<p>You should certainly include your background in essays or teacher recs. You could write an additional letter if you wanted to, as well. If you live here now, and are a citizen, then you aren't considered international. Where are you originally from? If you are not in an overrepresented minority, that could help.</p>
<p>nah.. im neither a citizen nor i stay in US...thus im considered an international. my case is pretty sticky, cos there are pple here getting really gd scores for the eng component too. but that's because they are brought up in an english speaking family.. where they spoke english for the past 17 yrs of their everywhere and anywhere (except during mandarin classes i suppose). for my case, my family speaks mandarin and thus the only time i speak english is to my friends..and that only started 6 yrs back. how am i supposed to include that in my application? cos.. english is still the language subjects are being taught.. it's just my chinese-speaking family background..</p>
<p>ah
i have a 710W 710M 690CR
its okay though... i have some pretty good ECs.</p>
<p>dont laugh at my score....
first time
CR 430
W 530
M 800</p>
<p>second time
CR 520
W 600
M 720</p>
<p>Combined:1920</p>
<p>but i got nice TOEFL result for an international student. hopefully that will help!</p>