Vladb

I do not have great SAT scores( Math - 640, Cr r - 560 and writing - 540) but my grades are extremely high, I have very good recommendations, work experience as journalist, great number of awards in chemistry math history and high achievements in chess. I am also a student from Kazakhstan where it is practically impossible to preapare for the test well/ the question is have i any chances to be admitted to Cornell NYU Columbia UC Berkeley&?

BLY

I hate to say this, but you don't hold any chance with a 1740 SAT, which place you in the bottom 25 percentile in those schools. Way too low for the schools you want. For international students to be consider admission in those school, you've got to have a SAT score at least in the medium 50% on top of everything else.

maddy_01

Not too far from BLY's point, you really do need to *up* those SATs for the schools your looking for. maybe not to the HIGHEST or anything, but to something reasonable so atleast they can look at the other portions of your application.....

Good luck!

Lakshya M

Math - 640 is what will hurt you the most. Colleges are generally a little lenient with low CR and W scores. You still need to get those scores higher.

Vladb

Thanks for replies. Actually, SAT is my weak place but it is completely new for me and I have never come around with such test format. It is very sad. One more question: Are universities interested in students from very distant and familiar countries? or it is a disadvantage too?

raza999

i think u should apply to the uk...u ll have a better chance there since they dont require SATs. good luck

b@r!um

At most competitive schools, the admission rate of internationals is only about half of the rate of domestic students. So be prepared for a fierce competition.

Abhi08544

I disagree. Being from Kazakhstan is an advantage; competition for you will be less fierce than for Indian, Chinese & Singaporeans.
No college will eject you just because your SAT score is low.

issacnewton

YA I agree.......adcoms know bout ur country and the competition will b very very less for u, with ur fellow country students...

Vladb

i do not understand one thing - Are SAT scores much more important than school grades? Do experience awards extracirricular activies mean nothing at all?

realmofdreams

No. SAT is never more important than GPA. And other stuffs like awards, extracurricular activities, etc do carry different weights in the admission pool (depends on the school). Just make sure your essay really good - this can partly compensate for your weak SAT.

However, to be honest, your weak SAT won't hurt you as much as the other international students who score high in SAT will.

karan89

think u have a pretty good chance for columbia, they dont weight sat scores THAT much for internationals.

bobby100

People saying SATs don't matter much are wrong. They matter a great deal. Colleges don't know how rigorous your high school is and SATs helps them see where you stand.

An unusual country helps among international applicants, but most college limit intnls to a small percentage as a whole.

In my opinion you have little chance at the schools on your list as your scores are WAY below their averages. I would look at schools where your scores are at least average. If you need financial aid, above average.

b@r!um

I second bobby.
SATs are extremely important for international students. Even some schools which are test optional for American students require the SAT for international students.
As you don't need fin aid (which I assume because you want to apply to Berkeley), you still have a chance at those schools with excellent grades (you should be in the top 5% of your class). And you should consider taking the SAT IIs. As English and math obviously aren't your strong areas (I'm not saying 640 on the math part is a bad score, but it is too weak for those schools), you might like to demonstrate what subjects you are strong in.

Vladb

Yes, I do not need financial aid. Our country has 11-year compulsory education, does it affect my chances or it does not matter?