Hello! I am currently a international school student in South Korea and finished 11th grade (junior year).
Here are my scores/grades.
Weighted GPA: 3.54
SAT Subject tests:
Math level 2 : 770
US History: 680
Biology (Molecular): 720
SAT Score:
REading: 600
Writing: 650
Math: 700
=1950
APs taken:
Biology
Psychology
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Calculus AB
Literature
Physics 1: Algebra based
As an korean international school student in Korea, I find myself competing with a lot of elite/top students at my school. My parents are always pressuring me about “oh your friend got 2300+, why can’t you get at least 2200+?” “you need to take sat physics cause your scores are not enough” and etc. The school average for scores is way too high and I feel worthless compared to other students (the average sat is 2250 for our school). I try my best but the environment seems to make me even more pessimistic about my chances of getting accepted to college. It always “oh your asian so colleges will take you more strictly” “oh you need a 4.00 to get into college”. I am frustrated with all this nonsense, so please if possible I would like a clarification on the college admissions process for international students.and also
I would like to know which schools I could apply to that would best fit my scores/grades.
Thank you~!
Carnegie Mellon University
http://www.cmu.edu/
Bradley University
http://bradley.edu/
Lafayette College
https://www.lafayette.edu/
You are competitive for the overwhelming majority of four-year colleges in the US if your family can afford to pay for your tuition. The only ones you will not be competitive for are the ones that have prestigious “brand names” overseas. I’m not sure you would be competitive for Carnegie-Mellon; you certainly would not be for their Computer Science program, which has a lower acceptance rate than Harvard or Stanford. Asian students living overseas have a tough admissions scenario, and it’s even tougher if you need financial aid. I will presume that you don’t. As long as you are not obsessed with “brands” and “rankings” you will be fine. What do you want to study? What sort of environment would you like: traditional campus? Large university or small college? Urban, rural, or suburban? Big-time sports teams? Do you prefer one part of the country over another? Do you have any non-academic hobbies or interests you’d like to continue pursuing (e.g. skiing/snowboarding, music, hiking, et al)? Will your “safety” colleges be American ones, or will you stay in Korea if you do not get into a “brand-name” American college?
Test score is not everything but important for admission. You can refer to Forbes article http://www.forbes.com/sites/schifrin/2014/08/04/top-100-sat-scores-ranking-which-colleges-have-the-brightest-kids/
There are so many great colleges in U.S. but you may never heard of those names of colleges. But I have heard that college name is very important in Korea. Are you planning to go back to Korea after graduate from college in U.S.?
Target colleges in the Midwest, South, and Southwest.
Look into the Colleges that Change Lives. Buy the book, give it to your parents. Read it yourself, or read the website and fill out the “info request form” online.
Choose colleges for the quality of undergraduate teaching.
Target #2 and 4 there
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/undergraduate-teaching
This is another national list
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching
All of these are prestigious national colleges and universities, where the quality of education is excellent.
Add colleges from all regions on this list
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities/undergraduate-teaching
Discard the concept of “brand name”. Think of the Korean community’s foolishness and prestige-obsession as it was revealed in the TJ scandal/fiasco (where a girl had fabricated acceptances to please her demanding parents and the Korean press wrote lavish articles about her until it was found to be a hoax). Save yourself from that insanity.
To relax, watch “Fresh off the boat” with your parents 
- I know the main characters aren’t Korean but it’s funny and deals with Asians in America. 