Hi 
So, even though I’m a permanent resident in the united states (I have a green card), I do not currently live there.
I’m currently a junior high school student living in Iran, I plan to move to California for my senior year (mainly because I heard students usually took the SAT test at the end of their junior year or at the beginning of their senior year so they don’t have to hurry the application process).
Even though my ranking in my city and school is pretty high, my grades don’t show it.
For my first term, I got an average of 17.76 out of 20 and I was the salutatorian of my class.
I was hoping to get into UCLA, but I’m a little lost.
What should I be doing right now? How can I study for the SAT’s? Do I need to take the TOEFL/IELTS test if I spend my senior year in the US? When should I apply?
Also keep in mind that iranian high school students learn really advanced mathematics, physics and chemistry (college level).
Thanks for reading.
Actually, students who hope to attend schools as highly-ranked as UCLA take the SAT spring of Junior year, retake in the Fall, and if necessary again in November (or December), and try to take SAT Subjects between May and December.
Your rank will matter. If 17.76 means you’re salutatorian, this should be indicated - number aren’t interchangeable, in some countries a 17 is almost unattainable, in others it’s quite average…
Type a conversion grid and get it stamped by your principal before leaving school for CA!
roughly top 20%= A= 17 points, next 15% = A-= 15 points, next 15%=B+, next 20% = B, next 15% = B-, etc. (use whatever number matches the % rankings).
Just one year isn’t sufficient to have th TOEFL requirement waived. If you feel confident, start studying now and take it before you leave Iran, it’ll be one less thing to do while you get used to CA.
If you’ve had advanced math, physics, etc, see if you will attend a high school that offers AP Calc BC and AP Physics C, or if you’ll be allowed to dual-enroll as a high school student, to a community college, for Calc 3, physics 2, etc.
Really helpful thank you.