<p>I'm a senior in Tunisia, I'm applying for Computer Engineering in some of the US top colleges, I have some very good ECs (mainly related to Computer Science), my grades are good (especially in English and Computer Science), my ranks are not really good but it's due to the EXTREME competitiveness of my high school. My biggest concern is the SAT Critical Reading and Writing, I can't score over 600 in them (at least in practice tests, I don't know what have I done in my first SAT that I've taken in October). I will be participating in an international written debate contest (IPPF) and I already participated in an international essay contest but I don't have the results yet, my English teacher says I write well but I couldn't do so in the SAT. I could score near 800 on SAT Math II and Physics. But I'm wondering if my SAT I scores will hurt. I know I've been asking too much on CC but I really need some help (I will meet with the educationusa counselor in a week but I need some help from you as well).</p>
<p>Hello mngweb,
If you score CR 600 and W600 with M800 and two (or three?) SAT Subjects at 800, you’re good to go.
For advice about the SAT and how to tackle the writing, look at Sparksnotes online, it’s free and the advice is solid.
Have you met with the educationusa counselor yet?</p>
<p>I got a terrible score in October’s SAT : 1730 (670 M, 540 CR , 520 W due to the essay score which was 5/12!!!)
I read the Sparknotes advice and I was able to better my writing score at practice tests.(reaching 620-630)
I retook the SAT yesterday, I unfortunately did 2 silly mistakes in the math section, I did pretty well in the essay and writing questions but the CR wasn’t great.
I cannot be accurate but I predict it will be 1800-2000 (most likely near 1900).
I’m going to register for 3 subject tests : Math II,Physics and French (December).
I’m sure I’m able to get near near 800 in Math II and French (especially French, I’m sure it’s going to be 800). I’m not sure about Physics anymore, because I still haven’t tried a practice test.
On the other hand, my English teacher said I’m an excellent (his words) writer and that I did great on the written debate contest but I don’t think I’m going to qualify for the second round because I had done some technical errors. (The qualifying teams will be announced on Tuesday). Also, even though I could have done REALLY better, I was ranked 3rd nationally among high school students and 6th among Tunisian college students in the ACM programming contest and it was reported (with my name mentioned) in an article published by a well-known Tunisian newspaper. This gave me some hope and I decided to apply (because I nearly abandoned the whole us education dream).
I heard that some students from my school got into US universities with scholarships and they only had an SAT score in the 1800s. Also, my English teacher said that a few universities know about the rigor of my school and that it’s known for its students’ quality. @CollegeBoardJaJa :
I haven’t decided yet. I will be applying to 4-5 colleges.
My list : Harvey Mudd College, Northeastern University, University of Rochester, Boston University, Bentley University, Colorado College, Bucknell University, University of Texas at Austin, SUNY College at Cortland</p>
<p>in my opinion, choosing Chemistry over French ought to better your chances as it appears that French is almost a household language in your country. Besides, many colleges maintain that international students can counter low SATs by scoring higher in subject tests.</p>
<p>also, are you sure NorthEastern University provides scholarships to international applicants? it’s mentioned in its website that it doesn’t.</p>
<p>@OrwellLarsson :
It is too late for Chemistry, I won’t be able to prepare it properly. Also, it’s true that French is widely spoken in Tunisia yet it is still a second language.</p>
<p>College Board’s search tool mentions that Northeastern University does provide scholarships to international students.</p>
<p>Anyway, I changed my college list completely :
Stanford University
Caltech
University of Pennsylvania
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Harvey Mudd College
Amherst College
Tufts University
Swarthmore College
Williams College
University of Southern California
Carleton College
Colorado College
Macalester College
Lehigh University
Trinity College
Franklin and Marshall College
Dickinson College
Skidmore College
Gettysburg College</p>
<p>I also got 1880 in the November’s SAT : 550 CR | 720 M | 610 W</p>
<p>With a SAT Score of 1880, I’m afraid some schools on your list (Stanford, UPenn, Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Dickinson, Williams, etc) are a little bit out of reach unless you have a killer essay. But still, while essay is very important, it’s not a sole factor in your admission decision. So to be sure, I suggest you reconsider your school list or study again and retake the SAT.</p>
<p>I will be taking 3 SAT subject tests in December so I can’t retake the SAT again. Couldn’t they be lenient with my SAT score since English is my third language ?</p>
<p>You can’t say “most important thing for internationals” because it varies from school to school and for each individual. </p>
<p>For some schools ALL that counts is your ability to pay. If you can pay, you will be admitted. </p>
<p>For other schools it’s your nationality: if they’ve already admitted many students from China/India/So America, they may be more interested in Africans or Europeans.</p>
<p>For ELITE schools (such as Penn, Stanford, Amherst on OP’s list) it’s international olympiads, SATs, grades/class rank and LOR that has words like “best student I’ve ever had.” )</p>
<p>Admission to a well known American university WITH significant financial aid is very hard. You’re competing against top students from around the world. It’s a bit like playing a lottery. You can’t make a blanket statement about one specific “important” factor to get in – unless that one thing is simply luck!</p>
<p>@katliamom : I think that my country and whole continent is under-represented in US colleges. I could have some LOR that would say something like “one of the best students I’ve ever had” but only in two subjects. I have a big chance to qualify for the IOI 2014 (international olympiad in informatics) but it’s in February. and although my SAT scores are low, they are still relatively very high to Tunisian students. Wouldn’t be unfair to compare someone who only studies English for 3 hours a week (and only studies basic grammar, spelling …) and whose second language is French to some international student from Japan or Germany whose second language is English ?</p>
<p>EDIT : I forgot to wish a Happy thanksgiving for all of you</p>
<p>mngweb - thank you for the Thanksgiving wishes. </p>
<p>Yes, admission committees DO take into account the language issue. They will look at your score in view of how long you’ve been studying English BUT if other Tunisians or students with a similar background score significantly higher than you, you may be in trouble. (That will be your primary competition: other Tunisians/North Africans.) </p>
<p>There are no guarantees, but if you’re considered an outstanding student in Tunisia, have some good LORs (it sounds like you will!) and qualify for the olympiad (make sure you put that on your application!!!) you could be an interesting applicant. To increase your odds, apply to schools in the middle/south of the U.S. - fewer international students to compete against) and to schools where your stats are significantly higher than the average incoming freshmen’s. You’ll find that information on each school’s website. </p>
<p>I agree with katliamom. It is the cream of the crop for internationals who make it to the top schools.
It is advantageous to come from an underrepresented country like Tunisia.
Why not try applying to Colgate University? It is free to apply for internationals.</p>
<p>How important is the TOEFL score for international students? is a high TOEFL score something that really helps in gaining admission? anyone know much much the TOEFL score is factor, please help</p>
<p>@tawjihi : as far as I know, your TOEFL score doesn’t count in admissions, if you have the required minimum (100 is more than enough, 80 is always required) they move on to judge your application. So having a perfect score in TOEFL doesn’t mean much.</p>
<p>I guess you’re an Arab, right ? your nickname means “my orientation”.</p>
<p>Yes i am an Arab mngweb…
one college told me that i need to get a high TOEFL score (that is 107+) to have a good chance because i have a low critical reading … i think having a perfect TOEFL score does boost your application in some colleges</p>