<p>ummmm, I feel sorry for you because I think you are just one of those people who feel they need to go to a university just because it is high on some stupid college ranking company's list. Why do you really want to go to an American institution, aside from the fact that they are "good academically"? Is there something special that you feel you could learn and take back to Senegal to help make Senegal a better place? I am very sorry, but i do not see you getting into any ivys. :(</p>
<p>I prefer to ignore you poor man! this is an intellectual forum not a Broadway comedy show.</p>
<p>I love native africans personalities. My friend is a native ethiopian, and hes soooo goofy, and his accent is goofy too. Good luck on your SATs.</p>
<p>"I love native africans personalities. My friend is a native ethiopian, and hes soooo goofy, and his accent is goofy too."</p>
<p>lol Alright just wait a second and take a look at what you said. This Ethiopian may be goofy but you said he is your friend so that doesn't bother you...</p>
<p>goofy is good. You are a little goofy too (in a good way) because your english translations are a little, off. "This is an intellectual forum, not a broadway comedey show". While the information contained in that sentence was factually correct, it sounds funny when I read it. It is good though, I am not making fun of you.</p>
<p>Well, I hope you are not making fun of it. "This is an intellectual forum, not a Broadway comedy show". I really meant what I said because some people consider the purpose of this discussion as a method to knock down hopes of others. I came here for advices so if someone cant give me one, he just have to skip the thread.</p>
<p>"CHANCE ME PLEASE for CORNELL, MY STRAIGHTS MY WEAKNESSES PLEASE!" </p>
<p>You asked them to chance you, they're being realistic. </p>
<p>Your best bet at Cornell would be CALS (it doesn't require SATIIs and puts very little weight on the SATI, though a score that low will raise eyebrows)... even then it's a super high reach since your English might interfere with you writing an awesome essay. Be passionate and hope for the best. The fact that you learned this much English in three months is remarkable; if you mentioned it on your application it could help. </p>
<p>P.S. Cornell is need-blind so if you really do need financial aid, don't be afraid to apply (I'm assuming you have a green card which I'm pretty sure takes away your international status).</p>
<p>he siad BIG CHALLENEGE
I would as him for his essay and help him on it
Obviously, that is one less person to worry about competition</p>
<p>Tboonepickens
Junior Member
I doubt you know your stuff well. Let us not forget, our Senegalese friend here has had no help at all. He did not spell comedy with an 'E' between 'd' and 'y'
Yale, Columbia, Harvard, Penn State, Swarthmore offer need based financial aid for all their students. Get your facts straight and do not tell him what you learnt from your school or choice.
Another fact, sometimes you have to pay attention to that fact that you may be pushing a nerve when you speak to someone. It is essential to master communication skills. This is someone who has spoken NO english and I was in his shoes one day, only worse. I spoke some language that you will never be able to pronounce, no matter how hard you twist your tongue. Would you be able to tell when you speak to me? I doubt.
He is trying to talk to you. I pray that you do not relate to internationals like that when you go to Cornell or I will have one more thing about Cornell on my mind.
If he has no chance, think of the students who have the chance here. In my school, people use iPods and stuff for leisure. They scored WAAAAy below his scores, and still went for SAT prep. How about them? How will the two of them look in an admissions officer's eyes?
People have toiled to learn a little only for you to bash them and kill their spirit. That is weak. That is so weak. Do you want to know how I learnt english? I read books and watched the news. THAT IS IT! How did you do it? That is a no brainer.
How will we look on an admissions desk?
Even if he will not get in, speak of a good school that will help him out. Many schools out there do not teach anything. I attend a school where an admissions counsellor thinks I can send paper to a school and they will accept that as my SAT scores. That is how much rubbish is out there. I know of colleges that are practically 13th grade. How will he look when he is looking for grad school.
Make Senegal a better place? Pack the food that you throw aways and send it there. That could jumpstart his "Day of Making Senegal a Better Place"
American schools bring a different approach to learning. It is what the student knows and has experienced. Political science will not be interesting if the teacher stood up and told you all the facts of whatever and then left the place. That is what you get in Univ of Alabama, but at Cornell or Columbia, the student actually is able to speak and ask or say, "I think this dictator was thinking this because I am from Senegal and Diof did this to my country and acted this way when he came to my school." It is not a one sided affair.
If he may not go to THE American school, recommend that he looks at a SUNY school (not CUNY). It would build him for what is ahead. Then, his essay will be stronger.</p>
<p>[ALL THIS WAS NOT SAID IN A TONE OF ANGER. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE IT AS THOUGH]</p>
<p>Are you eligible to study at a Canadian college where you can take courses in French as well as English? I was wondering if your strengths might be more apparent at univerisities particularly in the Province of Quebec, with students who are both French-speaking and English-speaking, and courses offered in French or English. The Canadian visa situations is well beyond my grasp, but because of your French language ability, I thought of Canada. McGill is a top school in North America, with more English than French students, but there are other schools in Quebec that are francophone, unlike McGill which is primarily English. Also, look over in Ontario and see if their universities offer enough courses in French, too. From Canada, you might either graduate or transfer sooner to an American university for the next step. A lot depends on your visa status, but at least you can inquire at the consulate and universities in French :)</p>
<p>If you have only been in this country for 3 months, as you posted, your written English is amazing. You might just need more time to reach your goals, and meanwhile either a SUNY or gap year can make sense. If you decide to wait to be an "older" freshman at age 20, that won't affect you academically at all. Socially, you might be a bit more mature than some of the other freshmen, but you will find your way and not make a lot of the mistakes they do. None of this age would be looked at as a negative by admissions officers, given a transition from one continent to another. My understanding is they don't begin to categorize someone as a "mature student" (in a different category) until they begin college/uni as a freshman at age 25, and you're not planning to wait that long! So, if you need one year now to prepare, do not worry. If anything, it could actually improve your chances by showing good common sense. </p>
<p>You are correct to focus on the positive. It's unlikely that an Ivy would be yours in September '09 with your current SAT-I scores, that's all. But there are many other universities and colleges in the U.S. that work with SAT scores in the 500's, from which you can launch upwards. Some of the private schools on your list, such as Rose Hulman, might be interested in you with your current scores, or a SUNY. </p>
<p>A gap year might also include one or perhaps two college courses (somewhere, anywhere, such as at a community college) just to make high marks, or study subject matter in English. Be careful to find out how many is too many, because you don't want to be considered a transfer student following the gap year; instead, you want to go in as a freshman, I presume. For that reason, I say just take one course or, at most, two community college courses during a gap year, if that's what you do with next year. Take something that interests you, in which you can succeed. It's just a trial-run anyway. Even if you take something with familiar content, such as African History, but study it in English, that could help elevate your Critical Reading skills and help on SAT test retake days, too. Just pick a course that lets you read comfortably in English, to get your feet wet, as they say. (This is an time-honored technique in English-Second-Language learning, to take a familiar subject and study it in the new language.) </p>
<p>This gives you much time to prepare SAT's and TOEFL's for many retakes. This is productive use of the coming gap year, if that's your path. It would be respected, I feel, in the admissions process. </p>
<p>If not a gap year, you could begin your college career, as others are saying, at a CUNY or SUNY, and transfer after a year there. </p>
<p>Either way has merit-- either a gap year (to prepare, retake SAT's, improve English, and take that one course or two at some community college); or else begin in Sept 09 at a very manageable school (Rose Hulman, for example, but there are many more) that will deal with high 400/low 500 SAT's, which realistically the Ivies won't consider. </p>
<p>Good luck and stay positive.</p>
<p>All I know is that when I saw that you're from Senegal, I was surprised. I don't know any international students from Francophone Africa who are undergrads at Cornell. It will be interesting to have that perspective in the African/Black American community. </p>
<p>Though your scores are low in the SATs I urge you to apply anyway if you have the means. For a person to know English in Senegal I know that they would have to have some cultural or financial wealth that bought them a good education. A background that would carry you through Cornell. </p>
<p>I don't think many know how different an international student from Senegal is from other international students even African students. In Senegal the main language is French as opposed to Nigeria and Ghana where it is English. Not everyone speaks French but if one were to learn a Western language in school it would be French, to learn English I would bet you'd need some further, outside education. </p>
<p>I know in China and South Korea the main language is not English, but those countries have a lot more educational resources for their citizens that Senegal does not have. It is normal for students from there to aspire to US Ivys so there are prep classes available for admissions. In Senegal, I doubt that is widely available.</p>
<p>The admissions office takes things like this into consideration, reviewing applicants individually. Don't ever let someone tell you not to apply anywhere, just do it. Taking advice is alright, but these people do not hold and are not going to live your future for you so do not make your decisions based off of their biased opinions.</p>
<p>Bard College
Bates College
College Of The Atlantic
Drew University
Hamilton College
Lawrence University
Lynchburg College
Mount Holyoke College
Nazareth College
Sarah Lawrence College
Wheaton College (MA)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute</p>
<p>Here is your list of SAT optional schools for Intl applicants.</p>
<p>Thank you! I may retake all of my exams if I have to take a year off. Yes I think since I have the SAT IIs and the TOEFL to take on January, I have no choice: just save what is still savable.</p>
<p>"The admissions office takes things like this into consideration, reviewing applicants individually. Don't ever let someone tell you not to apply anywhere, just do it. Taking advice is alright, but these people do not hold and are not going to live your future for you so do not make your decisions based off of their biased opinions"</p>
<p>Thank you! I may retake all of my exams if I have to take a year off. Yes I think since I have the SAT IIs and the TOEFL to take on January, I have no choice: just save what is still savable.</p>
<p>"Are you eligible to study at a Canadian college where you can take courses in French as well as English? I was wondering if your strengths might be more apparent at universities particularly in the Province of Quebec"</p>
<p>Actually I have already been accepted to the POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL of Montreal which is a good one in Canada I think. I applied there when I was still in Senegal. Then I deferred my admission to fall 2009 because I wanted to attend a US college. I did not have to take the SAT or any exam to be accepted there, they just look at your stats at High school. Thus, as it was for that school, I thought I was going to be the same for the US college.>>we do not have our adviser is more focused on the French School application process so I did not enough information.<< Then I applied for a 14 weeks ESL program and finally got my F-1 VISA on September. Therefore I am actually still eligible for every school an international . Even when I got here I just learned that I had to take the SAT 20 days before the last exam available on 2008.Since my goal was to begin on fall 2009, I registered and ignored the important fact that I was not prepared.The result is automatic bad score. That is it.</p>
<p>Here is the main concern. It's not to get in.</p>
<p>The main problem is whether or not you are ready to get an education at a top tier university. Your scores, and even your french grade (yes, even based on the french curve) do not demonstrate enough academic excellence to thrive at a top university, unless you plan to underenroll. I mean, a math score of 510, considering you know basic english, testifies to rather feeble quantitative skills.</p>
<p>So you should instead consider if you can handle college level work first, before considering applying. Sometimes, a rejection is better than an acceptance :D</p>
<p>TrackBabi17 and Pay3tuitions</p>
<p>You two have given him a lot of hope. You have also made my day because I now know that there are people who actually care, and that is manifested when they speak.
That is lovely.
There are a lot of schools that he could go to. I know a guy from Cambodia who had a 1500 and went to Penn State. I don't know what he is going through, but he said it is hard. Penn State students will not help him as much as SUNY Binghamton students will. He will get support from a little college too.
Taking a year off is a great idea. That is a great time to do these:
--Write a lot of essays with fantastic ideas
--Take classes that will enhance writing and speech
--Take SAT prep classes and multiple SAT's. You have a choice of scores to send to colleges starting from next year.
--Immersing yourself in the America system of education and doing things.</p>
<p>Canada is definitely an option! I know little about that place, but I know that he can get help there. Lovely advice PAY3TUITIONS. I know that he will have no difficulty getting a visa there. Lots of people have told me this.</p>
<p>So DKO, it is your choice now. If you really want to get into an American college, SUNY Binghamton and Penn State is a good choice. I will recommend SUNY Binghamton over Penn State. Penn State has too many parties and you WILL get carried away. You are pretty much alone in Penn State. In-fact do not go to Penn State!
If you want to go to any good college, Canada is a good option. I give that a 98% (-2% because I have not visited the place, know little about the place, and I think it is very cold for an African). </p>
<p>TrackBabi17, one correction. Ghana and Nigeria speak english but not everyone there does. I spoke little english and self taught myself english by reading and watching TV. I speak like Obama now; I gather what I want to say while my words and thoughts are halfway out. It is better than nothing.
No worry, French speakers do have a lot of difficulty learning a different language.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP GUYS!</p>
<p>Your welcome, bluewhite. But I am aware not everyone knows English fluently in Ghana and Nigeria, but English is the official language in both countries. Meaning it is the language taught and spoken in the schools. Don't worry I am Nigerian myself. ;)</p>
<p>I agree somewhat w/ Faraday. If you can't score any higher on the SAT, then you're not qualified to attend an Ivy League university. However, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt regarding your intellectual capabilities. Your score might have been significantly affected by your lack of English expertise (even the math score).</p>
<p>Nonetheless, classes are taught in English and clearly that presents a huge challenge for you w/ respect to your SAT score. Now if your TOEFL score corresponds to a low SAT score, then it might not be English, it might just be you. If your TOEFL score is good enough, go to a SUNY or a community college, work your butt off, become a more proficient English speaker, and then transfer to Cornell.</p>
<p>ride in on your URM coattails - /fail -- epic rejection from cornell</p>
<p>It is not the end of the world guys! Cornell is not the attic.What the other good colleges? I will prove you soon. Now I wont consider any contraindications anymore.You are definitely not the admission committee of even the last ranked university of my country...I am not able to support the US colleges rhythm? even if it is right so what??Are you tired to share your BIG universities with foreigner??? haha you did not see anything yet. Alright see you on my acceptation day and no matter the college, we never know. :):):):):):):) GoD Bless all of you!! and thanks you for this amazing discussion!</p>