Those requiring financial assistance often face a different level of competition at schools that grant assistance to international students. Many schools will not grant scholarship aid to international students. Ask your school to provide a description of the educational environment in which you have studied. Because you come from their respective regions, they are already predisposed to your candidacy. You can help them by making sure that your strengths are well documented, your interests are highlighted, your program is rigorous, and your grades are strong.
Most colleges agree that the best predictor of success in college is performance in high school.
Many colleges will argue that standardized test scores are also good predictors of performance. For these schools, the SAT II Subject Tests and ACTs are important measures of achievement. Used together, the academic record and standardized tests form an accurate measure of future success for students in college. The admission staff at selective colleges do an excellent job of researching different academic environments. They accomplish this with information provided by high schools that profile the available curricula, as well as the level of competition and educational aspirations among its students.