<p>It's been almost a month since getting the SAT scores back and I'm still freaking out. I got 1840, and the even worse part is that I'm an international with an income of <$16000/year, give or take 1000. </p>
<p>My problem is that I have really good grades, and I'm ranked first in my class, out of 400ish people I would guess. But the SAT just pretty much took a huge dump on my head and nearly gave me a heart attack when receiving my scores. I honestly really really doubt i can take it again, because the cost of taking it again plus sending the scores to schools, plus two SAT2's along with scores and a TOEFL with scores... I would have to sell my soul.</p>
<p>So I'm wondering... what do colleges consider more important, how you fare during 4 years of highschool, or a score from a test that assesses your ability to solve riddles more or less?</p>
<p>Apart from the academic stuff, I think I'm pretty ok for top schools considering my background and everything.</p>
<p>Generally, your GPA will be worth more than your SAT, since it’s the cumulative reflection of your academic prowess through high school. However, this isn’t going to “make up” for your SAT scores. SAT scores can be seen as a kind of confirmation of your grades, because at many schools, perfect 4.0s are very easy to obtain.</p>
<p>Can you apply for a fee waiver for the SAT and sending scores? I’m unsure on what the policy for internationals is, but I would suggest retaking the SAT especially since you’re from abroad.</p>
<p>Will it help if my highschool is in the top 10 nationally, academics wise? I doubt adcoms in the US know much about the Romanian system, but I’d hope it counts as a tad bit more in my favor. </p>
<p>And no, sadly I can’t apply to any feewaivers from the CB. Which reminds me, holy crap, i need to send the CSS profile too…</p>
<p>In your case, the SATs matter more. Too many foreign students with very high stats competing for scholarship money. For the top schools, you really need the grades, a good rigorous curriculum and top test scores anyways. If you are looking for a school to accept and pay for you, you need very high test scores, and reasonable grades with a curriculum that shows you can handle the work., and it would not be a top ranked school with your test scores. Look at the Momfromtexas thread as to how you should look for full ride scholarships. It really involves looking at schools where your stats put you in the upper 5% and that have awards for students with your stats.</p>
<p>well that was disheartening D: but I do appreciate the sincerity! I will try to take the SAt again, maybe get in touch with someone from the government that deals with funding and stuff</p>
<p>I think you should really look into British schools; they rely almost solely on GPA and high school grades. If you have the stats, why not look at UCL and Oxbridge? You might as well weigh your options, and perhaps staying in Europe would be better for you in the long run? Worst case scenario is you a. transfer out, or b. graduate with a great degree from a great institution.</p>
<p>I think it would depend on the college whether they look more at GPA or SAT. Some colleges favor test scores, while others have begun to realize that those aren’t the best predictor of college success nor HS academic achievement for some students.</p>
<p>That is not true that US schools have quotas to fill with international students,particularly with financial need. A lot of US schools, most of them do not even give financial aid to international students. Any quotas that they have, which are usually not quotas, but guidelines to give the international representation somewhat in proportion are to make sure that not too many from a given country are accepted. So it is more difficult for students from countries that have a lot of US applications to gain acceptance. So it goes with getting green cards here, and the quotas are actually maximums, not something that have to be filled.</p>
<p>Exactly, I’m pretty sure there isn’t a specific number of internationals colleges accept. </p>
<p>Regarding colleges in the Uk. I’ve taken into consideration both colleges there and the rest of Europe. The problem is, again, financial. in the UK especially, you can get a student loan only that covers only tuition, and thus you have to pay for everything else, and my family can’t afford it. In the Northern countries, specifically Denmark, tuition is free because I’m from a EU country, but again, living expenses can go as high as $1000 a month. </p>
<p>In Romania, tuition is free and I have a small apartment where I can live for the duration of college, so that would be my best bet financially, staying home. But academically wise, I would be wasting myself. The country is in such poor condition recently, both in and out of schools, that I would hate myself forever if I didn’t leave now, and stayed to finish college and get a degree that would be useless outside and which would require me to do a couple of years of equivalence.</p>
<p>WHAT?! In the first place, only a handful of US colleges and universities give financial aid to international students. And of those that do, I don’t know of a single one that is specifically looking for international students who need aid, much less trying to fill a “quota” with them.</p>
<p>There are a number of top schools that pride themselves on the international character of their student body. But they’ve typically got lots of well-qualified international applicants. And many schools view internationals as a money-maker, because their “need-blind” admissions policy doesn’t apply to international applicants; they can offer admission to international full-pays, or to those who will be supported by their home governments, and that produces a higher net tuition-per-student than they get from the rest of their students. Those that are both need-blind for internationals and meet 100% of need for internationals are very rare indeed, and for the most part these are the most selective colleges, where SAT scores are going to count for a lot, especially for international applicants.</p>
<p>There are exceptions, of course.</p>
<p>OP, if you’re female, have you considered Mt. Holyoke College? It’s a very good liberal arts college, all women, in western Massachusetts. It prides itself on its heavily international student body (26% from outside the U.S.), it does give both merit-based and need-based financial aid to internationals, it does meet 100% of need, and it’s test-optional, so you wouldn’t need to submit SAT scores. I suspect you have some other schools in mind but Mt. Holyoke seems like a good back-up. Its acceptance rate is usually right around 50%, so I suspect with your grades and the rigor of your curriculum, you’d have a good shot.</p>
<p>Yes, I do have Mt. Holyoke in mind. I’m not really a girl-ish kindof girl (if that makes any sense), but I surely wouldn’t complain if I got in haha</p>
<p>I’m afraid at Oxbridge its not true, GPA’s are meaningless and transcripts are often not even asked for. Oxford’s admissions are based on academic ability only, EC’s are irrelevant as are legacies and any other social reasons for favouring one applicant over another (ethnicity, family income etc)</p>
<p>Oxford want to see results in standardised exams as they can most easily compare these to the standardised GCSE’s and A levels that UK students sit at 16 and 18. How you rank in your High school is just not an accepted method of assessing capability over here. Uni’s do not have the ‘knowledge’ US schools do of rating High schools and other establishments and feel its a system that is open to just too much internal assessment and potentially inequality. Oxford admissions ask for specific SAT or ACT scores and at least 3 AP’s at grade 5 in relevant subjects for the subject you will be studying for at UG</p>
<p>I’m not sure if less prestigious unis will accept GPA’s I guess the OP needs to get googling…</p>
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<p>If you need a lot of money, like close to a full ride, getting it is very, very difficult even with high test scores from those schools that are well known. You need to look at schools where your scores are at the top of their range. They might offer you some money. Why should a school pay for a student when they are standing in line wanting and able to pay unless you have something the school really wants?</p>
<p>@pemphredo, Yeah, I’ve heard that the top UK schools look at standardized testing, just like the US schools. But there are some that take you for your GPA. Apparently, it’s quite popular in Romania for highschool kids with good grades to apply in the UK, and also in Denmark. I’d love to study in the UK, but the no scholarships for internationals deal puts me off, cause I might not be able to find a job right away</p>
<p>@cptofthehouse, you’re of course right, but because it’s really hard doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I have 4 friends studying at Columbia, Harvard and Princeton, so I might as well take the chance</p>
<p>Colby and Bates are on my list! And I will be applying to them, as well as Mt. Holyoke. I don’t know what Drew’s policy regarding internationals is, but I’m gonna go look right now. Thanks!</p>
<p>Just did, and it’s not going on the list haha. “The bank statement must show funds available to the student in an amount equal to or greater than the total cost of attendance for one year”. not going to happen if my parents got 5 jobs</p>
<p>hmmm where did you get that from? that’s odd! it’s said that 100% of students at Drew get some type of aid.
Well im sorry to hear that, but yea seems like your GPA is good enough that Colby and Bates won’t require scores so hopefully that works out for you!
Good luck!</p>