The US has some amazing universities and colleges that fit every score, be it SAT/ACT or GPA. The following is a list of some of the best universities to consider based on a spectrum of academic scores.
NOTE: Unweighted GPA or High School GPA is scored out of 4 and Weighted GPA is scored out of 5.
1. MIT-
The best school for engineering studies includes about 4,524 undergraduate students of which about 9% are international students, from 116 countries, given its low acceptance rate. It requires you to provide your TOEFL test scores, as IELTS in not accepted, along with two SAT Subject Tests (one in math and on in science). The middle 50% score range of admitted students (25th and 75th percentiles) shows that, being one of the most competitive schools in the world, the SAT Math score is 780 and 800, while the SAT English Reading and Writing score is 720 and 770, respectively. The recommended TOEFL (iBT) score is a composite of 100, with at least 23 in each section and the recommended TOEFL Paper-Delivered Test (PBT) score is a composite of 600. For the TOEFL revised Paper-Delivered Test (rPDT) the recommended score is, again, at least 23 in each section.
The Undergraduate Programs offered include Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nuclear Science and Engineering- to name a few. Here, about 70% of undergraduates declare Engineering as their major. MIT publishes the total price of living and tuition fees per undergraduate student as more than $70,000, but it strives to make generous scholarships and aids available to you; about 6 out of every 10 students receives MIT need-based aid. The average expense it calculates comes out to be about $23,000 per student after availing aids.
The MIT Student Financial Services website provides more information.
Stanford University admits about 2,085 undergraduate students, out of which 10.7% are international citizens representing 60 countries. The SAT middle 50% test scores include Maths section score of 700-780 and English Reading & Writing section score of 690-760. The ACT middle 50% test score is 32-35. The TOEFL is recommended by the school but it says that there is no minimum requirement to it; each application is studied on case-by-case basis. The school expects recommendation letters that unveil your ‘intellectual vitality’ and essays that withhold your ‘genuine voice’. It also takes interest in your extracurricular and non-academic interests which portray your potentials. Try to get an experience of exceptional depth in one particular passion rather than getting your hands on everything and being average in all of them. The school claims to have offered approximately 70% of its students with some form of financial aid and paid an average of $13,600 towards their bills. The Financial Aid website provides all the information to prospect students.
3. University of California, Berkley-
Out of the total 15,567 undergraduate students, UCB admits 1,341 international students representing 74 countries. The students need to provide a SAT with essay or ACT with Writing along with a SAT Math Subject 2 as well as a SAT subject test in science. The average SAT composite score (25th and 75th percentiles) is 1420-1480, Math section scores are 640-750 and the English Reading & Writing section scores are 640-730. The middle 50% ACT score is 33-34. The average GPA (unweighted) is 3.93. The admit rate, therefore, is a mere 8.7% for international applicants. It also requires TOEFL or IELTS scores. The school claims to provide eligible families with incomes below $80,000 to pay no tuition fee under UC’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. It also offers grants, scholarships, work-study aid, and loans for financial assistance, whose information is given on its Types of Aid website.
4. University of Colorado Boulder-
The middle 50% of the admitted students here have a SAT composite score of 1320-1480. The ACT composite of middle 50% of admitted students is 30-34 and have a high school GPA of 3.88-4.0. The minimum TOEFL score required is 83, with writing sub score of 19 or higher or an IELTS of 6.5, with writing sub score of 5.5 or higher. The Programs offered include Computer Science Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Aerospace Engineering Sciences, Chemical Engineering, etc. The college estimates the total cost for two semesters including tuition and fees, accommodation (on-campus), and books and supplies as $59,312 for international students. The information on financial aids and scholarships is given on Cost and Financial Aid website.
5. University of California, Davis-
Of the total 29,379 undergraduate students, about 12% are international students. The university requires a TOEFL iBT score of 80 or better, Paper-based TOEFL score of minimum 550 or better, and revised Paper-delivered test score of minimum 60 or better. The IELTS score is also accepted with a 6.5 or better band score. UC requires applicants to report a SAT/ACT score along with two SAT Subject Tests (preferably in science and maths) for admission. The admit rate for freshmen is 43.6%. The GPA (weighted) required is 3.92-4.23, while the unweighted GPA is that of 3.71-3.96. The composite SAT score required is 1240-1450, with Math section score of 620-770, Reading & Writing section score of 590-680 and SAT Essay score of 15-18. The ACT composite score required is 26-32 with ACT English Language Arts score of 24-30. Scholarships are provided only if the applicant has a GPA of 3.4 or better. The university claims to provide 71% undergraduates with financial aid and loans, with average award of $21,289. About 93% of all new freshmen live on campus, according to UC Davis Student Profile.
MSU middle 50% of enrolled freshmen in 2017 had a SAT composite score of 1120-1290, the evidence-based Reading and Writing score of 510. The ACT composite score is 23-28, with a sub score of 18 or higher on English section. The TOEFL iBT score should be 79, with no score below 17, and paper-based test score of 550, with no score below 52. The IELTS score required is 6.5 or higher. 13% of the incoming 7,950 students in the freshman class are international students. The average GPA of freshman class of 2017 had a high school GPA of 3.5-3.9. The university calculates the tuition fee, books and supplies, transportation, insurance, and accommodation expenses to total at an average of $61,644 for a 9-month academic year. It claims that 70% freshmen received aids. The MSU Office of Financial Aid website provides additional information.
ASU’s Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering requires its students to have a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 79 or a score of 550 in the TOEFL paper-based test or 213 on the computer based test. The IELTS minimum composite score is 6.5. A minimum SAT composite score of 1210, with minimum score of 560 in Math section and 580 on English Reading & Writing section, or an ACT composite score of 24, with 24 on ACT Math and 21 minimum in ACT English, or 3.00 minimum ABOR or unweighted GPA is required for admission. ASU claims to provide 80% of students with some form of financial assistance every year. Your total cost of attendance and other expenses can be calculated on the Financial Aid and Scholarship Services website of ASU. Scholarships are also provided at the Engineering school of ASU.
Non-academic activities are also a crucial part of your Application. So, stressing over your scores would only lead to anxiety. Your SOPs, LORs, and interests in co-curricular activities play an important role in getting you a college. Better be a jack of all trades and not a master of one; do not only concentrate on your scores.
Good luck!