<p>I'm a pakistani student who finished A level just last session. I got AAA in Bio, Chem and Economics, along with a SAT score of 1800. The problem is, my o level grades were horrible. My family and I had to move from Lahore to Islamabad just during the examination session, and we couldn't reject it either, so my grades plummeted badly. I'll be truthful here.
B in English.
C in Pakistan studies and Islamiat.
D in Physics.
E in Chem, Bio and maths.
I know they're horrible, but I'm willing to cover them up. Should I take SAT II to make up for these grades? My uncle lives in America so I'll have no problem of residence or money over there, I just want to study something science related in a university there, is there even a small chance? Please reply soon.</p>
<p>Anyone? I need to make my mind up really soon. :(</p>
<p>Since you improved in your A-level and have a genuine excuse for screwing up the O-levels, you might be excused. However, yes you will have to prove your worth to the colleges and so I recommend giving at least three SAT IIs and getting good scores in them. Make sure that one of them is Math II because, since you did not take Math in O-level and since math is essential for the sciences, you’ll need to show that your good enough at it. Improve your SAT I too. That is what I honestly think with regards to your situation.</p>
<p>I’m pretty good at Chemistry so I think I’ll give SAT Chemistry as well. I did take maths in O level, and got an E -_-"
I think Math II might be out of my reach so is Math I okay? I’m good with GCSE level math.
It isn’t the end, right? There might be one college that’s willing to take me, right? I had plans of enrolling into an okay university for the first year before getting a high gpa and transferring into a better one.</p>
<p>Give Math II because Math I is a level below what you are expected to know after finishing highschool. Math I is practically the same as the SAT I math. As far as your desire to get into any college is concerned, no it is not the end. However, financial aid may be an issue since only private schools offer it and they are tougher to get into. Are you sure you can pay 40-50 thousand dollars per year to live in America? If your food and residence are covered by family members, this can go down to 30-35 thousand dollars per year. Also, may I know why you do not want to stay in Pakistan? You seem like you’re ready to go through a lot of trouble to leave the country.</p>
<p>And how much do GCSE actually matter, I’m willing to get even better score in SAT, so AAA at A levels and a 2000 at SAT along with SAT II, will the universities still look at my GCSE?
My dad lives there too, I’ve been waiting to finish A levels and get over there ever since I was in grade 6 (when my family went to USA)</p>
<p>Your “uncle lives in America so you’ll have no problem with residence or money”?<br>
Actually, you will have a problem because you aren’t a citizen and you can’t assume that you will get automatic admittance or residency within a state. It doesn’t work that way. </p>
<p>There is very limited funding for international students AND, since you want to live with your uncle, you will probably have to apply to a college or university that is close to your uncle’s house. Your grades won’t qualify you for those limited scholarships.</p>
<p>If your uncle lives in Michigan and you want to apply to a school in New York, where will you live? As an international student, you have to assume that you will be paying non resident tuition for your entire school career-since you are not a resident and you are not a citizen-your uncle is not you.</p>
<p>I don’t get you. Is the main issue money or residence?
Also, what if I resit just my o level maths? And skip MATH II in SAT, will that work? </p>
<p>You need LOTS of money to pay for a university education in the US because that’s the kind of tuition and fees you should assume. Your SAT score is not competitive for any of the limited scholarships for international students.
There are very limited scholarships especially with those grades. </p>
<p>As an international student, you won’t be considered a state resident of any state so you’ll pay Out of state fees for any public schools. It doesn’t matter that your uncle lives here in the states since he is NOT the actual student.
Assume $60,000 per year at most schools. Will your uncle pay that? If you don’t have that kind of money, all of the retesting and coursework is not going to help.</p>
<p>… Can we stop with the money talk? I am aware that USA education is pretty expensive, I’ve done my homework. If I couldn’t afford it, I wouldn’t be wanting to the states, right?
So yes, just answer my question regarding to admission. </p>
<p>Most international students expect aid, so if you don’t need any, you might get in, but reality with your current scores and grades, Midwestern and southern schools might admit you because you will be full pay. </p>
<p>So, 3As in A levels and a possible score of 2000 in SAT I (which I will retake in the coming months) along with SAT II scores, all of that is for nothing just because my O level result were crap?</p>
<p>^ what an interesting debate we have here O.o yes, they will still look at your GCSEs because in America, they do not believe in the system of final grades = best indicator. They want all your grades (even your O-level and A-level internals) to see how you have been throughout the years. They get a better idea of what type of student you are by looking at all of these grades. However, if your excuse for the poor grades is good enough, you may get away with it and I think you will. But yeah, the ‘aunt bea’ person is right - you do need to increase your SAT score. A score below 2000 may not cut it for many schools since you are an international. I recommend that you use Parchment . com to find out the scores that each school is looking for. You will probably be aiming for public schools whose score ranges for the students are from 1700-2100. If you can get 2000-2100, you should be set for most public schools.</p>
<p>Crap, and here I thought GCSE weren’t important in USA, sigh.</p>
<p>The problem is that your current SAT is 1800. Your grades are considered “mediocre” based on stats from multiple international students who get admitted. </p>
<p>The universities rely on tests to make all students equitable because they can’t really trust “grades” as there is rampant exaggeration of grades from some countries’ schools, so the tests play a big part in the selection of students. </p>
<p>You have to remember that the colleges pick the best of the best students from each individual country; you are competing with your compatriots for a spot at a university. There are not that many spots open. Some universities admit maybe 5 students per year. </p>
<p>Just being honest. Try the South and the Midwest for better chances of admittance. </p>
<p>So in short, they care more about my SAT score and less about my grades? </p>
<p>Yes, they do take grades into consideration, but they look at test scores first. Try the ACT and try for a minimum of 32. I don’t know if you have access to that test. A safe SAT score would be over 2200</p>
<p>Don’t apply to public schools because you will pay OOS tuition and fees. They charge international students full fees. Schools in the Midwest and south are sometimes less expensive as are schools in sparse states like Montana, south and North Dakota and Wyoming, etc.</p>
<p>Got it! Any other advice you have for me? Regarding grades? If I should improve anything?</p>
<p>Just do your best. Only take SAT II tests that are your strength. If you think you might not do great in one area, don’t take that test. You have to retake the regular SAT to get a higher score. That’s the one they care about. </p>