international admission - College Admission Counseling

International Applicants: What Will You Study?

Jared Hobson — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:06:28 +0000

As mentioned in our first post in this series, this post will discuss how students at U.S. colleges and universities determine what they will study or what they will major in. Unlike international schools, choosing a major at a U.S. institution does not necessarily mean you have determined what you will do for the rest of your life. Sure colleges and universities have pre-professional programs in engineering, health care, business, etc., however most students studying in the U.S. do not actually pick a major until they are in their second or sometimes even third year of college-level work. Once in college, you will not only be exposed to academic disciplines you have not seen before, but you also may find that your “dream major” is not what you thought it would be. Therefore, when looking for schools, you should choose schools that not only offer your “first choice” academic program, but also have a variety of other majors you might be interested in, just in case you change your mind.
Reality is that most people will switch careers several times throughout their professional path, so choosing the perfect major right now is not all that important. Not only can someone’s career path be driven by changes in the economy, but it can also be driven by how the person changes and evolves over their lifetime. So what you study in college will not necessarily determine your life-long career path.
However, it is important to study what interests you in college. If you are not interested in what you are learning about everyday, you are not going to be a successful student. Educational consultants have tools to help you determine what your interest may be. However, most students applying to colleges and universities in the U.S. will state that they are “undecided” on their applications. Not only is this practice accepted in the U.S, in some cases it is encouraged. Having time to discovery who you are and what your path may be is part of the college experience.
We hope you have found this series on applying to colleges and universities in the U.S. helpful. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions about the college search and selection processes.

Great College Advice

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International Applicants: How Do Your Grades Compare?

Jared Hobson — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:52:58 +0000

So far, this series has provided information on the American higher education system, helped you conduct research on colleges and universities you are interested in and has provided general insights into how the application process works. This post will dive into your academic transcripts and discuss how to analyze your GPA.
Academic Transcripts
As mentioned in the previous post, your academic transcripts are the most important piece of your application. Since you are more than likely attending a school that has different curriculum requirements and grading procedures than what is offered in the U.S. It is essential that you make sure colleges and universities are able to understand your transcript. If your secondary school does not send transcripts in English, then you must have them officially translated. You should also make sure your secondary school sends information on the curriculum you are completing, as well as an explanation of grading procedures. Finally, you should follow up with the institutions to which you are applying, in order to determine if they have any questions regarding your grades or courses.
The Mid-Year Report
Most colleges and universities will require you to submit a mid-year report of your academic performance in your final year of secondary school. This progress report lets the admission officers know how you are doing in your current classes. Often international secondary schools post only end of term exam grades and do not have official grades for the courses you are currently taking. It is important that you work with your current teachers to provide some type of information on your current academic work. It does not necessarily need to be a letter grade, but can also be a comment about your performance. If this requirement proves to be a concern for you, contact the college admission office to discuss alternatives.

Converting Your GPA
One of the most difficult aspects of the application process for international students is determining how your grades compare to a U.S. GPA. Most colleges and universities will state the average GPA of their applicants. Unfortunately there is no definite way to create a direct translation of most international GPAs into a US GPA. Most admission representatives will research the curriculum you are enrolled and estimate if you have an A average, B average, etc.
For example, if you are enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program, a score of a 7 or 6 may be considered an A in the U.S. system (which would approximately be a 3.7 to a 4.0 GPA). If you are enrolled in the A-level program, a score of A or B would more than likely be considered an A in the US system.
Curriculum and Class Rank
Not only are your grades important, but so is the challenge of the curriculum you are taking. High level courses in the International Baccalaureate program (along with obtaining the full IB diploma) are going to be considered more challenging than standard level courses. In India, a student who is enrolled in the math/science track is going to be considered to be taking a more challenging curriculum than a student who is enrolled in the commerce track.
Most colleges and universities will want to see a profile of your school that describes what type of curriculum is available to you. They will also be looking for information on your class rank. They will want to see how your grades and curriculum compare to the other students enrolled at your school.
Educational consultants definitely help their international clients to determine how U.S. colleges and universities may view their curriculum and grades. We can provide insights on how your transcript may be viewed in the U.S. admissions process.
Our next post will guide you through the standardized tests that are required for international students.

Educational Consultant

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International Applicants: How the Application Process Works in the U.S.

Jared Hobson — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:07:15 +0000

Previous posts in this series have included information on the American higher education system and how to research schools you are interested.
Once you have created your college list, it is time to start compiling information on the application process for each school and assessing your chances to be admitted. This can be one of the most difficult aspects of the process for an international student. Unlike the application process in other countries, the U.S. system is not exactly transparent. The American process is more holistic and not solely based on your performance on one exam or average GPA. When applying to a school here, academics are the most important aspect of your application, but other aspects of the application also play a major role.
Most colleges and universities are going to require all students to submit official academic transcripts, standardized test scores (including the SAT or ACT and the TOEFL), letters of recommendation, and essays. They are also going to ask for information on activities you have been involved in outside of the classroom. We will provide additional information on standardized tests and your academic transcripts in future posts. For now, let’s talk about the other aspects of your application.
Involvement Outside the Classroom
Colleges and universities in the U.S. are looking for “well-rounded” students. They want to see that students have not only spent all of their time studying, but have also taken the time to be involved in activities and contributed to their communities. Schools know that students who are involved are more likely to graduate, so they want to admit students who were involved in activities in high school because they assume you will be involved in activities once you arrive on a college campus. They also want to see that you have taken a leadership role, so being consistently involved in one or two activities is more important then having several activities on your resume.
Letters of Recommendation
Another application requirement that may cause difficulties for international students is the letter of recommendation. Most schools require you to submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher and one from a guidance counselor. Not all international schools have guidance counselors so it is perfectly fine to ask a teacher who has given you advice about the college process to write this letter. Your teacher recommendation should be from a teacher who can speak of your academic abilities and what kind of student you are in the classroom. Your letters should be in English and should describe your academic performance, classroom participation and contributions to your school and community.
Essays and Personal Statements
At most selective colleges and universities—and at many other less selective schools—applicants are required to submit essays as a part of their application. You can approach your college essays in a variety of ways. However, it is important to make sure your essay is grammatically correct. Admission officers know that it is difficult enough to write the perfect college essay, especially if it is not in your first language. However, you will be asked to do a lot more if you become a student at a U.S. college or university, so it is essential that your essay does not make an admission officer question your English ability.
The essay requirement is another reason so many international students turn to experts to help them prepare for admission to U.S. universities. Some international students are tempted to let agents or others write the essays for them. This is a mistake. If an essay is perceived to be too perfect, you may be rejected. Your essay must be in your own voice and express who you are as a person. We are able to help you find just the right balance as you prepare this very important component of your application.
Putting all of these materials together can be an overwhelming task. We can help you manage the application process to ensure that all application materials are submitted before the deadlines. We can also brainstorm essay topics and provide feedback on revisions.
Be sure to check back in tomorrow for our next installment in this series which will discuss your academic transcript and how to convert your GPA into a U.S. GPA.

Educational Consultant

The post International Applicants: How the Application Process Works in the U.S. first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

International Applicants: Visiting Colleges in the U.S.

Jared Hobson — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:55:50 +0000

Our previous post in this series provided information on the types of academic institutions available in the U.S. and what questions you need to consider in order to start creating your college list. This post will help research and “visit” schools you are interested in.
Once you determine the best type of institution that fits your needs and abilities, it is important that you do as much research as possible. Visiting schools is the best way to determine if they are good fit for you, however most international students are not going to have that opportunity. Therefore, it is essential that you do as much remote research as possible to learn more about the schools you are interested in.
• Virtual tours are a great way to get a feel for a campus. Some schools may offer virtual tours on their websites. There are also a few other websites that have compiled virtual tours of several schools.
• Contacting the admissions office and asking to speak to a student representative is another great way to find out more about a school. You can also ask if an admissions representative will be at a college fair in your area.
• School websites are another great resource of information. From the website you can evaluate academic departments, research resources available to students and determine what types of living accommodations are available.
• Interviewing is the best way to get a feel for a school and present some aspects about yourself that may not come through on paper. Find out if there is an opportunity to interview with an alumnus in your area or to do a phone interview with an admission representative. Remember to do your research prior to the interview and compile a list of well thought out questions. You should only ask to interview at schools that you seriously intend on applying to.
Educational consultants are a great resource for the research portion of the application process. We have the background and the know-how to determine which schools will fit your goals, abilities and background.
In the next post, we will get into the details of the application process and how it may be different for an international applicant.

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International Applicants: What Type of Institution is a Good Fit for You?

Jared Hobson — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:21:58 +0000

Applying to colleges in the U.S. as an international student can be daunting. This is the first in a series of posts that will guide you through what you need to know to be a successful international applicant. This first post will provide some general information on the types of institutions of higher education that are available in the U.S. And how to determine which type of school is a good fit for you and your background.

In the US, you can attend a community college, university, college or a technical/vocational school. Each of these institutions offers different programs and different types of degrees. Most international students will choose to study at a college or university in order to obtain a bachelor’s degree. However, if you feel you need to build up your English ability, a community college may be a good place to start.

Once you determine what type of institution will fit your needs and abilities. It is important to research schools that offer what you are looking for. Our next post will provide information on how to research institutions without actually visiting them.

Here are some questions you should start thinking about:

• Do you want to attend a larger institution, smaller school or somewhere in between?
• Would you like a school that has other students from your home country?
• Are interested in attending a school that is located in or near a city or would you be more comfortable living in a more rural area?
• What do you think you may want to study? (We will have detailed information on how majors work at U.S. schools in a future post.)

We can help you assess your preparedness and create a plan for your path to studying in the U.S. As mentioned above, in the next installment. We’ll discuss ways to further research institutions in order to narrow down your college list.

Katherine Price
College Consultant

The post International Applicants: What Type of Institution is a Good Fit for You? first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

Coming to America: Study in the USA

Andrea Aronson — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:57:31 +0000

Great College Advice is proud to introduce a new section of our website, especially for international students. Since we have worked with international students on the college search and admission processes we felt it is important to provide international students with additional resources.
The new international section of our website includes information on the higher education system in the US, what to expect from the application process and information on financial aid. We hope you find the new page helpful.
In addition, we also offer a FREE EMAIL COURSE for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. This series of lessons is sent directly to your email address, providing you with essential information about choosing the right college or university, developing an admissions strategy, and completing the applications. Just enter your name and email below.

Andrea Aronson
Educational Consultant

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