How do I start? Where do I apply?

<p>Heyy. Basically, I'm a Senior this year. I still didn't take my SATs but my GPA goes as follows:
Sophomore: 3.8
Junior: 4.0</p>

<p>I currently live in Egypt but I plan on going to University in America. (if I get a proper SAT score, I'll take it for the first time in October) I'd appreciate it if you suggest some Universities (With reasonable prices) that MAY (or may not) offer me a scholarship, I have no idea where to start, and I don't HAVE to get a scholarship but I need acceptance. I know I can go to websites and stuff like that but I seriously feel extremely ignorant because I have NO idea where to start. or what to say. (since I still didn't take my SATs not got my Senior GPA)
ps; I was wondering, is it too early to start applying for Universities/Colleges?</p>

<p>Nothing can be said until you have taken the SAT/ACT some scholarships are merit based. The common application doesn’t open up until August 1st. If internationals do use the common app (IDK if they do) then you can get started on the required essay. Here are the prompts (pick 1 minimum 250 words maximum 650 words). Have you taken any SAT practice tests and how much are your parents willing to contribute yearly?</p>

<pre><code>Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
</code></pre>

<p>UC GPA calculator: <a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU;

<p>First question, you want to ask is: What do you want to work as?
This will lead the question to: What should I major to reach that goal
Which in turn will lead you to schools better suited for the goal. </p>

<p>As for reasonable prices, what does that mean? You never presented any type of budget, so its fair to assume you are either super wealthy, or not and anything in between. If you don’t feel comfortable with giving specifics that’s fine. But you need to make some kind of marker. 40K US$ a year for example. </p>

<p>You’re going to need your SAT and/or ACT scores, sooner than later. Many universities will flat out reject you without them. Also, many merit based scholarships are dependent on a very high sat or act score. </p>

<p>Here’s a college selector tool you can try:</p>

<p><a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Simply enter the parameters. They also have a function for financial aid for international students. </p>

<p>If you need financial aid then you should look at California private schools. Publics such as the UC’s and Cal States give little to no aid to International students. If you are full-pay then your SAT scores along with your GPA and EC’s will determine which schools you will be a competitive applicant . Repost after your SAT</p>

<p>@Tola2015 @Gumbymom @‌ninjex On practice tests, I get around 1980-2100, if that helps, and thank you so much you guys.
As for the budget, it really depends, if it’s an excellent school then my parents are willing to pay, we’re not “wealthy”, but we’re okay. Anything that isn’t too much would do.</p>

<p>What schools do you and your parents consider “excellent”??? Highly ranked??? There are many “excellent” schools in California, which may not be as highly ranked but offer a great education. The UC’s and Cal states are considered “excellent” by many. Then you have the privates: USC, Occidental, Claremont Colleges (Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona, Claremont McKenna), Santa Clara, LMU, Pepperdine just to name a few. You need to narrow down your choices to give posters some idea of what you are looking for in a university.</p>

<p>You said your parents are willing to pay if its an “excellent” school. Are your parents willing to pay for flights + tuition+ other fees + miscellaneous yearly? Your parents are looking at $50,000+ yearly are they ok with that?</p>

<p>Again, you need more concrete examples. How about this. Instead of asking how much you parents make, how much are your parents are willing to spend. Here at the CC community, the underlying assumption is to maximize the spend power. That said, if your parents are willing to spend $70K, the CC community will help you find institutions worth the price. </p>

<p>However, like I’ve said before, we don’t have enough details. You haven’t created a wishlist so its impossible to make a recommendation. </p>

<p>Like I said before, a budget and a major preference will be a good start. </p>

<p>Pick a general course of study. Plug that area with the word “university” and put that into google.
Pick a geographic region where you would like to live for the next 4 years.
Look at course of study requirements, exams required, costs for international students.
Sign up for the SAT as soon as possible.
Start working on your essays.
Apply using the common app.</p>

<p>go to the university of california website, you can start there
application for UCs open August 1
UCs, due to their budget cuts, don’t provide much financial aid. However, since you’d be an international student, maybe they’d give some. But then again, they leach money from OOS students, so maybe they’d do that with international ones? </p>

<p>UC’s are public universities funded by California taxpayers. California is out of money. There is no money for OOS or international students. Since the UC’s attract thousands of OOS and international students, who willingly pay full fees, there is no motivation to shell out limited scholarship dollars to them. California’s limited scholarship funds go to California residents. </p>