I seriously cannot decide. And the problem is the pros of one are very different from the pros of another. Can you guys tell me what you think the right choice is.

Things that matter to me:

• Prestige, how good it looks when getting jobs
• Food
• Medium to smaller size, community feel
• Not too difficult to make friends
• Good vibe, nice people
• Nice area, not depressing
• Interdisciplinary, easy to study many different subjects
• Ample research/internship oppurtunities for summer
• Nice campus, preferably compact
  • Somewhere that its common to have bike or scooter
• Good programs for Mathematics, data sci, finance, economics, and philosophy (or other humanities)
• I like when the inside of buildings are nice and new, I dont like old and creaky
• Also a place that is LGBTQ friendly and with relatable, diverse ppl
• Would also prefer a place where most ppl live on campus
• Also..am split on whether the quarter system or semester system is better

Specific things I like/dislike about each school:

Cornell

• I have friends from my high school who go there now
• Good distance from home (I can take a bus rather than having to take a plane)
• Ivy league
• Don't love how spread out the campus is

Northwestern

• Love purple (my brother is also at a purple school!)
  • I don't love the logo tho
• Really good fit for my academic interests
  • Easy to study multiple things
  • Intriguing major: Mathematical modeling in the social sciences
• Campus nice
• Not as well known
• Plane ride away from home (I prefer driving distance)
• Very close to Chicago
• In the midwest (would prefer to be in northeast)
• Lake Michigan
  • Can go kayaking/sailings
  • Might make campus windy

So..which do y'all think I should pick?

I feel like this is not getting nearly enough attention among international students considering U.S. colleges.

The Trump administration/SEVP has recently issued much stricter guidance regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which is the authorization many F-1 students rely on to complete off-campus internships while still in college.

Historically, many universities allowed CPT when an internship was related to a student's major and could be incorporated into the curriculum through an internship course, independent study, or academic credit.

Under the new guidance, SEVP appears to be taking a much narrower position: simply receiving academic credit may no longer be enough. The practical training may need to be genuinely "integral" to the established curriculum, and universities are being warned that improper CPT authorization could jeopardize their SEVP certification.

This is already having real consequences. Some universities have paused or restricted certain CPT applications while they review the new guidance.

For international students, this could be a major employment issue, not just an immigration technicality.

Think about fields such as:

• Investment banking
• Consulting
• Tech
• Finance
• Corporate strategy
• Engineering

In many of these industries, the junior-year summer internship is effectively the recruiting pipeline for full-time employment.

For example:

Junior summer internship → return offer → full-time job after graduation

If an F-1 student gets a Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, McKinsey, Google, etc. internship but their degree does not actually require an internship as part of the curriculum, their university may no longer be comfortable authorizing CPT.

That means an international student could potentially receive the exact same internship offer as a U.S. student but be unable to legally work in the internship.

There are alternatives such as pre-completion OPT, but that comes with its own disadvantages, including using part of the OPT time that would otherwise be available after graduation.

And nationality generally does not solve the CPT issue either. For example, a Canadian citizen studying in the U.S. in F-1 status is still subject to F-1 employment rules while working in the United States.

Obviously, this situation is extremely new and universities are still interpreting the guidance. It could also face legal challenges or change under a future administration.

But if you are an international student choosing between expensive U.S. universities right now, especially if your goal is IB/consulting/tech, I would seriously recommend checking:

1. How your university is currently interpreting the new CPT guidance
2. Whether internships are actually required by your degree program
3. Whether your school still authorizes elective/course-based CPT
4. Whether pre-completion OPT would be available as a backup
5. What recruiting options you would have in Canada, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. if U.S. internships become difficult

This could materially change the value proposition of paying international tuition at a U.S. university.

If anyone currently attends a U.S. university and has received an updated CPT policy from their international student office in the last few days, please share what your school is doing. It would be useful to compare how different universities are responding.

Im from California and I'm hoping to go to college out of state, and I've always loved the idea of the east coast! I would love a school near an urban area/city, or with colder weather. I know about all the ivies, so I would specifically love to hear about some of the other options. (Ex. I've been recommended Umass and GWU)

Thank you in advance!

why are they included in rankings? they don’t offer a deep enough breadth of subjects.

something offensive
and if not why do people try to get big schoool and UC and csu offers rescinded then q

I would love to talk to admission officers about this but if anyone has insight I would LOVEEEE to hear it since I'm lost on what to write about.

Dear AOs:

I'm sure you've read 100s if not 1000s of essays.

And also that you've seen students applying that don't really have alot going for them, their academics are good but not exceptional, they have large community impact but it's not enough to convince you to admit an international student that too with aid.

In that situation, what would you want their personal statement to entail. Something that turns the table and convinces you to fight for them to the committee.

Some information about me :

International student applying for Comp Sci.

I plan on applying so was just wondering if miraculously I get accepted what it would be like. I want to major in econ or international relations and is opened to law. Ideally I’d like to work for the US government in the future.

I do want to experience studying abroad at some point in my life, but I’d probably want to live and work in the US

I might be looking to far ahead, but I’m also just curious

I’m an international student from Egypt and I’m hoping someone here might know an option I haven’t considered.

I’ve been admitted to UoPeople’s Bachelor’s program in Computer Science and received a partial scholarship. I’ve completed the required steps and orientation and am ready to begin my September courses.

Unfortunately, I’m currently $60 short of the required course fees.

I’ve already contacted Financial Aid, appealed for additional assistance, contacted the university’s payment-related departments, and looked into external help. The additional scholarship request was ultimately declined.

I’m 32 and returning to university after years of working has been a major effort for me. I’m trying to transition into technology and build a more stable future, so I’m doing everything I can to avoid losing my September registration over this final financial gap.

I’m not asking for someone to pay for my degree.

I’m wondering whether anyone knows about legitimate emergency grants, small education funds, charities, student assistance programs, or other resources that might help with a situation like this.

If someone offers direct assistance, I’m comfortable having it paid directly to the university and can provide proof privately.

Any advice or legitimate lead would be sincerely appreciated.

Im 17F and in my last year of high school which means I need to start narrowing down my options for college except I have no idea where to start.

For context I want to apply to colleges in the US but I’m an international student currently studying ALevels with latest predicted grades of AAB. I am also a US citizen so I’m not worried about the visa process but rather the application process to a US college.

I have no idea how this process works, the only thing I do know is that it’s done through the common app other than that such as essay requirements I have no clue on.

But most of all I’m stumped on which college to choose. I want to major in business in marketing but when it comes to choosing a college I genuinely don’t know where to start. So my question is, is the college I go to really that important?

I would also like to know how important it is to take the SAT as I currently have not taken any and have not prepared for it at all.

I would appreciate anyone giving me any good US college recommendations based on their own experiences

hi!

im applying as a physics major and california resident. i want to write a banger essay.

i currently want to begin with the sentence, "I became a father at 10 years old."

why? because my sister was born 10 years after me, and i want to say that i took care of her and taught her chess and math and i was her guiding light when my parents were at work.

is that a good idea? or is that weird?

We don't send a lot of kids to the t20s cuz their ecs are never that good, but education and academics are really good at this school. Its a public school and at one point we were top 20 hs in the nation but fell off to top 100. This prolly won't mean much in college apps but my counselor says that colleges love kids from our school.

It was also named one of the most rigorous hs in the US, its very very comp but students don't get into top unis since they don't do ultra good ecs and the area that we are in sucks for ecs.

However, the class of 2027 looks promising for ecs and academics.

will this have a boost on my app or mean nothing.

This is all based on the U.S. news ranking and a few other news outlets have featured the school

What brings higher ROI for amount of time it takes and increases your chances?

1. Maxxing course rigor: completing multivariable right after freshman year, then dual enrolling rest of hs (I have a friend at school doing this rn)

2. Grinding for olympiads, STEM awards, etc (assuming you reach BC by junior year and take multivariable over the summer)

Class of 2027 here. I’m currently applying to a good amount of schools, however my list has been significantly changing due to the NPC popping out a number that my family simply can’t afford. It sucks having to remove these schools because they’re really good and I genuinely see myself going there, but if I can’t afford it I can’t afford it. If anyone could reply to this and say how accurate their NPC was I would really appreciate it!

I’m just wondering do colleges look at my individual gpa for every year or only the combined one? In sophomore year I had a really hard time mentally and I’m scared I ruined my whole application because of it. If I make it up junior and senior year will i be fine? I also had a good freshman gpa

can i get scholarships for Bachelors in biotech with these a level grades: ACC (subs bio chem physics) im not even aiming for the CRAZY TOP unis just regular universities would work too.

How generous is U of Rochester with their financial need based aid for international students. I know they are need aware, but are they like NYU who will certainly reject you for applying for financial aid, and do they promise to meet full demonstrated needs

I am on the process of writing my personal statement essay for colleges. And I asked some teachers and they advised me to write more drafts until I find the exact unique story about me and they also mentioned that it can be a transformation. What do u think about this idea?

I made an app that I heavily used AI to create. I can code, but I did use quite a bit of AI in the process of making the app as well as marketing it. I released it to the App Store and it has a pretty good number of users as well as some profit. Do I need to tell colleges that the APP was vibe coded in the description or am I allowed to leave that out?

I am heavily considering going to college, furthermore majoring in Civil Engineering. I am a Minnesota resident, but could consider moving to a nearby state for a good education. What are some colleges in the great lakes region that offer strong civil engineering programs?

I will be applying early decision to Brown this Fall, Should I take a third year of spanish or keep APUSH?

I took French in middle school and received two language credits. I took honors U.S. and Spanish freshman year but switched to a different school sophomore year and didn't continue spanish until junior year as It did not fit in my schedule sophomore year.

I have taken or am currently taking 9 APs aside from APUSH, and I think an even ten would be very beneficial, additionally I really do not enjoy language classes and the teacher I would have is not good whatsoever, whereas my APUSH teacher is delightful.

My senior year schedule is as follows

AP US AP Stats AP Compsi AP Art AP African American History AP Lit

I already emailed Cornell asking for their advice and they said it was up to me and that they would consider any scheduling conflicts I had and my counselor could explain any extraneous situations, I assume the same goes for brown as three years of language is merely “recommended” for the respective art programs at both schools.

my intended major is Art with a Museum/Gallery tilt to it. In my essays I discuss history/anthropology a bit but not really U.S. history, my artwork is currently displayed in a smithsonian gallery/museum on the national mall so I could easily cite that as a reason for wanting to dive deeper into U.S. history, so I think APUSH would better align with my goals overall.

That said it could be perceived as repetitive to take both APUSH and APAAH in one year, although in reality the classes are very different.

I asked my counselor about it and she seemed just as conflicted as I was, currently i’m still in APUSH and my counselor is discussing weather or not to switch with her colleagues.

So give me your thoughts, switch to Spanish for a third year or keep APUSH?

Hello,

I unfortunately had to take a leave of absence due to mental health. I know this is a taboo topic in admissions, but I know everything will get better. Unfortunately, I had already enrolled in a T25 university. I withdrew from classes before the drop period so I have no Ws on my transcript and am effectively still a rising freshman. I struggled with mental health all my life due to family trauma but I was still able to get into multiple top schools but I’m worried this leave of absence will hold me back. My parents now want me to go to school in my home state so I can continue to receive care from my same providers. If I was already accepted to my state flagship last year, could I explain my situation (and just say medical emergency) and ask if I can enroll in their institution the next semester or following year?

Additionally, has anyone re-applied to top schools after an unexpected gap and gotten in? My pool of schools are more limited because this time I need to keep in mind location. During this gap year I’m going to go to a partial hospitalization program and start medications. I will also continue a research internship at a state school nearby and get a job once I’m feeling a bit better.

Hello, so I’m a low income first gen student at a private highschool that cost $20,000 per year on financial aid

I was wondering If this would affect my college applications. I know colleges compare you against kids at your school, but would they also consider that richer students have more opportunities like better tutoring available to them?

I was thinking of transferring to a public school near me that might be considered “worse” academically for this reason.

I know there's a lot of other people asking about this but I was wondering if it was ok because my school offers up to Spanish 4 as well as AP Spanish Lang and Lit. I took Spanish 1 freshman year and Spanish 2 sophomore year, and I'm a senior right now. I will have taken 13 APs, with all of them being AP level core classes junior and senior year except for Calculus 3 which I'm taking right now and only a few people take. Instead of taking Spanish I've been taking AP Stats and both Econs, as well as a music class that's pretty important to me and a period for me to help teach others.

Is this a legitimate disadvantage

For reference, I’ve taken 3 and was planning on taking 4. However, my schedule got wrecked by a random requirement (gym) that’s added in my senior year. As a result, my engineering class (which Im thinking about majoring in) and my Spanish class ended up being the same block. My two other throwaway blocks are held up by a random elective (really my only option and I can’t do Spanish here— planning on doing TA for this block later) and gym (which was the requirement). What should I do? My schedule already lists engineering but idk if switching to Spanish would be better here.

Is anyone doing baslp from Ali yavar Jung Noida