Many times, parents ask me what the best time is to start preparing for a college application.
2 months prior to the application deadline? 3 months? 6 months?
It really surprises them when I say, “2 years!”
2 months prior to the application deadline? 3 months? 6 months?
It really surprises them when I say, “2 years!”
If someone is planning to go abroad for their undergraduate studies, after they have finished their 9th grade final exams and have taken a few weeks off, the family should get together and start planning. Decide what the student wants to study, which country is the ideal choice based on personal and academic factors, and start doing research on prospective universities. Surf through college websites to understand them better, and get to know the choices one has. See what they are looking for, what the composition and qualifications of the latest batch of Freshmen (first-year students) are, and download the university and department brochures.
To get into good universities, one needs to show a well-rounded application which has a good balance of academic achievements with community service, extra-curricular activities, standardized test scores and certificates.
The ideal way to go about it is to look up admission requirements for the program one is interested in in the short-listed universities, and then look up the standardized tests that need to be given. Most standardized tests like SAT, TOEFL, ACT, GRE, and GMAT can be attempted multiple times, where the average scores or only the best scores are considered by schools (depending on the university’s policies). Students should register for the tests, get the books, and set up a study and practice exam schedule. At the same time, they could do some volunteering, especially with an organization that gives a certificate at the end of the service. They could also look up online courses on sites such as Coursera, and sign up for some courses related to their field of study. In short, they should be proactive, and use their time productively.
Starting early allows one to explore more options and the chance to re-attempt tests if scores are not at par with the current average scores of the short-listed colleges. It also gives one time to study the personal statement questions and short answer questions that each college requires in their applications. Application essays are extremely important criteria for the admissions committees, and a well-written essay can go a long way in getting one’s application approved! These essays also give students the opportunity to showcase their personal attributes such as experiences, skills, cultures, reasons for pursuing the chosen field of study or university, etc. – aspects that the normal questions of the application would not cover.
And finally, starting early takes pressure off the students, so that they can plan their studies and prepare well for school and board exams, ensuring that they score high and rank among the top in the class as well. 9th to 12th grade scores are an equally important yardstick for the admissions committee to gauge a student’s strengths and weaknesses.
To get into good universities, one needs to show a well-rounded application which has a good balance of academic achievements with community service, extra-curricular activities, standardized test scores and certificates.
The ideal way to go about it is to look up admission requirements for the program one is interested in in the short-listed universities, and then look up the standardized tests that need to be given. Most standardized tests like SAT, TOEFL, ACT, GRE, and GMAT can be attempted multiple times, where the average scores or only the best scores are considered by schools (depending on the university’s policies). Students should register for the tests, get the books, and set up a study and practice exam schedule. At the same time, they could do some volunteering, especially with an organization that gives a certificate at the end of the service. They could also look up online courses on sites such as Coursera, and sign up for some courses related to their field of study. In short, they should be proactive, and use their time productively.
Starting early allows one to explore more options and the chance to re-attempt tests if scores are not at par with the current average scores of the short-listed colleges. It also gives one time to study the personal statement questions and short answer questions that each college requires in their applications. Application essays are extremely important criteria for the admissions committees, and a well-written essay can go a long way in getting one’s application approved! These essays also give students the opportunity to showcase their personal attributes such as experiences, skills, cultures, reasons for pursuing the chosen field of study or university, etc. – aspects that the normal questions of the application would not cover.
And finally, starting early takes pressure off the students, so that they can plan their studies and prepare well for school and board exams, ensuring that they score high and rank among the top in the class as well. 9th to 12th grade scores are an equally important yardstick for the admissions committee to gauge a student’s strengths and weaknesses.