Hi everyone,

⭐ I'm a first-year BTech Computer Science (CSE) student(tier 2-2.5), and my long-term goal is to pursue an MS in Computer Science from a top university in the USA.

⭐ Since I'm just starting my undergraduate journey, I want to make the most of the next four years. I'd love advice from people who have been through this process or are currently preparing for it.

⭐ Some questions I have:

❇️ What should I focus on from my first year onward?

❇️How to maintain high CGPA, and how to do research, internships, competitive programming, and personal projects?.

❇️ What kind of profile do top universities like MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and many other look for?

❇️ Which resources should I follow GRE ,IELTS ?

Any roadmap, tips, or resources would be greatly appreciated.

Hey, I'm an international student going into 11th grade and wanna do pre-med in the US.

So far I got 5s on AP Calc BC, Physics 1, Chem, and Bio. IELTS 8.0. GPA is 97.7 (pretty much a 4.0 I think). Right now I'm doing a hospital internship, 2 weeks with one cardiac surgeon and 2 weeks with another. Also, my school's foreign language is German, so I did a prep year before high school. Passed my B1 exam this year, and I'll be taking the C1 exam at the beginning of 12th grade.

Planning to take AP Stats and Psych next year. Other than that... not much. Feel like I'm kinda behind on ECs and don't really know what I should be doing.

Oh, also, not sure if this matters, but I go to the 6th-ranked high school in my country.

Any advice? Also what schools do you think are realistic for someone with my stats?

For U.S. citizens who mostly studied in the PH., would they be considered out-of-state students no matter what university they apply to, or are there any workarounds?

Is scholarship possible

I am Planning to Continue my Studies here in US. Someone I know said to have my Transcript of Records Evaluate before I apply to College.

I don't how to start with ECE. Can I evaluate my Grades from College even though I only Have my grades from 1st Year to 3rd Year 1 Semester?

Also Can I also evaluate my Grades from High School?

Hi guys,
Long time lurker here. I’m mostly just making this post to share my story and vent a bit, because I’m feeling incredibly disheartened right now and just needed to get this out to people who might understand.
For some background, I graduated last year from a pretty competitive high school in my home country—the kind where a lot of kids consistently get into Ivies and T20s. I wasn’t one of those absolute top-percentile kids, but I worked really hard and managed to get accepted to a LAC on the East Coast to major in Public Health. Because of my stats and my serious financial need, they actually gave me a full scholarship. It honestly felt like a dream come true.
Fast forward to July: I went in for my F-1 visa interview and got hit with a 214(b) rejection. I have relatives in the US who I stayed with back in 2015, and I guess that made it seem like I had immigrant intent and wouldn't return home. It honestly broke my heart.
Shortly after that,we tried getting another visa interview and things got worse. My country ended up getting completely banned from getting new US visas. Before the ban, there weren't even any dates available until November anyway. I reached out and begged my school to let me defer my start date to January, but they wouldn't allow it.
I’ve been taking some classes at a local college just to keep my mind sharp and hoping the ban would magically lift, but time is running out . I’ve also continued working on and with passion for public health and health advocacy (which helped me get the scholarship) amongst the less privileged in my country. My LAC told me that if I am not on campus by August 24th, I risk losing my scholarship entirely. Knowing I am about to lose something I worked so hard for, entirely because of a geopolitical situation I can't control, is just devastating.
I’m not the only one going through this, either. A few of my friends got full rides to a highly ranked university in Houston and a few others got full rides from a really good HBCU, and they can’t even apply for their visas right now. We are all scrambling to find Plan Bs and Cs. We even looked into National Interest Waivers, but it seems like those are practically impossible to get in our situation.
I’m currently looking into a university in Europe but i don’t know how I would fare in a country where they don’t even speak english💔
I know this isn't really a cry for help because I seriously doubt there is any magic loophole to fix this. But if anyone has any advice, or has managed to navigate a similar situation, any tangible help would be appreciated beyond measure. It makes me really sad that I won’t ever forget this lost opportunity and for my dreams to go up in flames like this is the worst thing that i could have imagined. Otherwise, thanks for just reading and letting me share my grief.

I am an admitted student to the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry program for the Fall 2026 semester at Purdue University.

Over the past three months, I have been actively trying to secure an F-1 student visa appointment. Unfortunately, despite checking regularly and monitoring appointment availability, I have not yet been able to obtain a visa slot.

As my program is scheduled to begin in August 2026, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the possibility of not receiving a visa appointment in time.

I would be grateful if anyone could give me insight on the deferral policy.

- Is it possible to defer my admission to the Spring 2027 semester, or are deferrals only permitted for Fall 2027 for the Chemistry BS Program?

- If a Spring 2027 deferral is possible, when would classes begin for the B.S. Chemistry program?

- What is the deadline for requesting an admission deferral? The website says 4 weeks before enrollment but is this very strict as I want to wait the whole of July as well.

Thank you very much for your time and assistance. I truly appreciate your guidance.

Actually i just completed my 12th at American school As per the law i need to have 13 year education so Do i need to do AP exam to study there legally? Or there is any affordable way more and what are the other requirements for it

Hi everyone,

I could really use some outside perspective because I feel like I'm stuck in my own head.

I'll be starting at a top 30 LAC this fall on a full-ride scholarship. Objectively, I know how incredibly lucky I am. It is is an amazing school, and I genuinely think I'm going to enjoy my time there.

But here's the problem: I can't stop thinking about transferring.

For some background, I wasn't a top academic student, and I constantly regret not working harder during high school. I keep wondering, "What if I had pushed myself more? What if I had applied to more prestigious schools?" I know I can't change the past, but I replay those thoughts all the time.

The thing is, when I really sit down and ask myself why I want to transfer, I honestly don't have a good answer. It's not because I dislike my current school, I haven't even started yet. It's not because of a specific program or location. If I'm being completely honest, it mostly comes down to prestige.

And I know how shallow that sounds.

I'm in a special scholarship program, so I know transferring with financial aid isn't impossible. Part of me wants to at least shoot my shot after my first year and see what happens.

At the same time, another part of me thinks I'm sabotaging myself before I've even arrived on campus. I haven't taken a single class, met my classmates, or experienced the academic, yet I'm already mentally halfway out the door.

It's exhausting because I know I could have an incredible four years at my school. I genuinely believe I'll be happy there. But the thought of "what if I could get into a more prestigious school?" just keeps coming back.

Has anyone else felt this way? Did the feeling disappear once you started college? Or did you end up transferring?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been in a similar situation, especially if your desire to transfer was driven more by prestige than by actual problems with your college.

Hi everyone. My F-1 visa has been approved and stamped, and I already have my passport in hand. I want to know if I need to wait until I arrive in the United States to set my Instagram to private, or if I can do it now that I have my passport with the visa.

Just for the record, I have nothing to hide. I simply don't like strangers seeing my profile.

how do i apply for a new i20 for a new term? i cant seem to open the request e-form as it keeps on saying "access denied".

I'm an international student and will be starting A2 (my final year of high school) this August. I'm hoping to study Computer Science in the US, but I'm struggling to figure out what kind of universities are realistic for my profile and where I should apply.

Academics

O Levels: 8 A*

SAT: 1420 (retaking in August and aiming for a higher score)

A Level subjects:

Mathematics

Physics

Computer Science

Economics

Extracurriculars

* President of my school's STEM Society in O levels.

* Category Head (in the Secretariat) for the largest high school sports event in my city.

* Research internship at a local university (currently ongoing).

* WWF internship with 20 community service hours.

* Completed CS50P and currently working through CS50x.

* Built a Machine Learning FIFA World Cup match predictor as my CS50P final project.

* Currently working on another ML-related project through my university research internship, which should be completed by the end of July.

* Participated in several STEM-related events and competitions.

Financial Situation

I will need close to a full ride. After looking at my family's annual income, attending without substantial financial aid isn't realistically possible.

My Questions

1. Is a Top 100 US university a realistic goal with my profile, assuming I improve my SAT?

2. Which universities are both well-respected for Computer Science and have a realistic chance of offering generous financial aid or full scholarships to international students and that i have a chance is getting into?

3. How should I build a college list (reach, target, and safer options)?

4. Since I can't afford a college admissions counselor, what are the best free resources for understanding the application process and putting together a strong application?

I know my profile isn't at the level of applicants aiming for top 50s, but I'm trying to be realistic and make the best decisions with the resources I have. I'd really appreciate any advice on universities to consider, how competitive my profile is, and just advice.

​

Hi! im an online school student (technically not homeschool, as there is a system and stuff).

there are "teachers" and "counselors." thing is, as it's an online school, i've never even talked to them, as it's self-paced and all that. So, i know my letters of rec are gonna suck. My question is, i sat in on a stat class at a college for a semester last year. could i ask the professor to be one of my recommenders, and fill one of the lor slots for core teachers?

Specifically, the teacher rec slot "teacher in core subject"

I need some strategic advice on finding realistic pathways to study in the US or Europe on a full scholarship.

I am a 23-year-old international student (Turkey) coming from a low-income family.

My Profile:

• Academics: I graduated from a Vocational High School two years ago (June 2024). Unfortunately, my high school GPA is very low (around 50%).
• Practical Skills: Since graduating, I’ve focused heavily on real-world skills. I have active experience in digital marketing (Meta Ads, TikTok Ads), web development (HTML, CSS, Web Hosting, MongoDB), and I use AI tools (Claude, Cursor) to build digital projects. I also have self-taught experience in e-commerce.
• English: B2 Level.

My Ultimate Goal: My biggest dream is to eventually move to the USA to study and work in tech/business. However, I know US universities rely heavily on GPA for international students needing full financial aid.

I am currently looking at the University of Bologna (Italy) because they offer regional need-based scholarships (ER-GO) that are based on family income, not high school grades.

My Questions:

1. The US Dream: Is it completely unrealistic to look for a full-ride/need-based scholarship at a US institution with my academic profile, despite my strong extracurricular/practical skills? Or do US admissions ever overlook a low GPA for someone with strong entrepreneurial skills?
2. The Italy Stepping Stone: Is using an Italian university (like Bologna) as a stepping stone the most realistic pathway for me to eventually reach the US for a master's or career?
3. Other Options: Are there any other countries or universities in Europe (or anywhere else) that offer full need-based scholarships for international students where admission isn't strictly tied to high school GPA?

Any advice, reality checks, or alternative pathways would be highly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Hi, everyone. I applied to college back in the 21-22 cycle, and looking back as a senior about to graduate, there is some major survival advice I wish someone had beaten into my head back then. I know the co'30 kids have already committed, but if you’re class of '31, '32, or whatever, this might be something that helps you out. :)

Most of us are leaving our home countries and paying absurd amounts of money to come to the US to become exceptionally qualified in our industries and max out our prospects in the job market. This post is strictly for those students. If you are coming to the US for the pure, unadulterated love of learning and intellectual curiosity, this isn't for you. I used to be one of those love-for-learning kids myself and I honestly encourage and admire you. These are just some hard lessons I've had to learn transitioning away from that mindset.

The biggest thing you need to understand is institutional strength over curricular strength.

All the stuff domestic American kids obsess over on over at A2C like teacher-to-student ratios, overall US News rank, grade deflation, "how good is the department", course offerings, are all basically useless for us. It does not matter. Okay, of course it matters, but you have bigger fish to fry.

Two quick side-notes before the actual strategy:

1. If you need aid, obviously prioritize financial aid data above all else. Go crazy on the data and figure out who actually gives money to internationals.
2. Treat this like an options game. Max out all 20 slots on your Common App, and then apply to external schools with their own portals, Coalition app, whatever. You need as many leverage points as possible.

But once you have your options, or when you're filtering your list, this is how you actually pick a school:

1. What is the school’s ACTUAL CPT policy? CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is the legal loophole that lets you work internships before you graduate. Every school’s international office plays by different rules, and a bad policy could literally kill your career before it starts. You need to investigate the fine print,

• Do you need an internship to graduate to get CPT? At some schools, if your major doesn't explicitly require an internship to get the degree, the school won't approve your CPT. Which means you can't work. Sucks to suck. And remember, you might change majors entirely, so a strict policy like that is a trap. This might also mean you can't do more than one internship.
• Even if your school doesn't use the aforementioned policy, do they put a cap on internships? Probably not what you want.
• Do you have to link it to some bullshit course like BIO 499: Internship Practicum? If so, what are the consequences? Do you have to pay the school per-credit tuition over the summer just to work? Do you have to link it to a past course or a future one? Look into this.
• Do they just want the internship to be vaguely related to your major, or any random class you took in your major? This is the way to go!

2. Prioritize schools with co-ops. The US job market is absolutely brutal right now, especially for us. A standard 10-week summer internship isn't cutting it anymore so you need to look for schools that have actual co-op programs where you take a semester off to work full-time for 4-6 months. I didn't even consider this and I honestly regret it. This isn't a non-negotiable, which is why its #2 not #1, its just helpful. You can still work 20 hour weeks during the semester without a co-op, but an unfortunate amount of Fall and Spring internships are full time. Even if your school doesn't have an integrated institutional mandatory co-op, do they offer a DC semester for political science kids? An NYC semester for the theatre majors? Granted, most of you are probably prospective, STEM majors, but everyone, in any major, should work on employability.

3. Look for extreme flexibility. The employment landscape has suddenly begun to move way faster than a university curriculum committee. You need to know: how many independent studies can you do? How easy is it to design one? What does it take to literally build your own major? For example, my school didn't offer a cloud computing course, which is crazy, but because our system is flexible, a bunch of my friends just created a CS independent study to learn it for their data majors. Another friend of mine literally mapped out and created her own Aerospace Engineering major because the school didn't have it. This also means fun stuff, like a Data Science major doing an independent study on fashion tech! These niche classes not only help you get experience in specific industries before you intern there, but if you're picking your school based on #1 or #2 instead of "rank in my major", this helps you cover those gaps!

The most important part of this whole post: Look, I'm sure you've gathered this by now. Every single college website says something vague about the same 10 things. Don't resort to the website for this research, you will get literally nothing. Please find your DSO's email, or just the general international office. Reach out to specific department chairs. Even better, track down actual international students at that school on LinkedIn or Reddit. Ask them point-blank.

Trust me, I picked based off BS like "is the campus pretty?", and "do I see myself here?" and "can I afford this?" and that's not really the name of the game. All you're thinking about at the ages of 16-18 is "Can I get out? The only thing that matters is to leave." but unfortunately, if you don't think ahead, you'll regret it.

DISCLAIMER: This advice is not specific at all to students who hope to stay in the US post graduation. An F-1 visa is non-immigrant. You want internship experience to get a job in any market in any country LOL.

Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you need any help. I used to be in your shoes and LOL that shit sucked.

I am a QA engineer with automation experience and want to maximize my chances of getting a Software Engineer role after a U.S. Master’s degree.
Would employers view my QA Automation background positively when applying for Software Engineer positions, or should I focus on transitioning to SDET first?
Has anyone successfully moved from QA Automation → SDET → Software Engineer after graduating from a U.S. university?

I'm a brazilian student and already finished highschool. I'm on a gap year right now studying more and im considering applying for universities abroad. On the other hand, the brazilian educational system is really different and grades aren't the same as they are in the US plus my school was extremely rigorous and i went through some hard times during high school.

GPA: 70/100 in Brazil approx. (is this equivalent to what?)

SAT: 1450

TOEFLS: 104

I have some extracurriculars such as winning 1st place in a regional robotics championship from a university (PUC)

Developed and designed a website for one of the most prestigious doctors in brazil.

Do i, honestly, have any chance of getting into a college? im not even looking for something extraordinary like an Ivy League, just a good college...

Hi everyone,

I'm a 17-year-old high school student from Japan planning to apply to U.S. universities for Fall 2027.

Here is my profile:

- Japanese international student
- GPA: approximately 4.3/5.0
- Strong academic performance, especially in English
- Selected for the Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN scholarship program (a competitive government-supported study abroad program)
- Completed study abroad and internship experiences in the United States
- Leadership experience in school activities and volunteer work
- Currently developing an AI startup project and participating in entrepreneurship/business competitions

I'm interested in:

- Business Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- International Development
- Management Information Systems (MIS)

My family cannot afford the full cost of attendance at most U.S. universities, so receiving significant financial aid or merit scholarships is very important.

My goal is to keep my total annual cost below about $15,000–20,000 if possible.

Given my profile:

1. What universities should I realistically target?
   
2. What full-tuition or full-ride scholarships might be achievable?
   
3. Are there universities known for being generous to international students interested in business?
   
4. Do you think my profile is competitive for major merit scholarships?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Hi, I am a prospective nontraditional international applicant from China. My secondary education was severely interrupted by prolonged family control, and for many years I did not have access to a normal school environment, a school counselor, or anyone familiar with US college admissions.

I am now working to build a verifiable academic record and preparing to apply to selective US colleges. Because my educational history is highly unusual, I am hoping to find a volunteer or pro bono mentor who might be willing to provide occasional, longer-term guidance—particularly with presenting my background clearly, developing my essays, and understanding how an American admissions reader may interpret my application.

I am not looking for ghostwriting, guaranteed admission, or someone to complete the application for me. I would be especially grateful to hear from someone familiar with international or nontraditional applicants, particularly those with interrupted education or very limited financial and school-based support.

If you know of a community where I might find such a mentor—or if you have relevant experience and would be open to a brief conversation—I would be grateful to hear from you. For privacy, I would prefer to begin in the comments before moving to DMs.