Applying to United States Schools: Application Material

The following materials will be requested when you apply to universities in the US: 

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 
  • This exam tests a foreign students’ ability to read, write, speak, and listen to English. 
  • You might not need TOEFL for some schools in the US, as sometimes the SAT/ACT is sufficient evidence of English comprehension. If you’re short on time, you might want to check the international guidelines of the schools you’re interested in. 
  • The exam is scored from 0 to 120, with 60 being a minimum acceptable score to go to school in the US and 100 being a minimum for more prestigious schools. 
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)/American College Testing (ACT): 
  • These exams test a student’s basic educational skills in reading comprehension, writing/grammar, and math.  
  • Both the SAT and ACT are accepted in the US, but you might only take one. The only difference is that the ACT has a scientific skills section. Some people find it easiest to take both and see which one they do best on. You can take both of them as many times as you want until you get a score you like, without disclosing your lower scores.
  • The SAT is scored from 400 to 1600. A sufficient score for a basic state university is 1000-1200. A sufficient score for stricter, private universities is around 1200-1400. The score you need to attend the most prestigious schools is somewhere between 1400-1600 depending on the school. Having a low score doesn’t disqualify you from getting into a school, but having a high score helps. 
  • The ACT is scored from 1 to 36. The average score is a 21. Anywhere between 21 and 24 puts you in great shape to attend a basic state university. A 25-30 is good for that next level of stricter, private universities. Anything above 31 puts you in a position to attend the most prestigious schools. 
  • The essay portions of the exams usually aren’t required, but check the requirements of the schools you’re interested in to make sure.
    
• A credential evaluation and translation: Check the guidelines of the universities you’re interested in, but usually any reputable credit evaluation service is acceptable.  
  • The credential evaluation consists of staff comparing your local transcript and credits to those in America in order to assure the American school that you’re at a reasonable level in your education to begin college.
    
• Letter of recommendation(s): A document provided by a colleague, mentor, employer, coach, or other person in your life whom you have a good relationship, not including personal friends and family. The number of letters required is usually two, but can vary depending on the school’s individual guidelines.
• A list of extracurricular activities that you’ve taken part in