<p>Do colleges review international applicants in a different committee from domestic applicants?</p>
<p>In addition, do colleges have the same criteria for international students than they do for domestic students? For example, do they give leeway for lower SAT test scores?</p>
<p>Last, but not least, does not applying for financial aid give international students a greater advantage than those who do?</p>
<p>most colleges (aside from a few exceptions like Harvard) have a preference for qualified international students who are able to foot the bill.</p>
<p>Do colleges review international applicants in a different committee from domestic applicants?
Yes, they do. Don't know about HYP though.</p>
<p>*In addition, do colleges have the same criteria for international students than they do for domestic students? For example, do they give leeway for lower SAT test scores?
*
If you're aiming for top colleges (HYPS, and so on), yes, unless you're an expectacular student. MIT gives leeway if, for instance,
1. you're an IMO/IChO/IPhO/International Biology Olympiad (don't know its name, sorry) gold medal or </p>
<ol>
<li>an URM with some great accomplishments OR a very well-rounded person. (my school every year send students to MIT, so yeah, I have some examples)</li>
</ol>
<p>Don't forget about internationals who study at American schools. They do well on SAT verbal + writing sections. (gaaaah)</p>
<p>Last, but not least, does not applying for financial aid give international students a greater advantage than those who do?</p>
<p>For suuuuuuuure. But only at those which are not need-blind for internationals.</p>
<p>Let me rephrase your first question:</p>
<p>International students are reviewed in a different pool than domestic applicants but not necessarily by a different committee - many colleges only have one admission committee.</p>
<p>The criteria are the same but the weighting might be different. Diversity, for example, is a really big concern when admitting international applicants. Colleges rather have a few students from each country than half of their student body from South-East Asia where the majority of international applicants is from.</p>
<p>SAT scores will be considered relative to your other 'qualifications'. There is a girl from Nigeria at my college who did not even take the SAT though the college officially requires the SAT or ACT of all applicants. If your first language is not English you might get a little bit of leeway for low CR scores, but keep in mind that there are a lot of international students with close to perfect SAT scores. In general the SAT is extremely important in the international admission process because it is the only tool that allows colleges to compare applicants from different educational backgrounds.</p>
<p>Hey I'm from Mauritius and I do not think that the diversity issue applies to Bryn Mawr. I have quite good sat scores but I did not get into Bryn Mawr though they sent me an email and small booklets telling me to apply to the college. Maybe it was because I was applying for financial aid.</p>
<p>after though the "they" refer to the admission people ;p</p>
<p>That is but obvious.</p>
<p>Sorry, b@r!um is totally right. It really doesn't matter if international applicants are reviewed in a different committee. What matters is that we are reviewed in a different pool.</p>
<p>So, I second b@r!um's post:
[quote]
International students are reviewed in a different pool than domestic applicants but not necessarily by a different committee - many colleges only have one admission committee.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hmm... what about US citizens who are living/studying abroad while in HS, but apply to US colleges (as US citizens, of course). Are they pooled with international applicants, or with US applicants? Or maybe with US citizens studying abroad? I wonder if my D will face tougher competition than if she stayed in US for HS.</p>
<p>US citizens abroad are pooled with other US applicants. At a few colleges US citizens living abroad make their own category.</p>
<p>What makes the international pool oftentimes a lot more competitive than the domestic pool is the scarcity of financial aid for internationals (b/c they are not eligible for federal aid). That is an issue that your D will luckily not have to deal with as a US citizen.</p>
<p>im just curious, what are my chances of being accepted into a community college in california? im an international student, and will have an "O" level certificate and a diploma (a 3 year post secondary school course) by the time i apply.</p>
<p>ive heard from some that in states like california, international students are given lesser priority for admission. would that be the case if i intend to apply to a community college? e.g santa monica or LA pierce etc etc.</p>
<p>If you are not applying for financial aid your chances should be good to all but the top universities. Since financial aid for foreign students is limited and their is a lot of competition to get it. Given that your grades and extracurriculars are stellar.</p>
<p>loathed</p>
<p>You need to contact the community college(s) directly to find out what they require for admission of international students. Here is a link that lists all of the US community colleges by state:</p>
<p>Some colleges put international students who do not need aid in the same pool as American citizens. I believe UofChicago (or maybe Northwestern) says so implicitly on their website.</p>