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If you want to feel better about your chances of getting into a highly selective college, take yourself over to Reddit and scan the posts of any college in their RD megathread section. The threads are organized by college and are quite long; full of posts from students either waiting anxiously for their decision, or updating the group on their admissions decision outcome. It’s a place where listing gpa and test stats is discouraged by moderators (unlike on College Confidential) and where unconditional support of one another becomes a bit like group therapy. But some students can’t help but list their often very impressive stats, which, when coupled with a rejection can become disheartening to read. “If this kid can’t get in with a 1590 and a 4.0, how can I get in”?
The problem for most [international students], is that they require a substantial amount of aid to come to the US and study.
Certainly there are many kids with great grades and scores who don’t get into top schools. But if you read the threads closely, you’ll see just how many of these posts come from International students. Often identifying themselves as such, it’s clear just how many really smart, qualified students there are all over the world, and how many of them desperately want to attend college in the US. The problem for most, is that they require a substantial amount of aid to come to the US and study. And for most elite colleges, even the ones that offer need-blind admissions to students in the US, they do consider an international student’s ability to pay their tuition when making admissions decisions (in fact, many colleges require international applicants to provide proof that they can pay their tuition bills from cash in a bank account). Top students from poor countries, regardless of their test scores, academic rigor or international competition accomplishments simply have a much harder time gaining admission to highly selective colleges in the US because they can’t pay.
Following certain international kids on the forums, it’s hard not be discouraged for them. To think about all they’ve accomplished and how much harder a time they have getting into US schools than kids here do, even with better credentials. But it’s also inspiring to see them put forth the effort to find that US-based college that is willing to offer them the aid they need. It’s a show of pure hope and a reminder that many young people still very much value a degree from a school in the US. We don’t represent many international students, but we still root for them. Especially those pure academic-types that fight the odds and end up landing need-based aid. But their plight is also a reminder that the admissions stats you see at the top colleges include these international applicants and their long chances of admission. It’s something that just might make you feel a bit better about your own chances and perhaps proud about what the international community thinks of our colleges.
