Be an Early Bird

How early must a student begin preparing for an international education? Lisa Jain, the representative of The College Board in India elaborates

Many students who aspire to study abroad believe they need to start planning for it only in class 12. What they don’t realise is the amount of time, thought, and effort it requires. Which is why a student should begin the ground work in classes 9 or 10 in order to gain a clear understanding of what the college application process entails and to be prepared to deal with the pressures that will follow.

In classes 9/10
Focus on school grades and marks. Universities look at a student’s academic transcripts of 4 years (9-12), if not longer. It is important to never lose sight of this and try your best to perform well in academics throughout high school and not just in class 12.

Understand yourself
Students should try and understand their own personalities, interests, skills and aspirations by trying their hand at different things. An understanding of oneself can help students choose activities sensibly as they begin thinking about building their profile.

 

Start profile-building
Universities abroad don’t just focus on academics. Experiences and achievements beyond studies – in school and outside – are also valued. Some students believe they need a long list of extra-curricular activities to strengthen their application, but this is a myth. Instead, showcase involvement in a small number of activities over a long period of time; choose a sport, the arts, writing, research, community work, etc. You should have created impact in the activity, climbed to a leadership position, grown as a person and developed skills. Picking something in class 12 and claiming it’s your passion won’t work. A profile building is important because experiences from the activities undertaken could form the base of your essays.

Begin research
Which country do you want to apply to colleges in? Understand how the overall experience differs between countries – USA vs UK vs Singapore and so on. Attend college fairs and learn about different universities from your seniors, friends and family who’ve been through the experience before. Researching early on will make the college and country selection process less overwhelming in class 11/12.

Read and write
Being able to write well and carry out research are crucial skills needed at university. Develop these habits when you’re younger and they will be of tremendous help to you in your applications, and also in college and life. Make it a habit to read books and the news.

Prepare for test-taking
Standardised tests like the SAT are an important part of your application. While students should aim to take these tests in classes 11/12, they can start preparing for them earlier through options such as the PSAT (Preliminary SAT), a test conducted by The College Board, the makers of SAT. By taking the PSAT in class 9/10, students get a real sense of what the SAT is. The PSAT score report gives students detailed feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. By identifying weaknesses early, students understand what they need to work on most. The PSAT also gives free access to My College QuickStart, a free webbased college planning tool.

In class 11 think about what you want to study
Some students know exactly what they want to study at college, while many others are confused. It is normal to which direction to take, so don’t panic if you’re a bit lost. Start reflecting on what you’d enjoy learning as this might also determine the college you choose.

Begin the shortlisting process
Determine which factors will determine your choice of colleges. Is it the location, or the university’s rank in your chosen course? Will you only apply to colleges that give financial aid to international students, or ones where you can pursue hobbies and activities? Every student is influenced by different factors when choosing universities. Don’t blindly look at rankings; instead, shortlist 10-12 universities that meet your needs. If you must look at rankings, check the university’s rank in the course or major you want to pursue, and not an overall ranking.

Take your tests
Students should take their standardised tests (such as SAT) in class 11. This way, if you need to retake, you still have time for it later. Also, it helps reduce the burden in class 12. If the universities you plan to apply to require other tests, such as SAT subject tests, you can consider completing these at the end of class 11, or early on in class 12.

In class 12
All your efforts in classes 9-11 will help ease your burden in class12. Now, this is a good time to:
* Attend college fairs and understand individual university requirements, application deadlines etc.
* Work with a college counsellor and your parents to finalise the list of 8-10 colleges you will apply to.
* Essays: Writing essays takes time, and there are many to write. All the profile building will help you come up with good content. Give yourself a few months to perfect your essays. Start early with your drafts, get feedback, and keep improving till you’re happy with the final product.
* Compile your application. Fill in your forms, get your letters of recommendation and finish your financial aid documents and anything else the universities require. College applications are hard work, no doubt, so make sure you have a plan to tackle every component. If you do everything at the right time, you will find the process enjoyable and realise there is hardly a reason to stress. Good luck with your applications!

Universities abroad don’t just focus on academics. Experiences and achievements beyond studies – in school and outside – are also valued

 

Volume 4 Issue 3