<p>Our American/British son is a senior (U6) at a UK Public School (i.e., private school) who wishes to 'come home' for college. I have spent some considerable time reading through the CC threads but have found few informed posts re applying from GCSE/A curriculums. My husband went to the same school and then Amherst many moons ago when "geographic distribution" was still a "hook" but these days... S is a strong student at selective school, good grades, great EC's particularly leadership (CCF, Head of House, Prefect) and conservatory-level piano and singing, but borderline SAT's, it seems-he just sat them in October but practice tests generally ranges from 680-700. He does NOT wish to major in music but rather Anthro/Archaeology... but continue studying music.</p>
<p>I have been given the unenviable task of coming up with a list for applications... My first inclination was to focus on Arch but have learned that with a few exceptions, this is usually large research unis., e.g., Vanderbilit, UNC, BU, Mich, Cornell. But S also likes Dartmouth, Amherst, of course. So my questions are 1) Am I making a mistake to focus on the larger universities? and 2) How do Admissions Depts. assess performance/candidates from abroad?</p>
<p>ironmom - take a look at Dickinson College. [Dickinson</a> College](<a href=“http://www.dickinson.edu%5DDickinson”>http://www.dickinson.edu) SAT is optional. For those who took the SAT, the mid 50% scored around 690-700 in each category. Their archaeology department has gotten quite a bit of attention because of their simulated dig lab. Also they have a huge music department with a semester abroad program in Norwich UK. We toured the campus and loved it. S1 will not qualify, but we are hoping that S2 will go this route.</p>
<p>Also, look at the website for collegeboard and see if you can find a match for him. </p>
<p>I always see international students on this forum referencing TOEFL. I assume this has something to do with assessing international students.</p>
<p>I agree with Kajon regarding the virtues of Dickinson. However, there’s a small typo in his/her info. The mid 50% is 590 - 700 per section, not 690 - 700. </p>
<p>(My kid is applying to DC, and only has scores in the low/mid 600’s. So I panicking when I saw Kajon’s numbers.)</p>
<p>Oh, Kajon, THANK YOU! Just had a quick look and LOOKS GOOD especially some of the profs. He leaves this week for Crete to study the Minoans (looking for Atlantis…)! Will look at the TOEFL forum even tho’ his native language is English; well, usually…</p>
<p>A British American student is probably quite literate in English… LOL"</p>
<p>Yes, I know, that was my point in bringing up what TOEFL is after the second poster mentioned it-- because as it is for students whose native language is not English, it is likely not relevant in this situation.</p>
<p>Mom2… Yup, “haf-n-hof” as they say! Vanderbilt made my list by virtue of the Arch depts.’ incredible work in Mayan territory, and Nashville because S is keen guitarist/songwriter. Thanks, tho’ for the tip. He’ll be home for the last 3 weeks of December, and am only just realizing how important visiting some of the colleges is… A friend warned me yesterday about “stealth applicants” and how the ADCOMS dislike them… Yikes! “The British Are Coming!”</p>
<p>Doug/Betsy - so sorry for the typo. I was doing it out of memory and since in the Midwest we use the ACT so I am unfamiliar with the SAT numbers.</p>
<p>FYI -Since Dickinson is so passionate Benjamin Rush, we ordered a paperback book on Amazon about him so S2 could study up for his essay.</p>
<p>ironmom… >>> .Vanderbilt made my list by virtue of the Arch depts.’ incredible work in Mayan territory, and Nashville because S is keen guitarist/songwriter. …He’ll be home for the last 3 weeks of December, and am only just realizing how important visiting some of the colleges is… A friend warned me yesterday about “stealth applicants” and how the ADCOMS dislike them… Yikes! “The British Are Coming!”
<<<<<<<<</p>
<p>Your son (and you) will love Nashville. We live about an hour away; it would be a nice vacation destination for you, too. My nephew is a freshman there now. </p>
<p>What did your friend mean about “stealth applicants”??? What are those? I know what “stealth” means…but not familiar with it being associated with the application process.</p>
<p>Kajon… Just read a B.R. on Wiki… Wow! No wonder they’re so proud of him. And the UK connection sounds promising. S considered UEdinbourgh briefly, just one of B.R.'s alma maters.
mom2… Mother whose son works in ADCOM at GW overheard directors discussing applicants who blanket colleges with applications but have not shown previous interest of any sort. Seems ADCOMS are able to flush them out somehow…</p>
<p>Ahhh…so making a campus visit makes one look “less stealth”…ok :)</p>
<p>I wonder if they really expect students from out of the country to do campus visits. </p>
<p>And, you aren’t obligated to tell a college where you’ve applied…I don’t care if they ask…it’s NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS…LOL … If necessary, I’d only list a match school and a safety school or two.</p>
<p>Last May we toured the NE: AWS, Dartmouth, Bowdoin, Trinity… At the time S wasn’t considering Southern schools- I think he’s tired of flying- but now he realizes that some may be a better fit.</p>
<p>I have 2 college kids. But, I have a very large extended family whose kids go to colleges all over the country. I have nearly 50 nieces and nephews…LOL</p>
<p>I am wondering if SAT’s will be as significant for a British student as he will have O and A level scores as well. Also, for some students, the ACT proves a much better fit than the SAT and they score better. If you could get your S a copy of an ACT practice book so he can familiarize himself with the format, perhaps he could give it a try. Virtually all colleges will accept the ACT instead of the SAT I, although some require that SAT II’s be provided as well.</p>
<p>Oh, left out suggestions. If your son likes Amherst, what about Williams? Also, if the South is not ruled out, Davidson is a great LAC. On the West coast, he might like one of the colleges in the Claremont cluster. Would he be OK with a mid-western and perhaps more isolated LAC on the order of Kenyon or Grinnell or Carlton? Not sure how he would fare with arch at any of these, though…</p>
My nephew is a freshman there now. </p>