shadeeyah

Hi, hey, hello.

I'm a year 11 student from Australia. I went on a family holiday to America last year and ever since I've been stuck on returning. I feel the best way to go back is as an international student so my parents won't be like, "You're wasting our money!".

Okay, so being an international student I do have heaps of questions. Although, I have been trying to do my own research. How do the universities use the SAT in your application? Should I take 3701616392061 tests to try and get good scores? Do they use the highest score or scores from one date?

Do all colleges like having international students, is it important to colleges? Would it be slightly easier for me to get into a college since I'm international?

I have been improving my grades and have started taking part in a lot more extracurricular activities and blah. Doing these things helps, right?

BUT THANK YOU! I know this is very long, and boring (sorry about that) but I do have a lot more questions. For another day, perhaps!
But for now, I shall bid thee farewell.

katliamom

First, explore whether you can afford it: tuition for international students is in the $50,000-per-year range, and unless you're quite exceptional, extensive financial aid isn't available.

In terms of tests, each school has its own requirements usually consisting of SAT or ACT and often SAT II tests. Usually, your highest score is considered. Extracurricular activities are good, but they're less expected of international students since opportunities vary from country to country. What is very important is whether you've taken the hardest courses possible, your grades and scores, and how you compare to other Australian/international students applying to said school.

Being an international student can make admission harder at some schools (for example the Ivies, which receive tens of thousands of applications and limit their international student body to about 10%) but more attractive to other schools less popular with internationals... especially if you will be a full-pay student.

shadeeyah

Well, I'm going to be needing the financial aid. And I've been thinking about top schools and such, like Stanford. I've read a lot about it, and the stats aren't in my favour but I's still like to try. What do I need to apply for schools like Stanford? (aside from the A's and 4.0GPA and the 2400 SAT score haha) woo.

b@r!um

Most successful applicants will have some noteworthy extracurricular accomplishment. That could be sports (do get in touch with a coach if you are an athlete!), politics, music, winning a national or international math competition, etc.

shadeeyah

I do a lot of extra-curricular and cocurricular things, but I have to be super smart as well, yeah?

katliamom

Yeah.



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