<p>My son is a US citizen. He had French education from elementary to high school. He will be completing his French Baccalaureat high school degree this year. He is ranked number 1 or probably 2 of his class in math, physics-chemistry, and natural science. Unfortunately, English has not been his native language, but learned it as a second language in high school and by spending three summers in the US. He has just taken his SAT. He scored only 670 in math primarily due to some misinterpretation of the question, 450 in reading, and 420 in writing. He also took the Toeful and had 83. His transcripts could get him into the best engineering schools in Europe, but I fear that his SAT score will prevent him from attending the schools he deserves in the US because of his low SAT score. His strongest desire is to study Petroleum Engineering in the US. What do you think his chances are? Any recommendations?</p>
<p>He should read through everything at [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov%5DEducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov) in order to learn more about the application process. Then he should pay a visit to the advising center that is closest to where he lives. I see from your other post that he is in Tunis. Here is the link to information about the office there: [EducationUSA</a> | Center Profile - AMIDEAST Tunis](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/EducationUSA.Tunis]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/EducationUSA.Tunis) The counselors there can tell him which colleges and universities here have admitted students like him in the past few years. If no one at that has worked with a US citizen recently, they have colleagues in other countries who can advise them.</p>
<p>His TOEFL score shows that much of his difficulty with the SAT is due to his lack of complete fluency in English. As he masters more of the language, his scores will almost certainly rise. One thing that he might consider is coming to the US for several months specifically to work on his academic English at a specialized language institute. He also could take a look at the universities here that offer Petroleum Engineering. Some might accept him in provisional status and require that he take some ESL classes during his first semester or year.</p>
<p>Much depends on the amount of money that your family has available for his education. If you can afford to pay the full costs, he could attend a community college for a year or two to perfect his English, and to get some basic coursework out of the way before transferring to a 4-year university. If you will need financial aid other than federal aid that he qualifies for by filing the FAFSA, things will be different. His TOEFL score will mean that it is difficult for him to find admission anywhere that will offer aid. </p>
<p>He should also run a search here for the posts made by MQ1993 who now is studying a petroleum related subject here. MQ1993 is also a US citizen who grew up outside the US.</p>
<p>Your son’s situation is challenging, but if he does indeed want to study here, it is possible.</p>
<p>I spoke with my son. He is confident if he does take it again he will do much better. He is scheduled to take SAT again this Saturday. Now he is taking 35 credit hours per week, with tons of homework. I doubt he will prepare well, but i am sure well enough to get much points. Do you think, they will give him a second chance when they see his second score? He is ranked two in his class, and ranked one on all scientific courses: math, physics-chemistry, and natural science (biology + earth science).
He really does not want to waste a year studying english. </p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
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<p>It is hard for me to understand why he would want to study in a college where everything is taught in English. There are extremely good French universities where he can move forward in his career without being challenged by the language of instruction.</p>
<p>And more to the point, with poor English skills (as reflected by the SAT scores and the TOEFL scores)it is hard to see how he would be successful for the first year or two in a top tier American college.</p>
<p>Because he is a US citizen. His grandfather and parents all lived and studied in the US. Another piece of news: he just received his TOEFUL score. He has 88. UT requires 79 for example, which is about the same requirement as the rest of the best state schools. He told me that the English was an accident. They grave him a microphone that did not work and they spent a lot of time trying to fix it and find a replacement which messed up his concentration. No French education is not that good. It is very theoretical and complex for no reasons. They will use the methods of the early 1900’s. Whne you complete your engineering degree, you are not an engineer. You are a mathematician wino took some management courses. That is all.</p>
<p>If he wants to live and work in the US, he should come here for college. Right now he needs to find out which places will admit him with that TOEFL score, and he needs to think about re-taking the TOEFL if he believes that the score was a fluke. </p>
<p>If he would be happy studying another engineering field, he would have many more options. Provided the program is accredited by ABET, he will be fine.</p>
<p>The ABET list for petroleum engineering is pretty short: [Accredited</a> Program Search](<a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx]Accredited”>http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx) It wouldn’t take long to check the admissions requirements for each of these programs, or to find out what sort of ESL support classes are available if you son finds out that he needs them. Check the career centers for internship and job placement information as well.</p>
<p>Your son may be qualified for admission to a “top” institution in Europe, but is he guaranteed admission there? Remind him that many engineering majors in the US who are qualified for “top” places here don’t get in to those unversities because of space, can’t attend because of finances, or simply decide to accept a big merit-based scholarship at a “lower” institution. The intro level classes in engineering programs are famed for weeding out the students who don’t have what it takes. Chances are that by the second year (if not the second semester), your son’s classes will be filled with a solid group of his academic peers.</p>
<p>I am not worried about his academic capabilities. We sent his school program to a professor at Rice University who confirmed it is the same level in math and physics as a shophmore engineering student in the US.
I looked at the list of accredited schools in the list you gave me. I was surprised not to see University of Houston in the list of Petroleum Engineering accredited schools.</p>
<p>The program in Houston may go by another name, or the students headed in that career may have different majors. Ask that university what their situation is.</p>
<p>Just a short note. He got admitted to most schools he applied to including UT. He has now time to primarily focus on his English between now and Fall 2013.</p>
<p>Congratulations! Thanks for the update!</p>
<p>Great news. Congratulations!</p>