Hello, I am a South Korean Student attending Sungkyunkwan University majoring in Physics. I skipped one year of Highschool. I’ve always wanted to attend a U.S. University, so am planning on transferring to U.S. Schools.
There are two things that I want to ask:
- The admission process.
I am unclear about sending the TOEFL and SAT scores. (Sorry in advance if the following questions seem stupid... but I've never applied to a US school before, so hmmm..... please bear with me ). What is 'sending scores to schools'? Do I have to like send the scores to the schools through email? Also, if a school says that their application deadline is March 2nd, then do I have to send TOEFL scores before that time? Like, how can the school know my TOEFL score?
- What schools I can (reasonably) apply to
By 'reasonably', I refer to which schools I have a shot at getting accepted.
I got the following scores on standardized tests:
SAT1: 1500 (710 on Reading and Writing, 790 on Math) (I did not take the essay portion of the test)
SAT2: Physics, Math(level2): 800,800
TOEFL iBT: Just took the test today, so I guess I won’t be able to know the score yet… But I’m guessing somewhere
around 100 or higher.
Also, I got the following grades in my university.
First semester:
General Physics 1, General Chemistry 1, Problem Solving and Algorithm 1 (essentially, learning python), English Writing, General Physics Lab1: All A+
Calculus 1: A
Scientific Writing: B+
Average GPA: 4.28/4.5 (considering A+ to be 4.5(which is how my school calculates GPAs)
Second semester:
General Physics 2, Calculus 2, Problem Solving and Algorithm 2 (essentially, learning python), English Speaking, General Physics Lab2, Symbolic Logic: All A+
Public speech and debate: A
Average GPA: 4.43/4.5 (again, A+ is 4.5)
During winter vacation:
Scientific English: A+
The total average GPA is 4.38/4.5
With the credentials above, do I have a shot at Cornell or Columbia? (Am I aiming too high?)
Now, I see that this discussion may also be classified under the 'international students' category, so I will post this question in both categories.
When you take the TOEFL, you designate four schools to receive your scores. Do that today, as later on you’ll have to pay. Then the organization sends the scores directly to the colleges.
You could send those scores to Cornell, Columbia, Lawrence (known for physics) and one more.
hmmm… then I guess I’ll have to pay all the fees because I already took the exam 
Thanks for the information though 
Also, about the sending score thing, do I have to send them as soon as possible? Like, do the scores have to arrive at the universities before the application deadline?
You have a couple days after taking the exam. Hurry
Ohhh well that’s good! Wait… but what happens if my score turns out to be very low? Then I can’t take it back… right? Cause some schools don’t require TOEFL scores for students who get over 700 on the Reading and Writing of the SAT 1. If I am not sure if I got a good score on the TOEFL, is it a wise choice to decide whether to send the score after I get score reports (because some schools don’t require me to send TOEFL scores)? Also, it is said that it takes about 20 days for the scores to reach their destination… does this mean that if I send them, for example, 15 days prior to the application deadline, it will not work?
Sorry for asking lots of questions
And thank you so much for your help!
It has to be sent before the application deadline, when it is received is not in your hands.
You could send the 4 scores to colleges that require the TOEFL and wait for the others.
Look into Williams, Swarthmore, Pomona…
Hmm so the scores have to be sent ‘before’ the deadline, but they don’t necessarily have to arrive at the school ‘before’ the application deadline? In other words, if I send my scores on Feb 10th, the scores will arrive on March 2nd. Let’s say that the application deadline is March 1st. Will I be in trouble? Or is it OK, since the scores were sent ‘before’ the deadline?
Now you won’t be in trouble. The scores have to arrive within the month of the deadline.