How to apply to American Colleges as an International (Part 1)
The fact that you are reading this post implies that you are either interested in American admissions or are preparing to apply to colleges. As I had mentioned in my post here, I applied twice: first for the class of 2019-unsuccessfully, and then Class of 2020. I have learnt a lot throughout the process, so here goes:
1. Be prepared
You will attempt to portray the person you are: almost 2 decades of experiences through a small compilation of your candidacy and a few essays. Take time and enjoy this process. Learn more about yourself and appreciate your life journey. My application journey was a roller coaster of emotions. I faced many obstacles, rejections and wait-lists. Be determined. If things go well and you are accepted right off the bat, good for you! If your journey is as tumultuous as mine, please keep reminding yourself that you are amazing and it’s their loss.
2. Do your research
If it hasn’t already been implied by #1 above, haa! The American college admission process can be a strange alien. The options of schools are endless: do you prefer a suburban, urban or rural setting? Would you rather attend a big research university or will you connect more with the intimacy of small liberal arts colleges? East or west coast? Every school has its own unique characteristics and requirements. Familiarize yourself with those basic requirements and begin working on them. You have an endless array of resources you can utilize:
• peruse school websites and youtube channels. Look at their social media, blogs etc to get a better feel of the college.
• Email, call or visit schools’ admissions offices
• Attend college fairs/forums in your locality: you can ask questions and talk to the school representatives.
• Most schools will also be willing to connect you to a current student who can give a different perspective.
3. Take the required tests
By now, you have an idea about the testing requirements and have come across words like SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), SAT Subject Tests (SAT 2) and the ACT. Many colleges (not all) require some kind of standardized testing. Some schools require you to take the TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language) or other similar tests if you hail from a non- English speaking country or/and haven’t had English as your official school language. Study for and register for them as soon as possible.
4. Ask for necessary documents
If you are from a country or high school like mine, where applying to colleges abroad is out of the norm, its only prudent to speak to your school officials AND PARENTS early enough. Tell them about your interests and future plans. Identify teachers you have interacted with who know you and your habits well and ask them to fill in recommendations for you. Talk to them about filling school reports and availing all documents you may need e.g. transcripts. You definitely don’t want to begin rushing last minute. Maintain communication with your parents and teachers because frankly, you need their support during this journey.
Congratulations for reaching this point. Please watch out for part 2 as we continue to tackle the application itself!