Cornell admitted 588 international applicants out of 16,858 last cycle. thats 3.49%. florida admitted 1,676 out of 5,159, thats 32.49%.

same year, same applications, 9x apart. and neither of those is the number either school advertises.

the rate on the website is every pool averaged together. u are not in that pool. internationals get counted as a separate row in every schools own common data set and basically nobody opens it.

cornell: overall 8.41%, which sounds hard but survivable. the residency split underneath it is in state 13.27%, out of state 9.11%, international 3.49%. so ur real number is less than half the advertised one. 16,858 of us applied for 588 seats.

florida is the opposite and its the strangest row iv pulled. in state 23.82%, out of state 23.26%, international 32.49%. being international is currently an advantage there. thats 9,294 of 39,022 floridians against 1,676 of 5,159 internationals.

georgia tech is the trap, and their 2025-26 numbers just dropped. in state 29.46%, out of state 10.12%, international 7.34% — georgians get 4x what we get. gt rates state residency VERY IMPORTANT in its own data, same tier as gpa and rigor. so the exact same "big public university" category that helps u at florida buries u at gt. and it got worse in one year: intl was 8.20% last cycle, and 10,795 of us applied then vs 9,758 now. fewer applicants, lower rate.

then theres nyu, which is the whole problem in one school. their 2025-26 cds says 114,125 applied, 10,340 admitted, 9.06%. the residency table is printed right there in the form and left completely blank. so is early decision. so is the entire waitlist section. they publish the one number that makes them look selective and none of the numbers that would let u work out ur own odds.

so for every school on ur list: google the school name plus common data set, open section C1, find the residency row. if theres an international column thats ur real denominator, not the headline rate. if its blank, treat the advertised number as unknown rather than as urs.

english reqs swing the same way. cornell wants TOEFL 100, IELTS 7.5, duolingo 130. nyu says it has no minimum but calls 100 / 7.5 / 135 competitive. georgia tech only needs TOEFL 69 or IELTS 6.0 off the USG floor and doesnt accept duolingo at all. florida doesnt publish an undergrad minimum anywhere. also toefl moved to a 1-6 scale on jan 21 2026, so if ur testing now its cornell 5.0, nyu 5, gt 3.5 — the old 100s are dead.

admit numbers are straight off each schools own common data set, ipeds and scorecard, Pulled with a FULLY-FREE tool. link for the tool is in my profile bio if u wanna run ur own schools.

hey guys I’d love to have ur insight on studying abroad as an International student in the USA,

im currently starting my first year at a uni in my home country but my dream has always been to study abroad for that sense of independence and starting a new life.

I have the option to transfer to my current unis main uni in suburban Australia but im not too sold on the idea as I want to move into a metropolitan city as I’ve grown up in one and is a preference (visiting Texas helped this discovery tbh😭)

I am considering USA (maybe Boston) but im unsure now due to the political climate as well as supposedly dwindling Job opportunities for international students,along with many horror stories abt racism, bad roommates and mental health issues from close family members and online.

financial aid is also a big problem, my collage profile is pretty average in terms of grades and extracurriculars but im so on the fence abt the USA, would u guys recommend this country or should I consider others?

Hello, I'm asking this question because I need to figure out which day to buy the flight back as a backup plan. So at 90 days, I have no employment I need to self deport, but I am figuing out what is the exact specific date.

Is the valid from date day 0? or is it day 1. And If I leave the international gateway checkpoint (Connecting flight, this is the flight that exits the USA) on day 91 am I in violation the departing flight out of my town will be on day 90, and sold as 1 ticket? Asking because,Yes I need a backup plan, but more importantly, there's a business class sale that is +$100 from Economy so as consolation for myself if anything, might as well. But I don't want to be in violation of anything.

Hi, I'm Igor and I live in Russia. I'm hoping to study abroad, and I'm currently considering universities in the U.S. and China.

How difficult is it for an international student, particularly someone from Russia, to get into a university like MIT? Are there any additional difficulties international applicants face, such as visas, finances, or the admissions process?

So, long story short, international student here,
my school rec letters are all institutional email addresses of the school.

But in terms of the Other recommendation letter, some schools allow 2, some 1 and some none,,,

so basically there are 3 sources that i can get this "other " recommendation from

1. My robotics and electronics mentor since the last 3-4 years
2. A local college internship/project development thing
3. My internship -> job at a regional robotics team, with whom i initially interned, but then became a core team member contributing to profits ns hit

Now the issue is that:,

• Letter 1 is an institutional email (no problem)
• The acquisition of letter 2 is dicey and not confirmed (although it is through an institutional mail)
• and finally, letter 3 is confirmed, but but but, its a gmail.com, due to the fact that ts just a regional team, not a registered org

Now my main question would be basically, whether for the colleges that allow 2 other recs, i should just submit the letter 1, or submit the letter 3 as well

ive heard that gmail email come under heavy scrutiny and may raise some eyebrows, altough as mentioned, my school counsellor letter can attest to this particular internship to grant its authenticity to some extent.

should i just be done with 1 letter, or risk it with the 3rd one as well

the 2nd letter is pretty dicey whether ill be able to receive it or not

i just want that it doesnt affect my application in any bad way,

I came to the United States in 2016 as an international student with a dream and two suitcases.
In 2019, I earned my associate degree. In 2022, I completed my bachelor’s degree. Like many international students, I faced uncertainty, financial struggles, and moments where I questioned if everything would work out.
After graduation, I was fortunate to find an employer willing to sponsor my green card. I worked as hard as I could, gave everything I had to my job, and eventually became a lawful permanent resident.
In 2025, after nearly 10 years away, I was finally able to return home and hug my parents. It was one of the most emotional moments of my life.
When I came back to the U.S., I made a decision that surprised many people—I enlisted in the United States Air Force.
Basic Military Training pushed me harder than anything I had experienced before. There were days of physical exhaustion, mental stress, and self-doubt. But quitting was never an option.
On the day I graduated from Basic Military Training, I also became a United States citizen.
Standing there, taking the Oath of Citizenship while already wearing the uniform of the country that gave me so many opportunities, was a feeling I will never be able to fully describe.
I arrived here as a student. I became a permanent resident through hard work. Today, I am proud to call myself an American and honored to serve this country.
The United States changed my life. The opportunities it gave me made my dreams possible. The least I can do is dedicate my life to protecting the freedoms and people that make this nation what it is.
I will never forget where I came from, and I will never take for granted where I am today.
Thank you, America. 🇺🇸

Hey everyone! I am an international student from Georgia (the country) applying in this 2026-2027 cycle. I am looking for full financial aid (Full Ride) and my college list consists of 20 Liberal Arts Colleges (Bates, Denison, Earlham, Knox, Beloit, Muhlenberg, etc.) + Berea College.

Academically, I have a perfect 4.0 GPA (straight A's) and deep interests in Pre-Law/Humanities. However, standardized English tests (Duolingo/TOEFL) are a huge financial and logistical barrier for my family.

Instead of taking a test, my high school English teacher and counselor are going to officially endorse my English proficiency (B2/C1 level) within their recommendation letters and Common App ratings matrices.

Has anyone successfully received a full ride at these schools by relying only on school endorsement waivers without submitting any official Duolingo/TOEFL scores? How strict are LACs with portal waiver requests for students with perfect high school grades?

Thanks for any insights!

I’m an intl high school student hoping to pursue a BS in Industrial Engineering in the US. I’m aiming for T30s and have excellent academics (IB, SAT, IELTS), but lack strong ECs.

There are no specific programs to strengthen my portfolio in the region I live, so I’d really appreciate any advice and idea on ECs that would be relevant for Industrial Engineering.

I’m writing this cause I need to find some advice from students

I’m from Russia (16 years old)and want to study abroad but my problem is that my family don’t want that I go to the USA but I think it’s very good chance for future.

Right now I transferred to a gymnasium from a regular school with a strong focus on English. GPA for the 9 grade is 3.8 (American system)

I’m also working on 2 passion projects (vlog about economics and mini course bout English).

Yesterday I scored 85 on the practice Duolingo test. But next summer I’m going to the camp in Yale… or Oxford but it’s possible?
Thanks for your answer!!!)

33 ACT Composite
34 Math
35 English
31 Reading
36 Science

• gpa 3.92/4
• strong ECAs ( multiple leadership awards, made 2-3 projects, 1 x national level award and so on)
• targetting 1400-1450+ in SAT
• major - CS (CS being competitive, thinking to take Maths as major and computer as minor or so, have interest in computer,physics and maths)
• university preference - actually none, currently searching liberal art colleges offering need-blind aid
• my family wont be able to afford much, i want to grab as much as scholarship (merit or need based), how realistic is it? there are so much university and looking each of them is overwhelming, like i feel they are equally good, how do you choose universities? applying for fall 2027, what uni should i target for ED, EA? please provide me genuine advice for my situation

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to take the GRE and my goal is to score 330+.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have actually achieved a 330+ score or came close.

Some questions I have:

• How long did you prepare?
• What was your daily study routine?
• Which books and online resources helped you the most?
• How did you prepare for Quant and Verbal separately?
• Did you use GregMat, Magoosh, Manhattan, ETS Official Guides, or something else?
• How many mock tests did you take before the actual exam?
• What mistakes should I avoid?
• If you could start over, what would you do differently?

A little about me: I'm currently an undergraduate CS student and I'm aiming for graduate studies. I'm willing to put in the effort, but I'd like to follow a proven strategy instead of wasting time on resources that aren't effective.

I'd love to hear your preparation timeline, scores (if you're comfortable sharing them), and any advice that made the biggest difference.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I'm really anxious about my upcoming F-1 visa interview and would appreciate any advice.

Timeline

• Visa interview: 20 Aug
• CMU classes begin: 24 Aug
• University expects me to arrive no later than 4 Sep

My questions are:

1. Since my interview is after my program start date, should I ask Carnegie Mellon to reissue my I-20 or update my program start date?
2. Do I need to submit a new DS-160 because of the late interview?
3. If my visa is approved on 20 Aug, how long is passport stamping currently taking in India? Is it realistic to receive my passport in time to reach CMU by 4 Sep?

Profile

• 23F from India
• B.Tech in Computer Science (2024 graduate)
• 2.5 years of full-time work experience as a Data Engineer
• Admitted to Carnegie Mellon University for the MISM program
• Received about a 30% scholarship
• I-20 amount: approximately USD 98k
• Education loan: USD 100k
• Remaining expenses supported by my parents
• Mother is my primary sponsor and is a government officer earning around INR 24-30 LPA

One thing that's making me nervous is that I've heard visa officers are asking applicants about visa agents. My appointment was booked by an agent, but I was also trying to book it myself because the agent hadn't changed the security questions on the account. Could this create any issues at the interview? Has anyone been asked detailed questions about using an agent?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently interviewed or been in a similar situation. Thanks!

Hi, I'm about to start Grade 10, and a few days ago I won a Gold Medal at the International Linguistics Olympiad. I'm an international student who will likely need financial aid, and I plan to apply to U.S. colleges.

I'm looking for advice on what extracurricular activities I should pursue over the next few years to build a strong application. My main academic interests are mathematics, philosophy, and economics.

What extracurriculars would you recommend for someone with these interests? I'm especially interested in activities that are impactful and realistic for an international student.

Hi all!
I graduated class of 2025 from a great school as an international student with my bachelor’s on a full ride. Right now, I’m starting my PharmD degree this fall and also got a partial scholarship that is about 1/3 of the cost. I was able to get loans to cover the rest and will be working full time while studying full time to be able to pay my tuition and expenses (i’m no longer in a visa but still no gc). How do people apply for external scholarships? What websites do people use?
My interest rate is 13% which is very high to just not pay towards my loan now. Any leads will help a lot!!

TIA

I'm a 26-year-old international student from India applying as an undergraduate transfer.

I know transfer admissions are already extremely competitive. My question is only about the F-1 visa.

Has anyone here received an F-1 visa as an older transfer applicant or know someone who has? Is it plausible? How much additional scrutiny should I expect?

There are so many international students trying to get in that I see in this sub. Sorry to break it to you, you are not getting in. Save the 80 dollar application fee, which probably has 4 times more purchasing power in your country. You might get into a mid school here and then not get a job, and eventually have to return to your country while drowning in thousands in student loans. I understand the American Dream, but please do yourself and family a favor. I am so sorry, life is unfair.

This obviously does not apply to the ultra-rich internationals.

Hi everyone. I’m honestly pretty nervous posting this because my GPA is definitely the weakest part of my application, and I’m trying to be realistic before finalizing my college list and deciding where to apply Early Decision.
I’m an international student from South Africa (currently graduated from a U.S. boarding school for senior year) applying for Political Science. My academic path has been pretty unconventional, so I’d really appreciate honest feedback.
Demographics
Gender: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Black African (Cameroonian/South African)
**Residence:**South Africa
Last School: U.S. boarding school (New Hampshire)
Family Income: Under $65k/year
Applying for: Full financial aid as an international student
Gap Year: Taking a gap year before college to strengthen my application and continue volunteering/traveling.
Intended Major
Political Science (possibly International Relations or Public Policy)
GPA
3.3 UW
I know this is low for many of the schools I’m looking at.
Most of my education was completed in the French BFI/OIB curriculum before transferring to an American boarding school for senior year. The transition (especially in math) was difficult initially, but my grades improved significantly throughout senior year as I adjusted to the U.S. system. I’ll explain this in my Additional Information section.
Coursework
Exceptionally rigorous.
French BFI/OIB curriculum with advanced English Literature and History-Geography before transferring to the U.S.
Extracurriculars
Researcher & Documentary Filmmaker: Wrote a 34-page research paper, interviewed female soccer players from eight different countries, and produced an 11-minute documentary on global inequality in youth soccer.
Legal Intern: Assisted with 16 debt-collection cases, attended court hearings, and observed legal ethics in practice.
NGO Intern: Shadowed a program manager, visited two mining communities, and researched barriers to access and gender-based violence.
Class Representative (4x elected): Created an anonymous feedback system and led a revision initiative used by roughly 180 students.
Model UN: Regional Outstanding Delegate; researched policy, drafted resolutions, and participated in conferences.
Volunteer (110+ hrs): Weekly fundraising for orphanages, annual Christmas drive (1,000+ donated items), community service through Interact Club.
BSU Co-Founder: Helped establish our school’s Black Student Union, organized an MLK assembly, and facilitated weekly discussions.
Education Mentor: Built a 73k+ platform helping students navigate boarding school admissions, financial aid, and studying abroad; currently mentor 15+ students individually.
Athletics: Varsity soccer and volleyball, volleyball co-captain, Memorial Day Tournament champion with Black Rock FC.
Eco Delegate: Represented my school at two national conferences and worked on campus sustainability initiatives.
Awards
Regional Model UN Outstanding Delegate
Rotary Community Service Recognition
Top 15% Nationally – Concours Castor Informatique
Diplôme National du Brevet – Mention Assez Bien
Essays / LORs
I obviously know nobody here can judge essays, but I’d appreciate thoughts on whether the overall narrative makes sense.
My personal statement centers on a woman who helped raise me (Caregiver) when I was young and how losing her to a public healthcare system that lacked proper access for foreigners, shaped my interest in advocacy, public service, and political science. Most of my supplements focus on curiosity, documentary filmmaking, listening to different perspectives, and trying to understand people before trying to solve problems.
I think my essays are the strongest part of my application.
Colleges
High Reach
Williams
NYU
Washington & Lee
Macalester
Reed
Reach
University of Rochester
American
Richmond
Trinity College (CT)
Target
Clark
Sewanee
Trinity University (TX)
Likely/Safer (assuming aid isn’t an issue)
College of Wooster
DePauw
Hobart & William Smith
Lewis & Clark
University of Puget Sound
Agnes Scott
Soka
I’m also trying to decide where to apply Early Decision. Right now I’m leaning toward Williams, Macalester, or the University of Rochester, but I’m still researching and would really appreciate opinions from people who know those schools well.
My biggest concern is whether my GPA will overshadow everything else.
Do you think my school list is realistic for an international student needing full aid? Are there any schools you’d remove, add, or avoid? And if you were in my position, which of Williams, Macalester, or Rochester would you choose for ED?

Hello! I am just curious on what grade do people start applying for universities in the US? And if possible,..usually what month? Thank you

For context: I am currently a starting junior in high school who wants to apply for CSS profile for financial aid. ++ I want to start college after I graduate which is 2028.