June 26, 2025
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
…and tests
…and tests
Article prepared by Nikola Princova, student leader of CCC Latvia
Hi, y’all!
It’s still Nikola! Even though summer has started and the vacation vibes are kicking in, the CCC students still have plenty to learn. This month, we focused on two of the most important things you should consider when applying to U.S. universities – your finances and preparing for required tests. At first, looking at the tuition fees of some colleges and realizing you need to take additional tests on top of your country’s required exams may feel confusing and overwhelming. But trust me—once you understand what’s required and break everything down into manageable steps, it doesn’t seem so impossible!
First, let’s talk about finances! When researching universities, one of the first things students consider is the tuition cost and whether it fits their family’s income. This is a common approach, but here’s something that might change the way you think about it: sometimes, private universities can be a better option. Although they tend to be more expensive than public universities, many private institutions offer financial aid not only to U.S. citizens but also to international students. This aid can significantly reduce the cost of attendance based on your family’s financial situation. In addition to need-based aid, there are other financial resources you can explore, such as merit scholarships, athletic scholarships, and campus employment opportunities like part-time jobs.
Considering all these factors, it’s clear that choosing a university is a very important decision and highly dependent on your family’s finances. Taking out student loans should generally be your last resort. One useful tip I heard during a session is to start your financial planning as early as possible. A valuable tool to help with this is the CSS Profile, available on the College Board website. It’s an online application used by many colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.
Moving on to tests! This month, we had several webinars focusing on the SAT, TOEFL, and IELTS—tests that may be required by the universities you’re applying to. The most well-known of these is the SAT, a standardized test mainly used for college admissions.
Currently, some universities have adopted test-optional policies, which means you can apply without SAT scores. However, this varies by school, so be sure to check each university’s specific requirements.
The SAT has two main sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. The Reading and Writing section consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, while the Math section includes mostly multiple-choice questions with a few “student-produced response” questions. The Reading and Writing section has two modules, each with 27 questions to be completed in 32 minutes. The Math section is similar, with two modules, each containing 22 questions and a 35-minute time limit. The total SAT score ranges up to 1600.
Although this might sound challenging at first, listening to Nikolozi share his experience made it clear that the test is manageable, so there’s no need to stress! Here are my key takeaways:
To end this article on an exciting note, I’m happy to share that as CCC students, we not only get to learn all this useful information and prepare for our studies in the U.S., but we also gain valuable real-life skills through volunteering! This month, we had the chance to choose volunteering opportunities across Latvia at three different events, working alongside American Councils for International Education Latvia, the U.S. Embassy in Latvia, and other like-minded students participating in programs sponsored by the U.S. government.
I volunteered at the conversation festival “LAMPA,” where I finally got to meet some of my CCC peers in person, and we had a great time chatting. Our main task was to promote the Competitive College Club Latvia, and while doing that, we enjoyed engaging conversations with some Americans—and even got to meet the U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Christopher Robinson!
This was truly an exciting experience, and I strongly encourage you to apply for volunteering opportunities. It’s not just a fantastic way to build your CV, but also a wonderful chance to make new friends, create lasting memories, and develop life skills that will serve you well in the future!
Here are some useful links for you:
CSS Profile
My SAT Experience: What I Learned and What You Should Know
IELTS Essentials: Format, Prep & Insights from the Experts
P.S. – Next month we’ll continue to talk about $$$, so stay tuned to learn more!
Yours sincerely,
Nikola Princova
Student Leader of CCC Latvia
It’s still Nikola! Even though summer has started and the vacation vibes are kicking in, the CCC students still have plenty to learn. This month, we focused on two of the most important things you should consider when applying to U.S. universities – your finances and preparing for required tests. At first, looking at the tuition fees of some colleges and realizing you need to take additional tests on top of your country’s required exams may feel confusing and overwhelming. But trust me—once you understand what’s required and break everything down into manageable steps, it doesn’t seem so impossible!
First, let’s talk about finances! When researching universities, one of the first things students consider is the tuition cost and whether it fits their family’s income. This is a common approach, but here’s something that might change the way you think about it: sometimes, private universities can be a better option. Although they tend to be more expensive than public universities, many private institutions offer financial aid not only to U.S. citizens but also to international students. This aid can significantly reduce the cost of attendance based on your family’s financial situation. In addition to need-based aid, there are other financial resources you can explore, such as merit scholarships, athletic scholarships, and campus employment opportunities like part-time jobs.
Considering all these factors, it’s clear that choosing a university is a very important decision and highly dependent on your family’s finances. Taking out student loans should generally be your last resort. One useful tip I heard during a session is to start your financial planning as early as possible. A valuable tool to help with this is the CSS Profile, available on the College Board website. It’s an online application used by many colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.
Moving on to tests! This month, we had several webinars focusing on the SAT, TOEFL, and IELTS—tests that may be required by the universities you’re applying to. The most well-known of these is the SAT, a standardized test mainly used for college admissions.
Currently, some universities have adopted test-optional policies, which means you can apply without SAT scores. However, this varies by school, so be sure to check each university’s specific requirements.
The SAT has two main sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. The Reading and Writing section consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, while the Math section includes mostly multiple-choice questions with a few “student-produced response” questions. The Reading and Writing section has two modules, each with 27 questions to be completed in 32 minutes. The Math section is similar, with two modules, each containing 22 questions and a 35-minute time limit. The total SAT score ranges up to 1600.
Although this might sound challenging at first, listening to Nikolozi share his experience made it clear that the test is manageable, so there’s no need to stress! Here are my key takeaways:
- English is all about recognizing simple patterns;
- 75% of math questions can be solved with Desmos;
- For every student, the preparation method will be different;
- Read books in English as much as you can;
- Don’t make the SAT your life and don’t stress about it too much.
To end this article on an exciting note, I’m happy to share that as CCC students, we not only get to learn all this useful information and prepare for our studies in the U.S., but we also gain valuable real-life skills through volunteering! This month, we had the chance to choose volunteering opportunities across Latvia at three different events, working alongside American Councils for International Education Latvia, the U.S. Embassy in Latvia, and other like-minded students participating in programs sponsored by the U.S. government.
I volunteered at the conversation festival “LAMPA,” where I finally got to meet some of my CCC peers in person, and we had a great time chatting. Our main task was to promote the Competitive College Club Latvia, and while doing that, we enjoyed engaging conversations with some Americans—and even got to meet the U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Christopher Robinson!
This was truly an exciting experience, and I strongly encourage you to apply for volunteering opportunities. It’s not just a fantastic way to build your CV, but also a wonderful chance to make new friends, create lasting memories, and develop life skills that will serve you well in the future!
Here are some useful links for you:
CSS Profile
My SAT Experience: What I Learned and What You Should Know
IELTS Essentials: Format, Prep & Insights from the Experts
P.S. – Next month we’ll continue to talk about $$$, so stay tuned to learn more!
Yours sincerely,
Nikola Princova
Student Leader of CCC Latvia
EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories.
EducationUSA Virtual
EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories.