What are my chances of getting to us top university

Yes, you still have a chance. Your WAEC result (3.65) is strong, and while your university GPA (2.65) is lower, your story of working three jobs shows resilience and responsibility. Many U.S. universities are test-optional, so you don’t necessarily need SAT/ACT. For scholarships, highlight your financial struggles, dedication, and current project in your essays and recommendations. Top schools like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Amherst, and Berea College offer full funding to admitted international students. Focus on strong applications, impactful storytelling, and your unique experiences. Your project and perseverance can help you stand out despite academic challenges.

Yes, you still have a real chance of getting into a U.S. university, even with financial challenges and a low first-semester GPA, especially if you tell your story with honesty and strength. Your WAEC result of 3.65 is solid, and although your 2.65 GPA may raise concerns, the fact that you’ve been working three jobs just to survive and still managing to study shows incredible resilience—something many top universities value deeply. While you can’t afford the SAT or ACT, many U.S. schools are now test-optional, including some of the most prestigious ones, and they will still consider you for admission and scholarships. What’s important is applying to the right universities—don’t waste time on schools that won’t help with costs, because with your financial situation, you can’t afford to carry the burden of student loans later on. Instead, focus on universities that are not only academically strong but also offer full or generous financial aid to international students, such as Berea College, Amherst, or need-blind schools like Harvard, Yale, or Princeton—but also look beyond the Ivy League. There are many excellent schools that can support your goals without leaving you in debt. If your current project shows leadership, innovation, or community impact, it can become a powerful part of your application, especially when paired with strong recommendation letters and a compelling personal essay that explains your situation. The goal is to find a university that believes in your potential and supports you financially so you can focus on your studies, not just survival. You don’t need to be rich or perfect—you need to be real, strategic, and determined, and with the right choices, you can absolutely get a quality education without being crushed by financial pressure.

Hello,

so from what I understand, you have it difficult, but you have to ask yourself, is it really that important to go to a top university just for the fame? Because if you want to go to a top university just to name drop, then it is not worth your time or money. Think about it like this: will you or anyone care what uni you went to in 20 years? Instead, look at colleges that offer exactly what you want, and are in your budget. As for your GPA, work toward bringing it up, ask for extra credit, and maybe a make up for a particularly bad assignment or test, and also look into transfering. It is so so so much cheaper to go to a more in budget university for a year or two and then transfer into a bigger university after. That is what my friend (an international student) did, and it made a huge difference in tuition. But, it is always much much cheaper to stick with budget freindly universities. They all give you the same certificate anyway, right? Anyway, I wish you luck, and I hope I helped. Have a wonderful day!