Hey! Well the title basically says everything.
My question is what do colleges exactly look at in international students applications? Do they weight for example the SATs as they do fir domestic appliccants?
First and foremost, they look for money. Hundreds of good colleges and universities will welcome a full-pay international student even with mediocre grades and SATs.
But to answer your question: besides money, yes, schools look at your SATs, grades and EC accomplishments, although you’re judged based on other international applicants from your country/world region, and taking into consideration the different school systems and EC opportunities. Obviously, the more elite/selective the college, the harder it is to get in since top schools limit the number of international students.
If you need significant financial aid, the competition is fierce, and most applicants come away disappointed.
katliamom said it right. Money is the most important factor. If you are fighting to get scholarships or financial aid, it will be a difficult journey to enter a good school. You have to be very outstanding. If you are blessed with money, then it will significantly much easier to enter a good school.