mom2collegekids

If you need aid and you're an international, then NYU will not work for you. NYU won't give you the aid that you need.

For other schools, the best GPA and test scores are needed to have a chance of getting accepted into a school that meets need for int'ls.

APs are nice, but those aren't going to pay for college.

giodavitashvili

I am a Junior In Georgia(republic), and I want to major in International Relations and Affairs at NYU, and my family does not have good financial condition, and I need aid, or scholarships. As i read at CollegeBoard site, it would be great if I'd take AP tests in US and World History, and US government, BTW I speak fluent russian, and I can take AP russian Test(if it even exists), and will all of this get me financial help? Or where should I apply for scholarships? I had spent my sophomore year at Atlanta, and right now i am attending Amerian Academy, and its almost the same American Program. Please give me some advice, and also is Precollege necessary?

giodavitashvili

So APs will not benefit me in financial aspect?

cptofthehouse

Gio, if you score well on any of the AP exams they can have any number of effects, but none of them certain. Yes, it enhances the application when an international student (or any student) shows that excellence on an AP exam because it is a standardized exam that a college can quickly assess certain competency levels. So you would be in better shape than someone with an identical profile as yours without the AP exams at most schools. Also, AP exams at many schools can give you college credit which in some cases can lead to earlier graduation which can benefit you financially. My son had 9 AP exams that gave him second semester sophomore status at his college which meant that in certain majors, he could have graduated in 2 1/2 years, certainly in 3.

However, in terms of directly benefitting you, no. There is no direct financial giving for AP exams. What they can do is give you a better chance of gaining admissions and a better chance of getting financial aid and/or merit scholarships, but absolutely no guarantee.

I don't know how you would get access to the exams in Russia, but here in the US, you do have to make arrangements to take them if your school does not offer them and they do cost money per exam.

Your best shot at getting accepted to an American university and considered for merit/ financial aid is to make sure the schools on your list even allow internationals to get any such aid. Some schools straight out do not. Then you should focus your efforts on the SAT1 or ACT. Very high test scores on those along with an excellent school record are the biggest pros you can have to up your chances. I do not know how NYU treats internationals, and whether you will be eligible for any aid from them, but I do know that the school loves those with high test scores on the SAT1s.