APs and SATs for transfers? Pls help!

Transfer Students
1

<p>Do taking APs and SATs after high school strengthen your chance at transferring to prestigious colleges? I just found out that as an international student, I will probably have to go home after college, so I need to get a degree from a 'famous' school so that it can be recognised back home. Yeah, prestige counts for quite a lot back home :( A 'famous' school would probably be something like UMich, UCLA, berkeley, the ivies, etc.</p>

<p>The plan is to go to a small LAC in the first two years and transfer to a more well known school later on. I'm praying that I can get into St Olaf, Smith, Mt holyoke etc. if not, i can always go to KU. All I'm doing now is waiting for admission decisions. Since I have the time, I can study to prepare for the SATs or for the AP exams.</p>

<p>For the record, my score for the SAT is 1950. I scored decently for verbal but math pulled me down (ran out of time), and I am terrible at spotting grammar rules. The last time I encountered grammar rules was back when I was 12, my country focuses more on essay writing than being grammatical. With sufficient preparation, I can do decently for math, but I am not so sure for writing. Should I still retake even though writing will still pull me down? Or should I just take the ACTs?</p>

<p>Can I retake SAT subject tests too? Or is that redundant in the face of college courses?</p>

<p>For the APs, how hard are they? I already studied Statistics and some of the other AP subjects for the A levels, would the standard of difficulty be similar? How hard is it to self study AP exams? Do colleges even look at APs for transfer students? </p>

<p>I would really appreciate it if someone could take the trouble to inform me of all these things :) Since I am free, i would love to take advantage of this time to bolster my future application.</p>

2

<p>In my opinion, they will look more at the fact that you challenged yourself by taking AP's. They will not see your AP exam scores unless you send them , so if you aren't happy w/ them, don't send 'em. Obviously, SAT scores are big. You score isn't awful, but I would re-take it.</p>

3

<p>Yes, focus on the SATs.</p>

<p>St. Olaf's applications are down this year and it will be easier to get in than in the last few years, especially if you're full pay. Haven't seen reports on application numbers from Smith or Holyoke, but I would think it will be a bit easier this year at those as well.</p>

4

<p>Eh?! hmom5 how did you get those stats?! </p>

<p>Isn't this year the biggest high school graduating class in the US (lucky me)?! I thought everyone was prepared to be waitlisted and all! I applied to 13 schools as a result....</p>

5

<p>Are college students allowed to take the SAT?</p>

6

<p>I'm not sure about that, but I think that I am considered a "senior high school" student? I finished my senior secondary school at the end of last year, but according to the US school year, I am technically still a senior high school student :) So I think that my test results will still count as "high school" results though I have nothing to do (apart from a job) but study for the test!</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
Are college students allowed to take the SAT?

[/quote]
Yes. But whether a given school will accept such scores for transfer applicants varies by the school - some do, some don't.</p>