Because the goal of so many students from around the world is to enroll in a top-ranked American university, there never seems to be a shortage of so-called "experts" claiming to have sure-fire strategies that all but guarantee acceptance to these prestigious schools. By all means, listen to good advice from experienced aand reputable education professionals, but never let yourself be fooled into believing there is any such thing as a guaranteed way to get into a top-ranked university. No matter how well-developed and systematic these "guaranteed" strategies may be, they are usually based on past admissions data and fail to acknowledge the fact that admissions criteria for each school changes every year and is known only to a small group of people on the admissions committee. Students who would be considered a "perfect fit" for the university last year, may not be rejected this year because of the different set of students applying and the changes in the type of students the school is now looking for.
Because top-ranked universities only have space to accept about 10% - 20% of the qualified applicants each year, students can improve their chances for acceptance by not only working very hard to get excellent grades, but also starting their university preparation as early as possible in their high school years. Top-ranked universities seek students with a long and consistent history of getting excellent test scores and grades in challenging courses, being involved in school clubs and sports, and demonstrating leadership qualities in a number of academic and personal endeavors.
Here are some basic tips to follow as you begin your planning and preparations for applying to top-ranked American universities:
1) Interview yourself - Before you decide which schools you are going to apply to, ask yourself several questions about your interests and goals - why do you want to study in the USA? What do want to get out of your experience? What do you want to do after you finish your education in the USA? Also, consider the type of environment you would like to live in and what kind of cultural, recreational, and social activities you like or would like to be involved in. You will spend a lot of your time with schoolwork in university, but it will be important to live in a place you like and are able to do things you enjoy during your free time.
2) Research - Find out which universities offer the things you feel are most important to you and your goals. The best place to do this is the university's own website. There are other websites that offer school ranking information and even comments from actual students who are enrolled there.
3) Interview others - Most American universities have international student associations that you can contact before you decide which school you are going to apply to. Contact these associations to find other international students who are enrolled in the program you are planning to apply to. Ask the students about their experiences at that school. What do they like or not like about it? What kind of support systems do the university offer? What kind of special career/ cultural/ recreational/ social opportunities are available? Do they recommend that you apply to their school?
4) Make your best impression with your personal statement - Top-ranked schools receive tens of thousands of applications from great students throughout the world each year, many of whom appear very similar on the application form - great class and test scores, involvement in clubs and sports throughout high school, etc. The personal statement is your opportunity to distinguish yourself from the other great students, to show the admissions committee exactly who you are, what motivates and excites you, what you know about the university and how it will help you reach your goals, and what contributions you can make to it as a student. How well you can express yourself in writing will further demonstrate your ability to communicate thoughtfully - an essential skill needed to successfully participate in a rigorous academic environment.
By all means, ask for help and suggestions before you submit your personal statement, but do NOT make the mistake of getting somebody else to write it for you or use a software program that has fill-in-the-blanks personal statements. Admissions staff can quickly tell a real personal statement from one that is not and if yours is suspected of not being authentic, it will quickly result in your application ending up in the "REJECTED" pile.
American Education Partners (AEP) has experienced university placement advisors who help international students understand and successfully navigate the American university admissions process. AEP also helps students enroll in a variety of helpful academic and test preparation programs that provide them with the best chances for acceptance to top-ranked universities in the USA. To learn more about AEP programs and services, visit our website at: http://www.americanedpartners.com/ or send email to: info@americanedpartners.com
No comments:
Post a Comment