<p>Hi everybody,
I am an international student from Turkey looking to enter a top college here in United States. I took the SAT I, SAT II and AP Calculus BC. My scores are as follows: CR-460 M-800 CW-580 Math Level I-800 Math Level II-800 AP Calculus BC-5. I also got a 600 from TOEFL PBT =100 IBT. I studied for the SATs for three weeks which is why my CR and CW are too low but I am pretty sure that I can increase them significantly now that I read everything in English (Books, Newspapers etc). I am also planning to study for and take the SAT World History. So my plan is to enter a good SAT prep and consulting school like Kaplan because they issue F1 visa for internationals and study for the SATs meanwhile preparing the applications to colleges. But I need your advice as I am new here (New York City). Please help me because I am still not sure what I should do. The location of the college isn't important at all I just want to take a top education and I am working hard for it. If you have questions please don't hesitate to ask. I am really desperate for your help and I am sure that your advices will be most helpful to me. Thank you!</p>
<p>Guys please help!</p>
<p>"So my plan is to enter a good SAT prep and consulting school like Kaplan because they issue F1 visa for internationals and study for the SATs meanwhile preparing the applications to colleges. "</p>
<p>Did you come here on your own or with your family? </p>
<p>What is your current visa status?</p>
<p>You don’t need to be in the US to get this done. Start by reading through everything in the International Students Forum: [International</a> Students - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/international-students/]International”>International Students - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>And also read through everything at: <a href=“https://www.educationusa.info/[/url]”>https://www.educationusa.info/</a> Then get in touch with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. There are two in Turkey: [EducationUSA</a> | Find an Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/Turkey]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/Turkey) The counselors there are the true experts at helping students like you find good places to study in the US.</p>
<p>With these results, essentially you need to work on your essays and figure out what kind of college you want. You could enter competitive full tuition scholarship competitions (look at the sticky threads at the top of the financial aid forum) or apply to excellent schools that welcome internationals, such as Grinnell, Dickinson, or Macalester.</p>
<p>happymomof1</p>
<p>I’m here with my family and I have nonimmigrant (touristic) visa but like I said I can get F1 from Kaplan. So I am planning to stay here. I am definitely going to enter the SAT 1-2 more times. My goal is a college of at least NYU caliber so I know that I should work hard on CR and CW and I will raise the scores. What do you suggest me to do?</p>
<p>My recommendation is that you spend your money on a good Intensive English course rather than just on a Kaplan exam prep course. You can get an F1 through the Intensive English program, you will get expert help with improving your English reading and writing skills, and you will get very good college advising without a lot of false promises. No one can guarantee you admissions at an institution that is “at least NYU caliber”. If the people at Kaplan have told you that, they are either lying to you, or they have looked at your profile and know that you are very well qualified and only need a tiny bit of improvement.</p>
<p>Thank you happymomof1 ,MYOS1634 ! So you don’t think a school like Kaplan or Princeton Review or Veritasprep which I heard recently is going to help? Exactly what intensive english program do you have in mind, something like Columbia ALP? Because I’m not sure if they prepare students for the SAT. Can you give a specific example for that? And besides English what do you think I should do more at this point? I am studying for the SAT World History Subject test; do you think it will help?</p>
<p>There are many different intensive English courses and each of them offers something different. Some would include SAT prep. Some just focus on improving your Academic English which would also improve your SAT results. Talk with your parents about your family budget, and look around. One place where you can start this search would be: [English</a> USA - American Association of Intensive English Programs](<a href=“http://www.aaiep.org/]English”>http://www.aaiep.org/)</p>
<p>You need to check the websites of each of the colleges/universities that you would like to apply to, and find out what the requirements for international applicants. Your SAT score may not matter at all if you have a certain TOEFL score. You may not need any SAT II exams given that you are an international applicant. Ask the various admissions offices what they want you to do. Do not be surprised if different colleges/universities ask for different things.</p>
<p>Speak with your family about how they expect to cover the costs of your education in the USA. Many private colleges and universities will cost more than USD 60,000 each year. If you cannot demonstrate that you can pay the full cost of attendance, you will not get your student visa.</p>
<p>You’re here on a tour visa? When does that end? Will you have to leave then?</p>
<p>*CR-460 M-800 *</p>
<p>If you can get that CR up, you’d have more options.</p>
<p>How much can your family pay towards college?</p>
<p>m2ck -</p>
<p>A dedicated SAT prep course is probably not enough to get the CR and WR into the range that this student wants. That is why I’m recommending a dedicated intensive English course that will improve his/her English skills across the board. His/her TOEFL score is good enough for a lot of places already, just perhaps not good enough for the places on his/her short list. A good intensive English course will take care of this and has a better chance of helping him/her over the longer run.</p>
<p>Personally, I don’t like the Kaplan type courses for international students. It is very easy for them to promise much more than they can deliver.</p>
<p>That’s fine. I wasn’t recommending a SAT course. I just said that if he increases his CR score he’d have more options. Whether that happens after an Intensive English course, self-study or whatever…that would be great.</p>
<p>My family has no problems with paying towards college so we’re pretty open to anything that will help me. I have a tour visa but I can get F1 through an intensive english program or any other courses.</p>
<p>Also I looked at the link happymomof1. Embassy English Language school looks good. I think I’ll apply there.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>Collegeboy7: I recommend that you choose language classes from a college or university. First, it’ll give you a glimpse of university life. Second, depending on the university you choose, the professors would be able to provide recognizable recommendations. Third, if you are advanced enough, the program may allow you to experience one college class (not for credit but to see what it’s like) which is an invaluable experience AND another opportunity to get a recommendation letter. Finally, being on a campus is a guarantee that, as long as you make a minimal effort, you’ll encounter and be able to interact with Americans, whereas in a language school you’ll be confined to internationals (mostly).</p>
<p>Thanks MYOS1634! I will consider that.</p>
<p>…</p>