How are international students evaluated?

College Admissions

Our Counselors Answered:

How are international students evaluated?
Nina BerlerFounderunCommon Apps

International Students

Evaluation of international students is a sensitive issue, especially since it’s seems shrouded in secrecy. A few things are not debatable: colleges want international students because they add to geographic and cultural diversity . . . and also that they often can pay full fare! This has bound to have many U.S. students concerned about losing out in college admissions. At the same time, many universities are expanding their outreach efforts more than ever. This includes seeking students who are the first in their generation to go to college, prospective engineers and scientists, and underrepresented students. Students in these groups are certainly not all international students. International students apply just like others. In many cases, they must attain proficiency on the TOEFL test which assesses their abilities in speaking and writing. Generally, international applicants need to submit the regular application forms, required standardized test scores (e.g., SAT or ACT), recommendations and necessary fees.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

How are international students evaluated?

if you are Chinese international students, you are subject to background check such as high school profiles. the citizenships and financial support are also important as part of the evaluation. for example, if you are coming from a public school in China, your credential is more important than your test scores.

Ellen [email protected]OwnerEllen Richards Admissions Consulting

International students slowly but surely gaining a strong hold on America’ schools

This year not once superseded, but surges in the amount of international applications submitted to American colleges.

Traditionally Japan and South Korea send ore undergraduates to United States universities than any other country, with the exception of the United States. China seems to be rapidly reaching their competition and catching up the trend of having the youth of their countries educated by the mot elite colleges in the world. For example, 10 years ago 17 Chinese students applied to the University of Virginia; three years ago 177 students applied and this year 800 applied. Over the past three years, the number of Chinese applicants to Georgetown University has increased from 95 to 208, at George Mason increased from 54 to almost 100, George Washington University 270 to 350, Brown University from 16 t 500 an Stanford from 268 to 400. Many colleges have been capitalizing on Chinese interest in studying abroad and heavily recruiting in China, hoping to gain name recognition among the country’s increasing wealthy families.
Theresa Leary

How are international students evaluated?

The most important criteria for admission for international students is their academic achievement followed closely by their English language ability. Like domestic students, international students should have followed rigorous secondary school curriculums and achieved excellent grades in order to be considered top candidates for admission. English language ability is also crucial as the schools want to know that you can succeed on their campuses. The ability to read and write at a level that keeps pace with native speakers is essential.

Lily TrayesFounder and CEOIvy League Placement

How are international students evaluated?

Here is my video response to the question.

Lily TrayesFounder and CEOIvy League Placement

How are international students evaluated?

Here is my video response to the question.

Ainsley ParkerRegional Director of AdmissionsUniversity of Pennsylvania

How are international students evaluated?

Here is my video response to the question.

Rod BugarinFormer Admissions OfficerColumbia, Brown, and Wesleyan University

How are international students evaluated?

Here is my video response to the question.

Laura O’Brien GatzionisFounderEducational Advisory Services

How are international students evaluated?

Basically using the same academic criteria as for U.S. citizens and residents. In all cases, the primary consideration is the GPA and the rigor of the high school courses. High schools usually send a school profile along with the required student transcript and report. There is also an international supplement required from the high school counselor. Transcripts and recommendations as well as any other supporting materials need to be officially translated into English. There are also transcript evaluation companies whose services may be required on occasion–check with the admissions department of each college on your list.

David AllenManaging DirectorGlobal College Counselors Ltd

Carefully and fairly

Each college will have thier own international qualifications experts, often the admissions officers who travel to those countries – for those that are unfamiliar then there are agencies around who will offer US equivalences to every national system out there in order to calculate a GPA – it is still wise to make sure that some kind of equivalence to a US 4 point GPA scale is on your school transcript though.

Annie ReznikCounselor/CEOCollege Guidance Coach

Multiple-Step Process

While each individual college and university handles international evaluation slightly differently, the process will closely resemble the sample outlined below.

Admission offices will begin by evaluating a student’s academic credentials. Translated transcripts are evaluated within the context of the sending country by carefully trained experts in world-wide educational systems. That information is combined with standardized tests to determine a candidate’s ability to successfully navigate the academic demands of the institution. Applicants who have the potential for academic success will be reviewed holistically through the general admission process. Academic eligibility does not mean that students will earn admission at competitive, highly selective institutions. A complete review of a candidate’s personal statement, recommendations, and extracurricular involvement will determine the final offer of admission. After a candidate has been identified as an accepted student in the admission office, visa eligibility will be determined through a review of a candidate’s certification of finances or I-94 form.
Nicholas Umphrey

How are international students evaluated?

In addition to SAT/ACT scores and grade point average, they look at the TOEFL exams.

Helen H. ChoiOwnerAdmissions Mavens

How are international students evaluated?

International students’ applications are evaluated in much the same way as other students’ applications. However, special attention will be paid to your English language proficiency — especially if your first language or the language in which your schooling was conducted — was not English. In addition, because extracurricular activities and sometimes essays can be difficult to compare and assess across cultural boundaries — there can be more of a reliance on standardized test scores.

More and more colleges are becoming aware of the difficulties in confirming the accuracy of information on international applications so there may very well be more intense scrutiny in the near future. This is especially the case for some applications in certain parts of Asia. So — write your own essays and be diligent about your test preparation. Put your best foot forward — and above all — present yourself with integrity and honesty. That way — you’ll have an application of which you can be proud.
Benjamin CaldarelliPartnerPrinceton College Consulting, LLC

How are international students evaluated?

International students are usually evaluated in pretty much the same holistic manner as domestic students.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

TOEFL, SAT, and IELS are used for English proficiency evaluation!

if you are Chinese international students, you are subject to background check such as high school profiles. the citizenships and financial support are also important as part of the evaluation. for example, if you are coming from a public school in China, your credential is more important than your test scores.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

TOEFL, SAT, and IELS are used for English proficiency evaluation!

. Barriers to College Success for Chinese Students: Education Marketing vs College Counseling There are multiple barriers for Chinese students to attend college in the US. First, Chinese students do not have freedom of choice in terms of college selections. Second, Chinese students are not counseled on college majors and careers. Third, Chinese students that hire placement agencies are bound by contracts for college admissions with the agencies. Since parents often make all the decisions. Chinese recruiting agencies target them with aggressive advertising guaranteeing admissions to a US college. What is lacking is a student-centric focus that matches college selection to the student’s individual profile. Instead, gaining admissions to college is the only gauge of success. This single focus ignores other important considerations such as selecting the right college major, the suitability of the campus environment, and whether the college selection supports the student’s future career goal. This can result in multiple barriers to graduation after gaining admissions to college. Chinese students attending a college that is too large often become isolated and discouraged. Students who gains admissions without forethought and counseling on selection of college majors can end up in majors that do not match career goals. Although the statistics are lacking with regard to graduation ratios of Chinese students from US colleges, anecdotal evidence suggests that many Chinese students struggle to graduate after being admitted. The aggressive marketing tactics in China by recruiting agencies have inappropriately focused attention on gaining admission to college instead of selecting the right college that is suitable matched to the student. , however, single goal that that When we talk about college access for Chinese students, knowledge is the key. Knowledge has all the powers to difference the students decision and the parents decision. We would expect students to learn everything they need to learn about a particular school. Through multiple channels, different perspectives, and sometimes including the experts in the US but in China, students are only getting information about particular schools or college through education marketings. And one of them highlight for education marketing is to promote college rankings therefore turned colleges into commodities. Students and parents normally know very little about the schools they apply to but they know every single ranking numbers for all the schools. They may not understand exactly but the ranking represent what is behind the philosophy that each ranking agency have to produce. But all the Chinese students share one thing in common that number ten is usually different from number eleven. It is not in dispute that education marketing has direct impact on college access for Chinese students especially the majority of education marketing are produced in china by the Chinese agencies. Those agencies share one thing in common which is to commoditize the college admission market. It is a billion dollar industry with great power and inference to create a barrier and limited access for Chinese students. Colleges may not know that Chinese students may not have access to social networks such as facebook, youtube, and twitter in china. Those social network mediums are highly conducted by colleges as tools for their education marketing purposes. Therefore it is extremely hard for Chinese students to gain perspectives about the difference between different type of colleges and be able to sort out what’s important to them. There are three major websites in china that are currently promoting college admissions and provide educational materials for Chinese students. A lot of those articles are in fact incorrect and misleading in general. If that’s the type of environment for the students to learn everything they need to learn about colleges, we should understand the challenges and the barriers are certainly at odds with the Chinese students. We all agree students and parents should make their decisions solely on their best interest but it’s hard for them to compare thousands of schools in the US and understand the differences. The simplest way to shop for colleges is to use ranking systems. One of the challenges of selecting schools based on ranking is the acceptance rank and the chance for the student to succeed in college. Educating the Chinese students is not an easy task for anyone because the Chinese students do not have access to counselors. The mass media in china normally promote best interest of the Chinese agencies because they pay for advertisements and then the most US colleges and universities does not offer a lot of education materials specifically for Chinese students. Although the fact that the Chinese students are number one in terms of enrollment, this year replaced India on the top of the list, we still have a long way to bring the knowledge to the Chinese students therefore help them to make an informed decision. Without informed decision, students are normally not prepared in terms of what to expect, what not to expect once they’re enrolled. That will ultimately impact the student’s experiences in college. Education marketing is very powerful, depends on who’s doing it. If the US colleges and universities are coming together to provide accurate information to the Chinese students, we believe that will ultimately impact a lot of decisions for the Chinese students in terms of college admissions. Other barriers which include the major selections are very obvious. Chinese students typically apply to business schools and engineering schools and they have no idea what the school has to offer for the ninety percent decrease that they never heard. It is also very interesting to see that some of the Chinese students actually made an assumption that business major is the solution for everyone and ultimately become entrepreneurs just like their parents. What they’re going to find out is the fact that the business school is not right for everyone especially the students does not possess leadership skills and organizational skills. Those students will learn all the basic curriculums as a business major student. Must they graduate, returning back to China, those classes they learned in college may have very little to do with daily activities and job responsibilities in china. The Barriers: Education Marketing vs College Access for Chinese Students There are multiple barriers for Chinese students when it comes to college access. First of all, Chinese students have a very little control in terms of college selections. Second of all, Chinese students never have the opportunity to receive counseling about major selections and career choice. The third barrier is that the fact that most Chinese students are bonded by contracts for college admissions with the Chinese agencies. When we talk about college access for Chinese students, knowledge is the key. Knowledge has all the powers to differentiate the student’s decision and the parents’ decision. We would expect students to learn everything they need to know about a particular school through multiple channels, different perspectives, and sometimes including the experts in the US. But in China, students are only getting information about particular schools or college through education marketing. One of the highlights for education marketing is to promote college rankings, therefore turning colleges into commodities. Students and parents normally know very little about the schools they apply to but they know every single ranking number for all the schools. They may not understand exactly but the ranking represents what is behind the philosophy that each ranking agency has to produce. But all the Chinese students share one thing in common that they know is that the number ten is usually different from the number eleven. It is not in dispute that education marketing has direct impact on college access for Chinese students especially the majority of education marketing is produced in China by the Chinese agencies. Those agencies share one thing in common which is to commoditize the college admission market. It is a billion dollar industry with great power and inference to create a barrier and limited access for Chinese students. Colleges may not know that Chinese students may not have access to social networks such as Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter in china. Those social network mediums are highly conducted by colleges as tools for their education marketing purposes. Therefore it is extremely hard for Chinese students to gain perspectives about the difference between different types of colleges and be able to sort out what’s important to them. There are three major websites in China that are currently promoting college admissions and providing educational materials for Chinese students. A lot of those articles are in fact incorrect and misleading in general. If that’s the environment the students use to learn everything they need to learn about colleges, we should understand the challenges and the barriers are certainly at odds with the Chinese students. We all agree students and parents should make their decisions solely on their best interest but it’s hard for them to compare thousands of schools in the US and understand the differences. The simplest way to shop for colleges is to use ranking systems. One of the challenges of selecting schools based on ranking is the acceptance rank and the chance for the student to succeed in college. Educating the Chinese students is not an easy task for anyone because the Chinese students do not have access to counselors. The mass media in China normally promote in the best interest of the Chinese agencies because they pay for advertisements and most US colleges and universities do not offer a lot of education materials specifically for Chinese students. Although the fact that the Chinese students are number one in terms of enrollment, this year replacing India on the top of the list, we still have a long way to bring the knowledge to the Chinese students to help them to make an informed decision. Without informed decision, students are normally not prepared in terms of what to expect and what not to expect once they’re enrolled. That will ultimately impact the student’s experiences in college. Education marketing is very powerful depending on who’s doing it. If the US colleges and universities are coming together to provide accurate information to the Chinese students, we believe that will ultimately impact a lot of decisions for the Chinese students in terms of college admissions. Other barriers which include the major selections are very obvious. Chinese students typically apply to business schools and engineering schools and they have no idea what the school has to offer for the ninety percent decrease that they never heard. It is also very interesting to see that some of the Chinese students actually make an assumption that business major is the solution for everyone and ultimately

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

TOEFL, SAT, and IELS are used for English proficiency evaluation!

There are multiple barriers for Chinese students to attend college in the US. First, Chinese students do not have freedom of choice in terms of college selections. Second, Chinese students are not counseled on college majors and careers. Third, Chinese students that hire placement agencies are bound by contracts for college admissions with the agencies. Since parents often make all the decisions. Chinese recruiting agencies target them with aggressive advertising guaranteeing admissions to a US college. What is lacking is a student-centric focus that matches college selection to the student’s individual profile. Instead, gaining admissions to college is the only gauge of success. This single focus ignores other important considerations such as selecting the right college major, the suitability of the campus environment, and whether the college selection supports the student’s future career goal. This can result in multiple barriers to graduation after gaining admissions to college. Chinese students attending a college that is too large often become isolated and discouraged. Students who gains admissions without forethought and counseling on selection of college majors can end up in majors that do not match career goals. Although the statistics are lacking with regard to graduation ratios of Chinese students from US colleges, anecdotal evidence suggests that many Chinese students struggle to graduate after being admitted. The aggressive marketing tactics in China by recruiting agencies have inappropriately focused attention on gaining admission to college instead of selecting the right college that is suitable matched to the student, however, single goal that that When we talk about college access for Chinese students, knowledge is the key. Knowledge has all the powers to difference the students decision and the parents decision. We would expect students to learn everything they need to learn about a particular school. Through multiple channels, different perspectives, and sometimes including the experts in the US but in China, students are only getting information about particular schools or college through education marketings. And one of them highlight for education marketing is to promote college rankings therefore turned colleges into commodities. Students and parents normally know very little about the schools they apply to but they know every single ranking numbers for all the schools. They may not understand exactly but the ranking represent what is behind the philosophy that each ranking agency have to produce. But all the Chinese students share one thing in common that number ten is usually different from number eleven. It is not in dispute that education marketing has direct impact on college access for Chinese students especially the majority of education marketing are produced in china by the Chinese agencies. Those agencies share one thing in common which is to commoditize the college admission market. It is a billion dollar industry with great power and inference to create a barrier and limited access for Chinese students. Colleges may not know that Chinese students may not have access to social networks such as facebook, youtube, and twitter in china. Those social network mediums are highly conducted by colleges as tools for their education marketing purposes. Therefore it is extremely hard for Chinese students to gain perspectives about the difference between different type of colleges and be able to sort out what’s important to them. There are three major websites in china that are currently promoting college admissions and provide educational materials for Chinese students. A lot of those articles are in fact incorrect and misleading in general. If that’s the type of environment for the students to learn everything they need to learn about colleges, we should understand the challenges and the barriers are certainly at odds with the Chinese students. We all agree students and parents should make their decisions solely on their best interest but it’s hard for them to compare thousands of schools in the US and understand the differences. The simplest way to shop for colleges is to use ranking systems. One of the challenges of selecting schools based on ranking is the acceptance rank and the chance for the student to succeed in college.

Tyler BurtonPresident Burton College Tours

Each school is different however there are similarities.

Each year colleges in the US receive a huge increase over last years international applicant pool. The competition for international students is heating up. Colleges have appointed readers of international applications and these readers are skilled in determining if the student has genuinely written the application or if an agency has been paid to complete the application.

Admissions officers have become wise to inauthentic applications. They know how to read past a false essay and transcripts that have been altered. I once counseled an international student who was doing a fabulous job working hard on writing her essays. Her essays were not written in perfect English, but the content coupled with wonderful grades (which were honest grades) were going to produce an application that would earn her admission to a top school. A few days before her applications were due she contacted me and told me that she had re-written her essays. I read the essays and was immediately alarmed. It was obvious that her father has paid someone to write essays for her. The essays looked nothing like the essay a 16 year old girl would write and they did not reflect the rest of her application. I had to tell her father that if she submitted the new essays that she would be denied admission at every school. The father was only trying to help his daughter, but his actions were going to hurt her. The young woman made the right choice and submitted her own writing. She was admitted to excellent schools and is a proud member of her freshman class. If she had used the essay that her father paid for she would have never been accepted to college. International applications are read more carefully than domestic applications. I predict that with the advent of skype that students will be required to have an interview at the schools that they are applying to. Their spoken English skills will need to match their written applications.
Tyler BurtonPresident Burton College Tours

Each school is different however there are similarities.

Each year colleges in the US receive a huge increase over last years international applicant pool. The competition for international students is heating up. Colleges have appointed readers of international applications and these readers are skilled in determining if the student has genuinely written the application or if an agency has been paid to complete the application.

Admissions officers have become wise to inauthentic applications. They know how to read past a false essay and transcripts that have been altered. I once counseled an international student who was doing a fabulous job working hard on writing her essays. Her essays were not written in perfect English, but the content coupled with wonderful grades (which were honest grades) were going to produce an application that would earn her admission to a top school. A few days before her applications were due she contacted me and told me that she had re-written her essays. I read the essays and was immediately alarmed. It was obvious that her father has paid someone to write essays for her. The essays looked nothing like the essay a 16 year old girl would write and they did not reflect the rest of her application. I had to tell her father that if she submitted the new essays that she would be denied admission at every school. The father was only trying to help his daughter, but his actions were going to hurt her. The young woman made the right choice and submitted her own writing. She was admitted to excellent schools and is a proud member of her freshman class. If she had used the essay that her father paid for she would have never been accepted to college. International applications are read more carefully than domestic applications. I predict that with the advent of skype that students will be required to have an interview at the schools that they are applying to. Their spoken English skills will need to match their written applications.
Patricia KrahnkePresident/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

How are international students evaluated?

Short Answer:

International students are evaluated the same way American students are evaluated: by the strength of their academic record and test scores. Detailed Answer: Most major colleges and universities have individuals in the admissions office who are experts at analyzing international transcripts and test scores – whether it’s TOEFL or IELTS, or O-Levels, etc. We have a saying here: The best predictor of success is past success. This means that if you did well on your academics before, you will probably do well in the future. So we look to see past academic success. What admissions counselors often see are students who present very strong math scores on tests, but their English language skills are weak. Students whose academic work is strong and who present strong scores on the TOEFL will be considered good candidates for admission. However, an increasing topic of concern at colleges is the difficulty that international students have with verbal communication –in other words, they often don’t understand what is being communicated in the classroom by the professor. The professor may use idiomatic expressions that are unknown to international students, or speak too quickly, or their fellow students may communicate in a shorthand manner of speaking that is mystifying. This is something that the IELTS evaluates, and why these scores are sometimes requested. An interview via Skype or phone may be requested, as well. This is why many international students opt to begin their studies at a smaller, less pressure American college. At a smaller college with fewer international students, they may have as many opportunities for language and cultural immersion as they would at an elite institution, but they will have the more relaxed challenge of improving their English skills via one-on-one interaction with their professors. In addition, I want to make sure you know the following: If you do opt to begin your studies at a small college, make sure they have adequate academic and social support programs for their international students. Many American colleges are beginning to actively recruit international students, but they do not have the infrastructure and student life programs to support you in a strange new culture. It is important that wherever you decide to attend college in the U.S., make sure they don’t just want your money: They want YOU, and they care enough about you to take care of your needs once you arrive on campus.
Patricia KrahnkePresident/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

How are international students evaluated?

Short Answer:

International students are evaluated the same way American students are evaluated: by the strength of their academic record and test scores. Detailed Answer: Most major colleges and universities have individuals in the admissions office who are experts at analyzing international transcripts and test scores – whether it’s TOEFL or IELTS, or O-Levels, etc. We have a saying here: The best predictor of success is past success. This means that if you did well on your academics before, you will probably do well in the future. So we look to see past academic success. What admissions counselors often see are students who present very strong math scores on tests, but their English language skills are weak. Students whose academic work is strong and who present strong scores on the TOEFL will be considered good candidates for admission. However, an increasing topic of concern at colleges is the difficulty that international students have with verbal communication –in other words, they often don’t understand what is being communicated in the classroom by the professor. The professor may use idiomatic expressions that are unknown to international students, or speak too quickly, or their fellow students may communicate in a shorthand manner of speaking that is mystifying. This is something that the IELTS evaluates, and why these scores are sometimes requested. An interview via Skype or phone may be requested, as well. This is why many international students opt to begin their studies at a smaller, less pressure American college. At a smaller college with fewer international students, they may have as many opportunities for language and cultural immersion as they would at an elite institution, but they will have the more relaxed challenge of improving their English skills via one-on-one interaction with their professors. In addition, I want to make sure you know the following: If you do opt to begin your studies at a small college, make sure they have adequate academic and social support programs for their international students. Many American colleges are beginning to actively recruit international students, but they do not have the infrastructure and student life programs to support you in a strange new culture. It is important that wherever you decide to attend college in the U.S., make sure they don’t just want your money: They want YOU, and they care enough about you to take care of your needs once you arrive on campus.
Dr. Bruce NeimeyerCEO/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

How are international students evaluated?

Just as any other student, your academic credentials are always the first and most important piece of your application. Colleges want to know that you can handle the level of academic and the pace that it is delivered at their institution. You course selection, grades for each course and its relevance to the major you are seeking as well as the trend of your grades are major considerations. In addition, as an international student to the US they will assess your English skills via standardized exams such as the TOEFL. If you meet their standards on this level you have passed the largest hurdle to gaining admissions. Keep in mind that many schools will evaluate your transcript vary differently. Some have experts within their college who can do this. Other schools require you to have it translated and evaluated by and organization such as the World Educational Services (WES). It is always a good idea to understand what the process will be for you as it always takes longer for this process to happen. Therefore, careful and early planning is necessary if you are going to give yourself sufficient time to meet the deadlines.

Patricia KrahnkePresident/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

How are international students evaluated?

Short Answer:

International students are evaluated the same way American students are evaluated: by the strength of their academic record and test scores. Detailed Answer: Most major colleges and universities have individuals in the admissions office who are experts at analyzing international transcripts and test scores – whether it’s TOEFL or IELTS, or O-Levels, etc. We have a saying here: The best predictor of success is past success. This means that if you did well on your academics before, you will probably do well in the future. So we look to see past academic success. What admissions counselors often see are students who present very strong math scores on tests, but their English language skills are weak. Students whose academic work is strong and who present strong scores on the TOEFL will be considered good candidates for admission. However, an increasing topic of concern at colleges is the difficulty that international students have with verbal communication –in other words, they often don’t understand what is being communicated in the classroom by the professor. The professor may use idiomatic expressions that are unknown to international students, or speak too quickly, or their fellow students may communicate in a shorthand manner of speaking that is mystifying. This is something that the IELTS evaluates, and why these scores are sometimes requested. An interview via Skype or phone may be requested, as well. This is why many international students opt to begin their studies at a smaller, less pressure American college. At a smaller college with fewer international students, they may have as many opportunities for language and cultural immersion as they would at an elite institution, but they will have the more relaxed challenge of improving their English skills via one-on-one interaction with their professors. In addition, I want to make sure you know the following: If you do opt to begin your studies at a small college, make sure they have adequate academic and social support programs for their international students. Many American colleges are beginning to actively recruit international students, but they do not have the infrastructure and student life programs to support you in a strange new culture. It is important that wherever you decide to attend college in the U.S., make sure they don’t just want your money: They want YOU, and they care enough about you to take care of your needs once you arrive on campus.
Sarah ContomichalosManagerEducational Advisory Services, LLC

How are international students evaluated?

At many colleges, international students are evaluated using the same criteria as domestic students. The major difference is that financial aid for international students is often much more limited. Many colleges required that international students submit the certification of finances along with their application. In addition to the standard testing requirements for all students, international students are often required to submit the TOEFL.

Karen Ekman-BaurDirector of College CounselingLeysin American School

Evaluation of International Students

In general, international students are evaluated by the same standards as domestic students, but having said that, there are clearly differences that could make an international student stand out. Many schools are interested in increasing their international populations, thus supporting their developing awareness of the importance of global interactions. The experiences that an international student has had, if well presented, could catch the eye of the evaluator. A school might also be interested in diversifying its international population, so if the student comes from a country which is not already strongly represented on the campus, that could make him/her a “person of interest”.

With regard to standardized testing, approaches vary. Some institutions no longer require the SAT or ACT from any of their applicants, domestic or international; some schools have adjusted expectations for the test results of international students; and some institutions require international students to meet the same standardized test score expectations as domestic students. Exact information about test requirements can be found on the institution’s website. If you then need further clarification, you could contact the admissions offices of the schools in which you are interested. Depending on the international student’s native language and the language in which the student received his/her high school education, TOEFL or IELTS scores might be required as verification of English language proficiency. Information about specific requirements can also be found on the institutional websites. A final note: Be sure to check the financial aid policies for the schools in which you are interested. Policies vary from institution to institution, and while some have generous aid offers for international students – usually in the form of merit-based aid, there is little to no need-based aid available. A small number of schools, however, do say that they will meet the financial need of every student who is admitted, BUT their concept of your financial need may differ from your own. Because there is usually little need-based aid available to international students, admission could be adversely affected if an institution does not feel that it can meet a student’s financial aid requirements. In other words, a student could be denied admission if the school cannot provide the needed financial support. Look into whether admission at a given institution is “need-blind”, meaning that they do not consider how much financial need a student may have before admitting him/her, or “need-aware”, which means that they consider how much financial support a student might need from the institution before extending an admission offer.
Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

How are international students evaluated?

With more scrutiny than ordinary students, but they are often multi-lingual, very well traveled and have much to add to the diversity of the student population. Colleges also verify that they can afford to pay w/$0 in financial aid.

Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

How are international students evaluated?

With more scrutiny than ordinary students, but they are often multi-lingual, very well traveled and have much to add to the diversity of the student population.