<p>Hey,</p>
<p>I'm a Brazilian high school student and new at CC. Here in Brazil we almost don't have any information about how the admissions work. I only know that I should take the SAT I and some subject SATs, the TOEFL, write a couple of essays and get some letters of recommendation. I wish you could tell me very basic information like what is a 'good score' at SAT and TOEFL, what should be my essays about, what else should a send to apply, in what colleges I would have chances, things like that...</p>
<p>I apologize for any English mistakes, I know I should improve it.</p>
<p>Your English is certainly much better than most of my peers’. At the public school I would zone to if I weren’t in private school, the graduation rate is 24%. I doubt their language skills are anywhere as articulate as yours is, and you could certainly write circles around them. Don’t worry about that TOEFL. You’ll do fine. :)</p>
<p>As for the SAT, the average score is 1509. I scored an 1850 cold (700/480/670 CR/M/W), and while I personally don’t think that’s a good score (at least not for me; I know I could have broken 2000 at least), all of my classmates think I shouldn’t bother with a retake. How good your SAT score, for the most part, is relative - it depends on the colleges you apply to. An 1850 like mine will impress a good number of schools, maybe earn admission into an honors program or two. It won’t, however, impress admissions at an Ivy League or a Top 20. </p>
<p>As for what else you should send, if you’re not studying the IB, I would submit a description of your curriculum and the qualifications you’re studying for, as well as a small portfolio with samples of your work. I am doing the same for Cambridge (minus the portfolio; they request samples of an applicant’s work for interviews), to get the Newnham admissions office familiar with what I’m studying.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the information. But what score do I need to impress a Top 20? </p>
<p>Here in Brazil the grade system is different, we don’t have clubs and academic researches at high school almost don’t exist, is that bad?</p>
<p>For the SAT II i’m pretty sure I could get an 800 in Spanish and World History, would that impress?</p>
<p>mathaus,</p>
<p>International Admissions is very different from admissions for students who have been educated in the US and who are US citizens. You need to work with experts on this topic. You can start by reading everything, and I do indeed mean 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/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov/) Then you need to make an appointment with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. There are several in Brazil [EducationUSA</a> - Find an Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/Brazil]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/Brazil) If you cannot meet with the counselors in person, they may be able to help you by email or over the telephone. These people are very good at helping students like you find good places to study in the US.</p>
<p>You also should take a look at some the threads in the International Students Forum. Click on “Discussion Home” in the upper-left of this screen and scroll down to find it.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>