<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I'm preparing now for the SAT Test (October 1) and I'm pretty sure I'll get 700+ on CR and 800 on Math (I am aiming for such universities as Caltech, Stanford, MIT, Berkeley - computer science/physics). However, I'm worried that I'll get something around 600 on Writing section, what is completely normal for someone like me, who never uses English in the way I am required to, but intolerable in USA colleges.</p>
<p>So, my question is - will they consider my international status reviewing my SAT scores, or I'll get the same treatment as any other applicant? If it's the second one - how the TOEFL will help me, if my SAT Writing+Grammar scores are still below the average?</p>
<p>P.S. My number one priority is Caltech.</p>
<p>Sincerely,
Olegs Jeremejevs</p>
<p>Greetings, @MyFaJoArCo. Your cause for concern is exactly why many institutions require the TOEFL or IELTS of international students. Most top schools recognize that the SAT & ACT tests are not designed specifically for international students. Admissions offices at these very selective schools you’ve listed, are also looking for certain qualities in their incoming class, one of which is a diversity of student applicants (financial, cultural, linguistic, etc.), and as an international student that certain helps fit the bill. That’s the good news. The potential bad news is that because these schools are so selective, they get far more qualified students that meet their admitted student averages that they deny every year. With admit rates in the low teens, your chances even if you have the right scores, are very much down to the quality of the other applicants in the pool that each institution has to consider. That quality may be different from year to year, as are the potential characteristics that an admissions office uses to make its very hard decisions. </p>
<p>In all cases, you will want to be in touch with someone in the admissions offices at each institution to get the most realistic & hopefully honest answer to your questions. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>It depends on the college. Iam applying to a college that specifaclly says that if I get +600 in SAT Reading I don’t need TOEFL . But not all of colleges though . I would say contact admissions and ask them .</p>
<p>But really Take it anyway , it’s EXTREMLY easy. You’ll easily get +110 if you can really get 700 in SAT reading.</p>
<p>Best of Luck</p>
<p>If you’re from a country that doesn’t teach using English as the first language, then TOEFL would be mandatory, and not just a “bonus”. You should really check with Admissions, just as EducationUSATips and Freedom Eagle have mentioned. </p>
<p>TOEFL is definitely much easier than SATs, for sure, but if it’s mandatory for you, taking SATs and getting a good score for Verbal doesn’t exempt you from taking TOEFL.</p>
<p>You have to ask each college and university about this because each one sets its own policy. Some will require you to take the TOEFL no matter how high your SAT scores are, others won’t require it if you have a certain SAT score.</p>