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Applying to college as international student, I really hate what is called "the need of diversity " in some schools. When considering your application, the important factors are not high Toefl and SAT scores, or strong essays and recommendations. It is the country where you come from that counts. Colleges tend to accept student from as many countries as possible. from your country. Those colleges want to prove that they have a large numbers of international students, which will strengthen their fame in the country and the world. They are proud to show people in their country that they have international students from 30, 40, 50 or even more on theur campus. Provided that you meet the minimum requirements and you come from the least well-known countries, you will be accepted. In fact, Americam colleges don't need international students. It's just their foreign relations' policy. Considering native students appying every year almost makes them tired. Therefore, students from well-known countries like China or India are unlikely to be acceptedalthough they have top SAT and Toefl scores . Fortunately, there are also many school commit to recruit students based on theis true talents such as Harvard, Yale ( may be because they are already famous, so they don't need to seek fame by that way). My advice for you is that you must pay careful attention to the school you want to apply. If that school already has many students from your country, choose another school.
Good luck.

By Gum (Gum) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 03:34 pm: Edit

thanks bigbigboy, you think boston college is looking for diversity?

By Hildegard (Hildegard) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 03:53 pm: Edit

Hey, just curious, where did you find that out?
Are you saying that they might admit a person from a remote country with a 900SAT and 240 Toefl over a Chinese with a 1600 SAT and a 300 Toefl?

I know that would be good for their "diverse" international pool, but they would have stupid international students!!

By Bigbigboy (Bigbigboy) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 04:05 pm: Edit

To Hildegard,
I have learnt this experience from my own situation and from many friend or mine. As I said, provided that students from remote countries
meet the minimum requirements, they are more likely to be accepted.

To Gum
You should look for that information in the college's brochure or catalog.

By Creatorcat (Creatorcat) on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 08:09 am: Edit

Bigbigboy, that is not completely true. I don't think at all that colleges accept internationals solely for diversity.
I'm from Serbia, which is a rather underrepresented country in terms of international students across the U.S. Many MANY real quality people I know from here applied to some stronger universities in the U.S. (MIT and some other sub-Ivies) with really good SAT results (1450+), maximum GPA, strong and focused EC's, gave their best with the essays and still got rejected, just like any American applicant can get rejected. Of course, a few got in, others got into other not so prestigeous schools.

Also, you said it yourself- U.S. universities don't really need international students- so do they want a STUPID international student? I highly doubt it. Even if they do accept them, then it's only for money (not diversity, they don't really care... who's ever gonna check if there are 10 or 50 countries represented in the 9% international students body, as reported?)- in such cases, the student usually pays full costs of schooling (do I have to mention how hard that is?). Scholarships for international students are rather limited (another indicator that international students are not something U.S. schools crave for), let alone any need-based aid... A small number of schools (usually smaller private libarts colleges) offer need-based grants.

Regardless of all, if YOU are a really strong candidate and admission comitee likes you, there's no way you won't get in, no matter if you're Indian or Chinese.

By Bigbigboy (Bigbigboy) on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 10:35 am: Edit

To Creatorcat
I have always emphasized that the case happens in SOME SCHOOLS. Are you sure you know the policy of every single Admission Staff? My friends, whether accepted or not to a American College, always advice me to choose the schools which doesn't have many students from my country ( especially when considering private schools) . Moreover, I am not from Indian or China so I don't write this for myself. Anyway, you are lucky to study in a good school. That's what I call a real school. Thank you for your opinion.

By Londoner (Londoner) on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 02:49 pm: Edit

Message to Hildegard,

I see what you're saying...but you must take into account that many international students (especially those from poor families) do not have access to SAT prep courses, college counsellors or even sports facilities at their schools. You cannot judge someone's intelligence on their SAT alone!

I swear half the people (not all!) on this chatboard only got high scores becuase they could afford all the bloody books and prep courses...