Besides TOEFL, What Else Do US Universities Look At?

Besides TOEFL, What Else Do US Universities Look At?

Many international students spend months preparing for the TOEFL, achieve their target score, and then discover that their English proficiency score is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. US university admissions — especially at selective institutions — use a "holistic" review process that considers your entire profile. Understanding what this means in practice is essential for building a competitive application.

This guide explains every component that US admissions committees evaluate, how they weigh different factors, and what international students specifically should know about each one.

What "Holistic Admissions" Actually Means

Holistic admissions means that no single factor determines whether you are admitted. A perfect TOEFL score will not compensate for a weak GPA, and a stellar GPA will not overcome a completely blank extracurricular profile. Admissions officers evaluate how all components fit together to form a picture of who you are, what you will contribute to their campus, and whether you are likely to succeed academically.

For international students, this is both good news and challenging news. Good, because it means your unique background, perspective, and experiences have genuine value in the process. Challenging, because it means you need to present a strong, coherent profile across multiple dimensions, not just excel on a test.

Academic Performance: GPA and Course Rigor

GPA: The Foundation

Your academic record — grades over multiple years — is typically the most important single factor in admissions decisions. It represents sustained effort and ability, which is why admissions offices weight it heavily.

For international students, GPA evaluation is complicated by the fact that grading systems vary dramatically across countries. An "A" in one system might correspond to 90%+, while in another system, 70% might be considered excellent. Admissions officers at institutions that regularly accept international students are generally familiar with different grading systems, but it helps to provide context.

If your school does not use a 4.0 GPA scale, your application should include an explanation of your grading system, ideally through your school counselor's report or school profile. Some students also include a credential evaluation from agencies like WES (World Education Services), which converts foreign grades to US equivalents.

Course Rigor: Challenging Yourself

Beyond raw grades, admissions committees evaluate the difficulty of the courses you took. A student with a slightly lower GPA who took the most challenging courses available (AP, IB, A-Levels, or the equivalent in their national system) is generally viewed more favorably than a student with a perfect GPA in easier courses.

For international students, this means admissions officers want to see that you challenged yourself within your educational system. If your school offers advanced tracks, specialized programs, or additional qualifications, taking advantage of them matters.

Upward Trends

If your grades improved significantly over time, this is generally viewed positively. A student who struggled in 9th grade but earned top marks by 11th grade demonstrates growth, resilience, and maturity. If your transcript shows this pattern, your essay or counselor recommendation can provide context for the trajectory.

Extracurricular Activities: Depth Over Breadth

US universities place far more emphasis on extracurricular activities than most international systems. The Common Application provides space for up to 10 activities, and your involvement outside the classroom is a significant part of your evaluation.

What Counts as an Extracurricular

Essentially anything you do outside of required coursework: sports, music, art, debate, student government, volunteering, religious activities, family responsibilities, employment, research, personal projects, community organizations, clubs, tutoring, and more.

What Admissions Officers Look For

Depth and commitment. Participating in an activity for three or four years with increasing responsibility (member, then leader, then president) is much more impressive than joining five clubs in your senior year. Admissions officers can tell the difference between genuine engagement and resume padding.

Leadership. This does not mean you need a title. Leadership can be demonstrated by organizing an event, mentoring younger students, starting an initiative, or taking responsibility within a group. The key is showing that you made things happen, not just that you showed up.

Impact. What difference did your involvement make? Did you raise money for a cause, teach a skill, organize an event that brought people together, create something that did not exist before? Concrete outcomes are more persuasive than vague descriptions.

Authenticity. Do your activities tell a coherent story about who you are and what you care about? A student passionate about environmental science whose activities include ecology research, a nature photography project, and volunteering at a conservation organization presents a clear, believable narrative. A student who lists debate club, volleyball, art club, coding camp, and French club without any clear thread may appear scattered.

For International Students Specifically

Some extracurricular traditions differ across cultures. If your country does not have the same club culture as US high schools, that is fine. Family responsibilities (caring for younger siblings, working in a family business), community involvement, religious activities, and self-directed projects all count. Admissions officers understand that opportunities vary by context.

If you have achievements that are nationally or regionally recognized in your country (academic olympiads, national competitions, published work), these carry significant weight.

Essays and Personal Statements

The Common App Essay

This 250-650 word essay is arguably your most powerful tool for distinguishing yourself. It is your opportunity to show admissions officers who you are beyond numbers and lists.

The seven Common App prompts are intentionally broad, covering topics like a background or experience that defines you, a time you overcame a challenge, a topic that captivates you, a time you questioned a belief, and others. You can also write on any topic of your choice.

What works: Specific, vivid storytelling that reveals your values, thinking process, or growth. The best essays often focus on small moments — a conversation, an observation, a realization — and use them to illuminate something larger about who you are.

What does not work: Listing accomplishments (that is what your activity list is for), telling admissions what you think they want to hear (they can tell), writing about a topic you do not genuinely care about (it shows), or using overly formal or flowery language (be clear, be honest, be yourself).

International student advantage: Your cross-cultural experience gives you a perspective that domestic students cannot replicate. The experience of navigating between languages, cultures, and identities; the challenges and insights of being an outsider; the decision to pursue education far from home — these are inherently interesting and meaningful topics. But they must be specific to you, not generic reflections on cultural difference.

Supplemental Essays

Many universities require additional short essays. The most common — "Why [School]?" — requires genuine research. Mention specific programs, professors, research opportunities, or campus organizations that attract you. Explain how they connect to your goals. Generic statements ("I want to attend [School] because of its prestigious reputation and diverse community") are immediately recognizable and unpersuasive.

Letters of Recommendation

Teacher Recommendations

Most selective universities require two teacher recommendations. These letters provide an outside perspective on your academic ability, intellectual curiosity, classroom engagement, and personal qualities.

Choosing recommenders. Select teachers who know you well and can speak to specific qualities with concrete examples. A teacher who can describe how you think, not just that you got good grades, writes the most valuable letters. Ideally, choose teachers from junior year (most recent, most rigorous) in subjects relevant to your intended major.

International considerations. If your teachers are not comfortable writing in English, some schools accept letters in other languages with certified translations. However, if your teacher can write in English, a letter that captures your qualities in their own words — even with imperfect English — is generally preferable to a translated version that may lose nuance.

Counselor Recommendation

The counselor provides a broader view: your context within your school, your academic trajectory, any challenges you have faced, and your character as known to the school community. In many international schools, the "counselor" role may be filled by a homeroom teacher, advisor, or principal. The key is that this person can speak to your overall profile and provide context.

Standardized Tests Beyond TOEFL

SAT and ACT: The Test-Optional Landscape

Since 2020, many US universities have adopted test-optional or test-free policies for the SAT and ACT. However, the landscape is shifting — some highly selective schools have returned to requiring these tests starting from the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.

For international students, the question is: Does submitting SAT or ACT scores help your application? Generally, if your scores are strong (above the school's 50th percentile for admitted students), submitting them strengthens your profile. If your scores are below the median, applying test-optional may be strategically better.

SAT vs ACT: The SAT focuses on evidence-based reading, writing, and math. The ACT covers English, math, reading, and science reasoning. Take practice tests for both and see which suits you better. Most universities accept either, with no preference.

Subject Tests and AP Exams

While SAT Subject Tests were discontinued in 2021, AP exam scores (if you have access to AP courses) can strengthen your application, particularly scores of 4 or 5. Some international curricula have equivalents (A-Level scores, IB scores) that serve a similar purpose. Strong scores on these exams demonstrate subject-specific competence.

Demonstrated Interest

Some universities track whether applicants have engaged with the school before applying. This can include attending information sessions (in person or virtual), visiting campus, opening emails from the admissions office, and interacting with admissions representatives who visit your region.

Why it matters: Yield rate (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) is an important metric for universities. Admitting students who are likely to enroll improves their yield. Demonstrated interest signals that you are genuinely considering the school, not just adding it to a long list.

How to demonstrate interest:

  • Attend virtual information sessions and webinars
  • Visit campus if possible
  • Connect with admissions representatives at educational fairs in your country
  • Write a specific, well-researched "Why [School]?" essay
  • Follow the university's admissions social media and engage thoughtfully

Note: Some highly selective universities (Ivy League schools, Stanford, MIT) explicitly state that they do not track demonstrated interest. For these schools, your application materials speak for themselves.

The Interview

Not all universities offer interviews, and for those that do, they range from strongly recommended to purely optional. Some universities use alumni interviews conducted in the applicant's home country, which makes them more accessible for international students.

Interviews are typically evaluative but conversational. The interviewer wants to get to know you as a person, not quiz you on facts. They are assessing your communication skills, intellectual curiosity, maturity, and fit with the school's culture.

Preparation tips:

  • Practice discussing your interests, goals, and experiences in English
  • Prepare thoughtful questions about the university (not facts you could find on the website)
  • Be genuine — interviewers are experienced at detecting rehearsed answers
  • If English is not your first language, the interviewer will evaluate your ideas, not your accent
  • Be ready to discuss current events, a book that influenced you, or a challenge you have overcome

Financial Need and Its Role in Admissions

This is one of the most important and least discussed factors for international students.

Need-Blind vs. Need-Aware

Need-blind admissions means the university evaluates your application without considering your ability to pay. Only a handful of US universities are need-blind for international students: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Amherst, and a few others. At these schools, applying for financial aid does not affect your admissions chances.

Need-aware admissions means your financial need is a factor in the decision. Most US universities are need-aware for international students, even if they are need-blind for domestic students. In practice, this means that two international applicants with similar profiles may receive different decisions based on their financial need. The applicant who can pay full tuition may be admitted, while the one who needs a full scholarship may not.

What this means strategically: If you need significant financial aid, focus your applications on schools that are either need-blind for internationals or known for generous international aid. Research each school's typical aid packages for international students. Some schools are technically need-aware but still provide substantial aid to admitted international students.

Merit Scholarships

Some universities offer merit-based scholarships that do not depend on financial need. These are awarded for academic excellence, leadership, talent, or other qualities. Research which schools on your list offer merit scholarships to international students and check eligibility requirements — some require specific SAT or ACT scores, while others consider your overall profile.

How TOEFL Fits Into the Bigger Picture

Your TOEFL score matters, but it is a threshold requirement, not a differentiator. Once you meet a school's minimum score requirement (and any minimum section scores), your TOEFL score plays a relatively small role compared to your GPA, essays, recommendations, and activities.

That said, a strong TOEFL score can help in indirect ways. It reassures the admissions committee that you can handle coursework in English. A high speaking score suggests you will contribute to class discussions. A high writing score suggests you can produce the papers your courses will require.

Where TOEFL scores have outsized importance is when they are below the threshold. A score of 95 when the minimum is 100 may mean your application is not reviewed at all, regardless of how strong the rest of your profile is. This is why meeting — and ideally exceeding — minimum score requirements is essential.

If you are still working toward your target TOEFL score, focused preparation with adaptive practice tools like Ace120 can help you identify and address specific weaknesses efficiently, freeing up time to strengthen other parts of your application.

Building a Coherent Application

The most effective applications tell a coherent story. Your activities, essays, recommendations, and academic record should paint a consistent picture of who you are and what you will bring to a campus community.

This does not mean every element must point to the same interest. It means the application should feel like it was written by a real person with genuine passions, not assembled from a checklist of what admissions officers supposedly want.

For international students, the coherent narrative often includes:

  • A deep engagement with your culture, community, or home country
  • A clear reason for seeking education in the US (not just "prestige" but genuine intellectual or personal goals)
  • Evidence that you can thrive in a new cultural environment (adaptability, resilience, curiosity)
  • Specific plans for how you will use your education (even if these are tentative)

Final Thoughts

The US admissions process can feel opaque and overwhelming, especially for international students navigating it for the first time without the institutional support that many domestic students have. But the holistic model works in your favor in important ways: it sees you as a complete person, values your unique perspective, and provides multiple avenues to demonstrate your strengths.

The key is to start early, understand what each component requires, and present an authentic, well-crafted application that shows not just what you have achieved, but who you are and what you will bring to their community.

Preparing your TOEFL iBT score for US university applications? Ace120 offers AI-graded practice exams with adaptive difficulty that mirrors the real test format, helping you meet your target score while building the academic English skills you will need on campus.