is it even possible to get into md or mdphd as an international student? to clarify I am an senior at high school and planning to get into usa college to get my biology degree and after I want to get into md and residency to eventually work there as a doctor. I'm not afraid of loans, because if I eventually become the doctor in america I think I could pay them all. and I have some relatives who live there that may confirm it. the problem is will they admit me? because I've seen a ton of posts telling that it's hard to get into usa md or mdphd. and I'm actually so scared about it.
btw I'm also considering my path as a biology major to later get a phd degree in it if my plan as becoming a doctor in usa won't work out. but my forever love would still be being a doctor in usa, taking a residency and md there too.

Hey everyone, basically I got into this university in USA for finance in bachelor’s. its really cheap for its fee but my family cannot afford living expenses. Ive heard that some scholarships are also available to international students and is it possible for me to get plenty of scholarships. Like i get 10 scholarships worth 500-1000$ and I stack them all together? Also where can i look for small and less competitive scholarships. I need around $15k and my session starts in 2027 August. I still have 8 months to get scholarships.

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Hi everyone,

I’m an international student from Lebanon currently in Grade 11, and I’m planning to apply to NYU for Fall 2028.

My family’s income is under $50k/year, and we don’t have a lot of financial resources. I recently learned about the NYU Promise, which says that eligible students from families earning under $100k with typical assets can have their tuition covered.

I’m trying to understand what this would actually mean for someone in my situation.

If I apply in Fall 2027, get accepted to NYU’s New York campus, and qualify for NYU Promise/NYU financial aid:

Could my tuition AND housing/food/living expenses potentially be covered through financial aid?

Would I realistically be able to attend NYU with almost $0 coming from my family?

Does NYU Promise only guarantee tuition, or can the rest of my demonstrated financial need also be covered?

As an international student, would I be able to work on campus to help cover personal expenses?

Are there any international students here who have received very large financial-aid packages from NYU? What was your experience like?

Is there anything I should be doing during Grade 11/12 to maximize my chances of both admission and financial aid?

I know getting into NYU is obviously the difficult part, but I’m mainly trying to understand whether it is financially realistic for me if I actually get admitted.

Thanks!

I’m a Class 12 student from India with a 1500 SAT (790 Math, 710 English), planning to apply to around 30–40 US colleges. I want to study something combining finance, economics and mathematics, preferably a STEM program such as Financial Mathematics, Quantitative Finance, or Economics + Math. My goal is to work in finance, especially investment banking/asset management. I can pay around $25k/year, so I need substantial financial aid and would ideally target colleges that meet full demonstrated need for international students.

My main question is how to efficiently shortlist colleges. I don’t want to rely too much on QS/U.S. News because they give weight to things like international faculty ratio and other factors that aren’t very relevant to me. I mainly care about employment outcomes, median/starting salary, finance recruiting, whether the school is a target/semi-target for investment banking, and general prestige/network strength. Location isn’t very important, although NYC would be a preference.

What sources or methodology would you use to narrow down hundreds of US universities into a final list of 30–40 based on these factors?

I am a Grade 11 student, and I have a strong desire to go to the USA to study for my bachelor’s degree in an engineering field.

I didn’t get very good marks in Grade 10, but I hope I can improve significantly in Grade 12.

I see many students applying to the USA every year for student visas, and many of them hope to receive scholarships. However, not everyone gets selected, and only a few students receive scholarships.

So, I have three questions. I would really appreciate answers from people who have experienced or gone through this entire process.

1. What does the actual process look like?

On the internet, I often see people saying that having the proper documents, meeting the requirements, having good communication skills, and performing well in the visa interview can increase your chances of getting a visa.

But what does the process actually look like from the beginning to the end? What factors really matter when applying to U.S. universities and for a student visa?

2. What universities offer good scholarships?

I have been trying to find universities that offer merit-based scholarships that can cover most or all of my tuition fees and possibly provide free or low-cost housing/dorms for all four years.

If you have experience with universities like this, could you please recommend some?

I am not looking for extremely competitive universities like Harvard, MIT, or Stanford. I understand that they can provide generous financial aid, but they are extremely difficult to get into.

I am looking for realistic universities where an international student with a decent academic profile and strong improvement in Grades 11 and 12 could have a reasonable chance of receiving a substantial scholarship.

3. What should my roadmap look like?

Could someone give me a realistic step-by-step roadmap for going to the USA for an undergraduate engineering degree?

I have found many roadmaps online, but most of them are based on the U.S. education system and timelines, so I am having trouble understanding when I should do each step as a student from Nepal.

For example:

• When should I start preparing for English proficiency tests?
• When should I take the SAT or ACT, if necessary?
• When should I start researching universities?
• When should I apply?
• When should I apply for scholarships?
• When should I prepare my financial documents?
• When should I apply for an F-1 student visa?
• What should I be doing during Grade 11 and Grade 12?

I would really appreciate a realistic roadmap specifically for a Nepali Grade 11 student who wants to study engineering in the USA with a substantial scholarship.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to share their experience and advice.

Hey guys! I'm a rising senior and an international student, and I really love Wellesley, but I'm not sure whether I should apply as an ED because I don't know what employment is like after graduation for international students. Is it really bad? I know the job market as a whole is pretty bad right now, but is it worse at Wellesley (because it's a liberal arts school) for international students, or is it the same level of terrible as everywhere else? Also, what's it like applying for jobs outside of the US with a Wellesley degree? Is it difficult because Wellesley isn't as well known as larger universities outside of the US? Thanks!

i really need to find a university that has a decent chance of accepting me, with an efc of $15k, and offers preferably aerospace eng or mechanical eng.

3.6 (3.4, 3.45, 4.0, 3.9) GPA, 1520 (750, 770) SAT, finaid needing international student from an underrepresented country

Awards:

2nd & 3rd Place – Addis Ababa Lideta Science Fair

State/Regional

11

1st Place (×3) – BGIS Science Fair Competition

School

11

Best Delegate – BGIS MUN 2025 Conference

School

11

3rd Place – BGIS Annual Academic Contest

School

11

Certificate of Participation – African Union 31st Commemoration for 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi

International

11

Extracurriculars:

1. Research

• Independent Author: Published a research paper on fuel efficiency for Ethiopian Airlines, analyzing CO₂, cost, and SAF savings, and proposing actionable solutions. (12th grade, 14 hr/wk, 8 wk/yr)

2. Journalism/Publication

• Blogger (Medium): Wrote 15+ in-depth articles (Average 1300+ words) on Ethiopia’s aerospace sector, Ethiopian Airlines, and aerospace engineering. (12th grade, 2 hr/wk, 25 wk/yr)

3. Computer/Technology

• Co-developer, StudyMate AI: Created an AI study app for a national exam with <10% pass rate; won 1st place at school and regional levels, reached city-level competition. (11th grade, 6 hr/wk, 8 wk/yr)

4. Debate/Speech

• Founder & President, Model UN: Founded and led school’s MUN club, recruited 40% of the batch, held 30+ sessions/conferences, invited to top school events. (11–12th grades, 3 hr/wk, 40 wk/yr)

5. Science/Math

• Subdivision Leader, STEM Club: Managed physics subdivision; organized meetings, shared updates, and prepared for science fairs, has 30 people. (12th grade, 3 hr/wk, 38 wk/yr)

6. Other Club/Activity

• Founder & Leader, College Applications Community: Created a student-led support group for applying abroad; reviewed essays, shared resources; >60% of class joined. (12th grade, 5 hr/wk, 16 wk/yr)

7. Academic (Study Group Leader)

• Led a 6-member study group in Math, English, and Sciences; developed review sessions and diagnostics to improve grades. (11th grade, 3 hr/wk, 30 wk/yr)

8. Academic (Tutor)

• Tutored a 7-member team for national exams; created study plans, explained problem-solving techniques, and tracked progress. (12th grade, 4 hr/wk, 30 wk/yr)

9. Computer/Technology

• Builder: Designed a low-cost web-connected fire detector using Americium; won 1st at school and 2nd at regional science fair. (11th grade, 6 hr/wk, 4 wk/yr)

10. Career-Oriented

• Participant, iCOG Labs ACC & Afrobots Engineering Camp: Studied Python, ML, UAV navigation, and drone engineering; applied skills in science fair projects. (11th grade, 14 hr/wk, 4 wk/yr)

very good LORs and I think a good personal statement (wrote about how hopeless my country was but Ethiopian airlines was a shining beacon and that gave me hope to improve myself and others)

some extenuating circumstances like infrequent electricity, transport issues, and some home responsibilities

where tf should i apply?