<p>Although I doubt that someone is Dutch here, I still open this thread.
I hope someone dutch reply here</p>
<p>Dear Trinya. My daughter is Dutch and she just sent her applications. If you have any questions, please, be free to ask.</p>
<p>Hello Nick 12, may I ask at which school she applied? And did she took the SAT? and what are the scores from it?
I wonder if youre daughter get financial aid or not, because for me its the biggest obstacle to study in america is money.
Did youre daughter had any help from school or organisation, or did she done everything on her own?
And is goiig there for exchange or a whole study. I am now preparing to go to america for a whole study. Which study does she want study and why america.</p>
<p>I know this is a lot of questions, but I hope you can answer them all, but it will help me a lot
Thank you</p>
<p>trinya,</p>
<p>i'm not dutch but i may be able to answere some of your questions.</p>
<h1>1, What schools did you apply to?</h1>
<h1>2, How much are you hoping to receive in terms of financial aid or scholarship?</h1>
<p>There's one thing i tell my buds, if you're international (like me and you) and you really want to study in America, and you don't have the money (which is often the case with all of us), you have to be OUTSTANDING, in your school and community. You have to be among the best in academics, and extracurriculars. You really have to work hard on your grades and STANDARDIZED TESTS, since we all internationals come from different backgrounds, they'll use the SATs to judge us.</p>
<p>To answer one of your questions:
Few (if any) international students apply to study in America for exchange programs. We apply because we are ready to spend the next four years of our lives in USA. Those who go on exchange programs are in universities that are affiliated with American schools, so they travel to USA for a semester or a summer.</p>
<p>I hope I've helped you in some way. Any more questions?</p>
<p>Are planning to enter college this year or next?</p>
<p>'Why America?'</p>
<p>Trinya, America has the world's best universities. Not only that, the American system encourages flexibility, so you can really develop what you're interested in while still following your academic requirements.</p>
<p>Many people want to study in USA because of the name, the fame and the money they'll get after graduation.</p>
<p>But the basic thing is this: Studying in USA will give you a well-rounded education. You'll meet people from all over the world. It is an opportunity to learn a new culture. As an international student in America, you'll have the opportunities to travel to several countries. There are numerous scholarships worth billions of dollars. There is ample opportunity for research and career exploration.</p>
<p>If you are ready to continue, don't be discouraged because of the financial restrictions, there is a lot of aid. You won't regret studying there.</p>
<p>What are your academic interests?</p>
<p>Trinya,</p>
<p>My daughter does not need financial aid, but there are universities in US that give financial aid to internationals. My daughter did not have any help from any organisation. In fact, we had to find out everything through the universities websites and reading books. She took SAT II Writing course in London last year, but you could do the same in International School of Amsterdam in Amstelveen. You can easily find the address. Call them, ask for information. I am sure they will help you. Another (and probably the best) place to start is the Fullbright Commission <a href="http://www.nacee.nl%5B/url%5D">www.nacee.nl</a> (The Netherlands-America Commission for educational exchange)
My daughter is not looking for an exchange. She wants to study in US for four year at least, because as Jrock rightly says studying in US will give you a well-rounded education. US Universities are way better than Dutch, unfortunately. My daughter has slightly different situation than you. She spent 6 years in boarding school in England, knows 5 languages, studied 6-th language for 2 years and started with two more last year in Summer School in US and in London University. She has little to loose because she is already in excellent University, so she went for the best, Harvard and Co. Luckily, she has never visited this site, otherwise she would not dare to apply. After reading postings on this site I do not think she has a great chance because her SAT II are between 670 and (including) 700. Her SAT I is 1370, but she will try it again in January. Anyway, I found it very unnerving to read all those boastings of 1600 SAT I, and I am glad that my daughter has not seen that yet.</p>
<p>Dear Nick12,</p>
<p>The best schools - Ivy League inclusive - do not place so much emphasis on SAT scores especially for international students. International students are not used to the American system, so they take that into consideration. The most important document is you secondary school transcript.</p>
<p>Besides, they judge you based on your academic and social background. Your daughter has a very good SAT score. Then, she also speaks several languages. The schools would want a very diverse student population so there are many chances. Many of those people who score 1600s and all get deferred or rejected sometimes. The schools would want to give other international students a chance.</p>
<p>There was someone who got into Harvard with an 890. Re-taking the SAT I will surely improve your daughter's score but that doesn't guarantee her a place in Harvard. It's the overall impression that matters. </p>
<p>Having a rich cultural experience also helps a lot. I would say she stands a very good chance. Also, if there aren't many Dutchmen or women in Harvard or Yale and co, she has a greater chance because the keyword remains DIVERSITY and Equal Opportunity.</p>
<p>For me and most of my friends, admission is the least of our worries. We are really more interested in getting cool scholarships and maybe some financial aid. </p>
<p>But to Trinya, if you're an international looking for money, scholarships should be your main goal, with a little financial aid to supplement. Very few colleges give full 100% aid (but anything is possible) but numerous scholarships abound. You might get half scholarship, half aid, and other similar combinations.</p>
<p>Thank you, Jrock. It is very kind of you to give us hope. Good luck with your aplication.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your replies.
I am chinese/ vietnamese Dutch. I know a lot of languages too.
I am taking the new SAT in March, because I missed the deadline in May.
Since I am applying for next year, I dont have so much hurry.
I really want to go to America to study, because few nephews and Cousins of me , have studied at Harvard and Berkely before, so I want to follow their footsteps.</p>
<p>I haven't a lot of EC's. I only go to chinese school everyweek. Member of the chinese sport federation. What can you advice me?</p>
<p>Thank you very much Nick12. Wish you both luck.</p>
<p>Trinya,</p>
<p>Work hard on SAT I and you should be planning to take the SATII as well.
Your multicultural background is a plus. But you should be active in your community as well.
Your recommendations are very important. Your grades are even more important. SAT scores don't take much precedence.
Your application essays also show them more about you. So start working on them. Go to the websites of the schools you are interested in.</p>
<p>on <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegeboard.com</a> you can carry out a college search and find schools that give 100% full aid and suit your other needs. Start requesting for information from the schools, so you'll have enough brochures to peruse. This book is also very helpful: The College Handbook, by Collegeboard. Contains information about all the over 3000 colleges in the USA.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Must I get recommondations outside regular school?</p>
<p>No, you do not need recommendations outside your school, but if you know teacher/trainer, somebody who knows you from your EC then you may ask for an additional rec., if you could be sure that this rec. is very good.
If you try for Harvard/Berkely do not forget to mention your relatives-students. Stress your multicultural background, maybe "fighting for your dream - US university" is a good thing to persue. You could still pick up enough EC for your application: summer- work, charity work, educational summer program; school year - participate in (team)sports, you could do it outside school. How about swimming? All nederlanders swim. Try to join MUN (Model United nations) program. It is also very interesting. Cinese school means extra work, that is also important. You could ask additional recommendations from your chinese school too. Do not forget to take TOEFL, the centre is in Arnem. And read, read, read. About universities and also fiction in English (helps with SATs)</p>
<p>If you try for Harvard/Berkely do not forget to mention your relatives-students. Stress your multicultural background, maybe "fighting for your dream - US university" is a good thing to persue.</p>
<p>Sorry I cant understand this very well, because there's of participes in it
What do you mean with":Stress your multicultural background, maybe "fighting for your dream - US university" is a good thing to persue.</p>
<p>How must I join MUN, if my school dont participate in it.</p>
<p>Is this good on your ec's
Chinese school for 12 year--> 8 year cantonese and 6 years mandarin
Tennis for 10 year Won several regional and national tournaments
Work 2 times in a week at a Supermarket.
Fast track Swimming for 3 years
Speedskating 2 years
Soccer 3 years
Member of Chinese sport Federation and head of tennis departement.
Coach of my brother and sister who both ranked 8 and 13 on the national rankings and also play international tournaments.</p>
<p>Must I add more EC's? By doing a lot of sports and chinese school, I haven't much spare time left to do other things.
But the upcoming year I want to do as much EC's I can, to boost up my application. But the big point is I dont know what the University prefer what I do. First i want to go to summerschool in America, but that's too expensive.
But now i will go to america in the summer, but I still dont know what to do there. I dont want to waste my time at America at the beach, but I want to do something useful for my future.</p>
<p>Trinya, you are chinese-vietnamese Dutch. Hopefully, your parents and your chinese school teach you about your heritage. This is very interesting for US Universities. They look for students who are not only academically brilliant, but are also interesting. You could try and use this in your essays. Or maybe even take a theme of "a chinese/vietnamese Dutch girl persuing her dream to study in US". You could tell about dificulties that you have to overcome to reach your goal (US university) etc.</p>
<p>:p I think ive confused you with my name. I am a boy:P
I can talk a lot about my heritage, my father used to be major at a big city in Vietnam, but he fled with my mother the country because of the communists</p>
<p>Sorry for mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You obviously has a very interesting background. Use it! You have still lots of time.</p>
<p>The biggest problem for Dutch students seeking University education in the United States, I think, is the fact that Extra Curricular activities are not stimulated here; there isn't as large a network of volunteer jobs kids can do, plus there isn't as much of a culture of people being "leaders" for their peers in clubs etc. Kids in Holland go to soccer club or tennis lessons, perhaps they play a musical instrument etc. But there is hardly a culture of kids wanting to be " president of the junior schoolboard" etc., in fact, most schools don't have that sort of thing. Also: I hardly know any dutch 15 or 16 year old that doesn't have a job in the weekends or even during the week. Those also get in the way of beingin a competitive sport for instance...</p>
<p>I am myself a graduating 4th year University student. I am hoping to get my MA in the English Language from Leyden University at the end of 2005. I have always hoped to be able to study at a quality University in the USA, but it all seems so daunting and depressingly difficult. I can hardly believe how tough it seems.</p>
<p>The University can't really help, they have stronger connections with UK universities.</p>
<p>I am specialising in sociohistorical linguistics of the English Language, emphasis on 18th centruy English, and I may get into a PhD programme here in Leyden. (Note, in Holland PhD's aren't in grad school, they are payed members of staff at the university for four years, in which they teach classes and research and write. Therefore it is difficult to get in, only a few places are available each year. One of my professors has personally asked me whether I was interested, I see that as a good sign) I am hoping that perhaps after that PhD I may be able to go to the USA, even though I will be 26 already then. I would rather spend a year during my research there, if at all possible.</p>
<p>Another problem for dutch students, whihc I myself encounter too, is the difficulty of comparing grades. My topgrades (for dutch standards) barely make a 3,44 weighted GPA, 3,5 if I don't round off the numbers before calculating the average. I wonder whether colleges understand that it is virtually impossible to score marks that translate to a USA " A" mark. All scores in dutch grading are absolute scores. Usually there is a maximum amount of points to be scored per essay-type question, you get awarded points as to how many elements you mention and how you explain them. It is virtually impossible to score a 10 out of 10 (highest, perfect score) an 8 is considered a very good mark, but translates to a B in USA terms. Some of my subjects depend entirely on grades I've gotten for essays and presentations. These are also not judged relatively, so if your presentation is the best of all the class, you still won't get an A but a B because presentations cannot be perfect (I actually scored an A on my last presentation, that was seen as a freakish incident)</p>
<p>The difference is so great that I've seen websites for or of foreign studetns that warn that a student's GPA may be negatively influenced because of the dutch grading system.</p>
<p>Anyhow, (wow, this post is getting long, sorry) I feel that it is very hard for dutch students to get the necessary GPA, plus Extra curricular activities to have a shot at a quality university. And it frustrates me.</p>
<p>Fwoukje. Do not worry about GPA. Write an aditional letter to the US University of your choice explaining that Dutch system of grading may disadvantage you and ask your recommenders to stress this. My daughter wrote an additional letter that explains why she decided to go to US after being acepted into university in England. I have no idea whether it would help her but personally I do not think that it damages her chances either. I know that my daughter still has no idea what is her GPA. She was unable to translate her GCSE and A-level result into GPA.
And you are right about EC, though those who plan to go to study to US could plan and manage their EC in advance.</p>
<p>Do you know how I can apply for the MUN, if my school dont participate in it.
And how about the recommondations, must I sent them with my application forms or must my teachers sent them in seperately.
And can anyone advice me what for EC's I can do in America this summer, except summer schools because those are too expensive.</p>
<p>And can anyone tell me which less prestigious schools than Ivies give a big scholarschip for Internationals? Because I want increase my chances.</p>