Schools for me - Student from Germany

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Heya,
Im a German, currently in year 12 (out of 13).
I'm interested in Universities in the United States, specially Los Angeles / California. However, I'd also like to apply to 2 or 3 Universities in New York / East Cost.</p>

<p>These are my Stats:
Toefl: 112
Sat: CR 560 / Math 750 / Writing 550
Taken once, in may
I'm going to take the SAT soon to see whether its easier.
Going to take the SAT Subject tests later...</p>

<p>Stats in my school:
Rank: Doesn't rank, but I'm definitely in the top few.</p>

<p>Math: 1+ = 15 Points = A ( best in class, best student in some years)
5 hours a week</p>

<p>Physics 1 = 14 Points = A (best)
3 hours a week</p>

<p>English 2+ = 12 Points = A (best)
3 hours a week</p>

<p>Arts 2+ = 12 Points = A (one of the best)
5 hours a week</p>

<p>Social science (?) 2- = 10 Points = A (one of the best)
3 hours a week</p>

<p>German 2- = 10 Points = A (one of the best)
3 hours a week</p>

<p>Philosophy 3+ = 9 Points = B (average but still upper half)
3 hours a week</p>

<p>History 3+ = 9 Points = B (average but still upper half)
3 hours a week</p>

<p>German average: 1.4 (in Abitur, as Math, arts, Physics and English are weighted - this is a pretty good average!)</p>

<p>My GPA however adds up to around 3.75 :(</p>

<p>The German grading system is kinda weird... Everyone is competing against each other, but in the end, its possible that no one gets a 1 (Im best in English with a 2+)</p>

<p>ECs: Doing some stuff for school, helping other kids, but not really much.
Adds up to around 3-5 hours a week for school (teaching other kids, organising, stuff like that)
Chess club
Human Rights work (really, a lot...)</p>

<p>Intended Major:
Not sure, but goes into the science / math direction... Maybe Computer Science, or Engineering</p>

<p>Schools I really like: USC(Yay! Favorite so far), UCLA, Caltech
So how are my chances at these schools, are there any areas I should really improve in, and what other schools do you advice?</p>

<p>Financial aid is not needed</p>

<p>Thanks very much =)</p>

2

<p>I think the SAT subject tests will help you a lot. I would definitely order some preparation books (amazon.com or wherever) and prepare for those, the topics covered may be different from what you cover in Germany. Then I would try to bring up your SAT CR score, as a non-native English speaker that is of course going to be a challenge, but a high CR score will make it much easier for you to get into school. With careful practice and study I’m sure you can raise the score, that will be more important to you than your performance at school in your 13th year, frankly.</p>

<p>Some of the lower-ranked UC schools are in beautiful locations (UCSB and UCSD, for instance, UCSD is higher ranked) if that is of interest to you. UCSB is in paradise.</p>

3

<p>Yea, I already know of the lower UCs :slight_smile:
So with the current stats my chances at USC dont look too bright, huh?</p>

4

<p>SAT is quite weak for all the schools you mentioned.</p>

5

<p>Okay, thanks.
I still have to take 2 Subject Tests, the ACT and the SAT after that again.
What is the latest month I can test in, to be sure that my scores arrive in time for the application?</p>

<p>Oh, and Ive read that USC doesnt require SAT by international students on their homepage…?</p>

6

<p>@ ZeDschermen</p>

<p>You’re the second German high school student on CC I’ve seen who is interested in California. I will tell you the same thing I told the other person regarding the UCs: Unless you know someone who can influence your admission internally or have family who can vouch for you as a California resident (very far-fetched, but it doesn’t hurt to have in-state status), it is extremely difficult to get into the UCs as an international student. Berkeley and UCLA, for example, are public schools and enroll like ~80% in-state students. You are better off looking at private schools like USC, Stanford, CalTech, Harvey Mudd, Occidental, etc.. Apply to some Midwest (Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin have good colleges) and East Coast schools too.</p>

7

<p>

</p>

<p>I have no idea what the above might mean. As far as I know you’d need a green card to have in-state residence. </p>

<p>To the OP, I think you have a chance at USC with high SAT IIs and if you can really improve your SAT score. I would focus a lot of attention there. Your math score is very high, you just need to bring up that English score.</p>

8

<p>Okay.
Doesnt being international and from Germany increase my chances at all?
What I mean is, Germany has got a kinda unique educational system, and colleges seem to look for diversity…</p>

9

<p>The fact that financial aid isn’t an issue for you will be a help, I think, at USC, and some other private schools (not CalTech, though). I think you have quite a good shot at USC, actually, if you can bring up those SAT scores.</p>

10

<p>Bring them up by how much? (a rough estimation would be fine)
Ive heared people say that this may’s CR was really hard, so I hope I’ll be able to increase my score by studying even more and <em>hopefully</em> getting an easier section next time ^_^</p>

<p>Also, how about CalState?</p>

11

<p>CalState schools are much lower level, except for CalPoly in San Luis Obispo.</p>

<p>Ideally you want your SAT CR above 700, if you can do that you’ll be in to USC no problem. But certainly if you can get above 650 it will help you a lot. For a non-native speaker, often the problem is just a lack of vocabulary.</p>

12

<p>Thanks.
Im now studying to try and do the SAT Subject Test Math 2 and Physics this June, but Ive got only one week left and am not really sure whether its possible…
Even though Im the best in our physics class, we havent and wont talk about nuclear, atom and quantum physics or thermo dynamics in school :frowning:
If this works out, I will cram vocab in the summer to take the sat in octobre =)</p>

<p>And I just mentioned CalState cuz my uncle told me its a nice school…
He also mentioned UCC Irvine (I guess he means UC Irvine? As UCC seems to be a church ^_^)</p>

13

<p>There is no “CalState”. There are many campuses in the Cal State University system:
[The</a> California State University](<a href=“http://www.calstate.edu/]The”>http://www.calstate.edu/)</p>

<p>UC Irvine is a nice school too. Here is the UC system, which is “higher” than the Cal State system:
[University</a> of California Systemwide Home](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/)</p>

14

<p>Do you have any extra-curriculars or awards? These are really a big factor in college admissions here.</p>

15

<p>I have some ECs, but no awards - my school doesnt give any.
There is a nation wide math contest every fall, Im thinking about participating this year, to get to round 3 or 4…
It will be around the same week / month my SAT will be :-/</p>

16

<p>You say LA is your favorite city in the US. How many other cities have you visited? Have you been to other parts of the US? Have you visited Ann Arbor (MI), Austin (TX), Boston (MA), Chicago (IL), Madison (WI), San Francisco (CA) etc…? All of those cities have excellent universities. Do not overlook them.</p>

17

<p>@ ZeDschermen and Alexandre</p>

<p>Ditto on Alexandre’s advice. I was trying to state that in my original post (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1060456235-post6.html)%5B/url%5D”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1060456235-post6.html)</a>. America is blessed to have over 4000 colleges and universities (at least 200 being very selective). Your international status does not carry a lot of weight if you are applying to the UCs or other California schools (they receive thousands of international applications). Also consider Midwestern and East Coast universities which are just as excellent.</p>

<p>Other U.S. Cities:
Midwest: Chicago, Detroit-Ann Arbor, St. Louis, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Madison (WI), Indianapolis, Pittsburgh
East Coast: New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.
South: Houston, Raleigh-Durham, Austin (TX), Atlanta, Miami</p>

18

<p>^^California is California. Living in LA is just better than living in Atlanta or Pittsburgh or Columbus (OH), for lots and lots of reasons. That is why California is the most populous state.</p>

19

<p>@ kenf1234</p>

<p>The bottom line is the OP should not overlook other excellent schools in other regions in the country.</p>

20

<p>^^I don’t agree. I think OP should go to school where he wants. Location is a very important part of the college experience. Fortunately, California has many of the top universities on earth, so there’s not much of a trade-off.</p>