Getting Ready for the College Admission Process Date:   Thursday , May 28, 2015 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. Choose Where and What to Study It is natural to be confused about your college major, with so many options at your disposal, so don\'t panic if you are a bit lost. Start reflecting internally on what you enjoy learning about, as this might determine which colleges you apply to. Spend time to understand how the education 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. Doing the homework early will make the entire college short listing process less stressful in Grade 12. Think about Best-Fit Colleges It is important to determine which factors will determine your choice of colleges. Is it the location, or the university\'s rank in your chosen course? Are financial aid and scholarship important, or are you prefer a college with a strong basketball team? Every student is influenced by different factors when choosing universities. Don\'t blindly look at rankings; instead, shortlist 8-12 universities that meet \'your\' needs. If you must look at rankings, check the university\'s rank in the course/major you want to pursue, and not an overall ranking. The most important steps students in Grade 12 should take are to attend college fairs, visit university websites, and understand individual university requirements, application deadlines and others. If a student is applying to the U.S., they must take an Early Decision or Early Action to apply to any university, and create a working timeline for themselves. By working with a college counselor, students and parents can finalize the list of 8-11 colleges to apply to. They must also take standardized tests if not already completed in Grade 11. It is vital that students should take ample time to write their essays as it takes several weeks to perfect their essays. Therefore students should start early with drafts, get feedback, and keep improving till they are happy with the final outcome. Last but not the least they must put it all together by filling in college applications, getting letters of recommendation, finishing financial aid documents and anything else the universities require. College applications require discipline, hard work, and effort. Having a sound plan to tackle every component, and a strong support system to help you and motivate you through the process, makes the process easier for students. Lisa Jain She is the Country Representative of The College Board in India. In her role, she works extensively with schools across India to help with the implementation of College Board programs. She also interacts directly with students and parents, educating them about how College Board\'s programs and resources (such as SAT, AP, PSAT or Big Future) help in the college application and admission process. Lisa was previously the Head of Marketing at an international school in Kolkata and has worked in the Equities division at UBS Investment Bank in London for two years.