Expert: Bruce - 6/1/2008

Question
Dear Mr. Bruce,
I am from Panama and I'm planning to study in the US.
I have already taken the TOEFL (I scored 101 in the iBT), and the SAT's(600 in reading, 550 in math and 570 in critical writing.)
I would like to know how do universities take into consideration SAT scores for an international non native English speaker.
My GPA is around 3.8, I'm in La Salle School of Panama and I'm in the top ten students.
I'm graduating on December 2008, I'm planning to study Chemical Engineering, maybe in Rice University, or Purdue or somewhere else, depending on how good or bad my scores are.

Thank for your help.  

Answer
Hi Diana,

American colleges will take into account your grades and the quality of your school when they review your file.

Your TOEFL score is fine and for a non-native speaker, your SAT scores are pretty good. The national average here is 1020, so you are well above that.

If you want to do science in college, you should take the SAT subtests in math, physics & chemistry. I think these schools will want those.

Here are a few other schools you may wish to look at:

Rensaellear Tech, Troy NY
Clarkson University, NY
Lehigh, PA
University of Rochester, NY
Louisiana Tech
Florida Inst of Technology

Best wishes as you pursue your college dreams.

Bruce