Bonus for international application? -my chances

<p>Hi guys.
I'm from Germany and I'm about to apply at Princeton.</p>

<p>My stats
GPA 4.0
Class Rank 1/84
Toefl 111/120
and lots of extra curricular stuff.
Great recommendations
But now I've taken the SAT1 Test.</p>

<p>Critical Reading 560
Math 670
Writing 530
Multiple Choice 54
Essay 7 </p>

<p>Well, I haven't attended an internation school(like most of the SAT testakers did.) So I do have certain problems with sophisticated English.
Is there any bonus for an applicant, whose first language isn't English.
Should I cancel my application?</p>

<p>I still have to take the SAT2 tests, but unfortunatelly I don't think that they'll be any better...</p>

<p>Thanks for your help, heyholetsgo</p>

<p>I really dont know... you have a good gpa and rank, but they are not backed by your sat scores. top level universities are not very happy about applicants who cannot understand sophisticated spoken and written english (unless this is for engineering or some pure science. but then your math score has to be better).</p>

<p>To be honest, princeton is tough to get n for people with perfect sat scores. there are cases of people with low sat score getting in, but they are rare.</p>

<p>my suggestion is to pare down your sights a little bit. research colleges that offer what you want to learn, but are easier to get into. you might as well send princeton, but dont keep hopes high. there are many other wonderful colleges that can be the right fit for you.</p>

<p>THX for the quick response.
Btw: I'd like to study physics. </p>

<p>So you'd suggest to retake the SAT?</p>

<p>The point is, for me, it doesn't make sense to apply elsewhere than Ivy league.
In Germany, I can get into every collge- and they cost 1200$ A YEAR. </p>

<p>Most of them rank below the Ivy league schools, but above the average US college, which costs a fortune...</p>

<p>Oh yeah, and what about school reports from 9-11 grade. Do they really look into them, cause I sucked in 9th and 10th grade!</p>

<p>i would suggest that you take the SAT again. at least bring the CR and W in the mid 600s and M to 700s. the thing is that there are plenty of international students whose first language isn't english, but with a lot of preparation, they seem to get at least 2100 on the SATI. And colleges are definitely impressed by the high SAT from international students whose first language isn't english. if you are going to stay with your scores, i can tell you that Ivies would be extreme reach for you. but you never know with the colleges...so if you want to apply, go ahead, but i won't get your hopes too high. If you don't get in to Ivies, i don't think it will be "the end of the world" for you since germany(and most of europe) is known to have excellent eduation for almost nothing (cost wise).</p>

<p>oh and in terms of grades, they like to look more at the grades from 10th and 11th (later senior grades). also, as for SATIIs, why not take the math I and II (since you seem like a math/science person and there's minimum english)</p>

<p>Hmmm. At the moment I'm thinking about applying at Stanford.
Stanford doesn't request the SAT2 and quite frankly: I work in a full time job at the moment. So I don't have that much time to prepare for the SAT; tests that are based on knowledge... </p>

<p>And does anybody know if it's relatively easy to get into Berkley(at least a state school)?
Berkleys average SAT scores aren't that sophisticated..., or ist it because they have to take so many California residents?!</p>

<p>heyho, who said stanford doesnt want sat 2? yes they do, and every (I mean every applicant) submits 2 sat2 scores. And stanford is as selective as teh ivies, maybe more so in engineering.</p>

<p>Berkeleys average score is lower, as you correctly suggested, because they have to take cali students.</p>

<p>Ok, your point is very valid; why leave germany if its not for the best? I am facing the same dilemna, and thats why i am only applying to a few top american unis, even though chances are not great of acceptance. If i am accepted great, if not, i will remain back here in india and go for postgrads. Germany has a great system for sciecne research I woulda thought, in fact there are many great physics centers in europe. You have a win-win situation both ways. So take a shot and apply to those places where you really really wanna go. And by the way, there are many great unis which are not so selective yet have a great physics programme. why dont you check them out?</p>

<p>Princeton admission is very competitive, especially for international students.</p>

<p>Since you're from a non-English speaking country, I'd daresay they'd be a tad more forgiving on the SAT scores. But the lousy Math score can't be forgiven because Math is universal; 1+1 = 2 in any language. Lousy subject test scores will just reaffirm that your academics aren't up to par. </p>

<p>PS: Are you applying for aid?</p>

<p>No, I don't apply for financial aid...;)</p>

<p>And yes, Stanford doesn't request SAT2 scores, they just recommend them strongly...</p>

<p>Btw: Would the Math reasoning score carry no weight if I'd score good in Math2 and Physics...?</p>

<p>Oh and a little bit off topic. Why the hell do you need that standard testing f**<em>?
*being frustrated</em>
In Germany, we have the Abitur, a central exam every student has to take...
Isn't there something equivalent in the US?</p>

<p>The SAT Math score would still be considered, as that is part of the common data of all applicants. </p>

<p>No Financial Aid - Consider the state publics like UMichigan and UIUC. They're not so tough on internationals which pay full fees.</p>

<p>Central exam - The US is so large, with diverse educational systems, it's just impossible for have an exam like that. The recently-implemented No Child Left Behind system administers tests to grade-school children to measure their math & reading ability, but has largely failed (allegations that it shifts focus to testing rather than learning, many schools failing the standards... etc). LOL. And this is for primary school children...</p>

<p>i know hw u feel. in india, we have central testing, and entrance tests for engineering, mba, medicine,etc.</p>

<p>if you score a certain score, you are in, and admission depends 99% on score. much more simpler.</p>

<p>In the us, there are like a thousand different factors. none of them can break you, but all of them can break you. your sat score is low so that hurts you, my scores are high but they dont get me in. wierd.</p>

<p>@abhimanyuk: Yeah, it's totally like that. Every single factor could be the cause for a rejection...
In Germany, we appreciate something called transparency in a selection process...;)
Might I ask you what's your problem if you did great at the SAT?
(What are your scores, do you talk lots of English at school?)</p>

<p>OK, not great compared to may ppl, but gud enuff i guess: SAT 1 :2320 (Cr-770,M-800, w-750), sat 2 (chem,math2c,lit : 800 each).
I studied in english language all my life, thats not a problem. What I hate is the uncertainty of the whole process, and the extreme emphasis paid on ECs and leadership roles, etc. In india, youth dont get much chance in the traditional ECs as they just dont exist: except some sport, music or whatever. We were never really encouraged to do community service (I did it but thats different) or , you know, participate in a thousand activities. Youth commitees and actions groups and conferences are rare. and scientific research oppurtunities dont exist for us. Oppurtunity to participate is often a function of the nation you live in.</p>

<p>So I get irritated because there are many students who will get in top universities because of their "ECs" while many who have the talent skill aptitude and attitude to do well in the ivies, dont get selected because they lack ECs.</p>

<p>I hate the way ECs hurt intl applications. thats my problem.</p>

<p>Same with me.
In America, there semm to be thousand of leadership positions. In Germany yo have the president of the students' union and that's it...:D</p>

<p>We don't even have a team captain in my Basketball team.
Well, in fact all ivy-applicants are just a bunch of CV whores...</p>

<p>And everybody hopes to get paid very well.</p>

<p>-(Hopefully you get that metaphor^^)</p>

<p>i have met a lot of germans who scored better than you have and they are probably applying to schools in the US. then again, they went to an international school. princeton is more likely to accept Germans from international schools because they speak english well and are thus more likely to be successful in an American school- but they are at the same time, still german. so- retake that SAT...</p>