<p>One thing that many tend to forget is the fact that internationals who attend reputable US high schools would more often than not be well received and rated higher than those HS graduates from other countries. They certainly are the most competitive category of internationals simply because their schools are better known. They are also trained much beforehand to write essays and take SAT, specif. SAT I, but not for SAT Subjects. Another major difference is ECs where internationals generally are not required or encouraged to do as much or of the same kinds as those of US students. That’s why admitted internationals to the top universities are normally international olympiad participants or top in their respective countries or national scholars despite having done nothing much about any meaningful ECs! Most families of internationals thus now are inclined to send their children to attend well known US schools early if they want their kids to be successful in getting into the Ivies or top unis.</p>