<p>I have taken difficult subjects Maths Chemistry and Physics for A-Levels. My academic record thus far has been pretty good 10 A/A*s. (3.8-4.0 GPA) </p>
<p>Will 1 month be sufficient to prepare for the SAT? With the blue books, and online and in person tuition.</p>
<p>One month is probably not enough to get a 2200 on the SAT. Take a practice test to see what you are working on now, and then we can perhaps tell you what would best to do next. </p>
<p>FYI, if you are applying to further education in the U.S. especially the Ivy League and other top universities, do not write your grades as GPA. They are already familiar with GCSEs and GCEs. 10 A/A* at GCSE are far more impressive than a 3.8–4.0 GPA.</p>
<p>Many students in the US who have similar qualifications to you do not prepare AT ALL for the SAT and regularly get scores of 2200+. That being said, I’ve noticed that international students often seem to have a more difficult time than US students. Either way, having only a month to prepare should not deter you.
People on this site have an obsession with SAT preparataion. Of the 7 people I know who got into top universities from my school, only one did any SAT prep beyond taking a practice section or two. It’s entirely possible to get a 2200+ with minimal prep (and a month of heavy preparation is waaaaay beyond minimal prep).
One thing I would suggest (this is based on personal/peer experience, NOT what the college board says fyi) is to try and get your essay to be relatively long. You obviously want it to be focused and to the point but it seems that people who are able to write longer, focused essays are the only ones who tend to get that perfect essay score. Oh and try and throw in at least one proper use of a semicolon. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>uscamstudent, British students often find the Critical Reading and Writing sections of the SAT the most challenging. This is because there is very little emphasis on language in the U.K. curriculum (at least compared to the U.S.). </p>
<p>OP shouldn’t have to spend a lot of time revising the Maths section, as he is taking A Level Maths.</p>
<p>As MeIsHM notes, first start by taking a full practice test, to see how you process it. For able students (as you obviously are) the challenge is often learning how to take the test, vs the content. The SAT tests a certain kind of thinking as much as anything, and some people ‘get it’ innately, while others (just as smart) don’t. The maths is not advanced- in fact you may have to reach back a few years to more basic algebra and geometry- but the phrasing of the questions, and the answers offered are deliberately chosen to mislead the careless. Use your practice test to work out what sections you need to review- a general course may not be your best resource. And yes, a month- especially as you are not tied up in school work right now- should be plenty.</p>
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<p>Oh wow thank you very much everyone for the advice!!! This forum is golden!
From what you’ve said it seems like I will probably take a sitting in October and November if I don’t get higher than 2200. </p>
<p>You seem very knowledgeable so I’ve given a bit about myself below and I hope you can give me any advice? :</p>
<p>GCSE: 10A/A*, AS-Level: 4 A’s, A2: Pending Maths Physics Chemistry</p>
<p>Status: Transfer Student (College pending, if results go well it is a Top 20 UK College)</p>
<p>Legacy: Nope, my Family all went to Top 20 Colleges in the UK and my Father a Top 3 College which I have put in my Common App - a student from my one of my previous highschools got into Harvard, I don’t really have much contact with him anymore though.</p>
<p>EC: Year out to work with Politician, and in 3 poor countries and one global corporation; my story fits pretty well together. I’ve played High Level Sport (Rugby) but it’s not really a selling point. Just something I’ve done. Whilst I am British my Heritage is pretty diverse/from an economically deprived area where few students would apply from. </p>
<p>I am literally just baffled with the process of this and how much weight they put into the SAT’s. </p>
<p>From my understanding US students have said UK Students don’t sell themselves enough???</p>
<p>TheBritishGuy, which U.S. universities are you interested in applying to? You should visit the dedicated Ivy League forum, where you can approach ‘experts’ on the admissions process. </p>
<p>You should bear in mind that the acceptance rate for transfer students applying to Ivy League schools is around 1%. [The</a> Real 1%: Harvard Admits 15 Transfer Students | News | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/6/21/transfer-admissions-one-percent/]The”>The Real 1%: Harvard Admits 15 Transfer Students | News | The Harvard Crimson)</p>
<p>Your extracurricular activities are excellent. Your referees should communicate that you come from a deprived area. </p>
<p>SATs have very little weight into the admissions process, as long as a good score is achieved. Admissions Officers spend no longer than 30 seconds looking at SAT scores, but will spend several minutes reading your essays and recommendations. Make sure that you meet the SAT Subject Test requirement also.</p>
<p>What MeIsHM said is very true, Harvard can be even more selective for transfers than normal admission. If you’re committed to studying in the US, it’s worth looking into some lesser known schools than the usual (Ivies, MIT, Standford) because even the most qualified candidates have no gaurantee of getting into any of those. </p>
<p>In terms of “selling yourself,” this is something that’s really stressed in the American college admissions process. You want to make sure you appear well rounded and interesting. Your ECs are great, a nice diverse bunch but be sure that you don’t underplay their importance. Feel free to gush and be more enthusiastic than you normally would (definitely a lot more than you would on a British personal statement). You also should stress your “hook.” A hook is something that makes you stand out from the bajillion other applicants. In your case it looks like you have 2-3 hooks.
<p>Oh and Harvard won’t really care where your dad went to school unless it was Harvard. They also won’t really care whether another student from your school got in…in fact, if I were you I wouldn’t mention it if you’re going to play off your background as less advantaged.</p>
<p>I agree that you need to “sell yourself” the way an American does. (I’m actually very BAD at selling myself, so I am considering going to grad school in th UK!). This is the kind of talking that when Brits hear it coming out of Yanks’ mouths they say “Why do Americans brag so much?” For example, don’t play down your Rugby the way you did. Put it on your resume like an additional wonderful feature that they will get absolutely free when they buy you.</p>
<p>My own education is strange, but for various reasons I ended up taking both the SAT and UK O-levels (yup, I’m that old). In terms of CONTENT, the SAT is much easier. </p>
<p>WHat might throw British students is the way the exam is “set up”. You are given a computer sheet that needs to be scanned by a computer. You need to fill in the appropriate circles for you personal information (like your name) and then the answers to the mostly multiple-choice questions. And you MUST do all this with a “Number 2” pencil, or else the computer can’t read it.</p>
<p>The math is pretty much the same as it would be anywhere in the world. The language portion, however, is based on the American dialect of English. Sometimes we use different spelling, grammar, or define a word differently. Which may throw a British testtaker.</p>
<p>Any of the “preparation materials” you have mentioned will have sample tests. Take one of those RIGHT NOW and see how you do. If you score well above 2200 you are probably okay. But at least you will get a better idea of what is going on.</p>
<p>Have you spoken to Admissions Counselors at the universities you are applying to and specifically asked them “I am an International Student, do I need to take the SAT, or will my foreign educational qualifications be sufficient”?</p>
<p>Selling yourself is a tricky business. You don’t want to be too understated, in a British way, but equally, it is not just a ‘look at me!’ bragfest. The very top schools look for some maturity of thought. A frequent example (heard this directly from both the Dean of Admissions at Princeton and an Admissions officer at UPenn): ‘don’t tell us that you went to a third world country to do community service and learned how differently people live. It won’t impress us. We want to know what you did with that experience: how did it change your understanding of yourself? What are you going to do with that experience? If nothing, choose something else to write about’. Especially as a slightly older applicant, you should present them with a very clear idea of who you are, where you are going, and <em>what you bring to the table</em>-Ie, why you would be a great addition to their university. You mentioned that your various pieces hang together well- that is key- you want a story arc.</p>
<p>Also, it may seem obvious, but a surprising number of people don’t spend enough time investigating the uni’s websites in detail. You want to get down to the background of the professors in your primary subject area, what their research areas are, etc. Look for links between you and the uni, and weave those into your essays (don’t overdo it- Note a kink matter of factly!). Note that International is welcome, but it is not as big a hook as it used to be, esp at the top private universities. </p>
<p>Btw, as others have indicated, once your SAT is 2200 there isn’t much benefit to a higher mark- it really used more as a benchmark. At that point your essays will matter more.</p>
<p>Wow, I truly cannot thank you all enough. Most importantly the statistics have put fear in my heart. Boy do I have plenty of work to do in the upcoming weeks/months.</p>
<p>I really do not think I could have gotten this advice from anyone I know. So I really should take on what has been said and
<p>AND FINAL QUESTION IF ANYONE CAN ANSWER?:</p>
<p>For my Transfer Essay in Common App, I’ve started to prepare two mock essays but I don’t know which one to choose. The 250+ words on reasons for transfer.</p>
<ol>
<li>I’ve done one very rigorous and plain British Style Essay where I’ve simply stated - this is why I want to transfer and this is my life story/things I’ve done that fit in.</li>
<li>I’ve done an essay where I am very descriptive like the standard college essays i.e. a Story.</li>
</ol>
<p>I am not sure which is preferred. </p>
<p>Thank you all again for your help and support! I truly appreciate it and feel free to contact on Facebook or LinkedIn if you private message me!</p>
<p>I’m afraid you have lost me now.</p>
<p>You are the British guy applying to the United States, right? What is your “country of heritage” that you want to return to? The United States isn’t really anybody’s “country of heritage” unless you are an American Indian.</p>
<p>Don’t be “brutally honest” in your application to USA colleges and unis. Use a journalistic style “slant” that focuses on your strengths and plays down (or just doesn’t mention!) your weaknesses. Don’t lie, just “slant” it like a journalist.</p>
<p>You may not have to “apply to a major” like you would in England. Most often in the US, you are admitted to the college and can choose your major later. There’s a lot of talk about being “well-rounded” in American education, and sometimes college students go to college in America and just study lots of different subjects (to be well-rounded) for up to two years before declaring a major!</p>
<p>Use an American style essay for application to American schools, a British style essay for application to British schools.</p>
<p>^Oh sorry. It is hard to explain - essentially I am a First Generation British, almost like a First Generation American who’s parents are from Mexico or something of the sort (I’m not hispanic though, just an example). </p>
<p>Sorry if I confused you. Thank you all for the help and support!</p>
<p>So one or both of your parents are American, and you were born in the UK?</p>
<p>To keep it as concise as possible my Parents are from a poor Country and migrated to the UK, and tried to send us to good schools.</p>
<p>Thank you again for all the help! Much appreciated.</p>
<p>I will jump to the SAT Prep thread, and make sure I hit that 2200+</p>
<p>Harvard or Stanford Application ! Here it goes!!!</p>