<p>What is the equivalent of AP points for international students?
Since US colleges have a pretty limited quota for the enrollment of international students, Do I have to be the really best for something like a CS degree( 4.0 GPA with 2400 SAT I etc.) if I wish to get into pretty decent universities?(excluding the ivy league and top 10)
Furthermore, I can take SAT, ACT and TOEFL and since im a IB student, I'm guessing I have the chance to submit my CAS activities as ECs since they are basically the equivalent of ECs (around 150-170 hours if that helps) </p>
<p>APs only demonstrate rigor. IB does, too. So you don’t need AP classes or tests if you’re in IB.
Anything within Top 50 is excellent, Top 100 is good (remember there are 3,700 universities in the US).
CAS activities are like ECs but for any school in the top 50 universities and probably top 80 LACs, you’d need to have demonstrated leadership and commitment, not just hours. Once you reach Top25 you’ll need to have regional/national level achievement in your chosen activities.
What’s your predicted IB score? American universities are VERY strict about IB scores, especially compared to British ones; where a British university will accept a 24 for a BBB, an American university would need 30 or more! And for a university/LAC in the top 50 you’d need a 34-36, Top 30 37-38, etc.
Choose between SAT or ACT - I’m assuming you’re a junior. Prepare for the tests well, take a test in the Spring junior year (or in December this year). Plan to retake in September (ACT) and October (SAT). Don’t forget to take the SAT Subject tests, checking that the ones you’re interested in are available on the date you’re taking them.
Buy an Insider’s Guide to the Colleges, Princeton Review’s Best Colleges, or FIske GUide, and start reading.</p>
<p>I’m a senior actually and I’m planning to take the SAT I on December 6 in that way I will have couple of days to apply for colleges in USA(Since it takes 3 weeks for them to release the scores) and I dont think there is time to take SAT Subject Tests(I was planning to take Mathematics Level 2) 
and I have a predicted score of 36. I assume I wont stand a chance without subject tests, am I right?</p>
<p>And I apologize I forgot a question, am I playing with fire or reducing my chances a lot by taking the SAT I in December 6?(Since there will be a few days left for me to apply)</p>
<p>Most universities accept Dec 6 SAT scores, but you should verify that with the actual universities you’re applying to. </p>
<p>On the topic of SAT Subject Tests. If you’re applying to universities that require Subject Tests for admission, you really do need them. Incomplete applications may get auto-rejected without ever getting read. </p>
<p>If you do need SAT Subject Test scores, I’d suggest you take the Dec 6 SAT Subject Tests and the Dec 13 ACT. It might be stressful to take these tests on consecutive weekends but that’s your best option at this point. </p>
<p>On the general topic of selectivity: good-but-not-tippy-top universities love international students. Full-paying international students, that is. Boston University has called international students “cash cows” in press interviews, and they also admitted to hiring head hunters in Asia to send qualified applicants their way. To me this indicates that they don’t receive as many applications from qualified full-pay international students as they’d like - why else spend money on head hunters? </p>
<p>Long story short. If you’re qualified for admission and able to pay full freight, I am optimistic that you’ll receive some offers of admission from good universities.</p>
<p>Their annual costs are around 40-60k usd, I dont think I can afford more than 30-35k usd Do you think I can get 10-15k financial aid if i can score 2300+ in SAT and 700+ in SAT Subject Test for Mathematics Level 2?(and assuming I will have a predicted IB Score of 36) I’m planning for a CS degree btw</p>
<p>Hi!
I would advice you look at the last day of testing for all the schools you are applying to. Most schools have stated January as their last day of testing for the SAT. So, it will be possible to take the subject tests in January, but the only twist here is you’d have to send your scores before you even see them</p>