Chance Me (A broke applicant from Bangladesh)
Hi everyone! I'm an international student from Bangladesh planning to apply to US universities as a freshman for Fall 2027, primarily for Computer Science.
My profile:
\\- Academics: SSC 5.00/5.00, HSC 5.00/5.00 (Bangladeshi national curriculum).
\\- SAT: October attempt didn't go as planned; considering a November retake.
\\- Awards: Champion at BCSIR National Science & Industrial Fair 2023, Bronze Medalist at Bangladesh Robot Olympiad 2021, and 2nd Runner-Up at JRC Board Hackathon 2023.
\\- Recent achievement: Ranked among the top 40 in a national Android development bootcamp organized by bdapps and Robi Axiata, among 100,000+ participants.
\\- Research & projects: AI/ML and computer vision research, robotics, and several software projects.
\\- Leadership & ECs: Co-founder and Design Lead of a humanitarian nonprofit, campus ambassador, and involvement in tech events and community initiatives.
\\- Other: I had a business that served 500+ customers (a service based business), I have founded a gamified learning platform CholoSikhi, that helps student learn using a gamified system like duolingo (Recently I added SAT Practice Suite there, totally free)
My biggest constraint is finances. I need a full ride or financial aid covering essentially all my educational and living expenses, as I cannot afford to pay for college myself. Both of my parents are deceased, and I am unable to pay application fees too!
I'd really appreciate your suggestions on:
Which universities should I target, considering my profile and financial situation?
Which colleges offer generous need-based aid to international students?
Should I prioritize ED, EA, or RD given my need for full funding?
What can I realistically improve in my application over the next few months?
I'm open to both reaches and realistic options. Honest feedback and personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!