{"id":1386,"date":"2026-04-03T12:32:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solomonadmissions.com\/?p=1386"},"modified":"2026-04-03T12:33:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:33:36","slug":"how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/","title":{"rendered":"International Student Admissions Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Requirements, English Proficiency, and Application Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Quick Overview<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Applying to U.S. colleges as an international student is similar to the process for domestic applicants, but there are added considerations. You may need to plan earlier for standardized testing, English proficiency exams, travel documents, and financial documentation. Colleges may also evaluate your academic record differently and may offer limited financial aid. Understanding each school\u2019s expectations can help you build a stronger, more realistic application strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Applying as an International Student<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most colleges in the United States welcome international students. While the application process is nearly the same as for American students, there are a few things you need to consider if you are an international student. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An international student is generally defined as someone who does not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Start the application process early<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Start the application process early, preferably in your second year of high school. You may need to take several exams as part of your application process, and some of them may not be offered frequently in your region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may need to plan for the SAT or ACT, as many U.S.-based colleges will ask for one of these standardized tests. You only need to take one, so determine early on which exam best suits you and is most readily available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many U.S.-based colleges will also require an English proficiency exam such as the TOEFL or IELTS. Some institutions may waive this requirement if your language of instruction during high school was English, but requirements vary by school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your curriculum, colleges may also consider AP, IB, A-Levels, or other formal exam results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Understand English proficiency requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

English proficiency is one of the most important additional requirements international applicants may face. Do not assume all schools follow the same policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review each college\u2019s admissions website carefully so you understand whether you need to submit English testing, whether you may qualify for a waiver, and what level of proficiency the college expects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Research travel documents if you plan to visit campuses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Starting early may also be necessary if you need passports or travel visas to visit colleges in the U.S. before applying. Visiting a campus is not required, but it can help you determine which school or type of school is the best fit for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you cannot visit a campus in person, do as much online research as possible. Virtual information sessions, student panels, admissions events, and campus tours can all help you better understand the college and its community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Reach out to the international admissions specialist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each admissions office typically has someone who works specifically with international applicants. Contact this person and ask any questions you have about the application process, required documents, English proficiency, financial aid, or transcript evaluation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also ask whether there are local alumni in your area you can speak with. Many institutions also have student ambassador programs, including current international students who may be able to answer questions and share their experiences. In some cases, you may even be able to connect with a student from your home country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Know that international students may be evaluated differently<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

International students are often evaluated somewhat differently from American students. One reason is that foreign transcripts are not always easy to interpret in a U.S. admissions context. As a result, colleges may place somewhat heavier emphasis on standardized testing or other externally benchmarked academic results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your educational system, this could mean greater attention to SAT or ACT scores, AP or IB results, A-Levels, or other formal exams. Demonstrated English proficiency may also play an important role in the evaluation process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Remember that there is no national admissions standard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike in many countries, there is no single national standard used to apply to colleges in the United States. Each institution has its own priorities, its own review process, and its own understanding of what makes a student a strong fit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why it is especially important to research each school carefully. You should understand what that college values, why it is a good fit for you, and why you would be a good fit for the institution. Those ideas should come through clearly in your supplemental essays and other application materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Be realistic about international acceptance rates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is not accurate to look at a college\u2019s overall admissions rate and assume it applies equally to international students. At many selective institutions, the admit rate for international applicants is lower than the general rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if a school generally admits 15% of applicants, the admit rate for international students may be much lower. Colleges also do not admit by country. If there are only a limited number of places for international students, those seats are shared by applicants from around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This makes it especially important to build a balanced college list with a range of selectivity and affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Research financial aid policies very carefully<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Only a small number of colleges offer substantial financial aid to international students. If financial aid will be a factor in your decision, research each college\u2019s policies very carefully before applying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, international students must show that they can pay for the full cost of attendance for their entire undergraduate career. Colleges are also required to provide cost information, often through a net price calculator or a published cost of attendance page. Reviewing these figures early can help you avoid wasting time on schools that are not financially realistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Understand what happens after admission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you are admitted to a U.S. college and decide to enroll, you will typically need an F-1 visa and an I-20 form in order to study legally in the United States. After you commit to a college, the school will provide the documentation and instructions needed to complete that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means your work is not entirely done once you receive an offer of admission. Be prepared to complete immigration and enrollment steps promptly after you make your final college choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A U.S. citizen studying abroad does not usually apply as an international student, but it is still wise to start early because some of the same logistical challenges can apply, especially around test scheduling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like personalized guidance, schedule a consultation with Solomon Admissions Consulting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally published November 2020. Edited and updated by one of our Admissions Consultants before being republished in April 2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What counts as an international student in U.S. college admissions?<\/strong>

In general, an international student is someone who does not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.<\/p> <\/div>

Do international students have to take the SAT or ACT?<\/strong>

Many U.S. colleges ask for the SAT or ACT, though policies vary by school. You only need to take one of the two if testing is required.<\/p> <\/div>

Do international students need to take TOEFL or IELTS?<\/strong>

Many colleges require proof of English proficiency through exams like TOEFL or IELTS, though some schools waive this requirement if your high school instruction was in English.<\/p> <\/div>

Are international students evaluated differently from domestic applicants?<\/strong>

Often, yes. Colleges may have more difficulty interpreting foreign transcripts, so they may place more weight on standardized tests or other externally benchmarked academic results.<\/p> <\/div>

Can international students get financial aid from U.S. colleges?<\/strong>

Some can, but the number of colleges that offer significant aid to international students is limited. Many schools expect international applicants to demonstrate the ability to pay.<\/p> <\/div>

Should international students contact the admissions office directly?<\/strong>

Yes. It is a good idea to contact the international admissions specialist and ask questions about application requirements, transcript review, English testing, and available resources.<\/p> <\/div>

Are published acceptance rates accurate for international applicants?<\/strong>

Not always. At selective schools, international admit rates are often lower than the overall published acceptance rate.<\/p> <\/div>

What visa do international students need after being admitted?<\/strong>

Students who enroll at a U.S. college typically need an F-1 visa and an I-20 form. The college will provide the documentation needed after admission and enrollment.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Requirements, English Proficiency, and Application Tips Quick Overview Applying to U.S. colleges as an international student is similar to the process for domestic applicants, but there are added considerations. You may need to plan earlier for standardized testing, English proficiency exams, travel documents, and financial documentation. Colleges may also evaluate your academic record differently and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":9533,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-admissions","category-international-admissions"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nComplete Guide for International Students Applying to US colleges.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Applying to a US university as an international student is different from applying as a US applicant. Here are our top tips on applying to US universities.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Complete Guide for International Students Applying to US colleges.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Applying to a US university as an international student is different from applying as a US applicant. Here are our top tips on applying to US universities.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Solomon Admissions Consulting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/solomonadmissions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-03T16:32:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-03T16:33:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"924\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Philana Tenhoff\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ConsultSolomon\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ConsultSolomon\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Philana Tenhoff\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Philana Tenhoff\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/2b6944f83647d2b2530ca2bebdc0ca5d\"},\"headline\":\"International Student Admissions Guide\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-03T16:32:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-03T16:33:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1349,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"College Admissions\",\"International Admissions\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/\",\"name\":\"Complete Guide for International Students Applying to US colleges.\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-03T16:32:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-03T16:33:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"Applying to a US university as an international student is different from applying as a US applicant. Here are our top tips on applying to US universities.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226718838\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226737839\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226750665\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226789775\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226816043\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226827698\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226838784\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226852640\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg\",\"width\":1640,\"height\":924,\"caption\":\"International Student Admissions Guide\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"International Student Admissions Guide\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/\",\"name\":\"Solomon Admissions Consulting\",\"description\":\"College Admissions Consultant & Coaching Services\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"Solomon Admissions\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Solomon Admissions Consulting, Inc.\",\"alternateName\":\"Solomon Admissions\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/solomonadmissions.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/08\\\/solomon-admissions-logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/solomonadmissions.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/08\\\/solomon-admissions-logo.jpg\",\"width\":500,\"height\":102,\"caption\":\"Solomon Admissions Consulting, Inc.\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/solomonadmissions\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/ConsultSolomon\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UC7XHzRS394_wUivW39kAuDg\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/solomonadmissions\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.threads.com\\\/@solomonadmissions\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/2b6944f83647d2b2530ca2bebdc0ca5d\",\"name\":\"Philana Tenhoff\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/solomonadmissions.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/cropped-Philana-Tenhoff-Senior-Undergraduate-Admissions-Consultant-96x96.webp\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/solomonadmissions.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/cropped-Philana-Tenhoff-Senior-Undergraduate-Admissions-Consultant-96x96.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/solomonadmissions.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/cropped-Philana-Tenhoff-Senior-Undergraduate-Admissions-Consultant-96x96.webp\",\"caption\":\"Philana Tenhoff\"},\"description\":\"Former Associate Director of Admissions at MIT Former Associate Director of Admissions at Macalester College Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Macalester College Former Admissions Counselor at St. Olaf College 3 Years in MIT Admissions 9 Years in Macalester Admissions 4 Years in St. Olaf Admissions 20,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated Philana earned her Bachelor\u2019s degree from St. Olaf College and Master\u2019s degrees from St. Mary\u2019s University in Minnesota. With over 16 years in admissions, she has a track record of building relationships, creating accessible education policies, and increasing diversity in student bodies. Her career includes roles at St. Olaf College, Macalester College, and MIT, where she focused on student recruitment, application evaluation, multicultural programs, and strategic policy development. Philana's efforts notably increased diversity at Macalester College and involved key advisory roles at MIT. Prior to joining Solomon, she also worked as an Independent Educational Consultant, aiding students in gaining admissions to top universities.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/author\\\/philanatenhoff\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226718838\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226718838\",\"name\":\"What counts as an international student in U.S. college admissions?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"In general, an international student is someone who does not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226737839\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226737839\",\"name\":\"Do international students have to take the SAT or ACT?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Many U.S. colleges ask for the SAT or ACT, though policies vary by school. You only need to take one of the two if testing is required.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226750665\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226750665\",\"name\":\"Do international students need to take TOEFL or IELTS?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Many colleges require proof of English proficiency through exams like TOEFL or IELTS, though some schools waive this requirement if your high school instruction was in English.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226789775\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226789775\",\"name\":\"Are international students evaluated differently from domestic applicants?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Often, yes. Colleges may have more difficulty interpreting foreign transcripts, so they may place more weight on standardized tests or other externally benchmarked academic results.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226816043\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226816043\",\"name\":\"Can international students get financial aid from U.S. colleges?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Some can, but the number of colleges that offer significant aid to international students is limited. Many schools expect international applicants to demonstrate the ability to pay.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226827698\",\"position\":6,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226827698\",\"name\":\"Should international students contact the admissions office directly?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. It is a good idea to contact the international admissions specialist and ask questions about application requirements, transcript review, English testing, and available resources.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226838784\",\"position\":7,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226838784\",\"name\":\"Are published acceptance rates accurate for international applicants?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Not always. At selective schools, international admit rates are often lower than the overall published acceptance rate.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226852640\",\"position\":8,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.solomonadmissions.com\\\/in\\\/post\\\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\\\/#faq-question-1775226852640\",\"name\":\"What visa do international students need after being admitted?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Students who enroll at a U.S. college typically need an F-1 visa and an I-20 form. The college will provide the documentation needed after admission and enrollment.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-IN\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Complete Guide for International Students Applying to US colleges.","description":"Applying to a US university as an international student is different from applying as a US applicant. Here are our top tips on applying to US universities.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Complete Guide for International Students Applying to US colleges.","og_description":"Applying to a US university as an international student is different from applying as a US applicant. Here are our top tips on applying to US universities.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/","og_site_name":"Solomon Admissions Consulting","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/solomonadmissions\/","article_published_time":"2026-04-03T16:32:53+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-03T16:33:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1640,"height":924,"url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Philana Tenhoff","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ConsultSolomon","twitter_site":"@ConsultSolomon","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Philana Tenhoff","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/"},"author":{"name":"Philana Tenhoff","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/#\/schema\/person\/2b6944f83647d2b2530ca2bebdc0ca5d"},"headline":"International Student Admissions Guide","datePublished":"2026-04-03T16:32:53+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-03T16:33:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/"},"wordCount":1349,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg","articleSection":["College Admissions","International Admissions"],"inLanguage":"en-IN","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/","url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/","name":"Complete Guide for International Students Applying to US colleges.","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg","datePublished":"2026-04-03T16:32:53+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-03T16:33:36+00:00","description":"Applying to a US university as an international student is different from applying as a US applicant. Here are our top tips on applying to US universities.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226718838"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226737839"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226750665"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226789775"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226816043"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226827698"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226838784"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226852640"}],"inLanguage":"en-IN","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-IN","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/International-student-admissions-guide.jpg","width":1640,"height":924,"caption":"International Student Admissions Guide"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"International Student Admissions Guide"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/","name":"Solomon Admissions Consulting","description":"College Admissions Consultant & Coaching Services","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/#organization"},"alternateName":"Solomon Admissions","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-IN"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/#organization","name":"Solomon Admissions Consulting, Inc.","alternateName":"Solomon Admissions","url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-IN","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/solomon-admissions-logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/solomon-admissions-logo.jpg","width":500,"height":102,"caption":"Solomon Admissions Consulting, Inc."},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/solomonadmissions\/","https:\/\/x.com\/ConsultSolomon","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC7XHzRS394_wUivW39kAuDg","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/solomonadmissions\/","https:\/\/www.threads.com\/@solomonadmissions"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/#\/schema\/person\/2b6944f83647d2b2530ca2bebdc0ca5d","name":"Philana Tenhoff","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-IN","@id":"https:\/\/solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cropped-Philana-Tenhoff-Senior-Undergraduate-Admissions-Consultant-96x96.webp","url":"https:\/\/solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cropped-Philana-Tenhoff-Senior-Undergraduate-Admissions-Consultant-96x96.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/solomonadmissions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cropped-Philana-Tenhoff-Senior-Undergraduate-Admissions-Consultant-96x96.webp","caption":"Philana Tenhoff"},"description":"Former Associate Director of Admissions at MIT Former Associate Director of Admissions at Macalester College Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Macalester College Former Admissions Counselor at St. Olaf College 3 Years in MIT Admissions 9 Years in Macalester Admissions 4 Years in St. Olaf Admissions 20,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated Philana earned her Bachelor\u2019s degree from St. Olaf College and Master\u2019s degrees from St. Mary\u2019s University in Minnesota. With over 16 years in admissions, she has a track record of building relationships, creating accessible education policies, and increasing diversity in student bodies. Her career includes roles at St. Olaf College, Macalester College, and MIT, where she focused on student recruitment, application evaluation, multicultural programs, and strategic policy development. Philana's efforts notably increased diversity at Macalester College and involved key advisory roles at MIT. Prior to joining Solomon, she also worked as an Independent Educational Consultant, aiding students in gaining admissions to top universities.","url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/author\/philanatenhoff\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226718838","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226718838","name":"What counts as an international student in U.S. college admissions?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In general, an international student is someone who does not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.","inLanguage":"en-IN"},"inLanguage":"en-IN"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226737839","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226737839","name":"Do international students have to take the SAT or ACT?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Many U.S. colleges ask for the SAT or ACT, though policies vary by school. You only need to take one of the two if testing is required.","inLanguage":"en-IN"},"inLanguage":"en-IN"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226750665","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226750665","name":"Do international students need to take TOEFL or IELTS?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Many colleges require proof of English proficiency through exams like TOEFL or IELTS, though some schools waive this requirement if your high school instruction was in English.","inLanguage":"en-IN"},"inLanguage":"en-IN"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226789775","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226789775","name":"Are international students evaluated differently from domestic applicants?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Often, yes. Colleges may have more difficulty interpreting foreign transcripts, so they may place more weight on standardized tests or other externally benchmarked academic results.","inLanguage":"en-IN"},"inLanguage":"en-IN"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226816043","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226816043","name":"Can international students get financial aid from U.S. colleges?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Some can, but the number of colleges that offer significant aid to international students is limited. Many schools expect international applicants to demonstrate the ability to pay.","inLanguage":"en-IN"},"inLanguage":"en-IN"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226827698","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226827698","name":"Should international students contact the admissions office directly?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. It is a good idea to contact the international admissions specialist and ask questions about application requirements, transcript review, English testing, and available resources.","inLanguage":"en-IN"},"inLanguage":"en-IN"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226838784","position":7,"url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226838784","name":"Are published acceptance rates accurate for international applicants?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Not always. At selective schools, international admit rates are often lower than the overall published acceptance rate.","inLanguage":"en-IN"},"inLanguage":"en-IN"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226852640","position":8,"url":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/how-applying-as-an-international-student-is-different\/#faq-question-1775226852640","name":"What visa do international students need after being admitted?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Students who enroll at a U.S. college typically need an F-1 visa and an I-20 form. The college will provide the documentation needed after admission and enrollment.","inLanguage":"en-IN"},"inLanguage":"en-IN"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1386"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9534,"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1386\/revisions\/9534"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}