<p>May you please suggest more such schools?
Low TOEFL requirement or test-optional.
Religion colleges are also alright.</p>
<p>Bates College
Berea College
Bowdoin College
Franklin and Marshal College
Colorado College
Connecticut College</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I think your list is misleading. These schools might, on occasion, take an full-ride international “B” student IF – I repeat, IF – that student has something else to offer: regional/racial diversity, exceptional sports accomplishment, exceptional academic accomplishment (aside GPA) maybe high SAT scores. If the school needs a French horn player for the school’s orchestra, and no full-pay French horn player applies, and you happen to play the French horn – you MIGHT be considered and accepted. If they’ve never had a West African before, and you’re from West Africa, you might be considered. And so on. </p>
<p>No one should be applying to these schools thinking that just being a “B” student will be enough!</p>
<p>Remember, you’re competing for one or two spots at each of these schools with hundreds of other international students. You need to stand out and fit the specific criteria each school has for these few, select spots. And that criteria will vary each fall, depending on the school’s need and the pool of applicants.</p>
<p>Its very hard being a “B” student, given that GPA is the most important factor in admissions. You could try schools such as Mercyhurst or Denison. Not many schools come to mind that would give full rides to “B” international students.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies katliamom and eduard 97.</p>
<p>Calling myself “B” student remains in terms of low TOEFL score (1 attempt - 83), and I haven’t taken SAT/ACT which in some way limits the possible list of colleges to apply for seeking full-ride. Comparing with others, it’s far from even “good” scores. </p>
<p>It’s really important to set accessible goals. Let it give less chances for aid. Let it would even be 1%. But it’s more than 0% definitely.
I have always been wondering how international students aiming to high sometimes go being depressed because of adm. results. That’s why I’ve been seeking for more lower level schools (what I meant for “B” students) omitting those competitive that everyone’s now applying for.
There are a lot, really a lot of good colleges we(int’ls) have never heard about. And these schools are my goal, not “top 100” rating. Rank beyond doubt plays a big role, but its much more depends on student’s demand and wish to study. </p>
<p>Applicant description (:
-GPA would be 3.9 or 4.0 on US scale, (93%/100%)
-199.5 Chem, 189 English, 190 Math national testing (200p scale) (like SAT subject t.) - achieved without any preparation as well as TOEFL.
-Also, about 15 national subject Olympiads, 10 merit and other 10 Physics/Mathematics/Eco/Biol contests certificates - 1-3 degree winner.
It’s difficult to “chance” own app, because in US colleges admissions consider and evaluate everything as I understand, right?</p>
<p>Dear posters, these questions are really important to me now in order not to waste my time admission officers’ too, so please, what do you think about (taking into consideration written above):</p>
<p>1) Does it worth applying for schools where requirements are: SAT/ACT and low TOEFL score (80-100) without SAT? It’s like a student who meets English proficiency requirement but does not have other scores (but I have national). Will my application be considered at all? Some representatives say they would, but with disadvantage. Other claim they won’t.</p>
<p>2) I’ve been exploring quite fresh post (2012-2013) and some int’l students share “full-rides” they get from concrete schools. BUT! After I visit schools’ WebPages, for some reason they do not provide such scholarships/aids those students claim they have obtained.
So, in such case should I just ignore these post and trust college website?
May college offer full ride (despite its school regulations do not allow that) to an int’l if admission really like student?</p>
<p>Thank everyone for further assistance.
Your time spent is really appreciated!</p>
<p>The problem is that the universities need to have a baseline for each student. That baseline is typically the SAT. If you haven’t taken the SAT then you’re stuck. The schools don’t have a lot of money and they are very selective about how and whom they select to receive their limited money.<br>
Universities select those few students who look “outstanding” in their tests and achievements. Universities select students who make their universities look good.</p>
<p>They compare you to other students from your country who have taken SAT’s and who have something outstanding in their applications. You can’t think that grade and test expectations are lowered for international students just because a university may not be a Harvard or Yale. </p>
<p>If you have a low Toefl, it’s not necessarily for their benefit, but for yours. The classes go at a rapid speech rate and anyone not strong in English skills, trying to take notes in English, will struggle with concepts and grades if they don’t have a solid background in English grammar and idioms. If your skills are strong in academics, it will show on your SAT. Just being honest.</p>
<p>A couple of questions: Are you applying for fall 2014? Why haven’t you taken the SAT or ACT? If you are indeed applying for fall 2014, you should take the SAT’s ASAP and let us know your score. Your grades are fine and I would not consider you a “B” student with that 3.9 GPA. Also, you should not pay too much importance to the TOEFL- schools don’t care that much about it. If you studied at a school that teaches in English you don’t even need to take the TOEFL. Taking the SAT will open MUCH more options. Now, Bowdoin College is a great test optional school. But still, I would highly suggest taking the SAT.</p>
<p>With a GPA of 3.9, you are not a “B” student by any means.</p>
<p>What you are is an “A” student with a relatively low TOEFL and no ACT or SAT.</p>
<p>Your options include reading through the list of no-test and test-optional colleges and universities at [The</a> National Center for Fair & Open Testing | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org%5DThe”>http://www.fairtest.org) then checking the international aid policies of the ones that appeal to you, or taking a gap year to get the tests done.</p>
<p>There are several places that do offer guaranteed merit-based aid for international students. Read the thread on Automatic aid in the Financial Aid forum for the current list and check each for international aid. However all of that aid requires an ACT or SAT score.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies, guys and… moms. (:</p>
<ol>
<li> aunt bea:
As it has already been said, TOEFL isn’t the one 1 thing admission consider as for applicant’s English proficiency. Some other qualifications are. </li>
<li>External Independent Testing (EIT) in English - national subject test in Ukraine for university entrance (analog to SAT2) - score: 189 out of 200 (94,5%).</li>
<li>10 years of English (7 at Drohobych School 4 of Foreign Languages and 3 at of Lviv Physics and Mathematics Lyceum attached to the Lviv National University).</li>
<li>GPA at LPML and Drohobych School 4 of FL: 10.8 / 12 (A, 90%).</li>
<li>1st absolute place winner – All-Ukr English Olympiad, 1st phase, 2010</li>
<li>I welcome admissions to arrange face-to-face interviews at any time.
-To support application, 4 teachers of English have been asked for references.</li>
</ol>
<p>Retaking TOEFL (almost 200$) isn’t cheap as well as ordering new direct reports from ETS. Despite this, generally even proficient speakers do not achieve super high scores at the first time without any special preparation, practice, professional materials and teacher’s advice.</p>
<p>You are right, TOEFL doesn’t play such a big role for schools to shine, SATs do. Thanks to your comment, now I have shortened the list of schools to apply for.</p>
<ol>
<li> eduard97:
Regarding your questions: Fall 2014, without ST/ACT, I haven’t taken one. Bowdoin seems to be too far from me with those stats. Its representative explained that 80 is much below 100 and it would be a challenge, even to gain consideration. So I hope for qualifications written above.</li>
</ol>
<p>GPA: 93% is 4.0/4.0, as I understand due to CB information table: [How</a> to Convert Your GPA to a 4.0 Scale](<a href=“http://www.collegeboard.com/html/academicTracker-howtoconvert.html]How”>How to Convert (Calculate) Your GPA to a 4.0 Scale – BigFuture) That improves chances a bit. Thanks to your comment I will also apply for more schools with higher TOEFL requirement (100). You encouraged me. However, today I’ve tried to take SAT Chemistry sample online. About 70% correct. It is not enough, but not so bad for the first attempt. Also I have never been practicing any tasks in English, neither in Chemistry nor in any other subject, so the main issue is understanding of what to do. Also SAT is not as difficult to prepare for. I will study hard to achieve about 90 in TOEFL, but now let admissions consider my app as it is without special prep. and “scores.” </p>
<ol>
<li>happymomof1:
Actually this thread has been started to collect a few more schools with good fin. assistance to internationals and I just realized: the list is ready. So much time spent for visiting websites of each school. Despite the most are test optional, some still require SAT/ACT for fin aid consideration. There are much more, really a lot of colleges for my criteria; for now about 45(13 require SAT), offering fill rides to int’ls. 20 are confidently test optional with TOEFL requirement 71-90.
I have checked more than 800 institutions for this data. A lot of small/unknown LACs offer decent aid. The main disadvantage.</li>
</ol>
<p>I will apply for 10(more?). Any other suggestions please?</p>
<p>For more understanding, desirable programme is Biochemistry.</p>
<p>I may be missing something here but can you confirm that you are applying to attend in Fall 2014? Are you saying you have already applied to many of these schools? I am confused because you mention “hoping for certain stats”…I’m hoping you are aware that the deadline has passed for many/most schools, some have deadlines of 1/15 (tomorrow), and a few have a 2/1 deadline…so…you are severely limiting yourself this year…</p>
<p>
I disagree. The TOEFL isn’t particularly hard for someone who’s proficient enough in English to function in an academic environment. A score of 83 is a red flag for many colleges and also undermines your other language-related accomplishments. (Picture a math olympiad winner with an SAT math score of 550.) Full disclosure: I scored 100+ on the iBT even though I was unable to read a newspaper or write a college paper without a dictionary at the time. My only preparation was the one free practice test you get when you sign up. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you do end up taking the TOEFL again, I strongly suggest you buckle down and study enough to score above 100 (the preferred score of many colleges), instead of hiding behind the “even proficient speakers only score that high with coaching” excuse. If you struggle with the TOEFL, your English needs improvement, so go improve!</p>
<p>Thank you for comments (:</p>
<p>Sdgal2:
Yeah, Fall 2014. No-no, I have been prepared and already applied for some schools before January 1 and January 15, everything is ok regarding deadlines. </p>
<p>b@r!um
To aim high, even 100+ on iBT would be great. 83: 25S, 22W, 17R, 19L.
I should definitely read more scientific literature for instance, because I could hardly understand texts related to Biology (3 such passages).</p>
<p>
Here’s a general test taking strategy you might find useful. When you read scientific articles on the TOEFL, you often don’t need to know what the scientific terms mean. You’ll be fine as long as long as you keep track of everything you are being told about them. For example, if you get a paragraph about mitochondria, you probably don’t need to know that they are “cellular power plants.” Just remember that some cells have one and other cells many of the M-word, that the M-word has its own DNA, and that the M-word generates most of the cells’ AT-word (adenosine triphosphate).</p>
<p>This appears to be a chances post. It seems you have already applied to your long list of schools and are looking for affirmations that you do in fact have a chance of admission with a full ride scholarship. Sure, it’s possible. </p>
<p>But, you named schools which are highly sought afters by internationals seeking aid. Full rides are much tougher to obtain than partial aid and are, therefore, far more competitive.</p>
<p>As I’m sure you know, it is too late for you to do more testing for this application season. </p>
<p>Your applications are out of your hands and at this point you need to bide your time until your schools make their decisions.</p>