I am a US permanent resident. I moved from Vietnam to America eight months ago.
Schools that I will apply:
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Santa Cruz
University of Washington
My GPA: 3.71 UW. I self-report my trancscript. I think this GPA is pretty unfair for me because the program I study in Vietnam is much harder than here.
Classes:
Sophomore and Junior
I don’t have my 9th grade transcript because in Vietnam, most high school begin with 10th grade.
Honor Math: 2 years
Honor World Language: 2 years
I don’t have any opportunities to take AP classes like my friends who live in American their entire life.
Senior year: I only have AP Calculus AB. Because high schools in Vietnam did not offer any classes to meet the A-G requirements so I have to take 8 online classes in 2 months.
Test scores:
SAT: 1180 (New SAT), I retake it on Nov 5th and I hope the score will be over 1200.
I am aware that my test scores are low because I just moved here.
Although I just moved here, I try to get involved in community service. I have over 70 hours of community service. I join Interact club, Math club and Christian Club
My personal statements are pretty good.
My questions are will colleges (in general) understand my situation? and Is there any chance I can get into one of those schools?
Thank you,
I hope to get the answers soon because I am really worried and confused right now.
Here’s the thing: Many international students who apply to the US colleges and universities have never stepped foot on American soil when they apply. Yet, they are able to take the tests and score very well. It has to do with how much you prepared for the tests. If Vietnam was much harder, then your test scores should show and reflect that.
Quit using the excuse that it’s because you weren’t in the US, for your entire life that your scores aren’t high. A lot of American kids have been here their entire lives and they won’t get high scores either!
Yes, being a new resident can affect your scores, but those scores are used to see what level of math, reading and writing you can do. The colleges want to see how you will perform at their schools.
If you already know that your scores are low, why are you applying to schools that want high scores? So will you go to college saying the same thing? “It’s because I just moved here.”
And, yet . . . . .
I find it interesting that you say your have to catch up with your A-G requirements, then you say:
Spend more time on your classes and test preparation. The colleges want grades and test scores. GPA and Test scores are KING in admissions. ECs/Clubs are secondary. The colleges will see that your clubs appear to take most of your time, and not your studies.
You don’t need to be in lots of clubs, just find something that you like to do. Add some safety schools that will accept your stats. Your current scores will be tough to gain admission to the majority of those listed schools.
Are you in California?
If you are not, then you will pay OOS rates.
If you aren’t in Washington, you will pay OOS rates.