I am an international student and I want to get into a top US University to study science (astrophysics or geophysics) but I recently took the SAT and I got 800 on math but only 650 on ebrw (30/40 reading and 35/40 writing) . I also took 2 subject tests : Math lvl. 2 - 800 and Physics - 800 . The problem is that I read a lot of books like those of feynman and Apostol but not literature , so I got pretty much all wrong on literature/history passages on the SAT . Does my 650 kill my chances ?
650 is definitely a good score, or you can try it in December
Depends on where you are applying. Do you need to get into an elite school that gives aid to international students? If so, the spots are highly competitive. If not, there are lots of research universities who would love to have you if you can pay.
Are you in an English speaking country or non-English speaking country?
It depends upon where you are applying.
650 is a very good score. The top ranked 10 or 12 schools (Stanford, MIT, the top half of the Ivy League) are so competitive that this will hurt you at these very top schools. However, for many other very good universities (such as anything ranked between 20 and 50) your overall SAT score is very good. The issue is that you are likely to be full pay at these other very good universities which to me raises the issue of whether they are worth the price. There are “top 50 in the world” universities elsewhere which will be more economical.
Even if you are coming from an English speaking country there is enough variation in the details of English between say, the UK, US, Australia, and Canada that it can have some impact on your English SAT score. I am not sure whether this comes from differences in the spoken and written languages or differences between how English classes are taught in different countries. You will probably need a significant amount of SAT preparation to get better than 650 on the English SAT even if you are from an English speaking country other than the US.
I am from Romania and I have not taken any courses in english . And talking about financial aid , my parents could help me with no more than 10.000 dollars per year.
I am loking for universities from caltech (my top/reach choice) to emory , notre dame and tufts (the “lower” end , which are still excellent) .
mingmingmiko , I will try again in December . This 650 is the second lowest score I have ever got on the sat ebrw . I took all the Collegeboard released prep tests and I usually got 670-690 and the last time 700 . I believe that I can surpass 700 , but I apply to some universities that need all my scores and the ones that superscore will still see my 650 (correct me if I’m wrong) .
MIT does not require SAT test. You can take TOEFL.
Caltech also wants you to take the TOEFL: http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/content/how-apply-first-year-applicant
650 is low. You’ve got targets that will have plenty of applicants from Romania and that corner of the world who offer a better score.
The top schools will review holistically - strengths all around, not just what interests you.