<p>Well, I'm from Brazil and I'm really planning on studying abroad. After A LOT of research, I fell in love with UCLA. But since I don't live in USA, I don't know how does the system works with international students. I had the great opportunity to start doing the Texas Tech University high school program that started this year (I'm still in the first of the three brazillian high school years) and talked a lot with my teacher about it, but the brazillian grades aren't based on letters and also we don't have the gpa system. Biology, chemistry, physics, sociology, philosophy are obligatory in the three years, etc, ANYWAY... </p>
<p>do you think I have chances entering ucla in 2016? Do they evaluate international students the same as usa students (to enter the University)? What are the grades I need to have? Main question: do I need to have high grades in all of my subjects during the whole three years or I just need to have a great average grade of my three years no matter the subject? Sorry for my poor English, please help me!! </p>
<p>Also I'm aware of SAT and TOEFL, but this should not be a problem :D</p>
<p>UCLA (as most American universities) is used to evaluating international students. They are well aware of the differences between the American system and Brazil’s. You will be judged within the context of the Brazilian system, comparing you to other Brazilian applicants, so the question you should first ask yourself is how you compare academically to other students in Brazil. Yes, your overall grades count, as will your SATs and TOEFL. Also, you are aware that as an international student you won’t be able to get any financial aid at UCLA? Be prepared to pay the full $50,000+ per year tuition.</p>
<p>About the financial aid, there’s an institution here at Brazil that works with ALL American universities, and they offer scholarships of 30% to 70% depending on my grades. At least they say they work with all universities…
So it must be my general high school grades high, not in different subjects? </p>
<p>Thanks for answering man! :D</p>
<p>-- So it must be my general high school grades high, not in different subjects? </p>
<p>Schools will look at both to evaluate your strength and weaknesses. Obviously, it’s best to have good grades in some demanding areas – say, physics or advanced mathematics – and lower grades in subjects like gym or “citizenship” 
If you know what I mean. If you’re constantly under-performing in academically rigorous area, that might raise a red flag.</p>
<p>Yeah, I have already started doing a huge research on other Universities, because if ucla doesn’t have financial aid for international students, probably I won’t be able to study there. </p>
<p>I’ve read about two ‘‘notorious’’ universities: Virginia University and Pennsylvania University. What do you have to say to me about them, academically and socially?</p>
<p>Why “notorious”? And are you sure you got the names right? The University of Virginia is an excellent public university; University of Pennsylvania is also an excellent school, but it’s private, part of the Ivy League. Both are difficult to get into.</p>
<p>Here are some ranking lists:
[Liberal</a> Arts College Rankings 2012 | Washington Monthly](<a href=“http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2012/liberal_arts_rank.php]Liberal”>http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2012/liberal_arts_rank.php)
[National</a> University Rankings 2012 | Washington Monthly](<a href=“http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2012/national_university_rank.php]National”>http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2012/national_university_rank.php)
[Kiplinger’s</a> Best Values in Public Colleges-Kiplinger](<a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/index.php]Kiplinger’s”>Best College Values, 2019 | Kiplinger)
[Kiplinger</a> - Interstitial](<a href=“College Rankings | Kiplinger”>College Rankings | Kiplinger)</p>
<p>Other schools to look into:
[Colleges</a> That Change Lives | Changing Lives. One Student at a Time.](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/]Colleges”>http://www.ctcl.org/)
[AshokaU</a> | Supporting leaders in social entrepreneurship education.](<a href=“http://ashokau.org/]AshokaU”>http://ashokau.org/)
[COPLAC</a> | Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges](<a href=“http://www.coplac.org/]COPLAC”>http://www.coplac.org/)
<a href=“http://publicuniversityhonors.com/[/url]”>http://publicuniversityhonors.com/</a></p>
<p>Remember that public colleges will only offer merit aid, since (as is normal) all need-based aid will be reserved to State residents. So if your national scholarship program pays part of your cost of attendance (COA) and you have excellent grades and excellent test scores, with merit aid those schools should be considered.
Private colleges may have a higher sticker price (“official” cost of attendance) but if they offer need-based financial aid, you’d receive a good financial aid package that wouldn’t cost more than public colleges. However these schools tend to be very competitive, so you’ll need high grades for all your subjects (especially in the last 2 years of secondary school) as well as an overall good average.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for answering. I’m a bit busy to do a large post, but thanks anyway!</p>