<p>Yeah. I've got dual-citizenship.</p>
<p>The playing field is not level. It is not level for poor kids from lousy urban school systems. It is not level for kids from small rural schools that do not have AP's. It is not level for kids who have to work to help support their familites, and don't have time to study and do EC's. It is not level for those who cannot afford $1000 for a Kaplan SAT prep course. It is not level for a lot of reasons. Cheer up.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Being an international student though has exposed me to the inherent gap in the system.
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From this statement in your OP, I also thought you were an international student. I still don't really understand your position.</p>
<p>My position is that many American students complain about the burden of SATs, SAT IIs, etc. when really they have it easier than a large number of applicants who have to complete the exact same requirements.</p>
<p>I am American but have lived overseas all of my life which sort of puts me in both categories.</p>
<p>Gosh it sounds as though you have huge advantages over many "typical" American students here who probably begin to look and sound alike to adcoms. And when students anywhere look beyond the obvious "hot", super-competitive admissions schools, the admissions process is not such torture. The biggest whiners have usually created their massive challenge, and it doesn't have to be so hard.</p>
<p>I completely agree. It doesn't have to be so hard.</p>
<p>Why bother taking the SAT's or ACT as an international anyway? Unless, of course, you went to an international school based on the american system. </p>
<p>Any good college or university that puts a lot of weight on american tests for an international applicant shouldn't be considered good in the first place. If they see applicants as a bunch of numbers rather than real people, so be it, their loss. There are plenty of colleges that don't require test scores and many others that would take a chance on a unique student.</p>
<p>The SAT's/ACT make sense for american students, however. The ways in which american students could set themselves apart from every other applicant are limited. It's already bad enough to live in an isolated country with no real world experience outside of their home state, but then they have to compete with thousands of other identical applicants. Boy, what a drag. </p>
<p>Colleges will continue to become more and more of a lottery if standarized tests aren't modified in some way. And no, the "new" SAT isn't a sufficient enough modification. It's just a justification on how flawed the test really was and still is.</p>
<p>Stew, you should rejoice. You have the opportunity of having the advantages of an american as far as financial aid, but also the experiences of an international student. Those experiences is what gives you and I the edge over the cookie-cutter applicants in the states.</p>
<p>Wow - I'm shocked to find you're an American after all that.....I suspect by the last paragraph in your original post, where you 'hope you don't come off as complaining', that you already knew you were on the wrong side of whiny and complaining.</p>
<p>Your mom's federal taxes probably do NOT support many US schools, as the publics are typically supported by STATE taxes.</p>
<p>But there is an alternative.....as an American living abroad....if you find the U.S. system so distasteful, could you enroll in a university in the country where you reside?</p>
<p>I'm rather apalled by the fact that so many people are taking offense at the fact that I'm trying to point out some of the difficulties that international applicants have. I was never on the wrong side of "whiny and complaining", I just wanted to make sure that nobody took it that way (I clearly failed). Just for your information, I'm applying to both the US and the UK. I personally feel that the personal statement as opposed to the commonapp essay format tells much more about the person and is a much better way to get to know somebody. The UK application system, just like the US one has its pitfalls, but that's a whole other story.</p>
<p>Sorry you feel that way - seems like most of the responders are wondering what you have to be unhappy with.....you have access to the finaincial aid if necessary (if it's not necessary, that's even better for you), and your international experiences make you stand out in a sea of middle class non-URM applicants.</p>
<p>That's the thing: I have nothing to be unhappy with. I was merely pointing something out to you. I was trying to show how much easier it is for US applicants to fulfill these requirements because they are provided with many different means of support when it comes to the different aspects of the application process.</p>
<p>I'm a user of UCAS and Common App, as well. Both has their ups and downs. I found the UCAS personal statement a little too short for space and too broad in topic, especially for intel students - why the UK, can you handle the English requirements, etc, in addition to the typical "why do you want to study your major". </p>
<p>As Banedon said, intels don't really have to have super-duper EC's or activities as compared to their American counterparts if our country/community doesn't offer them. For example, the Common App asks for work experience, including summer jobs. As a student under a diplomatic visa in another country, I'm not liable to hold any so that's blank. :(</p>
<p>It's cool you're an intel American student. I know some Americans who are mostly international students, even when they go back to the US.</p>
<p>but i like your argument, stew. it's refreshing.</p>
<p>Thanks :) (10 chars)</p>