Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Every international, once come here, should write all the problems and adversities you meets applying for Harvard and other elite american universities. Maybe some discrimination, shortage of money, different system of education, different educational traditions. Say everything you're concerned about in applying for american universities!!

By Wombatje (Wombatje) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 12:21 pm: Edit

I am international applicant and i dont share your negative views. Life is what you make of it, not what others make of it. The only problems i have been confronted with is how to translate my grades properly.

By Jesusofsuburbia (Jesusofsuburbia) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 01:35 pm: Edit

I'm from Nova Scotia, Canada, and the verbal section on the SAT was HARD.

I'm under the impression that I simply didn't get the best education through high school to learn all the necessary material. I have always had A's and even a 100% for my final mark junior year in english. So I have done what I'm supposed to, I haven't missed the boat. But I found that my vocabulary was dwindling during the verbal sections, and I had trouble picking the best answer, and often choosing between 1-3 seemingly acceptable answers for many questions.

I hope that the admissions officers at Harvard, and Yale (I'm applying at both, I think), will be able to see my solid progression through the english courses offered at my school. Hopefully they will be able to see my motivation and determination to do well with what was offered to me for several years, even though I slummped on the SAT verbal sections. It's good that my math teacher has helped me, and I know I did 700+ on the math section.

If I don't get in, that is fine. I 'know' I will get into a local university, which is great. I will still persue my goals, and have fun doing so, meeting many interesting people along the pathway.

By Greenstorm (Greenstorm) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 01:38 pm: Edit

Hi, Wombatje! Where are you from? Perhaps, you're right about making the life by own, but it's true only if you have a conditions, opportunities equal for all men. I haven't. I have to overcome this unfairness, and it's not easy.

By Greenstorm (Greenstorm) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 01:50 pm: Edit

I have the same question, Jesusofsuburbia. Is the progress in studies taken into account by Harvard (or some other) admission officers? My GPA in 9th grade was about 4.7, in 10th - 5.0(maximum), also I have some progress in extracurricular activities and performance on Olympiads. I has a very good potential for growth, I think.
Also I have the trouble withe the translation. Recomendation must be submitted from the teacher oneself, in the same time official translation of the rec must be submitted from the translate agency. What should I do?

By Davidrune (Davidrune) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 01:54 pm: Edit

I'm also an international students, from Canada.

By Greenstorm (Greenstorm) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 02:04 pm: Edit

Welcome to the "International Student League", Davidrune!!

By Davidrune (Davidrune) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 03:20 pm: Edit

The Harvard adcom came to our school last week. She seemed pretty nice. I'm guessing it was the same girl that came to Nova Scotia, Jesus. Because she said something about going to Halifax.

By Wombatje (Wombatje) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 04:28 pm: Edit

I'm From 'the kingdom of the Netherlands', and the SAT math was really easy, though the verbal part was far to hard for non natives i reckon. I am just going to send in my application package for harvard, making the most of it, and i hope they will agree with me on my entrance. :]

By Greenstorm (Greenstorm) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 11:39 pm: Edit

Now I understand your enthusiasm. You all from the developed industrialized countries, where the system, opportunities and etc are almost the same as in USA. But I'm from far more complex place, where it is very hard only to apply, not even be admitted.
As for my SAT(6 Nov.) I will be going more than 400 miles away from house. That's really unpleasant.
The Harvard adcom visits your school. It's cool. In my country it have never visited even the capital, not my provincial (although very strong) school.
I hopo only luck.

By Davidrune (Davidrune) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 12:56 am: Edit

Well, right now I have found applying for financial aid the most challenging part of this whole process.

The tax forms in Canada are entirely different from those in the States.

What country are you from?

By Stanfordnualum (Stanfordnualum) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 01:42 am: Edit

Median (middle 50%) test scores of recently admitted international students
SAT 1 Verbal 610-710
SAT 1 Math 710-800

The above is NOT even Harvard's range but Northwestern's. It gives you a reference point however: Harvard's range is higher than Northwestern's; so if you don't have >600 on verbal, your chance of getting in is virtually nonexistent (unless you show something else truly amazing). I was a foreign student also, so I know how some foreign students may expect a break from elite schools when 600+(Verbal) is still highly recommended.

By Greenstorm (Greenstorm) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 06:31 am: Edit

Where am I from? Russia.
About financial aid, in Russia it is even more difficult, because there is no any tax form here at all. And translate it to English. Very hard, I don't even now how to do it, because the officials have not right to give any document, not rectified in Russia as legal.
Now I have not the examples of the full Math IIc and biology tests, so I have to prepare blindly.
What's new?