Applying to US Colleges as an Expat

While expat students are not considered international, there are a few additional factors to take into consideration as you apply. Below are a few tips to help you submit successful applications as an expat.

High School Curriculum and Grades

If you attend a non-American school, you need to be sure that the college understands your grading scale and curriculum. If your transcripts are not in English, you will need an English translation from a reputable or official translator (requirements vary by school). It is recommended to include a key to the grading scale with your translation. Typically, admissions offices have staff which are familiar with the various international curricula, but even if they aren’t, most will review the student’s application holistically without full grade and course conversions.

Your high school counselor or another school official can also prepare a school profile which is a great resource to provide colleges with an overview of the school. It typically includes information about the curriculum, graduation requirements, exams, grading system, demographics and class sizes, and any other important information that would help give general context of the school. This profile can be shared with all colleges the student applies to and should be written in English.

Proof of English Proficiency

Even if a student has a US passport, if English is not their native language or the language of the school they have attended, they will need to provide proof of proficiency. These requirements vary by college, but typically one of the standard tests such as TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS will be necessary. Students should familiarize themselves with the format of the test and do a bit of practice even if they are proficient in English. Luckily, these tests can be taken online at home. Although it may seem unnecessary, some schools require an English proficienty test even from expats attending English speaking schools. It is best to plan on taking one of the tests well before you apply to avoid last minute surprises!

Testing

Although testing is currently optional for admission to many colleges, getting a good score can still help you and give colleges another way to evaluate you, especially if you are attending a high school with a curriculum less familiar to them. Many international high schools offer the PSAT and SAT and/or ACT. If you attend a school which does not offer the tests or dates which fit your schedule, you will need to look elsewhere. This will take planning ahead as the locations and test dates vary and you should register for your spot early. Search the College Board website for upcoming SAT dates and locations near you and the ACT website for ACT dates and locations. Note that the ACT is only offered digitally at international testing locations while it is still available in paper format in the US. The SAT has gone digital everywhere.

Timeline

It is important for students to begin their application process early. In contrast to many colleges abroad, US colleges have application deadlines as early as November of the student’s senior year. Students should take the time to familiarize themselves with the requirements for each of the schools they are interested in applying to well before then. Also, students who will need standardized testing should plan well in advance to give themselves time to register for the tests, prepare well and possibly retake them. Visiting colleges in the US from abroad may not be possible during the school year, so families should plan these in to their summer and longer breaks if possible. The college planning process should really begin by 10th grade at the latest so that students have time to explore their options and prepare well.  

Check out the other posts in our expat series for more tips regarding financial aid and application status for American expats applying to US colleges.

Test Optional: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?

In the ever-evolving landscape of college admissions, one question continues to perplex students, parents AND counselors: Should students take the SAT? Last summer, more than 1900 colleges were test optional, test-free or test-blind. In 2024, we have already seen several selective universities, including MIT, Cornell, Yale and Brown announce that they will once again require test scores of some sort (each policy is frustratingly different or vague) for the next application year. Many others have stated they will not go back to requiring test scores yet, if ever, but there is still the potential for more colleges to return to requiring test scores. Frustratingly, it is difficult to understand how the test-optional schools are using test scores and what the effects of submitting or not submitting scores have on applications. So, should students still take a test? The answer depends on various factors, including individual circumstances, college preferences, and future academic goals. Unfortunately, the answer is not as straightforward as it once was.

First and foremost, students should assess the requirements and preferences of the colleges to which they plan to apply. Many colleges have published data on what % of past accepted students submitted test scores and what the average test scores were. Is the university accepting more students who submit test scores than not? Looking at recent data, it is clear that many selective universities are accepting students who submitted test scores at a higher rate than those who did not. At some schools such as GA Tech and Emory, the early acceptance rate of students who submitted test scores this year was double that of students who did not. Students should research the admissions policies and data of the schools on their list. Also, take into consideration that these policies seem to be changing a lot right now, it may be safest to plan on testing if you are aiming at highly selective universities.

Another factor to take into consideration is if SAT or ACT scores are required to be eligible for certain scholarships. For example, students applying for Florida Bright Futures or Louisiana’s TOPS award are required to have certain SAT and ACT scores to be eligible for the state scholarship. Some universities also have generous merit scholarships when students have a combination of a certain GPA and test scores such as the University of Mississippi and Texas Tech. If obtaining a merit scholarship is of great importance to you, focusing on getting a high SAT or ACT score could be helpful.

Furthermore, students should consider their own academic strengths and weaknesses. For some students, standardized tests like the SAT provide an opportunity to showcase their abilities and distinguish themselves from other applicants. Some students may be lacking in other areas of their application and the test score could be a highlight. On the other hand, students who struggle with standardized testing or do not score well may find that their talents are better reflected in other aspects of their application, such as grades, extracurricular activities, and essays.

Additionally, students should weigh the potential benefits of taking a test against the challenges and stress associated with preparing for and taking the exam. While a high SAT score can bolster an application, it's essential to consider whether the time and resources invested in test preparation could be better spent on other endeavors, such as pursuing academic interests, engaging in community service, or cultivating leadership skills. When making testing plans, I discuss how much time is realistic for my students to prepare for the tests and how they truly feel about testing before we schedule future SAT or ACT sittings. If I find that a student does not have time or will not dedicate the time to truly prepare for the tests, then it is not worth taking the test multiple times.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to test is a highly personal one, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. While standardized testing remains a significant factor in the college admissions process for many students, its importance is evolving in light of changing policies and perspectives. By carefully weighing the pros and cons and considering their unique circumstances, students can make informed decisions that align with their goals. So, to SAT or not to SAT? There is no simple answer. At ACM, we help students weigh the pros and cons of testing and map out a testing plan to meet their goals.

Digital SAT Tips

The digital SAT has debuted internationally and will most likely remain the only form available for international students from now on. Many are a bit apprehensive after witnessing CollegeBoard’s struggles with digital AP exams in recent years, but so far the feedback has been mostly positive.

Here is a quick breakdown of the primary differences between the two test formats:

WHERE and WHEN:

The test is still required to be taken at a school or official test center. However, the possibility of more test dates and flexibility in test centers scheduling them may make it easier for students to find a test date that fits their schedule and location. For international students, this could make a big difference as their previous test dates and locations were more limited. Students will register for the test on the CollegeBoard site as they did previously, however the new schedule for Fall/Winter 2023-24 has not been released yet. Students who have signed up for the Spring/Summer dates at international sites will already have the digital format. The digital format will be implemented in the US starting Fall 2023 for PSAT and Spring 2024 for SAT.

COMPUTERS and CALCULATORS:

Students can bring their own tablets or laptops or they can use those provided at the test site. It is beneficial for the student to bring their own device as they will be more familiar with it and provided laptops are limited. Graphing calculators will also be built in to the test, so students who feel comfortable using those can leave their own at home. The Desmos calculator which is built in is a great tool for students who are familiar with it, but if they are not, it is recommended to bring their own. Students will still be provided scratch paper and can use a pen/pencil to work on solutions as needed.

Before test day, students need to download the Bluebook App to their testing device. They should make sure it is sucessfully installed and familiarize themselves with it.

VERBAL SECTION:

The verbal section of the SAT will now have much shorter passages, mostly just a few sentences, as they are limited to how much text will fit on a computer screen. Students will only answer a single question about a short passage and then move on to another entirely different one. It would be beneficial to do some practice questions to get used to the format.

ADAPTIVE TESTING:

A major change with the digital SAT is the new adaptive testing model. Now, students will face different sets of questions based on the accuracy of how they answered the first module of each section. There are two possible levels of questions the students will receive and the highest score possible on the SAT will be different based on which level of questions they get. You can read more about this model here. Don’t be alarmed, it is not a sudden switch to much more difficult questions if you get the higher level for your second module. There is still a balance in the difficulty of the questions. The test prep experts at Applerouth who have seen more of the new test have assured me that students actually have to get a lot of incorrect answers to get the ‘lower’ level of questions. It also shouldn’t be looked at as a disadvantage. Instead of having these students struggle and lose time with harder questions, they are able to focus their energy on questions more appropriate for their level. Everyone gets to take a shorter test and spend more time on each question with this new model.

NEW TOOLS:

There are a few tools available within the digital format that can definitely help students. Students could practice making use of these tools to test more efficiently. My favorite two are:

Answer Eliminator – a tool to eliminate answers students deem as incorrect from view so they can focus on the remaining answers

Question Flag – students can now flag questions within a section for further review later.

TEST PREP:

As the new format has not been out long, most test prep companies have not done a lot of updating to their materials. When searching for a test prep company, I definitely recommend asking them how they have adapted their materials. Many of the tutors and companies do not have experience with the new test or access to materials to prepare students for the digital SAT. However, the official CollegeBoard site now has digital SAT prep materials available for free. Also, Applerouth has done a great job of getting materials ready for digital SAT prep.

The international ACT has been digital for years and as with the paper format, it is much different than the SAT. Students should consider taking a practice test for both the ACT and SAT to decide which test is the best for them.

The new Digital SAT

Big news in the college admissions world recently was that the SAT will be moving to 100% digital testing in the future. They will begin with it internationally in Spring 2023 then continue with the Fall 2023 PSAT both in the US and abroad; by Spring 2024 it will be digital in all locations for both PSAT and SAT.

The test is still required to be taken at a school or official test center. However, the possibility of more test dates and flexibility in test centers scheduling them may make it easier for students to find a test date that fits their schedule and location. For international students, this could make a big difference as their previous test dates and locations were more limited.

Students can bring their own tablets or laptops or they can use those provided at the test site. Graphing calculators will also be built in to the test, so students who feel comfortable using those can leave their own at home. Students will still be provided scratch paper and can use a pen/pencil to work on solutions as needed.

A major difference to be discussed is the difference in the questions students will get. Gone are the days when test centers will be mailed packages of the same test for one test date. Now, students will face different sets of questions based on the accuracy of how they answered previous sections. This will help eliminate the possibility of the hard copy tests being compromised and students copying answers from their neighbors, but the security of the digital versions will also surely be an issue. It will be interesting for us outsiders to see how the tests are scored and scaled when students take different levels of difficulty.

Current 9th graders may not want to take the PSAT 10 in 2023 as it will still be on paper and they would then be taking the digital version of the PSAT/SAT the following Fall 2023. College Board has announced prep materials for the new digital SAT will be available via their Khan Academy Fall 2022. We will see how soon other test prep companies adapt to the changes and offer new prep materials.

With more than 75% of colleges and universities in the US currently test-optional or test-blind, it will be interesting to see how students and colleges adapt to these changes.

 Additional Resources

https://newsroom.collegeboard.org/digital-sat-brings-student-friendly-changes-test-experience

https://www.compassprep.com/digital_sat/

College Planning for Juniors

If you have not already begun, it is time to get started! Juniors who begin planning for college now will give themselves a few extra months to prepare quality applications and find better fit schools. Unfortunately, many students delay planning until the summer before senior year and end up squeezing months of work into just a few weeks before they submit their applications which are often sub-par. Here are a few things to work on over the next few months to help you prepare to apply for college before you begin senior year.

COLLEGE SEARCH

Begin researching colleges online and thinking about the qualities you want your future school to have. Often, students do not know what they want until they actually set foot on a few campuses. Planning now allows you plenty of time to do some visits this Spring while the semester is in full swing and you can get a feel for student life on campus. Use your breaks and weekends to do some campus visits. If you can not visit, do your best to research online and connect with past or current students to get more information.

RESUME BUILDING

Take the time to truly write down everything you have done throughout high school. Include activities both in- and outside of school as well as jobs, hobbies and awards. Write quality descriptions of the activities and your role in the organizations. Doing this now will give you a better picture of what may be missing. While it is not a good idea to suddenly add lots of new activities or clubs, you still have time to increase your involvement in what you currently do and add things which complement it. Writing your resume now will also make the process of completing your application later much simpler.

TESTING

If you begin preparing now, you have months to prepare for the Spring and Summer SAT and/or ACT test dates. You should allow yourself 4-6 weeks to prepare for the tests and by taking them earlier, you will have time to get your scores, work on your areas of weakness and retake them before you have to submit your applications. Also, taking these tests early will give you an idea of where you stand and what level of schools you should consider your targets, safeties and reaches. Students who end up taking their tests in the Fall of senior year face the added stress of having to worry about getting the new scores added to their applications and making sure they arrive in time to be considered.

ESSAYS

The Common Application recently announced that their essay prompts for the 2020-21 application year will remain unchanged from the past year. This means you have plenty of time to brainstorm and write your best essay. Schools which require other essays may not announce them until later in the summer, but you can get this one out of the way early and often times it can be re-used for schools which do not use the Common Application. Take the time to write several drafts and review for grammar and content improvements.

CAREER EXPLORATION

A very important part of college planning is figuring out what you want to study. While you may change your mind several times throughout the next few years, you can do some exploration now to get on the right path. Organize job shadows, internships and/or summer exploration programs to help you dig a little deeper into potential careers and college majors. Do not be afraid to ask family and connections for help with organizing these opportunities. Even if it is only for a few hours or days, that may be all that’s needed to help you eliminate or solidify your interest in something.