone successfully attended a US university on a full financial aid package when their parents refused to contribute financially?
2. What happens if your parents refuse to provide the financial documents required by the CSS Profile? Are there legitimate alternatives or exceptions?
3. Are there American universities that offer full scholarships to international undergraduate students without requiring parental financial information?
4. Are there fully funded undergraduate scholarships available to Papua New Guinean students that cover tuition, accommodation, living expenses, health insurance, and flights?
5. If you were in my position, would you continue pursuing US universities while applying for government scholarships elsewhere?
6. For anyone who studied abroad without parental financial support, how did you make it happen?

I'm not looking for anyone to promise me that everything will work out. I just want realistic advice from people who understand how difficult it can be to finance an overseas education when you don't have family support.

I've worked hard to get this far, and I don't want to abandon my dream without exploring every reasonable option. At the same time, I need to be realistic about my circumstances and find a path that I can actually afford.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to respond. I genuinely appreciate any advice, resources, or personal experiences you can share.

So i know of two ways, auzbulding and blocked account

I wanna work and sustain myself here maybe use some part of the blocked account if my wage is not enough, and in the starting 3-4 months I am hoping to find a job in that time like part time.. 20h/week they call it

Auzbulding... Dual student program something like that... You work in some company in the same field for which you are studying in university, they pay you minimum wage and after you graduate they hire you on some greater post in the field you graduated in

My qualifications: undergraduate, class 12 - 92% , class 10- 87.5, class 12 th: maths: 91, Computer science: 95, chemistry: 96, physics 93, SAT/IELTS scheduled in December... In a gap year, graduated from school in April 2026

Please give me genuine advice

Hey everyone!

I'm an Indian student in Class 11, and I really want to study in the US for my undergrad. Getting into an Ivy League university is a dream of mine, but honestly, my profile right now isn't great.

My grades haven't been the best, and I have pretty much no extracurriculars or major achievements to talk about. I know getting into these universities is extremely difficult, especially as an international student, but I still want to give it a serious shot instead of giving up before I even try.

I have around 10–15 days of autumn break coming up, and I want to make good use of that time. The problem is, I don't really know where to start or what I should focus on first.

I'd love to hear from people who've been through this process, especially Indian students who've applied to US universities or managed to get good financial aid.

A few things I'm confused about:

With my current grades, what should I focus on over the next year or two to improve my chances?

How do I figure out what I'm genuinely interested in and turn it into meaningful projects or extracurriculars? Are there any good ideas I could start working on during my break?

Since studying in the US is expensive, how does financial aid work for Indian students? Which universities should I look into if I need a lot of financial support?

I'm ready to put in the effort, but right now I feel a bit lost about where to begin. I'd really appreciate any honest advice, useful resources, or stories from people who've been in a similar situation.

Thanks in advance!

hey everyone,

I'm an Indian CBSE student finalizing my college applications, and I'd really appreciate some perspective from folks who've either studied in Hong Kong or transitioned from international undergrads to top US graduate programs.

My Profile & Plan

• Curriculum: CBSE (PCM)
• Stats: 10th: 95.6%, 11th: 82%, 12th Predicted: 97.4% (98 Math, 96 Physics), SAT: ~1510 (retaking).
• Target Programs: Double Major in Mathematics + Computer Science / Computing Mathematics / MIEG at HKU, HKUST, CUHK, CityU, and PolyU (Early/Priority rounds).
• Financial Expectation: Based on Hong Kong's merit formula for 95%+ CBSE scores, I'm tracking very high odds for a Full Tuition waiver ($0 tuition), with strong chances of a Full Ride (tuition + living stipend). Net out-of-pocket would be ~$0 to ~$8k USD/year at worst (if only tuition is waived and I pay housing/food).

The Long-Term Objective

• Graduate with a strong GPA (aiming 3.6–3.8+) and 2–3 years of undergraduate research/publications.
• Target fully funded graduate positions (Direct PhD or funded Thesis MS via GTA/GRA) in the US (Stanford, CMU, UIUC, Princeton, etc.) in Applied Math, CS Theory, or ML/Quant.

The Dilemma: Hong Kong Full Ride vs. India

My realistic alternative is staying in India (navigating the usual JEE / BITS / tier-1/tier-2 options).

On paper, Hong Kong feels like a no-brainer:

1. World Top 20–60 universities (HKU, HKUST, CUHK) with zero or near-zero debt.
2. English-medium curriculum, high-caliber international faculty with direct ties/collaborations with top US R1 universities.
3. Access to formal undergraduate research programs (UROP) from Year 1–2.
4. Heavy quant/finance presence if I decide to work before grad school.

My Questions for Redditors:

1. US Grad Admissions Perception: How do top US CS/Math graduate admissions committees view a BSc from HKU/HKUST/CUHK compared to an Indian tier-1/tier-2 undergrad (IIT/BITS/NIT)? Does the faculty letter-of-rec pipeline from HK hold weight in the US?
2. Research Access: Is it realistically accessible for undergrads in HK to get into active labs and co-author papers early (freshman/sophomore year), or is lab space fiercely guarded for PhDs?
3. Upper-Year Housing & Cost of Living: How difficult is finding off-campus shared flats in Years 3–4 once hall priority expires, and what does real out-of-pocket spending look like?
4. Is this an obvious choice over India? Anyone who made the choice between top Indian colleges and a HK full-ride—do you have any regrets regarding peer group, culture shock, or post-grad mobility?

Would love candid takes from current students, alumni, or anyone familiar with the grad admissions scene. Thanks in advance!

Hi! I completed two years of medical school in my home country with around 140 credit points, but my transcript includes low and failing grades. If I start over at a U.S. community college in Computer Science and earn a 3.8–4.0 GPA over 60 credits, will my previous grades still hurt my chances of transferring to a competitive university? Are there universities that focus on the most recent 60 credits or exclude previous international coursework from GPA calculations?

I know students ask this every year (I searched for the answer to this question), but I still want to confirm so it doesn't cause any issues.

I'm from Pakistan, and we give the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) exams, which are divided into two parts (Part 1 for 11th and Part 2 for 12th). The results for both parts are combined to give the HSSC score (which I believe is the Senior Secondary Leaving Exam).

I'm in 12th right now, and I have given the first part in 11th; should I report this?

There's also another school leaving exam called the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams, which is also divided into two parts (Part 1 for 9th and Part 2 for 10th). Will that also be considered?