<p>Well, here are some facts:
I’m a Chinese girl who’s going to States for college this fall. SUNY Binghamton.I’m going to major in Poli sci/ IR / International Studies, and German. My high School rank is like top 10%, I was one year in Germany as an exchange student. With fluent German speaking and quite good read and writing skills. I have had a really bad SAT score 1700 total (CR 410, Math 770, WR 520).</p>
<li><p>I know GPA in College matters a lot. I will study hard for it. and, what kind of course are better for me as an IR major?</p></li>
<li><p>Besides Grades, what other factors are more importantly for admission. Like what kind of activities I take part in or organisations or what else?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it necessary for me to retake SAT?</p></li>
<li><p>I really need schlorship or Fa. I was accepted to AU, but without any scholarships. so I gave up. Because my parents just can’t pay that much.
I think for my mother is like Max 30,000$ a year, btw non US citizen or permanet residence couldn’t ask for loans.</p></li>
<li><p>I really want to go to DC school. like Gtown,American, and JHK. Or other schools which are good at IR, like Tufts, Macalester and CMC.
Besides, I’ve heart that SUNY Binghamton has kinda good reputation in NY, so is it easier for me then to transfter to some NY schools like Cornell or Columbia? Or are there any better choices for transfering?</p></li>
<li><p>What should I start prepare now, during the vacation, for my coming college study.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Are you transferring colleges or attending straight out of high school?</p>
<p>To answer your questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>(I'm not sure about which courses are required for your major, check with an academic adviser at Binghamton)</p></li>
<li><p>I believe having a dedication to a specific organization(s)/activity is best. Instead of hopping around to several activities, it's better to have one that spanned for several years.
Though, in general there aren't really any ECs better than any other ECs. </p></li>
<li><p>(Again, I don't know. I'm not familiar with the new scoring system so I'm not sure where you fall on the scoring range.) You might want to consider the ACT if you're worried. Most colleges accept it and it's a bit easier (IMO) than the SATs.</p></li>
<li><p>There are several international student scholarships on the web. It's a matter of weeding them out from the crowd.</p></li>
<li><p>It doesn't really sound like you know the difference between the schools you've listed other than their location. You might want to research it some more. There's a huge difference of what's "easier" between SUNY Binghamton and Columbia. </p></li>
<li><p>Research. Research. Research some more.
Research scholarships.
Research schools.
Research international req's.
Research admission req's.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>You also need to get on the scholarship and college applications if you're applying for fall. Most deadlines have already passed.</p>
<p>I'm transfering from College to college.
I'm attending SUNY this fall, but I want transfer to another one in one or two years.</p>