Thoughts and advice from an international student that applied the 2025 - 2026 cycle
I'm writing this because I know that this subreddit is filled with international students with the same dream to study in the States with a full ride. This year, I was one of those students that experienced it. I got into a T-20 with a full ride and was waitlisted at a few of the ivies, so here are some of my thoughts.
My journey began in March 2025. I made my Common App account and began researching about what it takes and what I need to get into a university in the US as an international student. I wasn't like the students whose feeder schools prepared them for everything starting freshman year. I didn't even know what extracurriculars were when I began applying.
First and foremost: Do not expect anything.
Please understand that universities in the US do not owe you anything. You should not be expecting a scholarship or any money from them. Most universities accept international students FOR their money. If you want a scholarship, you genuinely need to be one-of-a-kind. It's a huge investment, and you need to prove to them that you belong. Go into this journey with the mindset of "I'll do my best, and I understand that I won't get anything in return."
Second: Research.
When I say research about the universities you apply to, I mean spend hours. We all are tempted to use AI these days to write essays, but I promise you it won't get you anywhere. Learn about the schools you're applying to -- why do you want to go there? what do they provide for you? what makes them special? Are you just applying to Harvard because you want the name or you want to grow as a person?
Third: Ignore the depressing stories
When I first joined this subreddit, I kept reading the same old stories of "rejected from everywhere as an international student." Of course, like you guys, I thought to myself "No way I'll get in. If these people got rejected with better stats and ECs, I don't stand a shot." I was rejected from a bunch this cycle, but I managed to get into a T20 with a full-ride and was waitlisted at two ivies (all it takes is one btw). If I had listened to the comments on reddit saying "getting in as an intl is impossible" and didn't apply, I wouldn't have gotten in. This does not mean to just shoot your shot and hope. It means to give it a try even if it might seem hard.
Fourth: The real win is what you learn along the way.
Even if I had not gotten in anywhere this cycle, the things I learned about myself from all the essays I wrote were genuinely eye-opening. I became more mature, and I made mistakes that taught me new lessons. Most importantly, though, I learned who I truly was as a person.
Fifth: Your story is just as important as your grades.
I had an alright SAT score and mid ECs (just a bunch of things I like doing in my free time). I think what truly got me in was my story. Show the university who you really are. What makes you different from the thousands of applicants that apply?
There's so much I could say, but know that its hard. Even if it is, you won't lose anything if you try.
If you want it bad enough, do not find shortcuts. At the end of the day, do what you can and leave the rest up to the admissions officers. If its meant to be, it'll happen. If not, the fact that you thought of applying shows that you're an ambitious person who'll do big things in life.