<p>hey i was just wondering if any international students out there had been through something like this.
i really want to apply to boarding school in the US but i need to sit the SSAT ISEE or for some i can do the PSAT tests but non of these are offered in my city of my island. (I live in New Zealand which is 2 large islands and a couple of small ones) I live in what's called the South island which is one of the larger islands (and i live in the south of the south island too) the other larger island is the north island (very original we are here hehe) the test centers that are available are in the north of the north island so to get there i would have to fly which costs a fair amount of money.</p>
<p>does anyone have any ideas about what the boarding schools would do in a situation like this?</p>
<p>That's an interesting situation. Perhaps you should email the ssat people and explain - asking for a solution. Maybe they would allow an unorthodox administration of the test, like mailing it to your school for them to administer. I have no idea what they might suggest, but if they offer no solutions email the schools with your question.</p>
<p>If my son had to take the isee, we would have to travel over 200 miles for it.</p>
<p>I recommend you create a list of likely schools now. Then, create a spreadsheet listing their testing requirements, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, etc. Decide which exam you would be able to take in New Zealand. Then, email the admissions departments of the schools on your lists, enquiring whether they would make an exception, and accept, say, the ISEE instead of the SSAT. </p>
<p>Do you have any required exams in your school system? You might enquire of the admissions departments, whether they'd accept your local equivalent standardized test. The schools which have a larger group of international students should be able to point you in the right direction.</p>
<p>just call the school and explain your situation. maybe they'll just settle on your local standardized test scores......maybe. idk. lol but call them</p>
<p>Before the first （and still the only) SSAT test site was set up in Shanghai, students in China had to go to either Hong Kong or Singapore to take the test.</p>
<p>Not sure how much the admission office would listen and understand, especially those in top schools. Good luck and let us know.</p>
<p>It's also possible that the SSATB will consider finding a proctor in your area, although I don't know for sure. They do allow some "educational consultants" to administer exams to a small number of students.</p>
<p>In addition to talking to the schools you want to attend, you might contact the SSATB and ask them whether it's possible for you to take the test somehow.</p>
<p>Many international students have this problem and there is an easy solution: Take the SSAT in the US when you come for your interviews. That is what is normally done.</p>
<p>If you not planning to come for visits, and can't get an SSAT, it makes your candidacy really hard for them to support. They will wonder if you will really enroll at their school and whether you will stick it out for more than one year, given the distance.</p>
<p>newyorker: But you've got to keep in mind that it can be difficult for an international student to come visit and interview on campus. They've got to think about missing classes, getting appointments with the schools, international flights, and for some people it isn't worth the hassle to interview on campus if they have other options. Most schools have had enough international students that whether or not a prospective international student interviews on campus doesn't affect their chances. And if a school isn't understanding enough of you not being able to visit or you not being able to take the SSAT that they question your candidacy based on that, that's probably an indicator that if you have any problems later due to being an international student, the school's not going to be too helpful or understanding.</p>
<p>Well, one is being held in Wellington, which is practically the southern tip of the north island. There aren't any edu consultants in NZ that I can see.</p>
<p>Bottom line; call them. Tell them all of what's going on, and they'll be very helpful. Like padfoot said, if they aren't helpful and understanding now, they won't be later, and you probably don't want to be going to that school! I've called Exeter a couple times, and if they didn't get back to me instantly, than they always got back to me either in an hour or two, or that day.</p>
<p>Umm hi. I'm very sorry to hear about your situation. I suppose what you need to do now is, which has already been said, to create a list of schools you want to apply to. Since you're international, I know a lot of boarding schools do waive the SSAT for int'l students (but you have to submit the TOEFL instead). Is TOEFL okay for you? And yeah, definitely shoot them emails. Certain schools can either waive it for you or can suggest you a solution!</p>
<p>Toefl wouldn't be helpful, they speak English in New Zealand. Another suggestion would be to take some other standardized test. But I still think that taking the SSAT during your visit is the easiest way.</p>
<p>ok i was in the same situation as you. I lived in the philippines and the only pace were they offered the test was in manila and i lived in cebu city( an hour flight away)</p>
<p>I just flew there but if money is seriouly a problem just call the school. I have herd (many times) that the ssats to not impact your chance of admission very much.</p>