<p>Hey! I ve searched a lot on internet but none websites have stories about international students that tell - in which college they got admitted, how much their toefl and sat scores were, and what amount of financial aid are they getting.
So, if u r an international student or know about any international student who got enrolled in, may be, an ivy league college or any other reputed US college, please go on write about them.
this is becoz i’ve repeatedly heard that international undergraduate students have less chances and blah blah blah…
Also i need some inspiration…today i got my toefl scores and the results are unexpectedly less - 97. 
however, i practised alot and even scored 105 in the official practice test by ETS
is there any international undergraduate student who received less scores in toefl but got enrolled in big colleges??
Also my SAT is in approx 15 days. I extended my vocabulary enormously in past 4 to 5 months… i thought that vocabulary and maths were the only thing i needed to ace SAT. However since last three days I solved my first ever practice tests from Barrons and i scored 1560, 1770, 1760 respectively
So if u ve any knowledge related to any of the aforementioned topics, please kindly help and type anything you know.
Thnxx in advance</p>
<p>You won’t any articles that say “Oh I got SAT 2400 and GPA 4.0 unweighted and 5.0 weighted, and my toefl was a perfect score and I got a full tuition!” </p>
<p>It’s up to you to fine a motivation to study, and please don’t limit “international student success” to “getting into Ivies or other reputed US colleges”.</p>
<p>The real success is to adapt in US culture well, study hard wherever they attend(unless its not like Southern New Orleans University, one of colleges that are cited to be the worst college), and be happy with what they strive for. Since when Ivy has become the only caliber of a success?</p>
<p>Also…don’t think about the Ivies now. Barrons is harder than other prep books but that score won’t get you to Ivies or other schools of same levels. </p>
<p>oops, typo.
*won’t find
*to find</p>
<p>If you’re struggling with the SAT, try the ACT. Its format is much gentler on non-native speakers than the SAT. </p>
<p>paul agree with you.
For example, Vera Wang went to Sarah Lawrence college</p>
<p>what are the chances of an international with SAT score of as low as 1500, but very excellent GPA and extra curriculars?</p>
<p>okay…befote anything, can you pay? </p>
<p>In USA, you can go to a college without SAT/ACT score and with a gpa of 2.0, IF YOU ARE FULL PAY.</p>
<p>Besides, what kind of success story are you looking for?</p>
<p>The founder of Nvidia is an international student, he just sold a “house” in Los Altos Hills for $150Million dollars, the highest priced home sold in America 2012. Is that kind of story you are looking for? Yes, One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars.</p>
<p>^wow, Nvidia was founded by an international student? That’s very awesome!
Although he/she needs to be extremely hard working, innovative and charismatic to be like this…</p>
<p>b@rium on this forum is an international student success story. Search out her posts (she’s very, very helpful and engaged on this site) and you’ll see what I mean. </p>
<p>no I cant pay,@paul… seeking full aid</p>
<p>Either you have to have</p>
<p>2250+ SAT(sectional scores top 25% of your target schools)
at least 3.8 UW GPA and W gpa well over 4.0
lots of awards and significant extra curricular activities
very very good essay, LOR, rigorous courseloads</p>
<p>OR</p>
<p>very good GPA
Average SAT/ACT of target schools or a bit lower(but not too low)
several International level awards.
…and good essays, good LOR, etc</p>
<p>to get in the top tier schools if you need aid. </p>
<p>Those two aren’t absolute formulas but it gives you some idea</p>
<p>What are your “excellent GPA and ECs”? </p>
<p>Or if you got your face on to the Time magazine front page. There are two students this year. Lol</p>
<p>^^^true. But even those who succeed in getting accepted to top tier schools don’t need to have international level records…I know a questbridge finalist who got into Bryn Mawr College and she did heck a lot of works. </p>
<p>Her records:
Internship: Teacher’s Assistant in IB Chinese Class (2012-2013)
Gave informational PowerPoint presentations related to the Chinese culture
Independent study on Chinese literature
Helped grading and tutored students
Organizing for America (OFA) (Democratic Campaign) (2012)
In charge of Saturday Voter Registration drives
In charge of doing phone banking targeting Korean Americans
Other Phone banking
Canvassing
Action for Peace through Prayer and Aid (APPA) (2010-2013)
Spoke at a conference in Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York
Supervise the members
Main spokesperson of the group
Take pictures and made video clips
Have PowerPoint presentations
Raised awareness of underprivileged people
Leadership: Student Advisory Council
Represent Robinson Secondary School at the meetings
Suggest improvements to the School Board
Cooperate with representatives from other schools
Elected at school
Speech Captain of Speech and Debate Club
Guide the members to understand the speech events
Critique the members’ performances
Plan for the meetings
Publicize the club
Under Secretary General of Model United Nations
Instruct the members for the conferences
Plan for the meetings
Publicize the club
Founder of Action for Peace through Prayer and Aid Club
President of Chinese Community Teaching Organization
Teaching Chinese to elementary and middle school students without profit
Created the organization
Prepare class material (class work and home work)
Organize class schedule
Reserve meeting rooms in public library
Founder and President of Chinese Honor Society
Enrich students’ knowledge of the Chinese language and its culture
Opportunities for students to gain service hours and help their peers in the Chinese language
Further develop the Chinese program
Publicist (2011-2012) and President (2012-2013) in High School Reader’s Club
Elected by members
Organized ideas
Advertised the club by making clips
Vice-President (2011-2013) in Korean Club
Organized ideas
Taught about Korean cultures
Advertised the club by making clips
Student instructor in Taekwondo since 2012
Instruct the students
Review basic forms, stances, blocks and kicks
Extra Curricular Activities:
Taekwondo All Year 2.5 hours/week Grades 6-12
Science Fair Nov.-March - Grade 9, 10, 11
National Honor Society Sep.-June 5 hours/quarter Grade 10, 11, 12
National English Honor Society Sep.-June 2 hours/quarter Grade 11, 12
National Science Honor Society Sep.-June 2 hours/quarter Grade 11, 12
High School Reader’s Club Sep.-June 1 hour/month Grade 9-12
Model UN Sep.-June 1 hour/week Grade 10, 11, 12
Speech and Debate Sep.-June 2 hours/week Grade 10, 11, 12
Korean Club Sep.-June 4 hours/month Grade 10, 11, 12
College Partnership Program Sep.-June 4 hours/month Grade 11, 12
Community Service Activities:
Chinese Community Teaching Organization
Korean America Association of Virginia
Provided information
Greeted people
Action for Peace through Prayer and Aid (APPA)
UN Global Cooperation Service International
Made posters and took photos to raise awareness
Experienced homelessness
Had discussions about topics related to human rights
Had PowerPoint presentations
Cooked and provided food for homeless people
Summer Activities:
2013 Summer Residential Governor’s School for Humanities at Radford University
2013 Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York
2012 International World Affairs Student Leadership Academy
2012-2013 Chinese Community Teaching Organization
Taekwondo
Awards/Certificates:
The President’s Volunteer Service Award (Gold)
QuestBridge Finalist
First Place in Advance Level in the Eighth Annual “Chinese Bridge” US High School Student Speech Contest at University of Massachusetts Boston
Chinese Proficiency Test HSK Level 6 from Hanban
First Prize Winner of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Speech Competition at 2013 Youth Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters
Osbourn Park Model United Nations Honorable Mention in Crisis Committee The Great Depression
Hope Chinese School Speech Competition – 1st Place Grade 10
Degree of Honor & Merit in National Forensic League
Leadership award from Action for Peace through Prayer and Aid
Participation at Physics Summer Outreach Program at University of Maryland
Second Place District Science Fair – Environmental Science Grade 11
Second Place – Regional and District Science Fair – Environmental Management Grade 10
Honorable Mention – District Science Fair – Grade 9
Outstanding Junior from Robinson Secondary School
Special Skills:
Trilingual
Clarinet
Microsoft Word & Powerpoint</p>
<p>OP I think your stats is not competitive, your tofel is only 97. but everyone goes to top school would have at least 110 or even higher, many has full SAT(2400) so they do not have to take tofel. While schools does not make decision on tofel, a low score will make adcom think twice before they admit you. They will think, well if I take this guy do I have to send him to remedial classes in English? More importantly, they will think “why should I PAY for some one in and also pay for the remedial class?”</p>
<p>Frankly speaking if you struggle with tofel or SAT, you won’t do well in a competitive college. Try to get yourself better prepared and score better on those standardize tests, and you will have a much happier college life. </p>
<p>Frankly speaking if you struggle with tofel or SAT, you won’t do well in a competitive college. Try to get yourself better prepared and score better on those standardize tests, and you will have a much happier college life. </p>
<p>I’m international student from france.
I have a 2020 SAT with 740 in math (first and only try)
My TOEFL is 112/120.
Waiting for SAT Math 2 and physics results.
I have decent EC’s, i’m currently in a Gap year and i’ve been working as a volunteer in a children’s hospital in peru for the last 3 months. I have an internship at NASA planned in january as well as a private pilot license training.
My parents are willling to pay full tuition.
I’m applying to the schools below in Aerospace engineering. I will post the results when i have them so that people can compare.</p>
<p>University of Michigan Ann arbor
Purdue university, WL
University of illinois urbana champaign,
Georgia Tech,
Penn state univ park,
UC LA
UC San diego
UC davis
UC irvine
University of southern california.</p>
<p>good luck guys</p>
<p>@meriks you would want your thread to be moved to Chance forum. Where 's your GPA?</p>