At IvyWise, we stand in full solidarity with all students affected. We firmly believe that international students are an essential part of the fabric of U.S. higher education; they are not political pawns or mere statistics — they are crucial contributors to U.S. higher education and to society at large. International students enrich classrooms, foster global collaboration, fuel innovation, and strengthen the U.S.’s role as a global leader. Their presence is not only valuable — it is vital.

High school students across the U.S. aren’t the only ones trying to navigate the often-confusing college application process — students around the world are, too. And many are thinking about coming to the U.S. for their higher education. Open Doors reported that 1,057,188 international students were enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities during the 2022-23 academic year, which was 5.6% of the total student population. 

For many international students, taking the TOEFL exam is one of many steps on their radar for the U.S. college admissions process. Many colleges do require TOEFL scores as part of their international application review process, so it’s important to do your research and see what the policy is at every school on your best-fit list.

The U.S. admissions process is very different from other systems around the world, and for international students, especially those from China, it’s important to understand how U.S. admissions works and what to keep in mind when applying.

Starting Early and Working Smart Can Help International Students Get Ahead on Standardized Tests

By Richard, IvyWise Master Tutor

When it comes to getting a great score on the ACT or SAT, the process of preparing and studying for the exam can seem quite complicated, especially if students are applying from abroad and aren’t familiar with the test. Instead of stressing out, know it can be done—as long as students learn about the exam and create a testing strategy.