<p>Hi, My son is studying 12th in India. He wants to take SAT and he aims at Stanford’s to study Engineering ( computers) . Please any one help me to guide him what test he should take? SAT or ACT or both?</p>
<p>It depends on the colleges that he is applying to. You need to call the admissions office at the respective schools and find out what tests they require. Most require just the SAT.</p>
<p>Please don’t force your son to take more than one standardized test if he doesn’t need to. He may not tell you himself, but he really doesn’t need the added stress at this time in his life.</p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> Admission : Stanford University](<a href=“Page Not Found : Stanford University”>http://admission.stanford.edu/)</p>
<p>
[Testing</a> Requirements : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/application/freshman/testing.html]Testing”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/application/freshman/testing.html)</p>
<p>I usually suggest that a student take both ACT and SAT tests because some students do much better on one than the other.</p>
<p>U.S. colleges allow you to take either the SAT or the ACT. Some people do better on the SAT and some do better on the ACT. He should try a practice test for each and see which he scores a higher percentile score on, and then take the official version of that test.</p>
<p>Many U.S. colleges also require SAT Subject tests. (These also sometimes called by their old name, SAT II tests). Sometimes the Math Level 2 SAT Subject Test is required.</p>
<p>
[FAQ</a> : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/site/faq/index.html#faq_2_1]FAQ”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/site/faq/index.html#faq_2_1)</p>
<p>rampee12</p>
<p>The best source for general information for international applicants is [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov/) After you and your son read through that website, you should make an appointment for him with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. There are several in India. [EducationUSA</a> - Find an Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/India]EducationUSA”>India | EducationUSA) The EducationUSA counselors are expert at helping students like your son navigate the application process. </p>
<p>Wishing both of you all the best.</p>
<p>I also recommend that students take both the ACT with writing and the SAT. He will also need to take two SAT subject tests.</p>
<p>Take them both and submit the scores that are the highest percentile.</p>
<p>Let your son get his hands on a practice test for each test, and take it. If he has a strong preference for one or the other, let him take that test. Otherwise let him take the SAT. Subject tests too.</p>
<p>Your more important question at this point should be: What other colleges besides Stanford will be good for my son? Because no matter what his ACT or SAT score, the chances of getting in will be extremely small.</p>
<p>Yes, have him see which test he might do better on with practice tests.</p>
<p>Please don’t have him put all hope on one school. Competition to get into Stanford, even for Americans, is brutal. For an international it’s harder. For an international who can not pay in full much harder than that.</p>
<p>The best approach, even for very top students, is to apply to a range of schools.</p>
<p>Depending on the language in which his education has been conducted, he may need to take the TOEFL also.</p>
<p>By the way, although schools may say that they “recommend but do not require” various tests, a truism of college applications is that recommend really does mean require–if you want to get in. :)</p>
<p>By the way, I just want to point out that just because it is an Ivy League school does not mean that it is neccessarily the best engineering program around. For instance, Northeastern University isn’t considered Ivy league, but it is a top 100 school, located in a great city, has a prestigious engineering program, and is probably not as competitive as Stanford. It also boasts the co-op program, which allows students to get real world experience with their major for six month sessions. This gives them real world experience to put on a resume, which is, in my opinion, more valuable than simply having the word Stanford on your resume.</p>
<p>Nor is Stanford Ivy league</p>
<p>rampee12 - the idea of considering Stanford the only, or the best, place in the US is a very, very dangerous one. Contrary to what you might hear or think in India, there are lots of outstanding universities in the US, and while Stanford is certainly a premier school, there are tons of opportunities for smart students coming out of any number of good schools. So, please, please, please, we beg of you, do NOT consider Stanford the only target school and put that kind of pressure on your child. The myth that opportunities in America only come to graduates of a select small number of schools is just that, a myth.</p>
<p>Tell us more about your son. What does he like? What type of campus setting, part of the US, etc. might he enjoy? Does he have other hobbies or interests that are relevant? PLEASE do not put all the focus on Stanford.</p>
<p>I think they keep changing it on me.</p>
<p>If your son is interested in computer science and has the grades and scores to make him competitive at Stanford, he ought to also look at MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Berkley for other schools that are ranked at the same level in computer science. Then he should also find one or two safer schools that nevertheless have strong programs. That will vary a little depending on his interests. My son applied to Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but there are also several very good schools in the Midwest and other possibilities on the West Coast.</p>