FAQ about TOEFL, SAT 1 , SAT 2 and US University Application

[koln_auhc]

This topic is meant to provide simple answers to people who have questions about TOEFL, SAT 1 , SAT 2 and US universities in particular.

US UNIVERSITIES

1.Types of Universities in USA

A.Public Universities


-University of California

-University of Michigan

-University of Virginia


B.Private Univeristies


-Ivy League Universities

-Massachusetts Institute of Technology

-Stanford University

-Duke University

-California Institute of Technology

-University of Chicago

-The John Hopkins University

For a view of the university rankings of public and private universities, please visit here (http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php)

C.Liberal Arts Colleges

Brief Introduction of A liberal arts college
It is an institution of higher education offering programs in the liberal arts at the post-secondary level.(liberal arts refers to both the sciences and arts)

Generally, liberal arts colleges are small and thus have smaller class sizes and enrollment than universities. They usually offer a liberal arts curriculum. Liberal arts colleges focus primarily on tertiary education, and tend to emphasize interactive instruction rather than research. Full-time professors teach almost all courses, rather than graduate student teaching assistants.

Generally, a full-time, four-year course of study at a liberal arts college leads students to a bachelor's degree. Several colleges offer postgraduate programs; however, their postgraduate enrollments remain small compared to their undergraduate enrollments and to postgraduate enrollments at research universities.

Liberal arts colleges are often private institutions, although a number of state-supported institutions also operate on liberal arts college models. The private dominance is particularly pronounced among the leading liberal arts collges:

-Smith College

-Williams College

-Swarthmore College

-Wellesley College

-Middlebury College

Quoted from wikipedia.org

A list of rankings for the liberal arts colleges can be found here (http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1libartco_brief.php)

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2.Admission Policy

Early decision
Early decision plans allow you to apply early (usually in November) and get an admissions decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date. But there is a catch. Early decision plans are binding, meaning if you apply as an early decision candidate, you agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for early decision, you may apply to other colleges through the regular admissions process. If you're accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications. Usually, colleges insist on a nonrefundable deposit well before May 1.

Early Action
Early action plans are similar to early decision plans in that you can learn early in the admission cycle (usually in January or February) whether a college has accepted you. But unlike early decision, most early action plans are not binding, meaning you do not have to commit to a college to which you've applied for early action. Under these plans, you may apply to other colleges. Usually, you can let the college know of your decision in the late spring or whenever you've decided.


Single-Choice Early Action
Some colleges have begun offering a new admissions option called single-choice early action. This plan works the same way as other early action plans, but with single-choice, candidates may not apply early (either early action or early decision) to any other school.


You can still apply to other schools regular decision and are not required to give your final answer of acceptance until the regular decision deadline. This allows you to compare offers of financial aid in the spring before making a commitment.



Quoted directly from Collegeboard.com

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3.Financial Aid/Scholarships

Most public universities in the US do not provide financial aid. On the other hand, most private universities in US do provide financial aid or scholarships. These private universities have different policies when it comes to admssion of international applicants who apply for financial aid.These are:

A.Need-Blind Admission
Currently, there are only 6 schools which practice these policy. There are Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Williams and Middlebury. Your chance of admission to these schools will not be jeopardized if you apply for financial aid and these schools will provide sufficient financial aid for you to attend the school.


B.Admission Blind
Application to certain schools are independent of your need for financial aid. This include Cornell University.Cornell can admit you without providing you any financial award even though you have indicated that you need financial aid to attend.


C.Need Aware Admission
Your application to certain universities will have a lower chance if you apply for financial aid. These include Stanford and Upenn.

D.Rolling Admissions
It is an admission policy where no specific deadline is fixed. Under rolling admissions, applications are reviewed as they come in until all spots are filled.

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3.Application Procedure


Each university in the USA has its own requirements for undergraduate application. Please check the universities you intend to apply to confirm the documents and information they require.

The Standard Requirement in the USA are
-Personal Information
-Academic qualifications and achievements
-Co-curricular activities
-Essays required
-Teacher recommendations (normally 2)
-Standardized test scores ( e.g. SAT 1 , SAT 2 , TOEFL )
-counselor report

In some cases, the universities can provide interviews through the local alumni associations.

Application dates differ depending on whether you are applying for Early decision or Regular decision. Both applications start in early October. However, Early decision normally ends by early November while Regular decision normally ends by early January of the following year.


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4.Frequently Asked Questions

1.Can I send my teacher recommendations and my school counselor report together instead of sending them seperately?
You can do that provided that each individual envelope is sealed before being sent in bulk.

2.What if my essays exceed the word limit? Would the admission officer count every single word?
Since there will be hundreds if not thousands of essays coming in, admission officers won't possibly be counting all of them. However, after reading many essays, they would probably have a good idea of the ideal length of an essay.Essays should be edited if possible to fit into the word limit.

3.The common application ask me what would be my possible major and career path, would it affect my application if I am not sure ?
Yes and no. Some admission officers do take note of the choice when looking through your whole application(essays, recommendations). In other cases, admission officers ignore this choice.

4.Should I waive my right to the recommendation letters? Would it affect my application?
You probably should waive your right to these letters. Some teachers feel more at ease, not because they want to write bad stuff about you. Sometimes, it is more about privacy. Anyway, since most people waive the right, it won't really hurt if you follow everybody else.

5.How heavy does the SAT weight in the overall application?
Your application is made up of the SAT, essays, academic scores, co-curricular records, teacher recommendation, alumni interview and counselor report. A high SAT score can make your application even better.However, if you only have a high SAT score but mediocre academic scores and so on, you would be significantly disadvantaged compared to one who has an average SAT score but good recommendations and so on. The conclusion is that the SAT plays a part in your application. As to what percentage it occupies, it really depends on the quality of the whole application pool.

6.Should I send in my application as soon as possible?
If you send your application in before the deadline it will not be read sooner, you will not receive your decision sooner, and you will not be more likely to get in.

Just a view of what would happen to your application.When applications reach the admissions office, it takes a small army of people to open all that mail (or print out all the electronic submissions), sort it, file it, respond to all those little postcards people put in to confirm their applications were received, enter the data into the computer database, make folders containing the application with color coded stickers with your name/region/home state identifiers, then organize the folders according to admissions reader (usually based on geography) and present this final product in a uniform, readable manner so that the admissions officer can start reading applications.

quoted directly from http://gettingin.wordpress.com

7.Besides my pre-university and upper secondary academic results, should I send my lower secondary results?
This totally depends on you. Giving the lower secondary school results can give the admission officers a good view of your consistent work. In other cases, you may just appear to be too eager to show your academic results. In the end, it's your call.

8.Which university or college should I apply to? Should I just focus on the Ivy League Universities?
This question can be answered in many ways.First of all, ask yourself whether you really want to go to the states for studies or is it just one of your choices other than UK,Singapore or Malaysia.If you really intend to go to the states, one of the methods you can use is to choose 3 groups of universities to apply. One group would be universities that you know you would surely get into. The other two groups would be universities that you have a realistic chance of getting in and some chance of getting in. Others would prefer to choose a list of universities that are good in one major and apply to those universities.

Do take into consideration your needs:
-weather
-lifestyle
-rural/urban setting
-academic style
-requirements
-strong departments
-fellow Malaysians
-reputation
-location
-student body
-athletics

9.I am from a government high school and my school doesn't have a school counselor, who should I approach to fill in the secondary school report?
Most recomers who faced such circumstances normally approached their principal or vice-principal for help.

10.The Advance Placement (AP) test is available to me. Should I take it?
If you are taking STPM, A-Level or IB, you probably need not take it as these pre-university courses are considered sufficient for admission. If you intend to apply after SPM, it is highly recommended to take the AP tests.

11.I just finished SPM can I apply to US universities?
In most cases, you can. You would still need to take the SAT 1 , SAT 2 and TOEFL. Please check the respective university websites to find out the minimum academic qualification. The University of California system only allow STPM or A level standard pre-university courses.

12.What is the difference between college and university?
The two mentioned above are interchangeable terms. Universities and Colleges teach undergraduate studies and function pretty much in the same manner. Graduates from both institutes receive bachelor degrees.

13. When should I apply for financial aid?
Ideally, this should be done while you are preparing your admission documents (Recommendation letters, Essays, and so on).The reason being that these forms require quite an effort to fill in as it involves taxes, property, income and so on.Most of the time, you would need to download 2 forms and filled them up. They are the International Student Financial Aid Application and International Student Certification of Finance Form. The International Student Certification of Finance Form requires a banker to certify the amount of money in a bank account that will be used to pay for your undergraduate education.

Note that some universities require financial aid forms from their own universities.

14.How should I ask for waiver from a particular university?
This depends on the university in which you are applying to. Some universities allow you to
ask for waiver while applying online to their universities. In other cases, you are required to submit a written paper application to apply for waiver. Check the university websites to have a clear idea of the correct procedure to apply.

15.Can I refuse to go to my Early Decision school?
Basically, no. If you back out of an ED commitment, you will be blacklisted from other schools as soon as they find out. Universities take ED violations very much to heart.The only way you can turn down a university is if it doesn't offer sufficient financial aid for you to attend it. ALERT: THERE IS A CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR'S POLICY HERE. If you need financial assistance in order to finish your course of study, you need to request financial aid with your ED application. We were not aware of how much this bothered universities last year, but we now know that they see it as insincere to send an ED application while saying that you will only attend if you get a scholarship. The reason is that ED is understood as a whole-hearted promise that you really want to attend and are trying to give the university every opportunity to help you attend. If you do receive the scholarship later, you can immediately withdraw your request for financial aid at the universities where it will reduce your chances of admission.

Quoted directly from RJC US application website.

16. Can I apply to courses such as Medicine or Law for undergraduate studies?
No, Medicine, Law, MBAs are considered as graduate courses. You are required to finish a basic undergraduate degree with necessary course taken before applying to these courses.


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SAT 1 and SAT 2

General Information regarding SAT 1
The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems?skills you learned in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors.Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200?800, with two writing subscores for multiple-choice and the essay. It is administered seven times a year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a year overseas.




General Information regarding SAT 2
Subject Tests (formerly SAT II: Subject Tests) are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge.Students take the Subject Tests to demonstrate to colleges their mastery of specific subjects like English, history, mathematics, science, and language. The tests are independent of any particular textbook or method of instruction. The tests' content evolves to reflect current trends in high school curricula, but the types of questions change little from year to year.Many colleges use the Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Used in combination with other background information (your high school record, scores from other tests like the SAT Reasoning Test, teacher recommendations, etc.), they provide a dependable measure of your academic achievement and are a good predictor of future performance.Some colleges specify the Subject Tests they require for admission or placement; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take.





Both sections are quoted directly from Collegeboard.com

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Test Dates
The SAT is tested on the following months outside USA, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories:

January
May
June
October
November
December

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Registration
To register for the SAT 1 and SAT 2 , you would need to register at collegeboard (http://collegeboard.com)

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Frequently Asked Questions

1.I am taking STPM/A-Level now, do I need to take SAT 2?
You would still have to take SAT 2 unless the college you are applying to specifically tells you that SAT 2 is not compulsory.

2.How many SAT 2 subjects should I take?
This depends on the university you are applying to. Most universities require only 2. Some universities require 3.

3.Which subject should I take?
This depends on what course you intend to take in University. If you intend to apply to an engineering or business school, schools will advise you to take Math with Chemistry or Physics being the addition if you are applying to an engineering school.

4.What is the difference between Maths 1 and Maths 2 ?
The Maths 2 is more difficult than Maths 1.With sufficient knowledge of your STPM/A-Level Syllabus, it should be alright.Certain Universities accept Maths 2 only.

5.Can I take both SAT 1 and SAT 2 at the same test date?
You cannot take the SAT 1 and SAT 2 at the same test date. Both tests take place at the same time.

6.Do I have to send the scores to the college by myself?
No, Collegeboard will send the scores directly to the universities that you have applied to. Your first 4 college recipients are free, any additional college will cost USD 9.50.

7.I am taking 3 SAT 2 subjects for this coming test. What is the order of the subjects?
Basically, you get to choose the order in which you take the test.

8.My SAT scores are not good enough, should I retake?
The best bet is that you should take the SAT again only if you have confidence in getting a higher score.

9.What score should I achieve in the SAT?
Ideally, the higher the better. Other than that, you could see the range of SAT scores of the respective schools to have an idea of whether your scores are safe enough. This link (http://admitspit.wordpress.com/2006/10/24/typical-sat-scores-for-specific-top-schools/) shows the SAT scores of some schools.

For more specific questions regarding the SAT, please visit here (http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/sat/FAQ.html#quest20)

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TOEFL

1.General Information
The Test of English as a Foreign Language? (TOEFL?) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings.The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on a test taker's location.


2.The Internet-based TOEFL Test
The TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The test helps students demonstrate that they have the English skills needed for success.Each section has 30 marks with the highest score being 30 for each section. Maximum score is 120. Only the TOEFL iBT test is offered in Malaysia. Registration is through ETS (http://ets.org/toefl). The test dates varies with the test venues. Once you register for TOEFL, it would ask you to fill in the location for the test. Only then would you know which date is available.


Quoted directly from ETS TOEFL website.

A.Writing part
You would have to write two essays. One of them is to write a summary of the information provided to you and the other is to write your response to a question posed to you. The two tasks are rated from 0 to 5, and the average of these scores is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30.Human scorers rate the responses.

Scorers evaluate the integrated writing task on the overall quality of the writing (development, organization, appropriate and precise use of grammar and vocabulary) and the completeness and accuracy of the content. Scorers rate the independent writing essay on the overall quality of the writing:
o Development
o Organization
o Appropriate and precise use of grammar and vocabulary.

B.Reading part
This test is similar to the critical reading section of the SAT. However , it is much easier compared to the SAT.

C.Listening part
You would have to listen to a few conversations and answer them based on the conversations. It is advisable to write down the key points of the conversations so that answering it would be easier.

D.Speaking part
You would be asked to give your comment on an issue or present the ideas given in a recorded conversation.Each of the six tasks is rated from 0 to 4, and the average of these scores is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30.Human scorers rate the responses. They evaluate the test-taker's ability in topic development, delivery, and language use.

3.Exemption from TOEFL Test
If you have been attending an English-medium school for at least 2 years and have achieved a decent SAT 1 score, you can apply to the individual universities for exemption from taking the TOEFL. There is no gurantee that the universities would allow such exemptions. Please take the initiative to ask the universities you are applying to.

4.Important Information
If you intend to take the TOEFL, please register as early as possible as the test venues have limited places unlike the SAT 1 and SAT 2. The deliver of the test score by ETS is also not as fast as Collegeboard. Your scores may not arrive on time for admission consideration. In most cases, you should register about 2 to 3 months before taking the test.

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These information can only be useful if you read it. Please pm me if you feel that more relevant or accurate information should be inserted. Would appreciate it if you don't post more posts here :D because I don't want this page to move on to the second page and , hence, this page be ignored and , therefore, make this thread redundant yet again.

Yours truly is also a fellow American reject.Read this at your own risk. Muahahaha

PM me if you have any queries unanswered in this page.

This site http://recom.pbwiki.com/ReCom-Sitemap has been created to provide more information on secondary, pre-university and tertiary education. Please feel free to update it.

Please ask permission before proceeding to copy my works. This work of mine is copyrighted.

[blackkirin]

nice, nice, thorough research..

[Tasslehoff]

California Institute of Technology is known as CalTech rather than CIT

[eslite]

The Ivies' decision will be released on 29th March this year. :)

[sweetiojj]

can i know where can i get tuition or help to study SAT...or IELTS? i mean in malaysia escpecaially in northern part of malaysia..

[Tasslehoff]

IELTS... look for some language center there..

SAT? erm i've no idea.. maybe Princeton Review (the guy that got into princeton ed did this) .. but thats in KL

or get yourself a scholarship and go to INTEC and go to the SAT / TOEFL classes... XD

otherwise, just study for it yourself.. just like the rest of us

[JetLee0510]

This topic is meant to provide simple answers to people who have questions about TOEFL, SAT 1 , SAT 2 and US universities in particular. . .

thanks reli useful...
mayb I will sit for it... can I sit for it repeatedly? ( so I can try again if my result is nt good enuf ? ... but juz realize d fees r nt cheap... )

[andrewlza]

This topic is meant to provide simple answers to people who have questions about TOEFL, SAT 1 , SAT 2 and US universities in particular. . .

thanks reli useful...
mayb I will sit for it... can I sit for it repeatedly? ( so I can try again if my result is nt good enuf ? ... but juz realize d fees r nt cheap... )

yes.

[JetLee0510]

This topic is meant to provide simple answers to people who have questions about TOEFL, SAT 1 , SAT 2 and US universities in particular. . .

thanks reli useful...
mayb I will sit for it... can I sit for it repeatedly? ( so I can try again if my result is nt good enuf ? ... but juz realize d fees r nt cheap... )

yes.

so I can sit for it repeatedly... thanks. :)

[exec]

Why isn't there a faq on the ACT test?

[koln_auhc]

Dude, I didn't take the ACT. :?

PM Andrewlza, he took ACT and scored well.

PM me if you have questions or suggestions or post it in the US Uni application tips.

That would be greatly appreciated.

[JetLee0510]

Dude, I didn't take the ACT. :?

PM Andrewlza, he took ACT and scored well.

PM me if you have questions or suggestions or post it in the US Uni application tips.

That would be greatly appreciated.

koln wat r u doin now ?

[Lils88]

ne1 has used SAT2 books?
Toefl: a must a?

[JetLee0510]

Any tests among Sat, Toefl, IELTs, etc.. I need to sit for if I go for German Engineering under JPA?

[koln_auhc]

Please PM me if you have any concerns or Post it in relevant threads e.g. US Universities application thread, JPA, or whatever

Thanks

[JetLee0510]

Please PM me if you have any concerns or Post it in relevant threads e.g. US Universities application thread, JPA, or whatever

Thanks okie.. u r really kind.

[koln_auhc]

As much as I would appreciate it, You probably didn't read my first posts and proceeded to ask more questions which probably fulfilled the prophecy I stated in my first post.

Now, go on and chat around here. It's your own freedom anyway.

[JetLee0510]

As much as I would appreciate it, You probably didn't read my first posts and proceeded to ask more questions which probably fulfilled the prophecy I stated in my first post.

Now, go on and chat around here. It's your own freedom anyway. u being sarcastic, dun u ?

[akirasama89]

I was just wondering... if it was possible for people taking Matriks or Asasi Sains or something be able to do it?

Basically what someone is supposed to have are testimonials and SATs results and TEOFL results...

Right?

(Seems like a superhuman effort... XP)

[akirasama89]

I was just wondering... if it was possible for people taking Matriks or Asasi Sains or something be able to do it?

Basically what someone is supposed to have are testimonials and SATs results and TEOFL results...

Right?

(Seems like a superhuman effort... XP)

[elizabeth]

So complicated geh? JPA offered me US, to study Biotech. Can anyone enlighten me about what's going to happen next? the letter haven't reached yet...

[galfera]

do we need to be active in co-curricular activities to gain admission to US unis? does it means i have to be athletic? if that's the case, say goodbye to US unis 4 me.... :cry: :cry: :cry:

[jonnyl]

OMG I've been absent from ReCom for ages! Since I left for Singapore under ASEAN Pre-U Scholarship in Dec 2005! It's good to be back, now that it's less hectic in Singapore now

do we need to be active in co-curricular activities to gain admission to US unis? does it means i have to be athletic? if that's the case, say goodbye to US unis 4 me.... :cry: :cry: :cry:

No, being athletic doesn't guarantee you any admission, and not being athletic also doesn't mean that they won't consider you! Focus on your strengths and try your best! Many of those admitted from ReCom alone have not been athletic, I'm sure, but your application must stand out in your own special way!

Be it dance, physics, mathematics, research, debate, public speaking, scouting (uniform bodies), martial arts, music, there's an avenue for everyone to shine!

[capablanca]

do we need to be active in co-curricular activities to gain admission to US unis? does it means i have to be athletic? if that's the case, say goodbye to US unis 4 me.... :cry: :cry: :cry:

Not at all, this means you just need to be active at one thing. ie music, football... Anything is ok as long as it adds to the diversity of the population of the university. Or so they say...

[lXl]

I was just wondering... if it was possible for people taking Matriks or Asasi Sains or something be able to do it?

Basically what someone is supposed to have are testimonials and SATs results and TEOFL results...

Right?

(Seems like a superhuman effort... XP)

There's no problem for a person taking matriks or Asasi Sains to apply to the States. Its not a superhuman effort, it just need some early planning and committed effort.

[tyty]

where can i get SAT books???

[capablanca]

where can i get SAT books??? Buy it online from Amazon or locally at Borders, MPH, Times or Kinokuniya.

[Hosea]

I've been looking at all the SAT and SAT II books being sold at bookstores. There appear to be 5 main publishers for these books- The Princeton Review, McGraw Hill, Kaplan, Barron's and Thomson. Which is best?

[Appolo]

Princeton Review and Barron's

[Hosea]

Princeton Review and Barron's

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[eruliaf]

Are there any universities in the US that admit students in January/February?

[Alextakashi]

some, like state schools and those have a spring semester. But normally if you are eyeing for scholarship or financial aid, more often than not u will follow the common fall entry.

And my sincere suggestions, DUN BUY SAT BOOKS other than COllege board book, coz my experience is they are utterly nonsense, but good book to improve english. If you are not high on finance, find in college/matriks/INTEC library. Same applies to TOEFL. And I met 3 guys under MARA doing Biotech while doing my VISA, they all chose UC Davis, and some UC Irvine, coz that's the very few school affordable by Malaysia govt and provide good biotech course. (most IVy and top school are liberal art based, meaning u do many many stuff, and not a focused major like biotech. probably you'll major in bio and genetic engineering or something like tat! Cheers)

[zhen]

1. Will the TOEFL speaking section difficult for Malaysian Chinese? Is the narrator talk in American slang or formal English?

2. It's only 25 mins to complete the essay in SAT 1. Wow. Is writing a decent essay for it easy?

I somehow wondering why science subject in SAT II is in objective ...it's rather easy even compare to SPM, at least it got structure questions and essays.

[aquamarine7]

thanks for the info..you've been most helpful:)

[elizabeth]

1. Will the TOEFL speaking section difficult for Malaysian Chinese? Is the narrator talk in American slang or formal English?

2. It's only 25 mins to complete the essay in SAT 1. Wow. Is writing a decent essay for it easy?

I somehow wondering why science subject in SAT II is in objective ...it's rather easy even compare to SPM, at least it got structure questions and essays.

1) Nope. Everything is in standard English. But you have to think on your feet- it's tough even if you are an experienced speaker. My friend got perfect for everything but speaking. go figure. don't worry though, practice and familiarize with time limit, sure no problem in garnering a decent score ( >25)

2) Depends on the individual. And the topic.

3) Easy? Think again. In SPM you can afford to squander a lot of points, have the graph pulled down, and get As.
SAT 2- you flunk means you flunk. full stop. Objective don't always means easier, because if you have two close answers you are not particularly certain of- you will spend a lot of time pondering, and in the end lose marks.
just like me.
so study properly...

good luck. i bet my reply is too late for you, but at least others may be able to benefit.

[jimi7]

hey anyone have second-hand SAT books for sale?
pm me
sat 1 and sat 2 books and notes and practice tests....
hehe....

thanks in advance

[zzz]

I have SAT I books. What publisher do you want?

[lindley]

hm this year when i checked the test dates for SAT, the latest is only in june, not oct/nov/dec. doest it change every year or sth?

btw i think McGraw-Hill books are really good. not only the collegeboard ones
then again, its personal preference LOL

[JiaZheng]

I believe the oct/nov/dec dates are not up yet.

[jimi7]

sat 1 books
collegeboard
barrons

any of them?

[lindley]

oh you mean they'll be up later? the dates i mean
cos i need to take it as late as possible

[digital_lifeform]

some, like state schools and those have a spring semester. But normally if you are eyeing for scholarship or financial aid, more often than not u will follow the common fall entry.

And my sincere suggestions, DUN BUY SAT BOOKS other than COllege board book, coz my experience is they are utterly nonsense, but good book to improve english. If you are not high on finance, find in college/matriks/INTEC library. Same applies to TOEFL. And I met 3 guys under MARA doing Biotech while doing my VISA, they all chose UC Davis, and some UC Irvine, coz that's the very few school affordable by Malaysia govt and provide good biotech course. (most IVy and top school are liberal art based, meaning u do many many stuff, and not a focused major like biotech. probably you'll major in bio and genetic engineering or something like tat! Cheers)

I suggest that anyone taking the SAT and SAT2 to buy as many books as they can afford and prepare early so they can read all of them. Since SAT doesn't have fix syllabus or so, it is important to know as much as possible before taking the test. This is especially important for SAT 2. Different SAT books sometimes have one or two topics not covered in others, while every SAT book has their own style of presenting the topics. All of them are very useful. For SAT you should read up all the section no matter how good you think your maths is and regardless whether you think you composition skills are great. Writing an essay in 20 mins is no joke. You may not agree with all the tips given but you can synthesize them to improve your writing ability overall as well as increase you speed and psyche you up for the SAT. Don't turn away from less popular authors and publishers as well. You won't find Learning Express SAT books here but I used them and preferred them over other brands.

[zzz]

I have the big blue collegeboard book and the Princeton Review one.

The dates for the '08 - '09 academic year will definitely be up later. Maybe around May I think.

[brucesharky]

Princeton Review and Barron's

Yep. Their questions are more challenging. But sometimes, Barron's put in too much stuff that's not needed to learn. Like in SAT 2 Math II.

[syamil_1]

hey i have some questions here;

1. I just took my SAT 1 yesterday and just incase my scores arent good enough I plan to retake in October. The thing is, I plan to take SAT II as well and I read somewhere in here you cant take both tests on the same day.

Ill be applying for Fall intake 2009, and I am aware that all application must be made by the end of this year (can someone pls clarify this thanks).

So lets say, I re-take SAT 1 this Oct, and SAT II in Nov, would the results be out in time because I am afraid they might take a long time to release the results when the deadline for universities application is approaching.

2. I understand that I have to include high school academic records in the application, but it is compulsary to include college monthly tests and such? Since Im doing A-levels, is it okay to just include my As results?

Thanks in advance.

[ngai]

hey i have some questions here;

1. I just took my SAT 1 yesterday and just incase my scores arent good enough I plan to retake in October. The thing is, I plan to take SAT II as well and I read somewhere in here you cant take both tests on the same day.

Ill be applying for Fall intake 2009, and I am aware that all application must be made by the end of this year (can someone pls clarify this thanks).

So lets say, I re-take SAT 1 this Oct, and SAT II in Nov, would the results be out in time because I am afraid they might take a long time to release the results when the deadline for universities application is approaching.

2. I understand that I have to include high school academic records in the application, but it is compulsary to include college monthly tests and such? Since Im doing A-levels, is it okay to just include my As results?

Thanks in advance.

Ok. Let me try to address your questions one by one.

1) As far as I know, it is not possible to take both SAT 1 and 2 on the same day as both tests are run at the same time. Besides, when you register online, the options given are always SAT 1 or 2. If you retake the tests by the time line you suggested, the scores should be able to reach the unis on time, depending of course on whether you are opting for EA or RD. If EA, then November will be the last month for sitting. If RD, December is the last month. But for me, I submitted my improved scores for the Jan SAT 1 test to all the schools even though some of them stated that Dec was the last sitting! So, you can always use some tact to convince them to accept. :p

2) It's up to you as to how much information on academic performance you would want to submit. Of course logically, the more detailed the better. I remember that Harvard strongly encourages applicants to disclose your internal examination results throughout high school. But it's really up to you. For me, I decided to just hand in the public exam results (PMR,SPM). Even so, the translations and all the work you have to dig in were..urgh..strenuous. But the requirements could vary from school to school, so to be on the safe side, just make sure you refer to the respective websites of the universities. As for A-levels, just hand in your forecast results and whatever latest results you have by that time. Eg, Semester 1 and AS trial results. You can also substantiate your application by submitting latest scores to the schools after the Jan 1 deadline. (I sent my AS results by fax in Feb)

So yeah, sorry for the long-winded explanation. Hope it helps and all the best!

[AnnDeBlurry]

I want to ask is it advisable to take SAT to gain more credits so that it'll be easier to enter oversea universities ( besides America's universities ) ?

[Gabrielle90]

may i know where can i get SAT books in kuantan area??? anyone wanna sell SAT book here??? is the syllabus of SAT 2 subjects like biology, physics and chemistry same as form six syllabus???

[ngai]

I want to ask is it advisable to take SAT to gain more credits so that it'll be easier to enter oversea universities ( besides America's universities ) ?

To the best of my knowledge, SAT is definitely helpful for applications to NUS. In fact, it is a compulsory entrance test for courses that accept applications using trial results, eg engineering, economics, business etc. The standard is quite high too, with a recommended score of 2100 in the Reasoning Test just to make a "competitive" application.

The UCAS form (apps to UK unis) also has room for you to put additional test scores like SAT, although I'm not so sure of the weight it carries. I think for UK, your pre-u performance is still the most important factor.

For Australia, entry requirements are solely based on your pre-u results. They only accept SAT scores for students from a US-based education system. Even for that, you have to back it up with high school academic performance, AP and whatnot.

[AnnDeBlurry]

Thanks for the information , it helps a lot ! And , I am more ddetermined to take SAT now .

[Gabrielle90]

can anyone enlighten me about AP??? i never heard of AP before... is it like SAT??? or it is merely english test like TOEFL and IELTS???

[lindley]

AP if im not mistaken stands for Advanced Placement.
it covers 22 subject areas

you can read abt the course/subject description here

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/subjects.html

[jimi7]

Hello,
I heard for SAT you have to memorize a bunch list of words. Where can I get the common sat words or anybody has the list?
Besides memorising words, what other techniques that you guys did for the SAT?

Tq

[capablanca]

Haha, you can purchase the list if you want or search for them online. But, you will recognized some words just by doing the questions. Due to our given short period of time, there is no better way but to memorize. If you have time, you can used them daily into your life as part of your daily vocabulary. Perhaps, they could also be part of your unused vocabs. You understand their meaning but you hardly use them.

[AnnDeBlurry]

There are many websites which provide the list , but some might repeat . You can also buy a book which has those words . Check out this ,
http://www.freevocabulary.com/
http://www.majortests.com/sat/wordlist.php
http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/newsat/powertactics/vocab/chapter2section2.rhtml

[capablanca]

Most of them are not reliable at all. It is better to create your own list from your experience. However, I found a book by Princeton Review which provide a comprehensive list of such words.

[AnnDeBlurry]

what's the title of the book ? By the way , I am using Barron's , is Barron's a good one ?

[Gabrielle90]

can anyone recommend me good SAT book??? Princeton, Baron or Collegeboard???

[ngai]

can anyone recommend me good SAT book??? Princeton, Baron or Collegeboard???

All 3! Haha, I happen to mix and match among these 3 publishers. It's good to expose yourself to more questions and notes...

[starlemon]

is SAT only taken by those who want to enrol in US university?
hw bout UK ,australia and new zealand university?

[caramel_nut]

hw bout UK ,australia and new zealand university?No need. They only need pre-u qualifications and IELTS (or TOEFL).

[lyzzy]

i only use barron's...
________
weed vaporizers (http://weedvaporizers.info/)

[starlemon]

Just a brief understanding for all regarding TOEFL and IELTS.

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test provides an evaluation of English for those who wish to study or train in English. It is very similar to the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) required by North American universities and colleges. IELTS is a jointly managed test by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, British Council and IDP Education Australia. The test is accepted by many professional organizations in Australia and New Zealand including: the New Zealand Immigration Service, the Australian Department of Immigration. If you are interested in studying and / or training in Australia or New Zealand, this is the test best adapted to your qualification needs.

Studying for the IELTS test usually involves a long course. The preparation time is similar to that of the TOEFL, FCE or CAE courses (approximately 100 hours). The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes and consists of the following:


Academic Reading:
3 sections, 40 items, 60 minutes


Academic Writing:
2 tasks: 150 words and 250 words, 60 minutes


General Training Reading:
3 sections, 40 items, 60 minutes

General training Writing:
2 tasks: 150 words and 250 words, 60 minutes


Listening:
4 sections, 40 items, 30 minutes


Speaking
11 to 14 minutes

[hhhcce]

Barron's sample tests are a little bit out; but, it has, by far, the most comprehensive list of vocabularies you have to know. So, it is very good book to prepare for SAT but you have to beware that the format of the real SAT is not the same. Princeton Review's sample tests are something you are going to see in the real exam. But, the questions are a little bit too easy. It offers quite a few tricks to score in the real exam, which I think, are very useful. Kaplan is the worst. It repeats the same questions in different practice tests. It is, by far, the most useless SAT prep book. Big book by College board is still the best. (Keep it until you finish all the practice tests you have)

By the way, do you know that you can take ACT(and alternative test to SAT)in ISKL? I am not an advertiser or anything. It is just that ACT does not have Vocab section and the vocab section is replaced by a Science reasoning section(ridiculously easy). The nature of the questions is way easier than that of SAT and it is increasingly popular in the US. Check with your universities about this (I know that all Ivy Leagues, MIT and Caltech accept it). (I prepared for it one week before and still managed to secure 31/36-->2140 in SAT).

Good luck

[Gabrielle90]

can we take ACT as private student???

[capablanca]

Sure, why not?

[AppryL89]

IF we take both SAT and ACT, will they send both scores to the universities?

[capablanca]

You can decide which that you want to send. Or you can also retake it ask them to send the latest one.

[hhhcce]

You can take ACT at two places (Penang and KL). But, it is kinda like walk in registration. You phone the person in charge and that's all. Just bring your ID on the day of the exam. I used Barron only. The Science reasoning section in Barron though is not something you will see in the exam. They are unreasonably harder than those in the real exam.

[ngai]

Would you guys say that taking both ACT and SAT is an added advantage compared to others who just take the SAT?

[d3stinydanc3withm3]

Would you guys say that taking both ACT and SAT is an added advantage compared to others who just take the SAT?

Hehe why would you care? You have what you want already.

[Gabrielle90]

You can take ACT at two places (Penang and KL). But, it is kinda like walk in registration. You phone the person in charge and that's all. Just bring your ID on the day of the exam. I used Barron only. The Science reasoning section in Barron though is not something you will see in the exam. They are unreasonably harder than those in the real exam.

walk in registration??? means dont have to online register to book place???

[hhhcce]

Nope. It is NOT an added advantage. It is only an added advantage given that you did very badly in SAT and very well in ACT.

What I meant by walk-in registration is that you just have to phone the person in charge at ISKL and give him your name (at least this is what I did last time). Then, on the test day, bring your ID to the college and that's all. I don't know anything about online registration but ACT is a new admission test and it is not that ubiquitous. I think online registration is only for those who live in the US. By the way, you have to buy a cheque or a money order that is withdrawable in the US.(Don't worry because the registration fee for ACT is about 30 percent less expensive than that of SAT)

[ngai]

Hehe why would you care? You have what you want already.

Well, I am simply interested to know the opinions of Malaysian students regarding this.

[koln_auhc]

Haven't been here for quite some time. Almost a year to be exact.

Hopefully freshers going US this year can make something even better than last year.

Ciaoz.

[starlemon]

What is the TOEFL test like?

The test has 3 sections, plus a 30-minute writing test (Test of Written English), which is required of everyone who takes the paper-based test. It takes about 3-1/2 hours. There is no scheduled break.


What am I tested on in each section?

Listening Comprehension measures the ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America.
Structure and Written Expression measures the ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English.
Reading Comprehension measures the ability to understand non-technical reading material.
Writing measures the ability to write in English on an assigned topic.

source:http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=fb69af5e44df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=fa02197a484f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

i wonder is speaking test not tested in TOEFL??

seniors, pls clear my doubt..

[Gabrielle90]

What is the TOEFL test like?

The test has 3 sections, plus a 30-minute writing test (Test of Written English), which is required of everyone who takes the paper-based test. It takes about 3-1/2 hours. There is no scheduled break.


What am I tested on in each section?

Listening Comprehension measures the ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America.
Structure and Written Expression measures the ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English.
Reading Comprehension measures the ability to understand non-technical reading material.
Writing measures the ability to write in English on an assigned topic.

source:http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=fb69af5e44df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=fa02197a484f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

i wonder is speaking test not tested in TOEFL??

seniors, pls clear my doubt..

u can know about it in this thread, http://recom.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6579&page=4

[eM-syaph]

is there any interview/exam will be held besides than these sat n toefl incase of applying for Ivy Unis?

[Gabrielle90]

is there any interview/exam will be held besides than these sat n toefl incase of applying for Ivy Unis?

depends on the university u applied... some require interview... some don't...

[AppryL89]

i wanna ask about TOEFL. what are the differences between iBT and PBT? which one is the most popular choice among malaysians and why?

[ngai]

i wanna ask about TOEFL. what are the differences between iBT and PBT? which one is the most popular choice among malaysians and why?

I would say iBT because it's done on the computer. I think most TOEFL centers offer iBT testing. It's convenient, efficient and it's done in quite a comfortable setting. For the speaking section, you just have to speak into the headset's microphone and it will be recorded.

[AppryL89]

Thanks, ngai.

How about PBT? Is it easier to score?

[ngai]

Thanks, ngai.

How about PBT? Is it easier to score?

Erm, that I am not sure. The difficulty of the questions should be the same. I guess it depends on the person. Like for example you may feel more comfortable writing than typing. Then maybe PBT is for you. Either than that, there are no major differences really.

[AppryL89]

OoO...

It is true that i prefer writing than typing when it comes to exam.

I've checked the test dates and not many choices left...
It is either i do it in KL or kuching as i need to apply for universities this coming december.

[ngai]

OoO...

It is true that i prefer writing than typing when it comes to exam.

I've checked the test dates and not many choices left...
It is either i do it in KL or kuching as i need to apply for universities this coming december.

Okay, then I encourage to attempt the PBT. Do check out the test centers and testing dates that are available. Register early, sit early and prepare the best you can! That way, you will have a lot of time to see if you are satisfied with your scores or if you plan to switch to iBT.

[AppryL89]

yeah. thanks a lot for the information. i really appreciate it.

[ngai]

My pleasure...

[Gabrielle90]

can i know how many weeks or months earlier we need to register for SAT???

[gal_flower]

can i know how many weeks or months earlier we need to register for SAT???

Try searching online first next time:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html

about a month earlier. eg. for the oct 4 test, registration deadline is sept 9.

is there any interview/exam will be held besides than these sat n toefl incase of applying for Ivy Unis?

There are generally no exams besides SAT/TOEFL/ACT for US college admissions.

As for interviews, only a handful of colleges/universities conduct interviews in Malaysia, e.g. Yale, Harvard, Cornell, Rice, UPenn etc. The interviews are NOT the same as the interviews for JPA scholarship. Interviews for US college admissions are meant for you to find out more about the school as well, besides for the interviewer (typically an alum of the school) to get to know what you have to offer to the school besides what's already on paper (i.e. besides your grades, your co-cu etc).

[jimi7]

I'm going to take SAT tomorrow guys...

Any last minute tips here?
I'm very nervous and I'm afraid that I couldn't concentrate or being sleepy tomorrow..

Help me a bit..

[d3stinydanc3withm3]

I'm going to take SAT tomorrow guys...

Any last minute tips here?
I'm very nervous and I'm afraid that I couldn't concentrate or being sleepy tomorrow..

Help me a bit..

Prepare yourself mentally to write the 20 minute essay. Just write, don't stop, don't think, just write.

[jimi7]

About sending SAT scores to universities(i haven't decide but it has to be decided-4 free universities to be send- before next Monday) ,
I had just taken my SAT and I didn't have much idea to which universities should I send the score to.
Also, I think that the score will not be the best because it's my first time.

Let say I send this June SAT score to University X. Then, on October I take another one.
Then, will the October score be sent to university X also?

Tx

[syamil_1]

About sending SAT scores to universities(i haven't decide but it has to be decided-4 free universities to be send- before next Monday) ,
I had just taken my SAT and I didn't have much idea to which universities should I send the score to.
Also, I think that the score will not be the best because it's my first time.

Let say I send this June SAT score to University X. Then, on October I take another one.
Then, will the October score be sent to university X also?

Tx

if you take now, and you decide not to send your scores to any unis, when you take in october and you send the score to those 4 free unis, CollegeBoard will SEND ALL of your SAT results regardless of how many time you sat for it.

[jimi7]

if you take now, and you decide not to send your scores to any unis, when you take in october and you send the score to those 4 free unis, CollegeBoard will SEND ALL of your SAT results regardless of how many time you sat for it.

If I send the score now?
Will Collegeboard send the latest score later(oct/nov/dec)?

i just don't wanna waste this 4 free one

[ngai]

If I send the score now?
Will Collegeboard send the latest score later(oct/nov/dec)?

i just don't wanna waste this 4 free one

Yes, provided you state the same recipients in the next sitting. Again just to repeat, even if you do not send your june scores this time around, they will still be sent to the unis when you do send the scores of your next sitting. It's kinda like an all in one thing...

[chenchow]

Updated version of FAQ. Thanks to all who have helped. This is prepared by m
any who have applied to top US Unis and many who have gotten into those unis. Read this before you to go USA For Students (www.usaforstudents.org) on this Saturday 14th June 10am to 4pm at Wisma MCA.

-----
US UNIVERSITIES APPLICATION INFORMATION SHEET

Wanted to know more about US university applications but don?t know where to begin? This information sheet will provide you with the necessary knowledge needed to get started.

Acknowledgement: A very huge portion of this Information Sheet has been taken from Chua Ke Lun?s thread ?FAQ about TOEFL, SAT 1, SAT 2 and US UNIVERSITY APPLICATION?, which can be found at the forums in www.recom.org under the Education section. A note of thanks also goes out to Adrian Lim, Vincent Ang, Mei Yueh, Sabrina Lim, Eu Win, Timothy Tam, Claire Chin, Dickson Ngai, Chen Chow and Ern Sheong for contributing in one way or another.

Types of Universities in USA

A. Public Universities
Examples:
- University of California system
- University of Michigan
- University of Virginia
and many others.

B. Private Universities
Examples:
- Ivy League Universities (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania and Yale.)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Stanford University
- Duke University
- Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- University of Chicago
- The John Hopkins University
and many others.

C. Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal arts colleges are institutions of higher education offering programs in the liberal arts at the post-secondary level. Liberal arts offers a wide range of fields in the arts and sciences to gain general knowledge and develop intellectual skills.

Generally, liberal arts colleges are small and thus have smaller class sizes and smaller enrollment than universities. They usually offer a liberal arts curriculum. Liberal arts colleges focus primarily on tertiary education, and tend to emphasize interactive instruction rather than research. Full-time professors teach almost all the courses, rather than graduate student teaching assistants.

Generally, a full-time, four-year course of study at a liberal arts college leads students to a bachelor's degree. Several colleges offer postgraduate programs; however, their postgraduate enrollments remain small compared to their undergraduate enrollments and postgraduate enrollments at research universities.

Liberal arts colleges are often private institutions, although a number of state-supported institutions also operate on Liberal Arts College models. The private dominance is particularly pronounced among the leading liberal arts colleges:

- Smith College
- Williams College
- Swarthmore College
- Wellesley College
- Middlebury College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Financial Aid/Scholarships

Most public universities in the US do not provide financial aid. On the other hand, most private universities in the US do provide financial aid or scholarships. These private universities have different policies when it comes to admission of international applicants who apply for financial aid. These are:

A. Need-Blind Admission
Want a university that will cater to YOUR financial needs? Dream of a university that will not look at your financial status when reviewing your application? Or a university that will pay for you should you gain admission? APPLY NEED BLIND!

Currently, there are only 8 schools which practice this policy. They are Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dartmouth, Williams, Middlebury and Amherst. Your chances of admission to these schools will not be jeopardized if you apply for financial aid. Besides that, these schools will provide sufficient financial aid for you to enroll.

B. Admission Blind
Application to certain schools is independent of your need for financial aid. This includes Cornell University. Cornell can admit you without providing you any financial award even though you have indicated that you require financial aid to attend.

C. Need-Aware/ Need-Based Admission
For need-aware admission, your application to certain universities will have a lower chance of success if you apply for financial aid. These include Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Admission Policies


A. Regular Decision (RD)

This is the normal application policy by all universities. Regular Decision deadlines are usually at the end of December or early January (varies from university to university). Under Regular Decision, applicants are under no obligation to enroll even if they have been admitted. They are welcome to apply to as many Colleges as possible without any binding clauses.

B. Early Decision (ED)
Early Decision plans allow you to apply early (usually in early November) and get an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date (around middle of December). However, Early Decision plans are binding; if you apply as an Early Decision candidate, you agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for Early Decision, you may apply to other colleges through the regular admissions process. If you're accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all other applications. Usually, colleges insist on a nonrefundable deposit well before May 1.

C. Early Action (EA)
Early Action plans are similar to Early Decision plans in that you can apply early in the admission cycle (usually in December, January or February) whether or not a college has accepted you. But unlike Early Decision, most Early Action plans are not binding, i.e. you do not have to commit to a college to which you've applied for Early Action. Under these plans, you may still apply to other colleges. Usually, you can let the college know of your decision in late spring or whenever you've decided.

D. Single-Choice/Restrictive Early Action (SCEA)
Some colleges notably Yale and Stanford have begun offering a new admissions option called Single-Choice Early Action (usually in October). This plan works the same way as other Early Action plans, but with Single-Choice, and candidates may not apply early (either Early Action or Early Decision) to any other school.

You can still apply to other school?s Regular Decision and are not required to give your final answer of acceptance until the Regular Decision deadline. This allows you to compare offers of financial aid in the spring before making a commitment.

? Adapted from Collegeboard.com

E. Rolling Admissions
It is an admission policy where no specific deadline is fixed. Under rolling admissions, applications are reviewed as they come in until all spots are filled.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Application Procedures

Each university in the USA has its own requirements for undergraduate application. Please check with the universities you intend to apply (their websites are the best resource) to confirm what documents and information they require.

The Standard Requirements for university application in the USA are:
- Personal Information
- Academic qualifications and achievements
- Co-curricular activities
- Essays and/or personal statements
- Teacher recommendations (normally 2)
- Standardized test scores ( e.g. SAT 1 , SAT 2 , TOEFL )
- Counselor?s report

In some cases, the universities may provide interviews through the local alumni associations.

Application dates differ depending on whether you are applying for: Early Decision or Regular Decision. Both applications start in early October. However, Early Decision normally ends by early November while Regular Decision normally ends by early January of the following year.

================================================

SAT 1 and SAT 2

General Information regarding SAT 1
The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems?skills you learned in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200?800, with two writing sub scores for multiple-choice and the essay. The test is about 4 hours long and is administered seven times a year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a year overseas. Colleges usually take the highest scores of the math, verbal and writing sections (which can be from two different test dates) although they always receive your entire College Board testing history.

General Information regarding SAT 2
Subject Tests (formerly SAT II: Subject Tests) are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge. Students take the Subject Tests to demonstrate to colleges their mastery of specific subjects like English, history, mathematics, science, and language. The tests are independent of any particular textbook or method of instruction. The tests' content evolves to reflect current trends in high school curricula, but the types of questions change little from year to year. Many colleges use the Subject Tests for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Used in combination with other background information (your high school record, scores from other tests like the SAT Reasoning Test, teacher recommendations, etc.), they provide a dependable measure of your academic achievement and are a good predictor of future performance. Some colleges specify the Subject Tests they require for admission or placement; others allow applicants to choose which tests to take. Colleges usually take the highest scores of each subject (which can be from two different test dates)

Both sections are quoted directly from Collegeboard.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Test Dates
The SAT is tested on the following months outside USA, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories (6 times a year):

January
May
June
October
November
December

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Registration
To register for the SAT 1 and SAT 2, you would need to register at www.collegeboard.com or through the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE).

================================================

TOEFL

General Information
The Test of English as a Foreign Language? (TOEFL?) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings. The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on a test taker's location.

The Internet-based TOEFL Test
The TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The test helps students demonstrate that they have the English skills needed for success. Each section has 30 marks with the highest score being 30 for each section. Maximum score is 120. Only the TOEFL iBT test is offered in Malaysia. Registration is through ETS. The test dates varies with the test venues. Once you register for TOEFL, it would ask you to fill in the location for the test. Only then would you know which date is available.

? Quoted directly from ETS TOEFL website: www.ets.org/toefl

A. Writing part
You would have to write two essays. One of them is to write a summary of the information provided to you and the other is to write your response to a question posed to you. The two tasks are rated from 0 to 5, and the average of these scores is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30. Human scorers rate the responses.

Scorers evaluate the integrated writing task on the overall quality of the writing (development, organization, appropriate and precise use of grammar and vocabulary) and the completeness and accuracy of the content. Scorers rate the independent writing essay on the overall quality of the writing:
o Development
o Organization
o Appropriate and precise use of grammar and vocabulary.

B. Reading part
This test is similar to the critical reading section of the SAT. However, it is much easier compared to the SAT.

C. Listening part
You would have to listen to a few conversations and answer them based on the conversations. It is advisable to write down the key points of the conversations so that answering it would be easier.

D. Speaking part
You would be asked to give your comment on an issue or present the ideas given in a recorded conversation. Each of the six tasks is rated from 0 to 4, and the average of these scores is converted to a scaled score of 0 to 30.Human scorers rate the responses. They evaluate the test-taker's ability in topic development, delivery, and language use.

Exemption from TOEFL Test
If you have been attending an English-medium school for at least 2 years and have achieved a decent SAT 1 score, you can apply to the individual universities for exemption from taking the TOEFL. There is no guarantee that the universities would allow such exemptions. Please take the initiative to ask the universities you are applying to.

Important Information
If you intend to take the TOEFL, please register as early as possible as the test venues have limited places unlike the SAT 1 and SAT 2. The delivery of the test scores by ETS is also not as fast as College Board?s. Your scores may not arrive on time for admission consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I send my teacher recommendations and my school counselor report together instead of sending them separately?
You can do that provided that each individual envelope is sealed before being sent in bulk.

2. What if my essays exceed the word limit? Would the admission officer count every single word?
Since there will be hundreds if not thousands of essays coming in, admission officers won't possibly be counting all of them. However, after reading many essays, they would probably have a good idea of the ideal length of an essay. Essays should be edited if possible to fit into the word limit. Please note that many online application forms have character limits and limited space for the essay, anything exceeding the limit in the final PDF format may be truncated.

3. The Common Application asks me what would be my possible major and career path, would it affect my application if I am not sure?
Yes and no. Some admission officers do take note of the choice when looking through your whole application (essays, recommendations). In other cases, admission officers ignore this choice.

4. Should I waive my right to the recommendation letters? Would it affect my application?
You probably should waive your right to these letters. Some teachers feel more at ease, not because they want to write bad stuff about you. Sometimes, it is more about privacy. Anyway, since most people waive the right, it won't really hurt if you follow everybody else.

5. How heavily does the SAT weigh in the overall application?
Your application is made up of the SAT, essays, academic scores, co-curricular records, teacher recommendation, alumni interview and counselor report. A high SAT score can make your application even better. However, if you only have a high SAT score but mediocre academic scores and so on, you would be significantly disadvantaged compared to one who has an average SAT score but good recommendations and so on. The conclusion is that the SAT plays a part in your application. As to what percentage it occupies, it really depends on the quality of the whole application pool.

6. Should I send in my application as soon as possible?
If you send your application in before the deadline it will not be read sooner, you will not receive your decision sooner, and you will not be more likely to get in. Just a view of what would happen to your application. When applications reach the admissions office, it takes a small army of people to open all that mail (or print out all the electronic submissions), sort it, file it, respond to all those little postcards people put in to confirm their applications were received, enter the data into the computer database, make folders containing the application with color coded stickers with your name/region/home state identifiers, then organize the folders according to admissions reader (usually based on geography) and present this final product in a uniform, readable manner so that the admissions officer can start reading applications.

? Quoted directly from http://gettingin.wordpress.com

7. Besides my Pre-University and upper secondary academic results, should I send my lower secondary results?
This totally depends on you. Giving the lower secondary school results can give the admission officers a good view of your consistent work. In other cases, you may just appear to be too eager to show your academic results. In the end, it's your call.

8. Which university or college should I apply to? Should I just focus on the Ivy League Universities?
This question can be answered in many ways. First of all, ask yourself whether you really want to go to the US for studies or is it just one of your choices other than UK, Singapore or Malaysia. If you really intend to go to the US, one of the methods you can use is to choose 3 groups of universities to apply. One group would be universities that you know you would surely get into. The other two groups would be universities that you have a realistic chance of getting in and some chance of getting in (dream schools). Others would prefer to choose a list of universities that are good in one major and apply to those universities.

Do take into consideration your needs:
- weather
- lifestyle
- rural/urban setting
- academic style
- requirements
- strong departments
- fellow Malaysians
- reputation
- location
- student body
- athletics
- whether you think you could fit in
- Greek life

9. I am from a government high school and my school doesn't have a school counselor. Who should I approach to fill in the secondary school report?
You can normally approach your principal or vice-principal for help or your class teacher or ?penolong kanan?.

10. The Advance Placement (AP) test is available to me. Should I take it?
AP is an exam that allows you to receive some freshman credits (provided that you get higher than a specific score, which different universities have different scores as their benchmark). If you are taking STPM, A-Level or IB, you probably need not take it as these pre-university courses are considered sufficient for admission. If you intend to apply after SPM, you are highly recommended to take the AP tests.

11. I just finished SPM can I apply to US universities?
In most cases, you can. You would still need to take the SAT 1, SAT 2 and TOEFL. Please check the respective university websites to find out the minimum academic qualification. The University of California system only allows STPM or A level standard pre-university courses.

12. What is the difference between college and university?
The two mentioned above are interchangeable terms. Universities and Colleges teach undergraduate studies and function pretty much in the same manner.

The US government defines college: ?College: An institution of higher learning that offers undergraduate programs, usually of a four-year duration, that lead to the bachelor's degree in the arts or sciences (B.A. or B.S.). The term "college" is also used in a general sense to refer to a postsecondary institution. A college may also be a part of the organizational structure of a university.?

University is defined as: ?University: An educational institution that usually maintains one or more four-year undergraduate colleges (or schools) with programs leading to a bachelor's degree, a graduate school of arts and sciences awarding master's degrees and doctorates (Ph.D.s), and graduate professional schools.?

Source: http://educationusa.state.gov/graduate/glossary.htm


13. Can I refuse to go to my Early Decision school?
Basically, no. If you back out of an ED commitment, you will be blacklisted from other schools as soon as they find out. Universities take ED violations very much to heart. The only way you can turn down a university is if it doesn't offer sufficient financial aid for you to attend it. If you need financial assistance in order to finish your course of study, you need to request financial aid with your ED application. We were not aware of how much this bothered universities last year, but we now know that they see it as insincere to send an ED application while saying that you will only attend if you get a scholarship. The reason is that ED is understood as a whole-hearted promise that you really want to attend and are trying to give the university every opportunity to help you attend. If you do receive the scholarship later, you can immediately withdraw your request for financial aid at the universities where it will reduce your chances of admission.

Quoted directly from RJC US application website

14. I am taking STPM/A-Level now, do I need to take SAT 2?
You would still have to take SAT 2 unless the college you are applying to specifically tells you that SAT 2 is not compulsory.

15. How many SAT 2 subjects should I take?
This depends on the university you are applying to. Most universities require only 2. Some universities require 3.

16. Which subjects should I take in secondary school?
This depends on what course you intend to take in University. If you intend to apply to an engineering or business school, schools will advise you to take Math with Chemistry or Physics being the addition if you are applying to an engineering school.

17. What is the difference between Math 1 and Math 2?
The Math 2 is more difficult than Math 1.With sufficient knowledge of your STPM/A-Level Syllabus, Math 2 should be alright. Most competitive universities recommend or accept Math 2 only.

18. Can I take both SAT 1 and SAT 2 on the same test date?
You cannot take the SAT 1 and SAT 2 on the same test date. Both tests take place at the same time.

19. Do I have to send the scores to the college by myself?
No, College Board will send the scores directly to the universities that you have applied to. Your first 4 college recipients are free; any additional college will cost USD 9.50. Note that you will have to list down your first 4 college recipients when you register for the test or 1 week after the test.

20. I am taking 3 SAT 2 subjects for this coming test. What is the order of the subjects?
Basically, you get to choose the order in which you take the test.

21. My SAT scores are not good enough, should I retake?
The best bet is that you should take the SAT again only if you have confidence in getting a higher score.

22. What score should I achieve in the SAT?
Ideally, the higher the better. Other than that, you could see the range of SAT scores of the respective schools to have an idea of whether your scores are safe enough.

For more specific questions regarding the SAT, please visit www.collegeboard.com

If you want to take a look at how Thailand scholars achieve in their SAT and their corresponding university admitted, do refer to http://www.ts48.org/college/ . There is no guarantee of admission to any university, even with full score of SAT. It is just for reference. SAT is just one of the many factors the admission office considers for your applications.

23. When should I apply for financial aid?
Ideally, this should be done while you are preparing your admission documents (Recommendation letters, Essays, and so on).The reason being that these forms require quite an effort to fill in as it involves taxes, property, income and so on. Most of the time, you would need to download 2 forms and filled them up. They are the International Student Financial Aid Application and International Student Certification of Finance Form. The International Student Certification of Finance Form requires a banker to certify the amount of money in a bank account that will be used to pay for your undergraduate education.

Note that some universities require financial aid forms from their own universities.

24. How should I ask for waiver from a particular university?
This depends on the university in which you are applying to. Some universities allow you to ask for waiver while applying online to their universities. In other cases, you are required to submit a written paper application to apply for waiver. Check the university websites to have a clear idea of the correct procedure to apply.

25. Will my application to one Ivy League school affect application to another?
No.

26. TRANSCRIPTS: Secondary School Report, Mid year Report and Final Report.
Kindly refer to Common Application FAQ below, No. 2. The same policy applies for forms other than the Common Application forms.

27. When should I start applying?
If you would like to enroll the following year (2009), you?ll have to apply by the end of this year (end of 2008). Although different universities have different application deadlines and intakes, most of the competitive universities have only one intake (which is the fall intake in August) and the application datelines are some time from November to January, varying among universities.

28. What do I need to prepare for my application?
a. Essays/Personal Statement
b. Teacher Recommendations
c. Interviews with alumni (if required or offered)
d. Tests: SAT, SAT1, SAT2, TOEFL
e. Supplementary material (drawing, composition, research project etc) if you have them
f. Counselor?s Report
g. All necessary forms which will require you to fill in your personal information, achievements, co-curricular activities, etc.
h. Optional: Certified true copies of certificates of significant achievement (Olympiads, National Competitions), letters and testimonials, and other important documents. (Note: DO NOT send them every single certificate you have collected in school.)
i. any additional materials required by the particular university


Common Application FAQ
This FAQ attempts to address the most popular questions Malaysian applicants ask about the Common Application. It is by no means an exhaustive guide. Kindly refer to the FAQ in commonapp.org or log-in to the Common App portal to gain access to very comprehensive instructions.

1. What is the Common Application? Why use it?
?The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application ? online and in print ? that students may submit to any of our nearly 300 members.

Once completed online or in print, copies of the Application for Undergraduate Admission can be sent to any number of participating colleges. The same is true of the School Report, Midyear Report, and Teacher Evaluation forms. This allows you to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college research, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework.?

? Quoted directly from Common App website FAQ

Basically, through Common App, one can simultaneously apply to multiple member colleges or universities by completing the application once. The aspects covered in the application process include personal biodata, academics, standardized tests, activities, essays etc. However, there are competitive schools which require a ?Supplement? form where applicants have to fill in additional information (in many cases, additional essays)

2. I?m doing my Pre-U studies now. What should I put under the Educational Data section ?secondary school you now attend (or from which you graduated)??
Firstly, it is essential for you to know the difference between the number of years we attend school in Malaysia and the number of years Americans attend school. In our education system, from Standard 1 till Form 5, we only have 11 years of schooling. On the other hand, the Americans have 12 years of schooling (Grade 1-12). Thus, you should regard your STPM/Pre-University studies as your 12th year of secondary school (i.e. fill in your STPM/Pre-University school as the secondary school you now attend) and NOT College. In the US, there are no Pre-University Colleges; colleges are the equivalent of universities and they are also where you do your undergraduate studies. As for your former secondary school (Form 1-5), type it under the column ?List of all other secondary schools??

On the other hand, you may elect to fill in your Secondary School (Form 1-5) in the ?secondary school you now attend column? and insert your Pre-University institution in the ?List all colleges/universities?for credit? column. This applies to applicants from INTEC or other Pre-University Institutions which do not have Counsellors, or their Counsellors are unwilling to write recommendations. However, unless applicants have such a situation, the majority of applicants would go with the first approach.

3. TRANSCRIPTS: Secondary School Report, Mid year Report and Final Report.
Secondary school report: Get your secondary school (SMK...) to fill them up. Request a letter of recommendation from your school counsellor and attach it together as well. (This is for the ?Evaluation? part) Attach it with your Form 4 and 5 (internal exams) and SPM results. Form 1-3 internal exams are optional.
Mid year report: Your current Pre-University midterm results. Get your counsellor from the ?college? you?re attending to help you to fill it up.
Final Report: Your final results of your Pre-University Institution. It?ll only be sent up to the particular university you?ve been admitted and have chosen to attend.

(For STPM students or ASEAN Scholars who studied in Singapore, you may get your Form 6 or Junior College Counselor to fill up all the above forms instead of going back to your former Malaysian Secondary School where you took SPM.)

4. I?ve composed music. I?ve painted pictures. How do I send them?
In the Common Application webpage, you will find a link for you to download all the forms you need. Look for ?Art Supplement? and download the form. Fill in the form and have an instructor who is familiar with your work send in a recommendation letter (e.g. Art tuition teacher, music instructor, drama teacher). Then, together with the form, send in a 10-minute CD or DVD of your artwork. You should also attach a r?sum? that summarizes your experience, giving years studied, names of teachers, repertoire and awards/honors received.

5. May I submit multiple versions of the Common Application form to tailor to the needs of each university that I am applying to?
Once you submit your application to the institution (or institutions) on your ?My Colleges? list, you will not be able to change answers for that application. However, you may create a second version of your original Common Application and then modify that application to be sent to a different institution (or institutions). Source: commonapp.org

Hence you are advised to send in your Common App forms one by one, creating duplicates of the original which are then edited for sending to different institutions.

6. Which universities accept the Common Application? Where can you get this list?
Point your browser to https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Members.aspx to see the complete list of universities that accept the Common App.

7. "Is there any difference between the Common Application and the
application forms provided by the university? Which one will put me at a/an
disadvantage/advantage?"
Some schools accept the Common Application form as well as their own
application forms. Both will be weighed equally and there would be no distinction made between one and the other. If you are applying to many schools, it is advisable that you apply using the Common App to refrain from filling in personal details multiple times. Some schools only accept the Common App forms and do not have their own forms (eg. Stanford).

"Our college and university members have worked together over the past 30 years to develop the application. All members fully support its use, and all give equal consideration to the Common Application and the college's own form. Many of our members use the Common Application as their only undergraduate admission application.? ? Quoted directly from Common App website FAQ.

8. Does the Common Application require additional information besides the main forms? Any supplements involved?
The Common App is a very general university application form. Therefore, many universities that wish to learn more about certain characteristics of a prospective student will require applicants to fill in supplementary forms from Common App. This is to help the university ascertain that the applying student meets the needs and requirements of the university. To see the supplementary information requirements for a specific university, go to https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/CollegeInfo.aspx.

9. I find that the Common Application does not have the sufficient space to allow me to list all my achievements and co-curricular activities. What do I do about this?

This is a perpetual problem that applicants face while applying. Ideally, do try to maximize the limited space given by economizing the words and phrases used. Omit unnecessary phrases like ?of the?, ?I also ?? etc that would lead to wastage of space. You can use abbreviated words such as ?c?ship? that clearly portrays the word championship. However, use it at your own discretion as excessive abbreviations can cause confusion. Full sentences are not required. As long as the statement carries the intended meaning across, it should suffice. Alternatively, if you feel that there is still lacking of space or there is a longer list of activities/honors to fill, you can resort to the additional information section where you can upload the extended list. Please however, limit the section to just one page. It is important to be concise.

You are advised to focus on the main activities and achievements instead of trying to list all of them in the Common App form. Universities are more interested in the depth of commitment and achievement rather than in the sheer quantity of the activities. Hence do try to capture your KEY selling points within the limited space available. Anything else which is noteworthy but is of secondary importance should be listed under the Additional Information section. Trying to fit it all in and listing many activities without depth might give the impression that you are not really committed, and this reflects badly on you. The same can be said for non-Common App forms.

For more information on the Common Application kindly visit http://www.commonapp.org

TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAY
By Gregory Lloyd
From http://www.back2college.com/admissionessay.htm

You?re about to write one of the most important essays of your life. Don?t panic. The subject is one you know very well?yourself. You?re an interesting person and it?s time you show those college admissions officers just how interesting and unique you are.

After all, that?s what they?re looking for. They want to know something about you that?s not indicated by your resume, your SAT score, your grade-point average, academic awards, or any other document you include elsewhere in your application package. They want a focused, well-organized essay that helps them get to know a bit about your character and personality, what drives you, and what excites you. Make them like you.

Of course, you have only a limited amount of words to do all this, which is good and bad. Good because you need to write only a few hundred words; bad because you?ve got to get your point across in just those few words.

It?s important to view the essay as an opportunity rather than a chore. It?s really not so hard once you know what?s expected of you. To make an impression, your essay must stand out from the crowd and elicit an emotional response from the reader. Here are some tips that will help you prepare a memorable essay that will get read.

Write as you speak.
The purpose of the essay is to show the admissions committee the real you, why you think and act the way you do, and what motivates you. So don?t write as if you are someone else, use stilted language, or gloss over how you really feel. Be authentic, not superficial. Use a relaxed, conversational style.

Be original.
Too many essays use the same tired themes. For example, instead of showing yourself as a victim, focus on how you overcame the situation. You?re not running for Miss America, so avoid presenting your solutions to world peace and hunger. Remember that what bores you pretty much bores others. As you?re writing and revising, continually ask yourself if you would be interested in reading your essay.

Show genuine enthusiasm.
Nothing draws a reader more than writing that?s invigorating. When choosing your topics, pick what genuinely excites you. Your enthusiasm will show through.

Create some mystery.
Begin with an introduction that surprises your readers and makes them want to read past the first paragraph. For example, if you?re an avid volunteer for the Appalachian Trail Club and you?ve chosen to talk about your latest trip, you could start with a description of the sights and sounds as you move about the forest clearing trails.

Focus.
Rather than describing everything you?ve done with your life, give a full description of one or two items or events. The magic is in the details.

Use active verbs.
Action verbs makes your essay much more lively than passive voice, which comes across as cold and detached. For example, ?My Botany teacher recommended me for a semester of study at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania? is much better than ?I was recommended for
a semester of study at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, by my Botany teacher.?

Use short sentences and simple words.
According to a recent study at Stanford University, individuals who use complicated language are viewed as less intelligent than individuals who use simpler, more concise language. You want your readers to understand your essay. If you use obscure terms needlessly, they won?t be impressed.

Vary sentence structure.
Don?t start every sentence with ?The.? Inter-mingle long sentences with shorter sentences to keep the reader from getting bored.

Don?t brag.
No one wants to hear an endless description of how great you are. Let your actions speak for themselves.

Avoid acronyms and abbreviations.
Although our language is incorporating more and more acronyms and abbreviations, they have no place in your essay. For example, use ?and others? instead of ?et al.,? ?Pennsylvania? instead of ?PA.?

Avoid exclamation points and parentheses.
Using exclamation points?especially more than one in a sentence?is a big turnoff.

Avoid asking questions or setting off words and phrases with quotation marks.
These are generally considered inappropriate.

Be specific.
You need to include concrete details about your experiences. Elaborate on one or two of your activities or achievements, showing the reader why you made a particular decision or reacted a certain way. Remember, you?re including a list of your accomplishments elsewhere in your application package; for the essay, use specific dates, locations, feelings, etc., to describe your experiences in accomplishing those achievements.

Don?t tell them what they want to hear.
Colleges read plenty of essays about how wonderful their school is, the evils of war, and the drive and determination needed to become a lawyer. Tell them something new that they may not have heard before.

Avoid gimmicks.
Don?t use puns, definitions, famous quotations, flowery descriptions, or overdone wordplay to get your point across.

Avoid controversy.
Strong opinions about what?s wrong with the world, what kind of government we should have, or why your religion is the best are a no-no.

Be witty only if you can pull it off.
Don?t go overboard with humor. Although admissions officers love essays that make them laugh, using humor for humor?s sake or being silly or immature will get your essay thrown in the slush pile. It?s more important to tell an interesting story and let any humor be inherent.

Avoid offensive tone or language.
Don?t ever cuss or be confrontational when you write.

Don?t try to sound like a sage.
Never begin or end an essay with a quotation, proverb, or other wise saying. Also don?t try to be sophisticated by writing about the world?s greatest mysteries. Many students try to philosophize or use clich?s to prove their point. This is a surefire path to disaster. No one wants to read about your position on the validity of totalitarianism or read sayings that are all too familiar.

Avoid jargon.
Avoid computer-related words like ?input,? ?interface,? parameter,? and ?feedback.? Also avoid ?actually,? ?basically,? ?arguably,? and ?virtually,? and words commonly spoken by juveniles, such as ?awesome? or ?cool.?
Avoid sexist language.
Substitute asexual words for sexist words. For example, use ?chairperson? instead of ?chairman? and ?pioneers? instead of ?founding fathers.?
Write tight.
Choose nouns and verbs that are specific as possible. ?I raced to the door? is much better than ?I ran to the door quickly.? Similarly, ?The Chihuahua? is much better than ?the little, brown dog.?
Also, don?t use 20 words where a few will do. For example, instead of writing?
"Throughout my years of growth from childhood to adulthood, family members, teachers, and others have always commented on the fact that I am a very diligent worker. And I think I would have to agree with them."
Use?
"I?m a workhorse."
Don?t insult your reader.
Let the reader read between the lines to draw conclusions. Just tell the story. Let the reader figure out the moral.
Revise until it?s perfect.
You?ll need to rewrite and edit your essay several times before you consider it final. Keep in mind that the essay must be more than interesting?it must be captivating. Let your enthusiasm show through.
Adhere to the word limit.
If the school instructs you to write 500 words or less, don?t write 600. And, if your essay runs a little short, don?t feel obligated to fill the extra space.
Proofread your work.
Make sure you don?t have any typographical errors. Don?t rely on your computer?s spell check. Although some software programs make grammatical changes for you, chances are you?ll need to read your essay word for word to make sure you haven?t goofed, for example, by using ?there? instead of ?their? or ?form? instead of ?from.? Also make sure your intended meaning is coming across.
Show the essay to someone who can be objective.
To produce the best possible essay, you have to find good editors. Don?t give your essay to your husband, parents, or best friend for comments. Get someone who not only knows English well but can also give you constructive feedback on how your message is coming across. Remember: The college doesn?t know you.
Writing a successful college admissions essay is not a simple task. You should plan to spend a lot of time writing, reviewing, and polishing so that it?s just right. But, if you persevere, you?ll end up with an outstanding essay that will capture the reader?s attention, reach an emotional conclusion about you, and get you that letter of acceptance.
----------

On a more local front, consider what Sugasini Kandiah, a Malaysian student who was accepted into Yale, UPenn, MIT and Stanford last year, has to share about writing outstanding and noticeable admissions essays:

?You could make your essay stand out by writing about something from your culture. That's really your biggest advantage in the whole admissions process. The last thing admissions officers want to do is have some international kid who thinks like an American. People here love diversity and you have so much of it to offer as a Malaysian.

Bits about you working hard should be something others say about you, like your teachers in their recommendations or your principal. Your main essay should be about something admissions officers won't know about you from your CV. And trust me, you don't want to waste it by telling them about how you've worked hard because that comes through in your achievements.?


For more abundant resources on college essay writing, kindly Google ?how to write a good admissions essay? and take the initiative to read up. But most importantly, start writing instead of just sourcing for tips! Get down to it and refine it along the way! Be yourself and write the essay in your own personal style. There is no ultimate right or wrong guide for essays. It?s all pretty subjective. So do what you think is best and most importantly, be happy with yourself and your essay.

For additional resources on US University Admission and Applications, you can visit collegeconfidential.com, tinkosong.com and recom.org for more information.


All the best to you in your endeavor to enter your dream university in the United States!!!

P.S.: Please verify the information provided above with authoritative sources. We bear no responsibility of any misfortune caused by the use of the information above. The info above is compiled based on our best knowledge and some are with our own opinion.
----

[ngai]

Nice, looks awesome!

[d3stinydanc3withm3]

Will my chances of entering the Uni of my choice be increased if I apply ED or SCEA?

[ngai]

Will my chances of entering the Uni of my choice be increased if I apply ED or SCEA?

Yes, you may safely assume so though some universities like Yale may say that the quality of the pool of applicants for SCEA is higher than RD. To me personally, applying early does help - only if you are really well prepared. Don't be pressured to do it just because you want to make that deadline. But having said that, with like 5 months to go, there is ample time to decide and to make the necessary preparations.

Also, there are more Malaysians getting into the top US unis through the regular decision cycle this year. At the end of the day, it also comes down to the substance of one's application.

All the best!

[Beatles]

Is counselor's report the same as transcript?

[ngai]

Is counselor's report the same as transcript?

Not exactly. The counselor's report is the recommendation written by him/her. The transcript is basically your report card or any official school document that records all the academic results, both internal and external. (report card + PMR, SPM certs etc).

[jimi7]

So, counselor's report and teacher's recommendation is about the same huh?

How do they differ?

[Beatles]

Not exactly. The counselor's report is the recommendation written by him/her. The transcript is basically your report card or any official school document that records all the academic results, both internal and external. (report card + PMR, SPM certs etc).

Can we ask our teacher to write the counselor report and transcript first? I mean, is the counselor report and transcript both part of the application form? Means we must ask the teacher to fill it in the form, not on a separate sheet of paper?

If I want to buy SAT and SAT II books, which publisher should I look for?

[smile!]

can anyone tell me about the transcripts i will be needing when i apply to US universities?

The transcripts are actually our school results slip right? My school result slip is in BM and at the side of everything, they have it in ENG italic. So do i still need to ask my school teachers to translate it? Or i just need to photostat and certify those transcripts and send it?

[Xon]

Can we ask our teacher to write the counselor report and transcript first? I mean, is the counselor report and transcript both part of the application form? Means we must ask the teacher to fill it in the form, not on a separate sheet of paper?

If I want to buy SAT and SAT II books, which publisher should I look for?

Spoon-feed is not the culture here. sorry,you gonna read through somewhere. take about 20mins to go through for SAT Books recomendation. =)

[Beatles]

I have browse through the official TOEFL website and it say we must register 7 days before the test date. Is it as long as I have register 7 days before the test date, then I will be able to take the test on the nearest test date? Or is there any possibility the date is fully booked and I have to take it on the next date?

[digital_lifeform]

I have browse through the official TOEFL website and it say we must register 7 days before the test date. Is it as long as I have register 7 days before the test date, then I will be able to take the test on the nearest test date? Or is there any possibility the date is fully booked and I have to take it on the next date?

I doubt if you register 7 days before you can get a place, esp for KL and Subang centres. I have to take a holiday in Penang caused i registered late.

can anyone tell me about the transcripts i will be needing when i apply to US universities?

The transcripts are actually our school results slip right? My school result slip is in BM and at the side of everything, they have it in ENG italic. So do i still need to ask my school teachers to translate it? Or i just need to photostat and certify those transcripts and send it?

You can ask your school to make a transcript for you. This should include all your school results from day 1 you were at school.

Everything in BM should be translated to English and certified by a counselor or the principle. You can do the translation yourself

Can we ask our teacher to write the counselor report and transcript first? I mean, is the counselor report and transcript both part of the application form? Means we must ask the teacher to fill it in the form, not on a separate sheet of paper?

If I want to buy SAT and SAT II books, which publisher should I look for?

Yes, some universities has already released the forms. Check out the website of the university you are interested in and get your stuff done before you come to INTI.

So, counselor's report and teacher's recommendation is about the same huh?

How do they differ?

They are different. Counselor report contains stuff like your grades and so on. If your application forms, you will see different forms for counselor report, counselor recommendation and teacher recommendation.

[Butters]

If I want to buy SAT and SAT II books, which publisher should I look for?

I suggest College Board

[chenchow]

I suggest College Board

Some of the typically good ones, include The Princeton Review, Kaplan, Barron as well. McGraw Hill, ARCO etc are quite popular too. Would suggest you guys share different book among yourself, especially those of you in the same preparatory program.

[Beatles]

If we have register for the TOEFL test, do we immediately know when will be our test date?

[digital_lifeform]

If we have register for the TOEFL test, do we immediately know when will be our test date?

Yes, you will.

[989Lee]

wanna confirm one thing abt the transcript. is it prepared by our secondar school or by our preparatory centre, ie inti, taylor's..?and can anyone tell me on what secondary school material i should prepare now and bring along to inti (like teachers' recommendations) as i don't want to come back from inti to go back to my school in perak as that would waste time cos will be busy preparing all the applications stuff.

[brucesharky]

wanna confirm one thing abt the transcript. is it prepared by our secondar school or by our preparatory centre, ie inti, taylor's..?and can anyone tell me on what secondary school material i should prepare now and bring along to inti (like teachers' recommendations) as i don't want to come back from inti to go back to my school in perak as that would waste time cos will be busy preparing all the applications stuff.

Well, for the transcript(under the secondary school report), it is prepared by your high school counselor or anyone else in charge. Your preparatory centre will fill up your mid year report. You need a recommendation letter from your high school teacher as well. I would strongly recommend a letter of recommendation from your lecturers at your preparatory centre too. (All these under the forms Teacher Evaluation 1 and 2) And you can get one or two additional letters of recommendation for things that you did outside the school. E.g. community service.

[n-w-n]

I can't remember where I've read this, but it said there are two choices regarding whether or not one should take TOEFL:

native speaker -> no need TOEFL
english as a foreign language -> take TOEFL

by definition i'm already considered a native speaker of english; my mother tongue is like my second language...
moreover, my year (SPM2007) learned science & maths in english, can that be considered an english medium course?

btw, for my case, i'm gonna need a letter each from my secondary school's science teacher & humanities teacher, then i'll need another 2 letters from my prep course lecturers, right?

(kinda stingy on forking out extra money on TOEFL, coz i'll be taking IELTS for aussie unis, and i'll only be applying to a handful of US universities)

can someone post a step-by-step guide starting from the test date all the way to your flight? smtg like an "application timeline for dummies"?

[digital_lifeform]

I can't remember where I've read this, but it said there are two choices regarding whether or not one should take TOEFL:

native speaker -> no need TOEFL
english as a foreign language -> take TOEFL

by definition i'm already considered a native speaker of english; my mother tongue is like my second language...
moreover, my year (SPM2007) learned science & maths in english, can that be considered an english medium course?

btw, for my case, i'm gonna need a letter each from my secondary school's science teacher & humanities teacher, then i'll need another 2 letters from my prep course lecturers, right?

(kinda stingy on forking out extra money on TOEFL, coz i'll be taking IELTS for aussie unis, and i'll only be applying to a handful of US universities)

can someone post a step-by-step guide starting from the test date all the way to your flight? smtg like an "application timeline for dummies"?

By definition, you are not an American therefore you need to take the TOEFL.

Depending on the university you will need recommendation letters from specific teachers. It i slisted down on their website or in their form.

[lXl]

by definition i'm already considered a native speaker of english; my mother tongue is like my second language...

btw, for my case, i'm gonna need a letter each from my secondary school's science teacher & humanities teacher, then i'll need another 2 letters from my prep course lecturers, right?

can someone post a step-by-step guide starting from the test date all the way to your flight? smtg like an "application timeline for dummies"?

1. Some Universities do not require you to take TOEFL (if you get a min score in SAT 1- verbal, etc). Email them/look through their websites to identify the requirements. A native speaker is somebody who uses English as a native language (ie English, Americans).

2. Different universities requires a different minimum of rec. letters. Follow their instruction closely. However, there is no harm submitting more than the required number of rec. letters.

3. Application timeline is different for different universities. Again, check their website of a particular university. The information on their websites should be more than sufficient to give you an overall picture of the application process.

[clep]

Many of us are preparing to take SAT I and II tests in the coming months. This would be a place where we could help one another with any problems encountered, ask questions on specific topics, and so on.

Resources (in progress, feel free to add more)

SAT I
http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/newsat/
http://www.number2.com/
http://www.freerice.com (Vocab)
http://www.kaptest.com/myspace/gotgame.html?cid=144370
http://www.flocabulary.com/
http://www.majortests.com/sat/wordlist.php

SAT II
http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/sat2/
http://testprep.about.com/od/satiisubjecttests/SAT_II_Subject_Tests.htm
http://www.sciencegeek.net/Chemistry/taters/directory.shtml Chemistry

Xon: Merged the "preparing SAT" thread with the "FAQ SAT".

[ntyf]

Ah, I was just wondering, if I participate in the MUN as a delegate, is it a substantial thing to be included in my cv?

[capablanca]

By all means, if you think MUN is significant enough since it's kinda an international event, put it there. Position yourself as someone with international exposure etc.

[d3stinydanc3withm3]

Mentioning ur involvement in MUN is definitely a plus. Just elaborate more bout it in the relevant essays...like what...eh...what's that already...ah ya, like what kind of resolutions you proposed and how you defended it etc.

[gnaw]

I plan to take SAT II Bio... is it better to take the Ecology section or Molecular section?

Do the universities look at the subjects I take for SAT2? (I know some unis don't require SAT2) If yes, will they see whether i chose the Ecology or Molecular section?

I've heard (from seniors) that SAT II Biology is difficult, whereas Physics n Chemistry are mostly SPM level. Is it true? But since i want to further studies in bio, isn't it more suitable for me to take biology?

Sorry for all the long-winded questions..please give your advice...

[xinni]

I was being told that some of the US universities provide full scholarship as long as one can get an entry into the respective universities . I am quite interested in these scholarships but the problem is I didn't study ADTP . Instead I study diploma in architecture in one of our private college . So lets say if I want to study my degree in US , can I still apply for these full scholarships by using my diploma result? Or do I have to sit for SAT , TOEFL and so on? What preparation do I have to make in order to secure the full scholarship? Is there any requirements? Kindly post your opinion here . Thanks a lot!

[zzz]

You'll have to apply to the university with your diploma results AND SAT, TOEFL, etc. if they require those. It's not a separate application for the scholarships per se, you apply for it with your application to those universities.

[xinni]

You'll have to apply to the university with your diploma results AND SAT, TOEFL, etc. if they require those. It's not a separate application for the scholarships per se, you apply for it with your application to those universities.

Let's say they require SAT , what subjects do I have to take? Sorry I really have no idea about all these stuff.

[clep]

Personally I think SAT II Bio is on the easy side, just a little more content like evolution, animal behaviour, taxonomy etc added to our SPM syllabus. SAT II Physics introduces quite a few new concepts & formulae, more so than SAT II Chemistry. But if you're going to further your studies in bio, it would probably be a good idea to try SAT II Bio since you've already expressed your interest in it.

When are you planning to take your SAT IIs? Perhaps you could try out diagnostic tests for each of the three subjects and see how you fare/like the test structure. Bio is pretty straightforward, Chem has an interesting T/F/CE section testing conceptual knowledge, and so forth.

[gnaw]

Thanks for your advice.. I'm planning to take SAT2 in November..

[zzz]

It's not a good idea to choose tests on which you think is easiest though, because colleges know which ones are easy, so e.g. an 800 on a Math I test might be less desirable than 750 on Math II. It's the same across different subjects, e.g. languages are on the easy side but literature is generally difficult.

[capablanca]

On the contrary, why jeopardize the chances by picking something harder? Math I might be easier but the curve is definitely not that forgiving on you. So, for Malaysian students, Math II is the easier choice but American universities look otherwise. Same thing with the Science subjects. It might be easy for us but harder for others. The Literature subject applies to the same thing. The only problem one usually has with picking tests like Bio instead of Literature is that, other Asian kids are doing the same thing. It's hard to differentiate that way.

[zzz]

I didn't say pick something harder lol. I just said don't try to play the curve because colleges know which are easier subjects. So if you're interested in Lit go for it.

[ngai]

For me, just go for the ones you think you can do well. I don't see the point of US unis scrutinizing the choice of subjects you take. They generally want to see you do very well on the ones you sit for. Unless of course, your choice of subjects have a profound impact on your admission, eg engineering courses etc.

[Leen]

SAT 1 is more important that SAT 2, I think. For SAT 2, just take those that you are interested in. The points are important of course, but again, they do not guarantee anything. I, for example, took American History for my SAT 2.

When you purchase a book to read, I'll suggest to not use Kaplan. It is by far, the easiest book that I've found on SAT. Try Barrons or Princeton Review.

[colloquial]

Barron's 2400 for SAT is amazing. I found Kaplan's Writing workbook helped me a lot too.

Barron's Math IIC book is outta this world! It's only recommended if you're aiming for 800 though cause it's actually ten times tougher than the real test.

[clep]

A plug for Gruber's Complete Preparation for the New SAT (there's a 2008 edition as well). It's not by any of the well-known companies - the name Gruber brings to mind cartoon characters - but boy, is the book good. I'd recommend it as the first book you use to study for SAT as it gives all the basic and more advanced skills for test taking for math and english, has 5 practice tests, a detailed math section, a detailed grammar section, and solid vocab lists. I even lent it to my brother in Form 3 to read the parts on test-taking skills and he likes it as well.

Barron's writing book is quite good. Their Math IIC is, of course, fab. Bio is solid.

[silent_man]

I am currently doing the ATU ( kind of like the ADFP) programme to study in he US as a freshman next year. Can anybody tell me what do I use for my mid-term scores? Can i use my SPM trials? Or do i require pre-u subjects? FYI-Im already takin the TOEFL, Sat 1 and 2, and also AP

[ngai]

I am currently doing the ATU ( kind of like the ADFP) programme to study in he US as a freshman next year. Can anybody tell me what do I use for my mid-term scores? Can i use my SPM trials? Or do i require pre-u subjects? FYI-Im already takin the TOEFL, Sat 1 and 2, and also AP

The Mid-year report refers to your pre-u half-term results (eg semester exams etc), in this case, your ATU examination results. SPM trials can be treated as additional academic information since you already have your actual SPM results as well.

[silent_man]

The Mid-year report refers to your pre-u half-term results (eg semester exams etc), in this case, your ATU examination results. SPM trials can be treated as additional academic information since you already have your actual SPM results as well.

Can I use anything else to substitute my ATU exam results?
Or am i compelled to use it?

[ngai]

Can I use anything else to substitute my ATU exam results?
Or am i compelled to use it?

Well I assume so because the ATU exams would be your most recent academic achievements prior to college. The universities will require you to submit your most recent exam results to have a better assessment of yourself as a student.

[silent_man]

I'm planning to apply for early decision this coming November. Will my SAT 1 scores suffice since i wil only b taking SAT 2 in mid november?

[gnaw]

Oh my...it seems i got the easiest SAT 2 books...Princeton Review's Biology and Kaplan's Chemistry....and I'm finding it hard!

[GuoSheng]

I'm planning to apply for early decision this coming November. Will my SAT 1 scores suffice since i wil only b taking SAT 2 in mid november?

You should always check with the universities you intend to apply to. Some do accept your November SAT/SAT2 score even if the deadline is Nov 1.

Oh my...it seems i got the easiest SAT 2 books...Princeton Review's Biology and Kaplan's Chemistry....and I'm finding it hard!

Neh, it is very subjective. It depends on individual preferences. So don't worry.
________
MEDICAL MARIJUANA COLORADO DISPENSARIES (http://dispensaries.org)

[gnaw]

Umm..can someone clarify on how to fill in certain sections when registering at collegeboard?

Last Name
I have both a Christian given name and a Chinese given Name, so would it be ok to include the chinese name after my last name in the Last Name blank, as how it is shown in my IC?

High school graduation
Do i put the date of graduation from my secondary school as in my school-leaving cert?

Thanks!

[abyssesour]

what exactly do they mean by 'high school'? is it my secondary school or the current college i'm attending right now? what if i was previously in another college before coming to INTI? should i provide the transcripts from that previous college too?

[Appolo]

high school's secondary school in the uk education system as practiced in most commonwealth countries.

as for transcripts, send in everything you got if you think it'll help your chances.

[sunshineroger]

For Math Level II, can anyone please recommend a few graphing calculators that are suitable and reliable.

[caramel_nut]

For Math Level II, can anyone please recommend a few graphing calculators that are suitable and reliable.you won't need graphic calculator. Normal ones will do.

[ntyf]

hey i'd really, really appreciate if someone can help me out with this: i'm about to take the sat II's in nov/dec but i really cant decide what subs to take. my initial plan was chem/phy/math II which studying i'm perfectly fine with, cause they aren't exactly subs i haven't studied before. but the thing is, i'm afraid that i'm branding myself as too much of a science person, considering that my major's gonna be economics and the fact that colleges tend to pick out those well-versed in both the arts and science.

so is it advisable that i mix it up a little, maybe math II/world history/chem? my concern is at this point in time, i won't have enough time to warm up to relatively new (to me) subs like lit or world/us history so that i'll be prepared enough by the time my papers come around. cause in the end, i won't want my choice of subs to affect my marks in any way, since the marks matter as much as how i brand myself, if not more.

so my question: should i just stick with the original plan or opt for a little diversity?

[ngai]

hey i'd really, really appreciate if someone can help me out with this: i'm about to take the sat II's in nov/dec but i really cant decide what subs to take. my initial plan was chem/phy/math II which studying i'm perfectly fine with, cause they aren't exactly subs i haven't studied before. but the thing is, i'm afraid that i'm branding myself as too much of a science person, considering that my major's gonna be economics and the fact that colleges tend to pick out those well-versed in both the arts and science.

so is it advisable that i mix it up a little, maybe math II/world history/chem? my concern is at this point in time, i won't have enough time to warm up to relatively new (to me) subs like lit or world/us history so that i'll be prepared enough by the time my papers come around. cause in the end, i won't want my choice of subs to affect my marks in any way, since the marks matter as much as how i brand myself, if not more.

so my question: should i just stick with the original plan or opt for a little diversity?

Well my opinion is that if you want to mix up the subject combo abit, and still want to obtain as high a score as possible, then perhaps you might want to consider a language paper. I took Chinese with listening last time around, and got a full score. (It's just standard 3 level chinese). But then again, it's up for you to decide if this subject will be an advantage or disadvantage if you happen to have an advanced background in Chinese. Cos I took Chinese right up till SPM and it didn't seem to work against me.

[Xon]

SAT got chinese? :omg
*first time i notice*

[andrewlza]

hey i'd really, really appreciate if someone can help me out with this: i'm about to take the sat II's in nov/dec but i really cant decide what subs to take. my initial plan was chem/phy/math II which studying i'm perfectly fine with, cause they aren't exactly subs i haven't studied before. but the thing is, i'm afraid that i'm branding myself as too much of a science person, considering that my major's gonna be economics and the fact that colleges tend to pick out those well-versed in both the arts and science.

so is it advisable that i mix it up a little, maybe math II/world history/chem? my concern is at this point in time, i won't have enough time to warm up to relatively new (to me) subs like lit or world/us history so that i'll be prepared enough by the time my papers come around. cause in the end, i won't want my choice of subs to affect my marks in any way, since the marks matter as much as how i brand myself, if not more.

so my question: should i just stick with the original plan or opt for a little diversity?

whichever gives you the better score.

[padfooter]

I was wondering, Im looking into applying to Princeton and I visited their website to check out their essay topics. They do not seem to have specified topics, only the number of essays to be submitted. Are there specific/required topics? What about the word count?

Thanks for the help. PM me or reply to this thread. Thx.

[ngai]

I was wondering, Im looking into applying to Princeton and I visited their website to check out their essay topics. They do not seem to have specified topics, only the number of essays to be submitted. Are there specific/required topics? What about the word count?

Thanks for the help. PM me or reply to this thread. Thx.

There are specific topics. If you check out the Common App Supplement form for Princeton, the essay topic would be stated there. Usually, there are at least 2 options to choose from. As for word count, they would also give a rough estimate of round 500 words or a page's length.

[clep]

Digression: I'm interested in knowing who else from INTEC is taking SAT 2 in November. As of now I know 2 other people doing so. Would be great if we could have some sort of informal study group or something, to help each other out and consolidate our preparations (especially since we won't have the benefit of classes). Just PM me if you are.

[padfooter]

Thanks Ngai. I did check the common applications section on the princeton website but I did not find any topics. Should I be looking under a specific link?

[capablanca]

Well. You can go to the Common Application website itself. Once you click on Princeton option, they will include the supplement question in your application page itself. You don't need to go to the Princeton site to look it up.

[qde]

Hi clep... what subject you register for the SAT2 test in November? I am interested too and would like to join your study group also if it is ok with you to accept me. I need to put in loads of hardwork on my science subjects

I will sms you shortly.

[clep]

Math II, Bio, Chem.

Also a friendly reminder to no one in particular that the deadline for November registration is September 10.

[kaera]

Math II, Bio, Chem.

Also a friendly reminder to no one in particular that the deadline for November registration is September 10.

Don't you mean that the deadline for October is on the 9th of September?

gave me quite a scare there, since I have yet to register for SAT2 in November.

[clep]

My SAT booklet states Sep 10 as the early international deadline - to be used when registering through a SAT International Representative. So for those going through MACEE this is the deadline. Otherwise Sep 26 is the regular deadline..

Sorry for the scare :)

[padfooter]

Thanks Capablanca!

[chenchow]

Digression: I'm interested in knowing who else from INTEC is taking SAT 2 in November. As of now I know 2 other people doing so. Would be great if we could have some sort of informal study group or something, to help each other out and consolidate our preparations (especially since we won't have the benefit of classes). Just PM me if you are.

Do work together and try your best to help one another! That's a great spirit of caring and sharing! Really appreciate your effort, clep! You are definitely showing great positive efforts!

To all ReComers who are preparing for your SAT, good luck!

[silent_man]

hello fellow us bound students!
Me n my friends in uniten (under bnm ATU programme) are taking our Sat 1 and 2...Feel free to contact me for any info, or any plans regarding studying together..
Looking forward to good response...

[sunshineroger]

What can I use as my TOEFL ID? Driver license is out of the question as I have not got one. Is IC applicable?

[abyssesour]

What can I use as my TOEFL ID? Driver license is out of the question as I have not got one. Is IC applicable?

Yes you may use your IC.

[Vulcan_Raven]

With an SAT score of 1900+, is it all over for an Ivy League university application?

There has been a lot of people who asked me to forget about it...
Well, it is always stated that SAT I is just part of the application, but I know there are a lot of people who scored 2000 and above.

Anyways, still gonna go all out for it...

[caramel_nut]

Yes you may use your IC.Hmmm.. the policy might have changed but during my year, they did not accept IC and requested instead for passport for the identification document. Better clarify with the TOEFL testing agency.

[chenchow]

With an SAT score of 1900+, is it all over for an Ivy League university application?

There has been a lot of people who asked me to forget about it...
Well, it is always stated that SAT I is just part of the application, but I know there are a lot of people who scored 2000 and above.

Anyways, still gonna go all out for it...

SAT is just part of the picture, although it is crucial. Getting below 1900+, does not mean you can't get in. And moreover, you still have time to work on and improve on it. It is just middle of September currently. There is still November/December exam for you to resit as well.

Just take an example of Cornell's decision:-
SAT Critical Reading Score
700-800 - 3550/9568 = 37.1%
650-699 - 1483/7060 = 21.0%
600-649 - 956/6396 = 15.0%
550-599 - 257/3379 = 7.6%
500-549 - 154/1867 = 8.3%
400-499 - 42/1141 = 3.7%
200-399 - 0/134 = 0%

SAT Maths Score
700-800 - 4709/16229 = 29.0%
650-699 - 1033/6422 = 16.1%
600-649 - 481/3416 = 14.1%
550-599 - 228/2017 = 11.3%
500-549 - 73/931 = 7.8%
400-499 - 18/488 = 3.7%
200-399 - 0/61 = 0%

You can see that even getting 400+ in SAT Critical Reading and Maths, you would still have chance of getting in, although lower than those getting higher score. Just that the chances are lower. So, try your best to improve your chances, but don't give up. It really depends on your other stuff too.

Good Luck!

Hmmm.. the policy might have changed but during my year, they did not accept IC and requested instead for passport for the identification document. Better clarify with the TOEFL testing agency.

Do use passport if you have a passport. Do give MACEE a call to check and share the info here.

[Vulcan_Raven]

It's better to bring one VALID Passport, or one LETTER OF IDENTITY as supplement to IC...

Some centers are lenient, but there are some very particular about it and might deny you the chance to take the TOEFL.

Got experience with it before....

SAT is just part of the picture, although it is crucial. Getting below 1900+, does not mean you can't get in. And moreover, you still have time to work on and improve on it. It is just middle of September currently. There is still November/December exam for you to resit as well.

Just take an example of Cornell's decision:-
SAT Critical Reading Score
700-800 - 3550/9568 = 37.1%
650-699 - 1483/7060 = 21.0%
600-649 - 956/6396 = 15.0%
550-599 - 257/3379 = 7.6%
500-549 - 154/1867 = 8.3%
400-499 - 42/1141 = 3.7%
200-399 - 0/134 = 0%

SAT Maths Score
700-800 - 4709/16229 = 29.0%
650-699 - 1033/6422 = 16.1%
600-649 - 481/3416 = 14.1%
550-599 - 228/2017 = 11.3%
500-549 - 73/931 = 7.8%
400-499 - 18/488 = 3.7%
200-399 - 0/61 = 0%

You can see that even getting 400+ in SAT Critical Reading and Maths, you would still have chance of getting in, although lower than those getting higher score. Just that the chances are lower. So, try your best to improve your chances, but don't give up. It really depends on your other stuff too.

Good Luck!



Do use passport if you have a passport. Do give MACEE a call to check and share the info here.

Ah, thank you so much for the encouragement. That really gave me a sense of optimism. I think I will finish my SAT II first before considering about retaking SAT I.

About the interview,
1.Will I be penalized if I lack the proper American accent, even if it is delivered clearly and thoughtfully?
2. Is there a time limit like 15 seconds, 30 seconds for response?
3. On campus culture questions, are there trivial-type of questions about the university itself?

Thanks

[jimi7]

Hello...
Anybody knows how to take AP in Malaysia coz I've heard that there's some students taking here.
About SAT 2, how much time do I really need to spend reading or doing the test?

tq,

[andrewlza]

It's better to bring one VALID Passport, or one LETTER OF IDENTITY as supplement to IC...

Some centers are lenient, but there are some very particular about it and might deny you the chance to take the TOEFL.

Got experience with it before....



Ah, thank you so much for the encouragement. That really gave me a sense of optimism. I think I will finish my SAT II first before considering about retaking SAT I.

About the interview,
1.Will I be penalized if I lack the proper American accent, even if it is delivered clearly and thoughtfully?
2. Is there a time limit like 15 seconds, 30 seconds for response?
3. On campus culture questions, are there trivial-type of questions about the university itself?

Thanks

http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2008/9/14/education/1976225&sec=education

no
no
no

[chenchow]

About the interview,
1.Will I be penalized if I lack the proper American accent, even if it is delivered clearly and thoughtfully?
2. Is there a time limit like 15 seconds, 30 seconds for response?
3. On campus culture questions, are there trivial-type of questions about the university itself?

Thanks

Agree with what andrewlza said.

1. Do not use American accent. You shouldn't use American accent at all. Refer to andrewlza's response in the article.

2. No time limit, of course if the interviewer decides to do that, they can do that. Essentially, be yourself.

3. We won't usually do that, although I would say that you should know at least a bit about the university.

[989Lee]

hello, i have some questions about the common application stuff.
1. teacher evaluation is the 'evaluation' part after 'ratings' (where there is a big blank) equivalent to recommendation letter??
2. secondary school report & mid year report-same question with 1.
3. Let's say counselors are required to write something about us, then does it mean we need to submit four altogether? (2 for teacher evaluation, 1 secondary and 1 mid-year)??if this is the case, (i have 3 smk teachers writing for me), then i plan to take two of the letters for teacher evaluation, 1 for secondary, and 1 from my preparatory college for the mid year. any opinion regarding this??
Thank you in advance.

[Vulcan_Raven]

hello, i have some questions about the common application stuff.
1. teacher evaluation is the 'evaluation' part after 'ratings' (where there is a big blank) equivalent to recommendation letter??
2. secondary school report & mid year report-same question with 1.
3. Let's say counselors are required to write something about us, then does it mean we need to submit four altogether? (2 for teacher evaluation, 1 secondary and 1 mid-year)??if this is the case, (i have 3 smk teachers writing for me), then i plan to take two of the letters for teacher evaluation, 1 for secondary, and 1 from my preparatory college for the mid year. any opinion regarding this??
Thank you in advance.

1.Well, I think that Teacher's Evaluation forms are THE 2 Teacher's Recommendations that universities require. Since you can attach a separate sheet to it, that additional sheet will be considered a letter of evaluation/recommendation.
2. I think since there is an Evaluation part for both forms, they each require an recommendation letter.
3. I think it should be submitted together in one package, but it must be sealed in different envelopes. 1 Form 1 Envelope. Because we aren't supposed to see what's written inside, so it has to be sealed by teacher/counselor/principal before being sent to universities. Sometimes if teachers let us hold the completed forms, then we must seal it ourselves.

[sunshineroger]

1.Well, I think that Teacher's Evaluation forms are THE 2 Teacher's Recommendations that universities require. Since you can attach a separate sheet to it, that additional sheet will be considered a letter of evaluation/recommendation.
2. I think since there is an Evaluation part for both forms, they each require an recommendation letter.
3. I think it should be submitted together in one package, but it must be sealed in different envelopes. 1 Form 1 Envelope. Because we aren't supposed to see what's written inside, so it has to be sealed by teacher/counselor/principal before being sent to universities. Sometimes if teachers let us hold the completed forms, then we must seal it ourselves.

Hmm...Does that mean that the teachers who fill the teacher's evaluation form must write the recommendation letter? I thought the evaluation forms and the recommendation letters are two separate stuff altogether.

[Vulcan_Raven]

No, they are the same. The Evaluation part in the Teacher's Evaluation is the column to write your letter of recommendation*(you may attach another sheet of letter to it.)

[Xon]

My question : is it possible to take SAT 1 and SAT 2 from 2 different fiscal year?

Let say i take SAT 1 for fiscal year 2008-2009 and sit for SAT 2 in fiscal year 2009-2010? SAT 1 and 2 doesnt have any due date for the results right?

Another question Can IELTS replace TOEFL? @<hidden>@<hidden>

BTW,i am preparing for 2010 fall admission.

[andrewlza]

My question : is it possible to take SAT 1 and SAT 2 from 2 different fiscal year?


Yes.

Another question Can IELTS replace TOEFL? @<hidden>@<hidden>

Email your colleges.

http://quaintly.net/2008/10/02/pinkpaus-guide-to-us-college-applications-part-1

pinkpau is my hero <3

[chongkeat]

1. How many SAT II subjects should we take? I plan to take two, but will this put me at a disadvantage compared to those who took three?

2. Is the December SAT test scores accepted by unis with a 01/01 deadline?

3. When do I send the application fee waivers? Together with my main application? Or must I send it earlier?



Oh yeah, anyone know how much does it cost to mail to US through Pos Malaysia or Pos Laju?

Thanks a lot.

[Vulcan_Raven]

1. Depends on college. Most IVL or Ivy league Standard require at least 2, and some has certain requirements for the combination of subjects. For example, MIT would require one science and one math. For others, it's advisable to check on the uni websites.

2. I think it is accepted. You have to check with the colleges with this matter. Some require the scores to be sent before the deadline, so you will need to do "Rush Score Reporting' for USD27.00.

3. Fee Waiver should be sent along with your application ASAP. If you login into Commonapp, you do note that some schools require you to send application fees first before your application and supplements can be accepted. Fee Waiver Requests have to be sent by mail to respective schools.

[clep]

Are you sure you can attach your fee waiver request in the Payments section? The last time I checked, there was no space for doing so. One can only check the box for 'Other' in the Fee Waiver Request section. The physical copy still has to be sent by mail.

[Vulcan_Raven]

Sorry for the misguidance.
Really terribly sorry.
It seems that we have to send it by mail.(for most colleges)

The reason why I was confused is because Yale do provide a place for you to upload the document in their supplement.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/raymondtan90/SOXgp3LXxbI/AAAAAAAAAmY/mtqOSeKIyOA/s800/supplement.jpg
Luckily clep reminded me that...

[chenchow]

1. How many SAT II subjects should we take? I plan to take two, but will this put me at a disadvantage compared to those who took three?

2. Is the December SAT test scores accepted by unis with a 01/01 deadline?

3. When do I send the application fee waivers? Together with my main application? Or must I send it earlier?



Oh yeah, anyone know how much does it cost to mail to US through Pos Malaysia or Pos Laju?

Thanks a lot.

1. Strongly advise to take 3 subjects, if you are serious in your applications.

2. Yes. it is accepted, and in fact, if you want to push it, January one could be accepted with a rush score. But only take January, if you really really screw up your earlier ones and you have no choice. Most universities only start evaluating the applications (I mean the Ivy League ones) in late February and March, as it takes a lot of time to sort through all applications and also that is the time for interview to be conducted.

On mailing, normal slow registered mail that takes 2 weeks would cost a few Ringgit, depending on the weight. Should be around RM5-10. Pos Laju is around RM50 or so. Other courier (DHL, Fedex etc) would be RM50-100.

[ntyf]

what if i take my SAT II subs on two different dates? do i wait until i receive my third score and then only report all three to the colleges? or do i send the first two and then send the third one later? this question applies to all colleges, those that require two and three subs.

plus, for the Dec administration, there's no rush reporting needed, is there? the results for Dec are released on Dec 23, so i report the score in my commonapp and collboard will send the results later (doesn't matter that collboard sends after the deadline closes right? cause results take 1-2 weeks to arrive)?

[chenchow]

what if i take my SAT II subs on two different dates? do i wait until i receive my third score and then only report all three to the colleges? or do i send the first two and then send the third one later? this question applies to all colleges, those that require two and three subs.

plus, for the Dec administration, there's no rush reporting needed, is there? the results for Dec are released on Dec 23, so i report the score in my commonapp and collboard will send the results later (doesn't matter that collboard sends after the deadline closes right? cause results take 1-2 weeks to arrive)?

You can send the results after the second sitting (i.e. after your 3rd score). When you send, they will send all of your scores, including SAT1 as well. So, if you are applying for more than 4 unis, you only need to send the extra reports after all SATs are taken.

For your 1st SAT II, no harm just send to 4 unis, so that they have your score early.

You do not need rush scoring.

Most unis only start to evaluate you in mid/late Feb. Jan and early Feb is used to sort through the applications

[chongkeat]

1. Strongly advise to take 3 subjects, if you are serious in your applications.


OK, but what do you think is better for the test:
Math I, Math II, Physics
OR
Chinese, Math II, Physics

What is the level of the Chinese test? Form 3? Form 5? Form 1?
And I don't think there are any books for the Chinese test.

Oh ya, which publisher do you think is the best for Math II and Phy? I heard from some that Barron's is more difficult = better, is it true?


And for the SAT II scores, since we take it twice, we just put the same colleges for the score report to be sent twice, or do the colleges specified in the first test automatically receive all three scores? ( I've read the posts above, but I'm just trying to make sure)

Thanks.

[GuoSheng]

OK, but what do you think is better for the test:
Math I, Math II, Physics
OR
Chinese, Math II, Physics

What is the level of the Chinese test? Form 3? Form 5? Form 1?
And I don't think there are any books for the Chinese test.

Oh ya, which publisher do you think is the best for Math II and Phy? I heard from some that Barron's is more difficult = better, is it true?


And for the SAT II scores, since we take it twice, we just put the same colleges for the score report to be sent twice, or do the colleges specified in the first test automatically receive all three scores? ( I've read the posts above, but I'm just trying to make sure)

Thanks.

it is quite redundant to take two math subjects, though some people still got into top schools with them. Chinese i guess is extremely easy for those who did SPM chinese because even I, who did not learn chinese, can answer the hanyupinyin section. As for Math 2, don't get Barron's, it is a waste of money.
________
Michigan Medical Marijuana Dispensaries (http://michigan.dispensaries.org/)

[chongkeat]

Chinese i guess is extremely easy for those who did SPM chinese because even I, who did not learn chinese, can answer the hanyupinyin section.Pity. I just checked. Chinese is not available for the Dec test. Now starting to regret this last minute rush.......

it is quite redundant to take two math subjects, though some people still got into top schools with them.So, I'll just take something else like Chemistry then....

BTW, who knows the level of difficulty of Chemistry?

As for Math 2, don't get Barron's, it is a waste of money.I dunno then. Kaplan? Mcgraw-Hill?

Actually, I can't find any books at all (save the official ones), not even at Borders (I live in Penang). I think I'll just have to order online.

[kaera]

Im confused about the score reporting here.

We are allowed to choose the schools that we want our SAT results to be sent to till the second monday after testing, right?

Will i still be able to add on schools after the deadline has passed? (provided I pay, of course)

[ngai]

Im confused about the score reporting here.

We are allowed to choose the schools that we want our SAT results to be sent to till the second monday after testing, right?

Will i still be able to add on schools after the deadline has passed? (provided I pay, of course)

Yes, of course. Although it would be cheaper to place the maximum number of schools right from the start.

[chen622]

I took my SAT reasoning test last Saturday. I'd just like to ask if i send my SAT score to certain universities that I won't be applying to this year (Falls 2009 intake) , but intend to apply next year as a transfer student (Falls 2010) , will the respective universities keep my scores until then? Or do I have to send them again next year?

[abyssesour]

hey.. what does 'block schedule' in the secondary school report section mean?

[newell]

Hi there!
Can anyone please recommend the best book for TOEFL-iBT?
Thank you!!

[jimi7]

I wanna ask bout AP test.
I know that it's around April/May every year but I just wanna prepare early.
How hard is the level in comparison to Alevels or IB?

[gman]

hi, basically, i have just a few doubts to clarify. i really appreciate any help that anyone can give me

1. if i get recommendation letters from teachers who have not taught me a subject before, do i still need to ask them to fill in the teacher evaluation form?

2. for my mid year report that will be filled up by my preparatory centre, (INTI, INTEC,....), is it better for me to get a teacher evaluation from a teacher who is currently teaching me or should i just get one from a teacher in my previous secondary school since i have only been in this preparatory centre for 4 months?

thanks a lot.

[chongkeat]

1. if i get recommendation letters from teachers who have not taught me a subject before, do i still need to ask them to fill in the teacher evaluation form?

Don't know, sorry.

2. for my mid year report that will be filled up by my preparatory centre, (INTI, INTEC,....), is it better for me to get a teacher evaluation from a teacher who is currently teaching me or should i just get one from a teacher in my previous secondary school since i have only been in this preparatory centre for 4 months?

You should get your sec. school teacher because s/he knows you more and would probably write a better evaluation.

Take with a pinch of salt, please?

[Vulcan_Raven]

Omg...I bombed my SAT subject test...

Physics-730
Math Level II-700
US history- 680

Sob...Say bye bye to Ivy Leagues...

[chongkeat]

I bombed my SAT I too.... :cry
I only got 650 for my writing! Why.........

Oh, god. I will have to say goodbye to Ivies too, I guess.
I still can't believe I only got 66 out of 80.

I'll just go crawl into a corner and cry, then.

[Butters]

It's not the end of the world...
Failing is the wake up call for you to be better...
Chins up!!!

[clep]

2. for my mid year report that will be filled up by my preparatory centre, (INTI, INTEC,....), is it better for me to get a teacher evaluation from a teacher who is currently teaching me or should i just get one from a teacher in my previous secondary school since i have only been in this preparatory centre for 4 months?

You mean the counselor for the mid-year report?

What I did (suggested by Brown uni) was to put my SMK in the Sec School Report with an smk teacher as the counselor, then INTEC in the mid-year report with a lecturer as the counselor. I think it might be better to get a lecturer from the college mentioned in the mid-year report (after all, you are studying there at the moment). Just my 2 sens.

----------------------

Regarding the SATs, I would suggest the following books for SAT 1 (now that I have taken and received a score for it).

Barrons' 2400
Grubers' Complete Preparation for the SAT (I think that's the title)

Rather under the mainstream test prep radar, but worthwhile. Supplement with plenty of practice tests online (do the free CollegeBoard one - they even score it for you) and you should be fine.

[pinkpau]

Omg...I bombed my SAT subject test...

Physics-730
Math Level II-700
US history- 680

Sob...Say bye bye to Ivy Leagues...

trust me those are fine :) maybe try to pull up your US history. but regardless, low 700s are fine. SAT scores should be the least of your worries when it comes to your application.

[Vulcan_Raven]

Thanks a lot pinkpau, you are always inspiring(especially with the two "bibles" you have published) haha

Well, I hope Admission Officers do keep their words in evaluating the applications on the whole and not just on test scores alone. If based on test scores, Math and Science Geniuses from China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia are going to pawn me big time with their 800 800 800

[pinkpau]

Thanks a lot pinkpau, you are always inspiring(especially with the two "bibles" you have published) haha

Well, I hope Admission Officers do keep their words in evaluating the applications on the whole and not just on test scores alone. If based on test scores, Math and Science Geniuses from China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia are going to pawn me big time with their 800 800 800

haha glad you liked the guides

of course it's all about the overall application :) it's about how well you piece together everything to represent yourself as an individual. my sat 2 scores weren't great either; come to think of it my sat 1 scores could have been better too. but i'm pretty certain that low 700s is fine if you are a stellar candidate in other fields.

if one's essays are boring and dont tell the adcom anything about him/her as a person, their recommendations are lousy or they have no extracurricular achievements to speak of, then even a 800/800/800 and a 2400 for SAT 2 and 1 will not help at all. actually, in that case, neither will 14A1's in SPM.

that's the beauty of the american system :) qualitative, not quantitative!

[chongkeat]

My SAT II is in December. But I'm starting to feel nervous now......
I remembered how I couldn't sleep the day before the SAT I.

low 700s is fine if you are a stellar candidate in other fields.
Oh god, I scored below 700 and yet I am not "stellar" in other fields. Oh, well. Better get pumping on my essay, then. *sigh*

Oh, and do you think there is a difference between applying during lower 6 and applying during upper 6?

[ntyf]

is the dec 21st toefl test score accepted by unis with a 01/01 deadline?

[Vulcan_Raven]

I think it's best to contact the admission officer of your respective universities.
1.Ask them whether it is ok to receive the scores after the 01/01 deadline
2.Do "Rush Score Reporting" for Toefl scores, needs $$ though

[ntyf]

alright i did just that, thanks :) i didn't know there was a rush score reporting for toefl though

[chenchow]

Omg...I bombed my SAT subject test...

Physics-730
Math Level II-700
US history- 680

Sob...Say bye bye to Ivy Leagues...

It doesn't mean end of the world. You can still get in, just that the chances are a little lower. You still have November, December, January SAT to resit and improve yourself!

I bombed my SAT I too.... :cry
I only got 650 for my writing! Why.........

Oh, god. I will have to say goodbye to Ivies too, I guess.
I still can't believe I only got 66 out of 80.

I'll just go crawl into a corner and cry, then.

Don't get too worked out over your 650 in writing. What is your grade for the other 2 subjects?

Essentially, even at 650, you would still have about 10-15% chance of getting into Cornell. :)

hi, basically, i have just a few doubts to clarify. i really appreciate any help that anyone can give me

1. if i get recommendation letters from teachers who have not taught me a subject before, do i still need to ask them to fill in the teacher evaluation form?

2. for my mid year report that will be filled up by my preparatory centre, (INTI, INTEC,....), is it better for me to get a teacher evaluation from a teacher who is currently teaching me or should i just get one from a teacher in my previous secondary school since i have only been in this preparatory centre for 4 months?

thanks a lot.

1. You need at least 2 teachers who have taught you for the teachers' evaluation. You can have more recommendation letters, but those 2 teachers' evaluations are needed.

2. On the teacher evaluation, ideally is have at least 1 from each institution.



if one's essays are boring and dont tell the adcom anything about him/her as a person, their recommendations are lousy or they have no extracurricular achievements to speak of, then even a 800/800/800 and a 2400 for SAT 2 and 1 will not help at all. actually, in that case, neither will 14A1's in SPM.

that's the beauty of the american system :) qualitative, not quantitative!

Fully concur with pinkpau!

is the dec 21st toefl test score accepted by unis with a 01/01 deadline?

More than enough time. They only start evaluating your files in mid February or later.

[Beatles]

I really have some problem.. Although they are TOEFL rush score reporting, but exactly how is it I can request for it? I search everywhere in the TOEFL website but couldn't find any.. I need to rush my score for Cornell ED..

[clep]

Can your TOEFL score be waived by Cornell? Would save you a great deal of trouble.

[chenchow]

I really have some problem.. Although they are TOEFL rush score reporting, but exactly how is it I can request for it? I search everywhere in the TOEFL website but couldn't find any.. I need to rush my score for Cornell ED..

When are you taking your TOEFL?

If I am not wrong, if critical reading/writing is above 670, you are exempted for TOEFL for cornell. Do read the details.

-----
Thanks to a fellow ReComer for sharing this resource.

Some of the resources include:-

-----
1. IvyClassified.com (http://www.ivyclassified.com).
2. FiskeGuide.com (http://www.fiskeguide.com).
3. Raffles Junior College US Applications Guide (http://www.rjc.edu.sg/USapps/StartHere/overview.asp)
4. Liberal Arts College Review (http://www.liberalartscollegereview.com)

If you do know of other resources, feel free to share here too!

----
To all who are applying to Cornell University. Please kindly contact me for the interview. Contact me at chenchow at my gmail account.

Early/Regular Decision:-
Full Name (As per the name submitted to Cornell):-
College in Cornell University Applied:-
Major (if any):-
Email Address:-
Mobile Phone:-
High School:-
Current College:-
(If you would be away from KL for any period of time between November and February, do list down the dates that you would be out of town and can't attend the session).

Thanks.

[Beatles]

No.. My SAT CR score is only 630.. I take my TOEFL on October 26.. Can someone please enlighten me on how to rush my TOEFL score? Thank you.

[gman]

hi, i am kind of in a problem here. i recently found out that the only seats for toefl available from now until the end of the year are only in miri. sadly, i have not registered but i did get 600+ for my critical reading section in the SAT, which if i am not mistaken, may entitle me to an exemption from toefl. i actually would just like to ask if there is a disadvantage if i do not take the toefl?

thanks.

[Vulcan_Raven]

Hi gman,

From what I have seen, some unis do waive TOEFL if you have passed certain scores of Critical Reading in the SAT.

However, most do require though. As phrased by Uni of Chicago website,

"7. I have taken the SAT/GRE/GMAT. Do I have to take the TOEFL/IELTS?
Yes, you do. While the SAT/GRE/GMAT are significant elements of your application to the University of Chicago, they do not specifically address your English language proficiency. So you have to take the TOEFL or IELTS and submit the results along with your other test results."

So, I would say, check the respective universities' website.

IMHO, I don't think there is any disadvantage of not taking the TOEFL. But having good scores in TOEFL certainly won't harm. Even though it is easy, it still is an assessment of a student's language proficiency.

[insertusername]

of course it depends on the college youre applying to

[andrewlza]

hi, i am kind of in a problem here. i recently found out that the only seats for toefl available from now until the end of the year are only in miri. sadly, i have not registered but i did get 700+ for my critical reading section in the SAT, which if i am not mistaken, entitles me for an exemption from toefl. i actually would just like to ask if there is a disadvantage if i do not take the toefl?

thanks.

Write to your universities.



http://tinkosong.com/2007/12/15/for-the-kiamsap-how-to-save-money-in-us-college-applications/

2. Language Proficiency Testing (waivable)

This is optional, in my experience. TOEFL and IELTS are evil money-sucking companies. I emailed the colleges:
————–
To whom it may concern,

I am an international applicant and I scored a 35 on the ACT English section. I speak English at home, and it is also the language I am most proficient in. Can the TOEFL requirement be waived?

Thank you,

Andrew Loh
————————

Responses:
—————————
Duke:
Hi Andrew……ABSOLUTELY!!!! With a 35 on the ACT English section, we
will not need to see a TOEFL score. Thanks for asking.
———————
Yale:
Then don’t worry about it. If your first language is English then don’t worry about the TOEFL.
————————-
Macalester:
We can waive TOEFL. Please once again remind us regarding your request for the waiver after we have received your ACT results and your application.
———————–
Cornell:
The test is waived if students have a score of 670 or higher on the SAT Critical Reading Test.
————————

From my CommonApp:

Note that by definition, my “mother tongue” is Chinese, whereas my “first language”, “language spoken at home” and “language most proficient in” is English, and my “medium of education” is Malay.


P/S Nag: You’re applying to US unis lah. Take lah some initiative. And muka tembok=good. Jangan shy shy.

Another nag: this is the umpteenth time I've answered the same question. It's been covered again and again in the forums; please lah take some initiative and check, even if recom's search function is fugly.

[989Lee]

1) for the writing part(ie the 150-word essay) on the common application, must it been sent online or can i post it?
2) same question for Cornell's supplement essay.

i would appreciate it if you can answer me as soon as possible as i am going for early decision and everything just makes me rush rush rush. thank you in advance for your help.

[Vulcan_Raven]

No hard feelings....

Quote from Pinkpau's blog...

"first of all, : ........... dont tell me to “reply asap” or spam my inbox with hordes of “did you get my email?!” messages. from now on, if i get rude emails from people who dont know basic courtesy and just bluntly ask me questions ...........


secondly, to the lazy people who dont do their own research: just because you read a walkthrough written by an accessible, email-able person, do not for a moment think that you have found an autobot created to answer the most basic questions about the apps process. there is no other way to say this but: DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. i’m so sick of absolutely lazy questions like “what is the columbia application like?”, “what subjects are there available in the SAT 2?”, “can you explain the IB program to me?” hello??? have you not heard of google?? dont be so lazy lah. i and every malaysian who applied to american colleges and gained acceptance, worked HARD at our applications. we did our own research, we read books and articles, we slaved over our essays, we studied like crazy for our SATs; there is absolutely no reason why you should be exempt from doing the same. dont come to us expecting just to take, take and take without putting in any work on your own part. all you need is a couple of hours on the internet to read up on college applications, and INITIATIVE. if you expect to get into the Ivy League without any initiative or without doing any work, then i’m sorry, you are sadly mistaken."

[989Lee]

I have no intention to start an argument on recom. It is just that I strong feel that your reply is aimed at me. Sorry if I am too sensitive, but let me clarify something.

1) for your information, I have filled in everything, except the short answer part for the common application. When I was about to submit my application, an error message popped up and said that the short response needed to be filled in first. So, I was wondering whether I could send it by post. It is my way and don’t ask me why. So, I posted my question here to clarify from you guys. Ask the people I know? Some, who have done it, ( many in fact have not as they are not in a hurry to do so for the RD application), told me that they submitted online. I want clarification from more people so I asked my question here. U may be brave enough to gamble ur future ur future but sorry I m not. I seriously think that the inability to submit things in a proper way will make them have a bad impression on me.

2) Ask admissions officers? I did, of course. but, do you think they only entertain me alone out of so many applicants? Please note now is 29th oct and when they reply, it will be too late, don’t u think so?

3) Why not submit earlier and get a fuss when the deadline is approaching? For your information, I have filled in everything way before today, and only left the short essay part. Why submit earlier if you can still modify it? You may have submitted everything on the 1st of oct, but as I say, I am not as brave as you.

4) There is some unexpected accidents which cropped up today, so I am also wondering whether I can submit Cornell’s supplement by post instead online onot.

5) Ya, I love google and I use it for many things. Of course I did search the website but found none. There are websites, but which one answer my questions? College confidential? I did the same but could not find any answer. Ya, there is one person asking the same question as I did, and that is me.

6) I respect pinkpau and have never asked her to reply to my essay asap.

7) I do think people, if they have questions, should definitely post theirs here on Recom. And please note that the quote u took from pinkpau means that people ask questions at HER, and it is her alone. But, here is recom please, and there are many many recommers--with the aim of “Creating a platform for a community of students to exchange ideas and experiences in students-related issues , scholarship applications, through useful ‘tips & tricks’ and the various connections built with campuses overseas….” Google it urself please. And I found it ridiculous that if people who posted their questions on recom are said to be uninitiative.


And I want to say thank you to you for wasting my time to type this response. No hard feelings.

Xon : Did some paragraphing. Piece of advice to all : Please be more polite. *not intended to anyone* =P

[Eurytos]

Personally, i feel that 989Lee here is in fault and is actually blaming others for her mistakes. If you a going for early decision plan your application earlier and not retaliate to others response posts.

Vulcan Raven is also rather critical of others, 989Lee specifically thanked others in advance for their help and also said that he/she fully appreciates the help given. This forum is to post your questions and help others. So why flare up tempers by posting a fully unnecessary response post ?

[Jim]

Will it be too late if the mid year report for ED applicants reach Cornell in early December??? :(

[Matt]

I have no intention to start an argument on recom. It is just that I strong feel that your reply is aimed at me. Sorry if I am too sensitive, but let me clarify something.

1) for your information, I have filled in everything, except the short answer part for the common application. When I was about to submit my application, an error message popped up and said that the short response needed to be filled in first. So, I was wondering whether I could send it by post. It is my way and don?t ask me why. So, I posted my question here to clarify from you guys. Ask the people I know? Some, who have done it, ( many in fact have not as they are not in a hurry to do so for the RD application), told me that they submitted online. I want clarification from more people so I asked my question here. U may be brave enough to gamble ur future ur future but sorry I m not. I seriously think that the inability to submit things in a proper way will make them have a bad impression on me.
2) Ask admissions officers? I did, of course. but, do you think they only entertain me alone out of so many applicants? Please note now is 29th oct and when they reply, it will be too late, don?t u think so?
3) Why not submit earlier and get a fuss when the deadline is approaching? For your information, I have filled in everything way before today, and only left the short essay part. Why submit earlier if you can still modify it? You may have submitted everything on the 1st of oct, but as I say, I am not as brave as you.
4) There is some unexpected accidents which cropped up today, so I am also wondering whether I can submit Cornell?s supplement by post instead online onot.
5) Ya, I love google and I use it for many things. Of course I did search the website but found none. There are websites, but which one answer my questions? College confidential? I did the same but could not find any answer. Ya, there is one person asking the same question as I did, and that is me.
6) I respect pinkpau and have never asked her to reply to my essay asap.
7) I do think people, if they have questions, should definitely post theirs here on Recom. And please note that the quote u took from pinkpau means that people ask questions at HER, and it is her alone. But, here is recom please, and there are many many recommers--with the aim of ?Creating a platform for a community of students to exchange ideas and experiences in students-related issues , scholarship applications, through useful ?tips & tricks? and the various connections built with campuses overseas?.? Google it urself please. And I found it ridiculous that if people who posted their questions on recom are said to be uninitiative.


And I want to say thank you to you for wasting my time to type this response. No hard feelings.

Lol. Chillax people :) I understand this is applications time and things can get a lil stressful, but just suck in any frustrations la k :)
Anyway, to answer your questions -- I'm guessing you could probably mail it (sorry I'm not too sure because I don't hear of many people mailing their applications), but I would not recommend it for the sake of consistency (since the rest of your CA was done online), and because I don't entirely trust the international snail mail system (some of my school reports and teacher recommendations were not received).
Hope this helps!
Peace.

[ngai]

Yeap, fully concur with Matt. Online submission is always preferred to paper submission. As for the impending Nov 15 deadline, I know it is not far away, but it does not hurt to just simply take your time to ensure that you do things properly. You can even submit the online forms right on the dot and it will not be counted as a disadvantage compared to those who submitted their applications earlier.

[Beatles]

Hey everyone.. Would appreciate if you can help me to answer this question about Common Application..
AND NO ARGUMENT PLEASE!! XD

I am now enrolled in INTI UC. For the Common Application form, there is one part on the "Academics" section that asked us to write about Colleges & Universities.
I am applying to Cornell. Do you think it is wise to write the name of the college there?

Note: I already ask ChenChow about this and he asked me to post it on Recom..

This is because some universities don't consider your appplication if you have attended colleges. Thanks in advance..

[Vulcan_Raven]

Beatles, of course it will be wise to not write anything under the Colleges and Universities column, since you pointed out that some universities don't consider applicants who have attended colleges.

Just treat INTI UC as your secondary school/high school while filling up the forms.

[caramel_nut]

No hard feelings....

Quote from Pinkpau's blog...

"first of all, : ........... dont tell me to “reply asap” or spam my inbox with hordes of “did you get my email?!” messages. from now on, if i get rude emails from people who dont know basic courtesy and just bluntly ask me questions ...........


secondly, to the lazy people who dont do their own research: just because you read a walkthrough written by an accessible, email-able person, do not for a moment think that you have found an autobot created to answer the most basic questions about the apps process. there is no other way to say this but: DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. i’m so sick of absolutely lazy questions like “what is the columbia application like?”, “what subjects are there available in the SAT 2?”, “can you explain the IB program to me?” hello??? have you not heard of google?? dont be so lazy lah. i and every malaysian who applied to american colleges and gained acceptance, worked HARD at our applications. we did our own research, we read books and articles, we slaved over our essays, we studied like crazy for our SATs; there is absolutely no reason why you should be exempt from doing the same. dont come to us expecting just to take, take and take without putting in any work on your own part. all you need is a couple of hours on the internet to read up on college applications, and INITIATIVE. if you expect to get into the Ivy League without any initiative or without doing any work, then i’m sorry, you are sadly mistaken."
dude, chill chill. funny how normally fellow applicants are the ones who first pounce on other applicants while we dinosaurs are totally cool about it. I personally don't see how 989lee's post indicates she is not taking any initiative about her application and since she mentioned that the application is for early app, it's reasonable to get jittery over it.

Anyway, speaking of the 150-word essay, I actually mailed mine to the colleges, though I'd still recommend it to be submitted with the Common App online if at all possible.

Hey everyone.. Would appreciate if you can help me to answer this question about Common Application..
AND NO ARGUMENT PLEASE!! XD

I am now enrolled in INTI UC. For the Common Application form, there is one part on the "Academics" section that asked us to write about Colleges & Universities.
I am applying to Cornell. Do you think it is wise to write the name of the college there?

Note: I already ask ChenChow about this and he asked me to post it on Recom..

This is because some universities don't consider your appplication if you have attended colleges. Thanks in advance..
Just treat INTI UC as your high school. I wrote about this before previously in one of the US threads.

[Jim]

HEY! If the mid year report reach Cornell in early December, will it be too late for ED? Cuz my college cant sent the mid year report any earlier than that!

And who said that if we are doing college level work we cant apply as freshman? Where did you people get that info??? :oh


I thought if we are doing college level work, it will increase our chance even more? Isn't it that way?

Why do we want to say that we are doing secondary school work when we are actually doing college level work? Wouldn't that be rather silly? :nuts

[Vulcan_Raven]

HEY! If the mid year report reach Cornell in early December, will it be too late for ED? Cuz my college cant sent the mid year report any earlier than that!

And who said that if we are doing college level work we cant apply as freshman? Where did you people get that info??? :oh


I thought if we are doing college level work, it will increase our chance even more? Isn't it that way?

Why do we want to say that we are doing secondary school work when we are actually doing college level work? Wouldn't that be rather silly? :nuts

It should be "Grade 12-equivalent" or "Pre-U" work instead of "College-level-work" right? College= University in US. Taylors, INTI UC or INTEC are not "universities" , so the Pre U programs (A levels, ATU preparatory program) are considered "grade 12-level work"

For the ED, I think colleges are not as fussy about that. But do try to send it as early as possible. I personally emailed the admission officers and they said that they will be reviewing the materials in mid-November onwards, so sending your MYR late actually puts you in a disadvantage as they will have less academic performances to judge on.

[Jim]

It should be "Grade 12-equivalent" or "Pre-U" work instead of "College-level-work" right? College= University in US. Taylors, INTI UC or INTEC are not "universities" , so the Pre U programs (A levels, ATU preparatory program) are considered "grade 12-level work"

No la, the kids in INTI UC are doing college level work you know...
Its called the American Degree Transfer Program.. It is not foundation program. Even the admin people in da AUP office also said it is college level work, not foundation. :notrust

[Vulcan_Raven]

erm...ENL101, PSY105, MAT132......well, depends on how you see it la, these courses are actually not that difficult anyway. To say that they are college level is not wrong, but why take the risk of getting disqualified?

Words are that Yale does forbid people who have enrolled in an UNIVERSITY from applying as freshman. I still cannot find about that restriction in Cornell, but nevertheless just email the officers just to be safe.

Oh ya, Jim, why does it take INTI UC so long to send the MYR along with the transcripts? Taking until December is too long.....

[Jim]

HEY! So, if the mid year report reach Cornell in early December, will it be too late for ED? Cuz my college cant sent the mid year report any earlier than that!

This is the third time i ask this question. Someone pls answer ya.. :amuse

erm...ENL101, PSY105, MAT132......well, depends on how you see it la, these courses are actually not that difficult anyway. To say that they are college level is not wrong, but why take the risk of getting disqualified?

Words are that Yale does forbid people who have enrolled in an UNIVERSITY from applying as freshman. I still cannot find about that restriction in Cornell, but nevertheless just email the officers just to be safe.

Oh ya, Jim, why does it take INTI UC so long to send the MYR along with the transcripts? Taking until December is too long.....

Oh cuz they said the results will be available on 21st Nov. Then, they need another one week to process the transcript (whatever that means :notrust)
So, by the time I can actually send the transcript, it is already 28th Nov :(

[Vulcan_Raven]

Jim, ED decisions are going to come out on Dec 15th,
Admission officers begin reviewing from mid November,
Do you think it will be too late to submit on let's say on 5th -10th Dec?

I bet it is...

But, just email admission officers and ask them whether it will be too late..

An added note: INTI UC uses UPS, just request them to use the most expensive UPS package of all to rush the MYR there if everything else failed.

[Jim]

Jim, ED decisions are going to come out on Dec 15th,
Admission officers begin reviewing from mid November,
Do you think it will be too late to submit on let's say on 5th -10th Dec?

I bet it is...

But, just email admission officers and ask them whether it will be too late..

An added note: INTI UC uses UPS, just request them to use the most expensive UPS package of all to rush the MYR there if everything else failed.

Well, i did email them, and they said that the documents must reach their office by end of November to be in time for them to review. But if the MYR and transcript reach them a few days later, would it be alright?

Come to the worst, if i dun send the MYR, will I be automatically disqualified? :(

[pinkpau]

to the folks who were fretting about the American Degree Transfer Program and also if studying ADTP at places like Inti or Taylors should be classified under 'college' or 'secondary school', i was in your exact same position last year!

i took ADTP at Taylors, and was pretty much advised by everyone not to apply to the Ivies, because the Ivies and most top schools dont consider ADTP as a valid Pre-U, which is required of all international applicants. also, most schools dont accept applications from students already enrolled in a degree program, which is what the ADTP essentially is. so if i were to send in my ADTP results, i ran the risk of either a) having the colleges reject me completely on the basis that i was previously enrolled in a degree program, or b) be at a severe academic handicap even if they were to consider my application with SPM only.

i emailed all of the schools i was going to apply to, and most of them gave non-committal answers ("yes we require Pre-U for international students, but just send in your application anyway"). funnily enough, Cornell was the only school that told me flatly not to apply because i was already enrolled in a degree program. and so i didnt. in hindsight, i should have just applied anyway.

regardless.. it's true that ADTP is technically not a Year 12 or foundation program, but you can actually write in and tell them that it's an equivalent. i was lucky because i didnt complete more than one year of ADTP, so my argument was valid. i wrote a letter explaining why i chose to do the ADTP (i liked the subjects, i felt the system would prepare me for the US college system a lot better than the A Levels would, good extracurricular opportunities etc).

then i also got my ADTP program director and deputy program director to write letters furthering my cause. typically, they were very reluctant to write anything that would get them in trouble, so instead of agreeing to write that ADTP is a Year 12 equivalent, they wrote in their letters that ADTP is NOT a year 12 equivalent, but CAN be seen as such. that kinda contradicted what i said in my own letters, but i guess it helped in its own weird way.

my advice would definitely be to come clean about the nature of the ADTP program. technically, yes, you can say that it's a US preparatory program and that you are going to use this as your foundation year / Year 12 qualification, but you should also state that most students generally transfer their credits. you can draw parallels with INTEC, which has a valid US college prep program that ALSO allows for a transfer of credits.

[chenchow]

1) for the writing part(ie the 150-word essay) on the common application, must it been sent online or can i post it?
2) same question for Cornell's supplement essay.

i would appreciate it if you can answer me as soon as possible as i am going for early decision and everything just makes me rush rush rush. thank you in advance for your help.

Do submit online if you can. If you post it, then they need to scan it.

Will it be too late if the mid year report for ED applicants reach Cornell in early December??? :(

It would be too late, since they are supposed to review all your applications and then decide and prepare the offer/rejection/defer letter and get it all ready by mid December.

So, try to reach there by mid November ideally.

Yeap, fully concur with Matt. Online submission is always preferred to paper submission. As for the impending Nov 15 deadline, I know it is not far away, but it does not hurt to just simply take your time to ensure that you do things properly. You can even submit the online forms right on the dot and it will not be counted as a disadvantage compared to those who submitted their applications earlier.

And if you mail in, what they would do is actually to scan it in. So, unless you have good reason to mail in, there is no reason to let the admission officers read the scanned copy.

No la, the kids in INTI UC are doing college level work you know...
Its called the American Degree Transfer Program.. It is not foundation program. Even the admin people in da AUP office also said it is college level work, not foundation. :notrust

The foundation year is essentially Year 12 equivalent.

Well, i did email them, and they said that the documents must reach their office by end of November to be in time for them to review. But if the MYR and transcript reach them a few days later, would it be alright?

Come to the worst, if i dun send the MYR, will I be automatically disqualified? :(

Do remember that the university do have thousands of applicants and not 1 applicant. So, after it reaches their office, it still needs to be processed and then scanned into your folder. So, it is not the moment it reached there, it would be reflected on theour system.

Essentially, they would spend about 10 minutes to review your applications, so only one chance for them to review. So, if yours are reviewed early and your MYR is not yet there, then it would be problematic.

Do request your college to send in MYR with your mid-terms results.

[qde]

Regarding the MYR, if I have the Taylor's 1st semester exam result for Cambridge A Levels, can I use that as my MYR while waiting for the Intec final exam result which will only be out in mid Nov?

And also the counselor and teacher recoms by online, are they invited once only by email or they will need to do the evaluation/recomm depending on how many colleges I applied. Any idea what they request the teachers to submit or just the recomms letters.

[clep]

The teacher's recommendation will automatically be sent to all universities you have added under that teacher in your school forms section. Even if you add the teacher as a recommender for new universities after the teacher has submitted, the new unis will also get the recommendation.

You can actually see the whole Teacher Evaluation form in the downloads section of common app.

[chenchow]

Regarding the MYR, if I have the Taylor's 1st semester exam result for Cambridge A Levels, can I use that as my MYR while waiting for the Intec final exam result which will only be out in mid Nov?

And also the counselor and teacher recoms by online, are they invited once only by email or they will need to do the evaluation/recomm depending on how many colleges I applied. Any idea what they request the teachers to submit or just the recomms letters.

If you are applying for ED, then you can submit your Taylor's one, and once you get the INTEC one, follow up with it. Ideally, it is still to get INTEC to use your mid-term to produce a report.

If you are applying for RD, you should submit both the Taylor's and INTEC one. For RD, they are only evaluating you by mid February. January and early-mid February is to process your document.

[donkay91]

a question on SATII for physics. With just SPM knowledge, would it be sufficient to answer the questions? or would I need A-level knowledge? because I'm planning to drop my sciences in A level next year but I still want to take physics in my SATII. or alternatively could I take tuition outside and still score well?

[yeejietang]

as long as you've had the basics in SPM, you'd do well in SAT 2 physics, i suppose. of course you still need to study extra stuff because some things aren't present in SPM or even A-levels.

get princeton review SAT 2 physics book, or kaplan. they're useful =D i only did a levels physics for 6 months but i found the nov sat OK.

now i'm hoping i get a good score *prays*

[chongkeat]

what about the Chem?

Is it easy too? Which level (Form 4/5/6) is it at?

[Matt]

what about the Chem?

Is it easy too? Which level (Form 4/5/6) is it at?

I found the material covered for Chemistry more advanced than Form 5 compared to the other sciences, so I think there's a lot more Form 6 stuff.
But then again, I also know of other people who took SAT Chem right after Form 5 and did extremely well, so if you do sufficient extra studying you're not really at a disadvantage.

[Jim]

I was told that universities in America like Cornell knows about the AUP program in INTI. And they will understand that if we are applying as freshman, they'll understand that the ADTP or AUP is year 12 equivalent. So we dont have to explain to them about the AUP being our grade 12 and all.

Is it true? :huh

[pinkpau]

I was told that universities in America like Cornell knows about the AUP program in INTI. And they will understand that if we are applying as freshman, they'll understand that the ADTP or AUP is year 12 equivalent. So we dont have to explain to them about the AUP being our grade 12 and all.

Is it true? :huh
the schools that have lots of AUP/ADTP students applying will know about the program, but i think it doesnt hurt for the applicant to put in a little extra effort to explain the program anyway. as long as you dont lie about the program, this can only be helpful. two reasons to start with: 1) for the benefit of any adcom that *doesnt* know of the ADTP/AUP program, explaining the prog would definitely help your cause. 2) even if the adcom does already know about the prog, it's good to show some initiative as well as how eager you are to present a better application :)

[chenchow]

the schools that have lots of AUP/ADTP students applying will know about the program, but i think it doesnt hurt for the applicant to put in a little extra effort to explain the program anyway. as long as you dont lie about the program, this can only be helpful. two reasons to start with: 1) for the benefit of any adcom that *doesnt* know of the ADTP/AUP program, explaining the prog would definitely help your cause. 2) even if the adcom does already know about the prog, it's good to show some initiative as well as how eager you are to present a better application :)

Concur with pinkpau. While the head of the Admission Office may know, it is still good to highlight it, as each admission office might have a large number of admission officers, and they might be new.

And as pinkpau said, no harm explains it.

[kaera]

Funny, I was advised by the University Placement Office (UPO) in INTI yesterday that it was NOT advisable to send in college transcripts as they may view you as a transfer student. Apparently some unis don't accept freshmen who have done college-level work. THe way the officer put it, it seemed like a better idea to send in SPM as the MYR 0.o

However, it has been mentioned above that it should be OK if we explained to them that our college level work is for our year 12. (then again i hear that if you put SPM with 11 years education, you can explain to them the M'sian education system (PTS students would only have 10 years like that D8))

Im not keen on using my college GPA (sure low one...TT^TT) 12As in SPM sounds better than a GPA of 3.3 or lower to me.

[clep]

My 2 blur cents: The university will know that you are not in your SMK any more, but in a post-sec institution, so they would also want to see marks from your pre-u to make sure you have been academically strong all this while, right? Unless you mention nothing about being in INTI at the moment.

[kaera]

My 2 blur cents: The university will know that you are not in your SMK any more, but in a post-sec institution, so they would also want to see marks from your pre-u to make sure you have been academically strong all this while, right? Unless you mention nothing about being in INTI at the moment.

Yeap. Its either SPM as MYR and no mention of college OR college GPA as MYR.

Enlightenment would be greatly appreciated.

[capablanca]

But here's the catch, if you didn't send in your transcript, the admission officer will be wondering what have you been doing for the last past year.

[caramel_nut]

I personally think you should send in your INTI transcripts and explain that you are currently doing the US high school equivalent of coursework. Not sending in your INTI transcripts (hence not having any high school equivalent coursework in your application) will put you at a disadvantage as many colleges require applicants to have 12 years of schooling. Also, take note of capablanca's comment. The admissions officers will be wondering what you did for the past one year if you don't submit any transcripts and don't explain the situation properly.

[yeejietang]

questions:

1. If i mention doing AUP in INTI, i'll put SPM as SSR and then the inti transcript for MYR. But IF i decide not to, what would be the best way to do my 2 reports? SPM trial results for SSR and SPM as MYR? or is it OK if i put SPM for both? because i'm kinda reluctant to use my trial results as i only got a #13 in the whole form. and SPM will be mentioned in the international student supplement anyway so should i diversify the results i choose to send?

2. Is it really OK for us to use college transcript for MYR? i too was told the same thing kaera was (we were in the same venue that time). and what the inti counselor said is that when some seniors last year tried to apply to Berkeley (i think that's what she said), and they mentioned that they are currently doing AUP in INTI, and this page turned up saying 'you're not supposed to be doing this, you're supposed to apply as freshmen bla bla bla...'

i know that it is very much encouraged to use college transcript for MYR because it'll explain what you've been doing for a year and everything but the thing is i'm applying to berkeley. just want to get this clear.

thanks very much =)

[chenchow]

questions:

1. If i mention doing AUP in INTI, i'll put SPM as SSR and then the inti transcript for MYR. But IF i decide not to, what would be the best way to do my 2 reports? SPM trial results for SSR and SPM as MYR? or is it OK if i put SPM for both? because i'm kinda reluctant to use my trial results as i only got a #13 in the whole form. and SPM will be mentioned in the international student supplement anyway so should i diversify the results i choose to send?

2. Is it really OK for us to use college transcript for MYR? i too was told the same thing kaera was (we were in the same venue that time). and what the inti counselor said is that when some seniors last year tried to apply to Berkeley (i think that's what she said), and they mentioned that they are currently doing AUP in INTI, and this page turned up saying 'you're not supposed to be doing this, you're supposed to apply as freshmen bla bla bla...'

i know that it is very much encouraged to use college transcript for MYR because it'll explain what you've been doing for a year and everything but the thing is i'm applying to berkeley. just want to get this clear.

thanks very much =)

What you guys should be doing would be:-

- Use SPM as your Secondary School Report
- Use your current institution one as your Mid Year Report (as that's what Mid Year Report should be)
- And draft a letter to explain that what you are doing is equivalent to Year 12th Education, as Malaysian Education System is 6 years of primary school and 5 years of secondary school. (I know that for those in PTS, you can explain that you are being termed as "genius" by the government and selected to "skip" Grade 4.)

Hope this is clear.