International students and
American students living abroad may think that applying to U.S. universities is
a daunting experience but it does not need to be so. It is
true while there are 3200 schools to choose from, most students seem to be
focused on getting into the same 20 “brand name” schools, driving admissions
rates down to record rates in the single digits. However, key to finding a good fit school is
to step back and understand that it is a personal process – one that requires
you to think deep and determine what are your goals and aspirations – before you
embark in the college admissions process.
Academic Program
Unlike many international universities,
you do not need to decide on a program upfront. In fact, it may surprise you to know that in the US a large percentage of students are “undecided” majors and in fact,
do not need to declare a major until the end of the sophomore year in many
schools. Still, this does not mean that
you can be aimlessly studying in the university. It is always a good idea to narrow down your
academic interests – science,
engineering, humanities, social sciences or art – as this may determine what
kind of school and program to apply. Depending on the school, you may have to apply
to a department from the get go, like engineering or neuroscience, to get started on serial
courses early on that are needed to complete the graduation requirements in a 4-year timeframe.
University or College?
There are many kind of schools
that you can consider – which provide you with a bachelor’s degrees in arts
or sciences. You probably are most familiar with large universities – like Yale or UC
Berkeley – that have large student bodies comprised of both undergraduate and
graduate students. While the freshmen
class tend to be upwards 1,500 students,
class sizes vary depending the school, program or course. These large universities tend to offer large
number of programs, course selection, activities and events. On the flipside, it may be harder to find your way around and establish your community. Liberal arts
colleges may be smaller with 300-600 students per class providing a great opportunity for you to get to know professors and work directly with them in research projects
since there are no graduate students nor teacher’s assistants. Some colleges offer both liberal arts and engineering programs allowing you to study a wide variety of dual major/minor combinations. Many students opt to be the "big fish in the small pond" for their bachelors degree and then apply to larger institutions for graduate school (including Med / Law school). Whatever kind of school you decide to consider, bear in mind that having a supportive community - in the form a dorm, club or organization - may be pivotal to your transitioning into college.
Are you Ready to Apply?
Depending where you are in your high school career, you may want to make some adjustments to your academic and extracurricular activities. It is not surprising to hear Admissions officers state that academic performance should be your priority number 1, 2 and 3. Schools want more than anything to bring in a class that will contribute to the school community and will thrive and graduate. Therefore, they look very carefully into your transcript, grades and course selection, to evaluate your academic abilities vis a vis other applicants. Secondarily, they may consider testing scores, essays and other pieces of the application. Therefore, to be ready to apply, you would need to put together the pieces - transcript, resume, testing, essays, recommendations - that would provide schools with a good idea of who you are and what you will contribute to the university. You can be assured that many schools will value your contribution - just need to find the right fit schools and present your application effectively!
The Key is in the Detail
While the college admission process from afar may seem overwhelming, the key is in the detail. Once you draft a list of good fit schools, you need to be on top of the admissions requirements and timing of the application. Some nuances that you need to be aware are:
- Deadlines are not negotiable. It is critical that you mark in red all deadlines related to each application including the last possible date to take standardized testing. Given the many deadlines related to Early Action/Decision, Regular and Rolling admissions & financial aid it is recommended that you build a chart to stay on top of these deadlines.
- Test optional schools can benefit international students. There a growing number of schools that do not require SAT/ACT testing scores especially for international students. In lieu of these, they may require writing samples and/or Test of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB). This could be of interest if you are not able to make the testing timeline.
- Transcript translation needed? You may not think that it is a big deal but your application can be delayed if your school transcript needs to be translated in a time crunch.
- Have you lined up your letters of recommendation? In the US, it is recommended that students pick a junior year teacher to write the letter of recommendation in addition to the school counselor. If for any chance, you do not have this resource in your school, you need to look for alternatives that would provide with a thoughtful recommendation that would help schools understand more about you.
- Do you need financial aid? Many universities provide financial help in the form of merit aid and/or need based aid. When you draw your college list, you should look for schools that provide financial aid to international students or dual nationals. An excellent resource has been put together by J. Kent and J. Levy for undergraduate financial aid. I would recommend you call the schools and confirm that your application would be considered.
- Net, there is no need to panic. Just step back, organize all pieces and pace yourself through the process. The fun will come when you have options to choose from on the other end of the journey. So let's get going and start today!
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