r/IntltoUSA

I came to make a reddit post to see external views of what I'm about to get myself into, if anyone can drop advice for me (To make this WORK).

I want to know how good of a shot do I have:

My name is Ryan, live in London
British and Irish passport. 21 years old. Wants to begin study civil engineering/construction management.
I do look a little middle eastern, I'm not white blond hair (perfect US stereotype) though I look after my appearance well dressed and professional. Fluent English born and raised.

I want to study in the US either 4 years in university
Or
2 years collage transfer to 2 more years in university (to save costs that way)
Fall semester 2026

Land a job in civil engineering or construction management after I grad? How hard is that as a international student.

Would it help if I told you were I'm looking to move (options)
Texas
Michigan
New York
California (expensive)

If i can land a job that's great right?

I'm done with the UK i want to move outta here. How good is my path? I don't want to deal with UK and the rain and misery i want a new life and start a family in the long term.

I can use this path as a good stepping stone.
Perhaps marry someone along the way.

NO ONE TOLD ME

I grew up here since i was four - not even joking - i didn't move back once

i'm dependent on my parent's visa and by the time I apply to college, theres no chance i'm getting a green card

I thought i would still be considered a normal student - not international?? wtfwtfwtf help me

My GPA is atocious - well not really - but this year i got a bunch of As and Bs - its currently a 3.75 (i'm a sophomore)

i'm a national competitor and winner in extracurriculars like debate, art, and science.

I'm so mad - this means my chances of getting into UMICH, or T20S just wwent down by so much

can someone give advice on how to make my college app even better?

i know theres like actual admissions officers and counselors on this reddit - can u guys help me out?

Hello readers,

I am an international student and will be applying for Fall 2027 admission cycle later this year. I am done with my 1st year Master's program with a cumulative GPA of 3.73 (3.6 in 1st sem and 3.86 in 2nd sem). I had a pretty rough undergrad (cumulative GPA of 3.1) due to psychological and mental health issues which went undiagnosed and am yet to fully recover, though I was in top 5 of my class of 30.

I have a few achievements here and there and some research experience like I had done a poster presentation in an international conference, won 2nd prize in a state-level quiz, a year worth of research experience in undergrad during my thesis which eventually lead to a 1st author paper, cleared a highly competitive entrance exam to get into a prestigious university for my masters and now in a decent lab with a decent PI with whom I can get a publication and later by the time of application will be working in another Pl's lab with decent repu and connections.

But ik I am not an exceptional or outstanding student to write home about but since last few years I am trying to show constant improvements but idk if that matters anything to admission committees. am worried about my low GPA and in dilemma whether to take GRE or no to offset it. I don't know where do I stand and how I can improve my chances in the meantime. I am searching for good research groups rather than schools and most of those groups are in T20 schools of particular major not overall. Given the current geopolitical and brutal admission cutoffs by US administration and my low ug GPA and not so competitive Masters GPA, I fear I may not pass this cycle of admissions.

If anybody of knowledge/experience can guide me through this, it would mean a lot to me and I shall remain indebted. Thank you for reading and time.

I'm an international student gearing up for the Fall 2027 admissions cycle (applying around Nov/Dec 2026), and I’m wondering if I stand a realistic chance at Top Tier US universities based on my academic profile.

Here is a quick breakdown:

SAT: 1590

GPA / Transcript: 88/100 cumulative. In my country's local curriculum, anything above an 85 is considered "excellent." However, I have an extreme upward trend: my senior year GPA is 96/100, taking advanced coursework like Calculus, Modern Physics, Modern Chemistry, and Modern Biology. Roughly converted to US standards with context, it’s around a 3.7/4.0.

School Context: My school does not offer AP, IB, or A-Levels. It’s a standard national curriculum.

The AP Strategy: Since my school lacks rigor on paper, I am self-studying and registered to take AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics C: E&M, and AP Statistics in May 2027. I will be listing these as "Planned" on my Common App.

I do have some solid ECs that align with my interests, but right now, I really want to know if my academic profile passes the initial screening at elite/Ivy League schools despite the lower cumulative GPA and lack of completed APs at the time of application.

Does the 1590 SAT + extreme upward trend + planned self-study APs make up for the 88 cumulative GPA in an international context?

Would love to hear your honest thoughts. Much love!

So I recently read an online article about the graded written paper, and it said it should correlate to my intended major. Is this true because I do have this good comparative essay I am working on in my AP Lit class, but I do not have a specific essay pinpointing my area of focus.

Please let me know your thoughts!

I have a full tution scholarship and housing scholarship in USM. The housing scholarship is for 1st year only and full tution for 4 years. Is it worth it to study biology/biomedical science in USM.

I got into Beloit College with very good aid and scholarship and committed there. However, I just got into Università Bocconi in Italy. I'm still thinking that I should go to beloit since the jobs in the US are much better than ones in europe. Am I making a bad choice for turning down a much more prestigious uni in Bocconi for a location advantage in the US?

Question in the title. I’m a US citizen. Goal of becoming a doctor in the USA without having to deal with IMG-related barriers?

Hey every1 i hope u all re fine ♡

(It took me toooo much courage to open up yet here i am)

I took my Baccalaureate last year Bac2025 in morocco ( economics ) i got 19.08/20 in the National exam itself with an overall 4.0 gpa nd all my high school transscripts are +18/20, i got the incredible opportunity TechGirls 24'bd since then i had been dreaming about studying in the USA, yet i didn t apply to any cauz i didn t had the money to pass the SAT nd travel to the exam location, I couldn t pay the fees for application nd even the fees to translate administrative papers ( my dad is a cleaner my mom is unemployed) i was a minor back th' i couldn't work somewhere ( just to put u in context <:) .. However i did as my family told me i applied to a "prestigious" uni in Morocco nd got accepted nd now i m just back home for summer break after my freshman year .. now i ve saved some money ( from my merit scholarship) nd i can take nd pay the SAT ( I LL WORK AS WELL IN A CALL CENTER) .. i felt the urge to apply at least thinking i ll just act like this was a gap year nd that s it .. yet reading ABOUT THE DAMN TRANSFER THING FELT LIKE DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOUSE IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY ( trynna hold my tears y'all ) becauz i want ivy unis nd i have less chance .. especially that my freshman grade will not be that " PERFECT" even if The grades gonna be released soon ( idk my grade yet but ik it s bad ) i got really depressed this school year nd i felt like M A WAISTED POTENTIAL.. I GOT THE HIGHEST GRADE IN THE ENTIRE REGION YET HERE I AM ... besides studies i have a black belt in karate (: soo that uk im not studying 15hrs a day ... I GENUINELY DON T KNOW WHAT TO DO SHOULD I APPLY FOR FULL 2027 ANYWAY OR I LL JUST LOSE THE VERY NEEDED AMOUNT OF MONEY ( ND TIME CAUZ IF SOO I LL STUDY DAY ND NIGHT LIKE A DOG FOR THE SAT) .. or should i give up for now nd wait until master as my dad say ( EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT HURTS) .. is there ANYWHERE else ANYTHING ELSE i can do ..

I REALLY NEED UR HELP GUYS .

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting here. I’d like to know if you think I should leave the French high school—I’m currently in 10th grade—to spend two years studying for the International Baccalaureate (IB) in the United States. I’d like to know if this is a real opportunity for my education, since I don’t really thrive in the French system and I already spent my 7th grade in the United States.
Thanks for your response :)

I'm writing this because I know that this subreddit is filled with international students with the same dream to study in the States with a full ride. This year, I was one of those students that experienced it. I got into a T-20 with a full ride and was waitlisted at a few of the ivies, so here are some of my thoughts.

My journey began in March 2025. I made my Common App account and began researching about what it takes and what I need to get into a university in the US as an international student. I wasn't like the students whose feeder schools prepared them for everything starting freshman year. I didn't even know what extracurriculars were when I began applying.

First and foremost: Do not expect anything.

Please understand that universities in the US do not owe you anything. You should not be expecting a scholarship or any money from them. Most universities accept international students FOR their money. If you want a scholarship, you genuinely need to be one-of-a-kind. It's a huge investment, and you need to prove to them that you belong. Go into this journey with the mindset of "I'll do my best, and I understand that I won't get anything in return."

Second: Research.

When I say research about the universities you apply to, I mean spend hours. We all are tempted to use AI these days to write essays, but I promise you it won't get you anywhere. Learn about the schools you're applying to -- why do you want to go there? what do they provide for you? what makes them special? Are you just applying to Harvard because you want the name or you want to grow as a person?

Third: Ignore the depressing stories

When I first joined this subreddit, I kept reading the same old stories of "rejected from everywhere as an international student." Of course, like you guys, I thought to myself "No way I'll get in. If these people got rejected with better stats and ECs, I don't stand a shot." I was rejected from a bunch this cycle, but I managed to get into a T20 with a full-ride and was waitlisted at two ivies (all it takes is one btw). If I had listened to the comments on reddit saying "getting in as an intl is impossible" and didn't apply, I wouldn't have gotten in. This does not mean to just shoot your shot and hope. It means to give it a try even if it might seem hard.

Fourth: The real win is what you learn along the way.

Even if I had not gotten in anywhere this cycle, the things I learned about myself from all the essays I wrote were genuinely eye-opening. I became more mature, and I made mistakes that taught me new lessons. Most importantly, though, I learned who I truly was as a person.

Fifth: Your story is just as important as your grades.

I had an alright SAT score and mid ECs (just a bunch of things I like doing in my free time). I think what truly got me in was my story. Show the university who you really are. What makes you different from the thousands of applicants that apply?

There's so much I could say, but know that its hard. Even if it is, you won't lose anything if you try.

If you want it bad enough, do not find shortcuts. At the end of the day, do what you can and leave the rest up to the admissions officers. If its meant to be, it'll happen. If not, the fact that you thought of applying shows that you're an ambitious person who'll do big things in life.

Hii everyone

I went to USA on F1 visa for master's studies, then came back home after 2 months (got homesick and health issues) I came home and then e-mailed my masters advisor that i came back because of so and so reasons.

I am again applying for a PhD program,

Visa Stamp is still valid for more years,

Will there be any issue at visa interview or at point of entry at airport?

What you suggest ?

Looking forward for help.

Thanks

Do you personally know any student on F1 who actively or even occasionally earns from youtube monetization ? How strict are the rules regarding this?

I am in tears. Like straight up crying for the past week and I'm beyond lost now. I'm not even an emotional person and this is the first time I've cried in literal years, but nothing feels real anymore.

In March I got my acceptance to Harvard University and couldn't have been happier. I've grinded my ass off throughout highschool and did everything in my power to get into a prestigious college.

After working so hard for so long and being extremely burnt out, the acceptance finally gratified all my efforts. I didn't boast about my acceptance, only told a few close friends and my family of course. Somehow, my guidance counselor found out about my acceptance (I didn't tell her), and eventually teachers and some other students came up to me and congratulated me for getting accepted. It was a huge deal as I was the only person from my small school to ever get in.

The reason I'm saying all this is because last week I was emailed that my offer was rescinded for "discrepancy of moral integrity". When applying to Harvard, I didn't include some of the past disciplinary behaviour I did. I was once suspended for allowing some friends to cheat off my tests on multiple occasions. I didn't include it because it was in Grade 10 and I didn't think it mattered anyway, however I guess someone snitched...

Now I'm completely heartbroken. I do have offers from some Canadian schools but I withdrew a lot of them after I got into Harvard. My options now are Waterloo SE, mac health sci, and queens health sci. They are great programs but no where near Harvard's level and I feel like a failure. I'm not even that passionate about med, but mac health sci is like the most prestigious Canadian program so idk if I should go for that.

I know this all sounds like a troll and trust me it feels unreal even to myself. I'm happy to answer any questions and clear up anything if needed. Please give me advice as to where I should commit.

Hi, I’m considering a masters at Avila University Arizona as an international student and would really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s already there. Any insight on your experience would be helpful! Feel free to comment or DM me.

Should I mention the organisation I volunteered at as an hs student?

https://preview.redd.it/8ebzmywbbx1h1.png?width=648&format=png&auto=webp&s=2b55ef78e8e0dede6cd2501b6bf1ce590b697a7d

Hey! I'm a intl gap year student who is working in her Personal Statement Essay and would love if someone that has experience give me feedback.

Thank you!

Hello everyone, this is my first Reddit post.

I am an international student who finished Master's Physics studies in Germany. As I used to live in the US attending school, I was looking to do a PhD in the states.

I was aware that most graduate schools in the US have the December deadline. At the end of March, I found an interesting professor whose research fits well with my interests. So I contacted him and he responded to me by saying we should do a video call. During the video call, he asked me to present on my previous research experience and he introduced more about his research group. And then he said he would ask the graduate school coordinator of the department to ask whether it's still possible for me to apply. A few days later, he emailed me saying that I can still apply for the Fall 2026 admissions even though the deadline was back in December, 2025.

So I was very excited and went on to apply to the central graduate school. The only missing application document was TOEFL exam. Even though I explained that my studies were entirely in English and I graduated from secondary school in the US, the central graduate admissions office was adamant that I take the TOEFL, since I am not a citizen from an English speaking country and my undergrad wasn't in the states (even though it was taught in English). So, I took care of that in April. I had to take TOEFL and submit the scores to them. So it took a while for my application to be complete and it was complete at the end of April.

To ask when I might learn about the result, I asked the professor by email and he said it could take another month from now that they can make admission decision - due to uncertainty in federal research funding (I'm quoting him). The Fall semester starts in August and I would need i-20 and visa to study there, so the timeline seems too tight even if they accept me.

From my understanding, most applicants apply by December and get their decisions by February or March, and April 15 is usually the deadline to inform the school whether you will attend or not. So, my application now is well beyond this point and I don't think I'm competing against other applicants. The professor enabled me to apply to their graduate school and I applied. Now he is saying there is uncertainty in federal research funding and this delay in admission decision, I don't understand. Has anyone had similar situations before, where you applied outside of the usual application period?

My field is in Materials Sciences and Engineering. What do you guys think about this situation? It's uncertain and I have faced a lot of rejections in the past from Europe PhD positions (which are basically like applying for jobs). So, I don't have the same enthusiasm anymore as I used to and am just tired of applying for PhDs at this point.. I'm thinking about not even pursuing PhD now.

Anyone doing this path? I want to apply for associates in nursing at a community college but everyone is advising me against community college as it will be hard to get student visa.

Any guidance will be much appreciated 🥲