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June - 2015 - issue > View Point

Getting Ready for the College Admission Process

Lisa Jain
Country Representative-College Board in India
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Lisa Jain
Students who aspire to study abroad often start preparing themselves only in Grade 12. But overseas college applications require time, thought, and effort. Students who wish to pursue their undergraduate studies abroad should begin the ground work as early as Grades 9 or 10. This prepares them to deal with the entire process without getting overwhelmed. Students should try to approach the college admission process systematically. Timely advice and unbiased guidance can be very helpful to students as they navigate the college admission process. In this article, a few tips and suggestions to help students navigate the process easily.

Students in the Grades 9 or 10 who wish to pursue their graduate studies outside should focus a lot on their Academic Performance as many universities ask for academic transcripts of 4 years (9-12), if not longer. So it's important for students to perform well in academics throughout secondary school. Students should also self-reflect and discover their interests, skills, and aspirations. Understanding oneself can help students choose projects and activities they want to get involved in. Self-discovery is essential in order for a student to write meaningful essays which will help in his/her selection by the colleges which he/she applies to.

Profile Building is another criterion that Universities abroad give significant importance to. Most Universities do not focus on the grades that the student has obtained, rather they are also interested in the student's experiences and achievements beyond studies, which reflect their personality. While students don't always need a long list of extra-curricular activities; a handful of activities that they are deeply and meaningfully involved in, is what counts. The activities can range from sports to art, writing to research, or community work or anything else.

It is crucial that students should develop their reading, writing and research skills as they will require these skills at the university. At the same time, these skills are also vital to do well in standardized tests such as the SAT. Hence students should make it a habit to read books and the news. While students typically take standardized tests such as the SAT and SAT Subject Tests in Grades 11 or 12, they can start preparing for them earlier through options such as the PSAT (Preliminary SAT), a test conducted by the College Board, makers of SAT. By taking the PSAT in Grade 9 or 10, students get a real sense of what the SAT is. The PSAT Score Report gives students detailed feedback on their skill gaps and weakness areas.

When students are in Grade 11, they should focus on which standardized tests they have to give and how they can improve their scores from the PSAT. By giving the tests in Grade 11, their burden will reduce in Grade 12. Also, if students plan to take AP Exams to strengthen their application or earn college credits, the end of Grade 11 is a good time to do so.


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