International Student: What You Need To Know When Applying for an Ivy League University

Uniting students from all over the world

Every year, upwards of 20,000 applicants apply to Ivy League schools. Their highly
selective process, however, results in a 6-12% admission rate.  During the admission
process, the Ivy League seeks diversity and aims to become a global learning institution.
What this means is that the student body of the Ivy League Schools is about 10-15%
international students.

To increase your chances of getting in, here are a few things that you should know before
applying as an international student:


Admission Process

International students who apply to Ivy League schools go through the same admission
process as American freshmen applicants. First-year students must have finished 12 to 13
years of primary and secondary education that would make them eligible to enter a
university. You should have strong academic records with high grades and test scores.

Though the application process is holistic, your scholastic record must show a strong GPA
on all subjects. Besides your school transcripts, letters of recommendation must be written


Required Standardized Tests

ALL standardized tests must be accomplished before the admission deadline. Ivy League
requires either SAT or ACT but there is no official cut off. However, the average ACT score
for the Ivy League is 29-35 while the average SAT score is 1980-2390.


English Language Proficiency

In addition to the required SAT or ACT, international students applying to the Ivy League
must also take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English
Language Testing System (IELTS) to gauge their proficiency in written and verbal English.
A minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL and 7 for IELTS is strongly recommended.
In addition to the TOEFL and IELTS, English language proficiency is also determined
through interviews. Though most Ivy League schools don’t require an interview, Harvard,
Columbia and Yale encourage international applicants to choose to interview. Not only will
it demonstrate your verbal communication skills, but it will also show the admissions
officers your dedication and interest.

Useful Tips for Writing a Winning College Admissions Essay

Write that essay!

In addition to high school grades and standardized test scores, a stellar college admissions essay is a
ticket into your top choice college.  The essay, being such a valuable piece of the puzzle, can be
daunting.

While there is no specific formula for writing a perfect essay, you must set your eyes on the main goal – to persuade the admissions committee of your worthiness. You want to prove to them that you are more than your standardized test scores or GPA.  You are a person, and by the end of the essay, they need to like you.

Summer is a great time to prepare and to start implementing the following tips:

Focus on the essay question. Most colleges provide questions so it’s important never to lose sight of
your subject matter. Stick to the topic and answer the questions straight to the point.
In your first draft, write freely. Write whatever comes to mind.  Writing involves an endless process of thinking, taking notes, and editing. This first step, however, will surely lead you to a well-written essay.


Write a strong and convincing introduction. Due to piles of college essays awaiting them, most
admissions officers have very limited time to go through an entire application. They may only read the first part of your essay. So, you need to capture their attention in the first paragraph of your essay,
maybe even the first sentence! You should include interesting details and pieces of information that will keep them engrossed in your writing.


Reveal your voice. The point of the admissions essay is for the admissions committee to get to know
you, personally. This essay gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself, show them what you are
made of, and what you can offer to their institution. Be creative in doing so, but also have a sense of
restriction not to overwrite.


Make time for revisions. As mentioned earlier, a successful essay involves the rigorous process of
writing and rewriting. Revisit your essay multiple times to see if you have further additions that will
improve your writing. Check your essay for typographical and grammatical errors, because sometimes these simple mistakes may ruin the totality of your final output.


Finally, have other people read and edit your essay. You may ask friends or family members to go over your written work, as they may have additional input that could contribute to the betterment of your essay. Do not fear criticism, as it will definitely help you produce a winning college admissions essay.

College Interview: How to Approach

Ace your interview!

College interviews will not get you into a school. They are used as more of a vetting service
than to actually admit or reject students. For some schools, interviews are required, while at
other schools, they are optional. For international students, it’s absolutely crucial, that you
schedule an interview whenever possible. You need to show the admissions office that your
English is good enough to participate in the college classroom. Interviews are additional
opportunities for candidates to maximize the potential of their application.


Tell me something about yourself

Although it is easy to say that you are a good student, hard worker, or good at your
extracurricular activities, this is not what the interviewer is looking for. Instead, focus on some
traits that make you unique as an individual. Do you have any unique hobbies? Do you collect
volcanic rocks? Expound on this here. Remember that the aim is to show the interviewer that
you are different from all the other applicants.


Why do you want to attend this school?

Make sure that you have done your research about the school you wish to attend. This question
is aimed at making sure you are truly interested in the school and also to see if the school is a
good fit for you and vice versa. Highlight specific classes, professors, research opportunities,
student groups, cultural initiatives that speak to you. Exhibit how particular programs provided in
the school are in line with your academic, professional, and personal pursuits.


What can you contribute to the school?

This question is aimed at learning your true interests and seeing how you would function in the
school community. The interviewer wants to know how you can add diversity to the campus. If
you intend to be part of the student council or create a club that focuses on your interests, share
them here. Having goals for the school community provides the interviewer a clear picture of
how well you will enhance the college experience for your fellow students. Colleges want
students who will add value to the classroom, campus, and eventually, the alumni community.


What do you do in your spare time?

Answer this by enumerating your passions outside of the classroom. It isn’t necessarily meant to
be connected to your academic goals. Share that you love astronomy, that you work as a
lifeguard every summer, or that you work in your family’s shop every weekend. Any
extracurricular activity or hobby that deeply interests you is a perfect answer for this question.


Do you have any questions?

Always say yes. Asking questions shows your interest in the school and that you were paying
attention during the interview. If you have done your research properly, you will definitely have
questions for the interviewer. Ask about the level of engagement a freshman can expect in the
various research facilities they provide. Or ask about how the school interacts with the
community surrounding it. Questions that relate to your capacity in joining school functions will
leave a positive impression.

Is an Ivy League Degree Really Worth It?

Is it really worth it?

It is no doubt that education is an important investment to one’s future. However, to be able to succeed  in both your personal and professional life, do you have to receive an Ivy League degree? Should true success be defined by an Ivy League degree?

Yes, education comes with a cost, but is an Ivy League degree worth the cost of admission?


Cost of Attending Ivy League Schools vs. Other Schools

The cost of tuition is one of the biggest factors being considered by parents when sending their children to college. While Ivy League schools guarantee quality education and academic excellence to its students, the high cost of attending these prestigious institutions can really discourage interested applicants.

Below is a table that shows the cost of tuition and other expenses when attending Ivy League schools.

• Brown University 
• Tuition: $ 44,608 
• Fees: $ 1,004 
• Books: $ 1,404 
• TOTAL: $ 47,016

• Columbia University  
• Tuition: $ 46,846
• Fees:  $ 2,292
• Books: $ 1,170
• TOTAL: $ 50,308

• Cornell University  
• Tuition: $ 45,130
• Fees:  $ 228
• Books:  $ 850
• TOTAL: $ 46,208

• Dartmouth College  
• Tuition: $ 45,444
• Fees:  $ 1,308
• Books:  $ 1,101
• TOTAL: $ 47,853

• Harvard University    
• Tuition: $ 38,891
• Fees: $ 3,401
• Books: $ 1,000
• TOTAL: $ 43,292

• Princeton University   
• Tuition: $ 40,170
• Fees:  $ 0
• Books: $ 1,200
• TOTAL: $ 41,370

• University of Pennsylvania   
• Tuition: $ 40,594
• Fees: $ 5,296 
• Books: $ 1,190
• TOTAL: $ 47,080

• Yale University   
• Tuition:  $ 44,000
• Fees: $ 0
• Books: $ 3,400
• TOTAL: $ 47,400

The list above shows the cost of tuition and other expenses when attending Ivy League schools based from this blog.


Quality of Education

The high cost of attending Ivy League schools is often attributed to the quality of education and
enriching culture it provides its students, which includes abundant and readily available resources, small class sizes, low student-professor ratio, personalized instructions, and training and other extra-curricular activities among other contributing factors.

However, some metrics suggest that Ivy League schools don't always have the upper hand. For example, the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, a widely recognized ranking system, shows that while Ivy League schools top certain academic departments, so do non-Ivy League colleges, including schools like Penn State for anthropology, Indiana University  for French, New York University for mathematics, and Washington University in St. Louis for political science. This shows that there are other colleges that can also provide quality education at a much lower cost.


Career Prospects after Graduation and Future Earnings

Aside from the apparent excellent quality of education they provide, the other justification for the cost of an Ivy League education is the guarantee of good career prospects, solid employment, and high earnings after graduation. Many people believe that if you earn a degree from an Ivy League school, you will find yourself overwhelmed with countless numbers of job offers from major companies around the world. For many employers who are given two resumes - one from an Ivy League school and the other from a non-Ivy League college - there is a significantly higher chance of them hiring the Ivy League graduate.

According to some employers, however, this is not always the case. While some employers may seek the Ivy League stamp of approval, others focus on other factors such as technical skills and personal
behavior regardless of alma mater. Michael Martin, a senior project manager at ThoughtWorks, an
information technology consulting company in Chicago, shares, “I don't see any disadvantage in having a degree from any accredited college. At Thoughtworks, we don't necessarily look for potential employees with Ivy League degrees.”


Is an Ivy League Education Really Worth It?

It really depends on you and your circumstances. If you are considering applying to an Ivy League school, you should carefully consider your financial capability, your personality, job prospects after graduation, your career path, and the overall quality of the educational experience you want to receive.



Remember that earning an Ivy League degree is not an automatic path to success. It is still up to you to create your own opportunities no matter where you attend college.

Why You Need To Take The SAT Subject Tests

Testing is fun!

We understand how occupied you are with your current academic responsibilities ‐ from academic
requirements, to participation in organizations, to extracurricular activities. Preparing and studying for the SATs may add to your already hectic schedule. Though some schools are starting to make the SAT IIs an optional part of the application process, for now, we will still encourage you to take these tests.


Here are the reasons why:

1. SAT IIs or SAT Subject Tests evaluate your aptitude and level of knowledge in certain academic
subjects including Math, Chemistry, Physics, Literature, US History, and Language among others.
This gives the college admissions committee a good idea of how ready you are to take a certain
subject or major in college. Thus, it is important that you choose the subjects in which you are
most confident and can assertively demonstrate your knowledge and interest.


2. If you look at the broader picture, taking the SAT IIs can be considered an academic investment
because it can help you gain college credits for certain courses once you get admitted to college.
If you get a really good SAT II score, it could save you from having to attend certain introductory
classes or even get you into a more advanced class.


3. We recommend that you take three SAT subject tests, rather than the recommended two
subjects only to give yourself a cushion. You may want to submit the two highest scores that you got in case you did not do well on the other one.

Studying for the SAT IIs may be a dreadful idea for now, but you will be surprised with the impact it will bring you further down the line. So, it’s important that you take time to prepare for it and aim to get an excellent score. Make sure that you study for the test and take practice exams to help prepare you for topics that will be covered.

How to Get Into Ivy League Schools

The Eight Ivy League Schools

The Ivy League is a group of eight private colleges and universities in the East Coast known for providing high-quality education and exceptional learning experience. These universities were among the earliest academic institutions founded in the United States and have contributed significantly throughout history.

The prestigious colleges and universities that make up the Ivy League are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth University, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. Although the term Ivy League was originally associated with an athletic conference in which the sports teams of the eight colleges competed, it has developed to connote academic excellence, high standard admission process, and social elitism.


Ivy League Admissions Process

Every year, a myriad of outstanding and average applicants knock at the admission doors of the eight
schools belonging to the Ivy League. However, with the exceedingly competitive nature of each college, getting into an Ivy League school can be very tough. All eight universities are highly selective and set the bar extremely high, as acceptance rates are normally below 10. Moreover, getting into and attending an Ivy League school can be very expensive, costing an average of $35,000 a year.

Different colleges have different admission processes and look for different types of candidates.

• Princeton University looks for students with intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, and strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments. In addition to exceptional academic records and exam scores, Princeton will ask you to write two to three essays as part of the application process. 

• At Harvard University, the factors that are weighted the most are academic accomplishments, strong personal qualities, special talents, and unique personal circumstances. Prerequisites for Harvard college admission include the application and supplemental essays, SAT or ACT scores, high school transcripts, teacher evaluations, and application fees. 

• Similarly, Yale University prioritizes an applicant’s academic strength, which can be derived from grades, standardized test scores, and evaluations from teachers and counselors. In addition, the school’s admissions committee evaluates the motivation, leadership skills, and distinctive talents of each applicant. 

How to Get into a Good College

Having a good education can significantly help you achieve your personal and professional goals in life. If you are ambitious about your future and want a job that you love and that pays well, there is no better preparation than getting a high-quality education from a good college. Getting into a good college starts by showcasing your skills and talents, fulfilling the school’s requirements, and completing the college admissions process.

Some Tips for International Students Applying to US Colleges

With the prestige they bring and quality education they offer, US colleges and universities attract not
only local students, but international applicants, as well. In fact, US colleges strongly encourage
everyone – no matter which country they come from – to apply to any of the programs they offer and
experience the academic culture they are known for.

US colleges and universities ensure that interested applicants from foreign countries are given equal
opportunities as local students. Moreover, some universities even provide special considerations to
international applicants in terms of application deadlines, admissions requirements, and financial aid.


College Application Process for International Applicants

Most US colleges and universities require their candidates to apply using the Common Application,
including international applicants. This means that the application process for American students is the same as that of international applicants – no easier approach and no short cuts. The college admissions requirements are mostly the same, including GPA, standardized test results (SAT, SAT II, and ACT), college application essay, and letters of recommendation, except for the interview process and required the proof of english proficiency test.

While most universities offer an optional college interview to local applicants (and others do not offer at all), they recommend international candidates to still schedule a Skype interview with the admissions office in order to know and evaluate whether the student would be a good fit to the school. For international students, it is important to opt in to these interviews to show off their English and prove to the admissions office that they can succeed in an American college.



Proof of English Proficiency

To ensure that international applicants can keep up with the mode and language of teaching in US
college and universities, a proof of English proficiency test is required, specifically for students whose first language is not English or those who haven’t received at least two years of secondary education in an English-medium curriculum. This can be reflected through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Leaving Great First Impressions: A Guide to Write a Good Application Essay

Are you ready for the next chapter in your life? If your answer is yes, then it’s time to go to college. In today’s society, one goes to college to achieve higher education. This higher education can lead to jobs with higher positions and better careers are a result. In the process of finding a good college, you need to take a couple of exams, pass a few tests and go through interviews. All these are intended for you to create a good first impression to your future teachers and fellow students alike. That’s why it is a must to prepare for it thoroughly. One such example is the making of an application essay.


The current Common Application was released last August 2013 and it sets new standards for future college applicants to admission. One of the most challenging elements was the essay section.

The making of an essay is important in applying for college. This is one way of toughening up your first impression. With colleges and universities demanding much expectation, you need to create a well-constructed application essay. A common application essay contains some insights on certain things. The creation of an essay depends on what topic is assigned to you. There are things to consider prior to making one.


Let us find out what they are and keep these following tips in mind:


First, you need to consider the length of the essay. The common app essay word limit can range from 250 to 650 words, depending on the requirements set. This is enough for the admissions committee to check whether you’re fit to enter the college or not. In terms of length, the common app length should be enough to understand what your standpoint is. You should not make essays too long to narrate your whole life story.


Next is organizing your input. You may have reached the required number of words, but if you don’t know how to organize your input, it will be hard for the reader to comprehend, thus leading to your possible rejection. One of the most common app formats being used nowadays is the block letter style where you don’t need to have your paragraphs indented. Instead, it will show up with isolated blocks of text with one line in between paragraphs.



Third, make sure your ideas or concepts are cohesive. Just because you have subdivided your essay into paragraphs, doesn’t mean you get to do it as you please. You need to make sure that one paragraph contains only one idea or concept before leaving a space for the next one. This prevents confusion.



Lastly, understand your topic. Making a great application essay depends on what are the questions or topics assigned to you so make sure that you understand the topic designated to you. Most common app questions are more of establishing your identity as a college student since it is the heart of an application essay.

Examples are:

•  What is it that made you, you? This signifies about what you’ve encountered through the years that made you into the person you are today. 

• What were the failures that you’ve encountered that has drastically changed you? This is the chance to show them what happened to you, how you faced and overcame it. Being introspective and honest is crucial as well.

•  What made you challenge an idea? This is very challenging as they say, but the thing that is, you questioned. Working against the status-quo is very difficult with everybody disagreeing to your beliefs. This is where you show them how hard it is.

•  What place has given you that much content? We all have places where we find solace and comfort. It depends on your preference. It may be a church, school, park, road, house, etc. You need to explain to the admission guys about the value it has given you. 

• What was the event that made you realize that you’re now a man, not a boy? It may be formal or informal, but you need to explain what significant event in your life has made you realize you’re growing up. It could be a Bar Mitzvah, Sweet Sixteen or basically anything. Make your admissions committee know more about you.

Now you’ve seen some tips on creating an essay for your college application. Save up
some money and go to college. You will never regret that decision for in college,

Tips To Remember When Applying for College

Applying to college is more than just filling out an application form and choosing which schools to apply to. It requires a lot of intensive preparation, diligence, and work. Although the actual application process for most colleges and universities starts around November of your senior year of high school, you have to prepare early to be able to acquire all necessary requirements, especially those that you will be getting from your school and teachers.


Getting started

In addition to deciding which colleges you will apply to, there are other things you need to start to think about and work on, such as when to take your standardized tests, what to write in your essays, who to get your letters of recommendations from, how to respond to interview questions, and other application requirements.

Additionally, you need to check and organize your schedule to be able to make sure that your teachers get your letters of recommendation in on time and your high school to send your official transcript and academic records to colleges before the application deadlines.

Applying to Multiple Colleges

One important decision you need to make is the number of colleges and universities to which you will apply. While you might have a preferred school in mind – that dream college you’ve always wanted to get into since you were young –admissions experts and coaches recommend students to
apply to multiple colleges to increase your chances of getting into a good college, such that if you didn’t make it to your school of choice, you’d still get accepted at a decent one.

If you are worried about the admissions committee finding out that you are applying to many colleges, don’t. They really don’t care, and they understand that your choice of college is an incredibly important choice you’re making in your life.

The Common Application

Applying to multiple colleges may seem taxing and stressful. Thanks to the Common Application, you can apply to as many colleges and universities in the US as you like by filling out an application form just once. However, since different schools may have slightly different requirements, you may need to submit additional forms, create new essays, or answer extra questions.


Are you ready to apply to college? Have you started establishing your academic plans and goals?

Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US

Undergraduate business school programs are designed for students who are interested, passionate, and knowledgeable about business. These programs aim to prepare and train students to become future business owners and global entrepreneurs. If you want to apply to a reputable undergraduate business school, here are the top 10 undergraduate business schools in the US, as ranked by Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

1. University of Notre Dame — Mendoza College of Business

The Mendoza College of Business offers an exceptional business education focusing on values
and ethics. The school also offers international study opportunities in more than 20 countries.
Students who get admitted to the program have an average SAT score of 1419.


2. University of Virginia — McIntire School of Commerce

The McIntire School of Commerce is a globally competitive business institution that offers
engaging classes, world-class facilities, outstanding faculty members, and dynamic, integrated
curriculum. The average SAT score of admitted students in the school is 1390.

3. Cornell University — Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

Offering flexible curriculum led by world-class faculty experts, the Charles H. Dyson School of
Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University molds its students to become leaders
in the fields of finance, accounting, marketing, strategy, and entrepreneurship, as well as
economics of energy, food, developing economies, and international trade.


4. Boston College — Carroll School of Management

The Boston College Carroll School of Management provides both undergraduate and graduate
business programs geared towards the latest trends of today's business world. It offers a wide
variety of courses under BS, MS, MBA, and PhD degrees, with an average of 2,000
undergraduate and 800 graduate students enroll annually.


5. Washington University in St. Louis — Olin Business School

The collaborative learning experience provided by Olin Business School allows students to
acquire career-oriented perspectives. Offering 12 degree programs for approximately 1,800
students, the school boasts of intimate and interactive class sizes.


6. University of Texas at Austin — McCombs School of Business

Offering innovative business education taught by world-renowned faculty experts, the
McCombs School of Business combines dynamic business curriculum with cutting-edge research
to produce future global leaders in the business industry.


7. University of Pennsylvania — The Wharton School

The Wharton School is the first collegiate school to offer an undergraduate business program. It
boasts a large and dynamic network of students and alumni, making up 5,000 undergraduate,
MBA, Exec MBA, and doctoral students; 9,000 exec education members; and an impressive
network of 92,000 alumni.


8. Indiana University — Kelley School of Business

The Kelley School of Business provides innovative and challenging curriculum focused on
business education and talent management. With a large business school alumni network,
students get easy access to current companies and professionals.


9. Emory University — Goizueta Business School

Regarded as a thought leader in creating and disseminating innovative business and
management knowledge, Goizueta Business School aims to empower its students in making
significant positive contributions to society.


10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Kenan-Flagler Business School

Focusing on excellence, leadership, integrity, community, and teamwork, the Kenan-Flagler
Business School offers an unparalleled dedication to training and preparing its students to
become business leaders in a global environment.

Letters of Recommendation for New College Students

Letters of recommendation are an important requirement in the college application process. They are essential because they provide college admissions officers a good understanding of who the student is and how he deals with real‐life challenges coming from a different perspective. These letters are often written by teachers, employers, or mentors with whom the student has connected with at some significant point in his life.

As a student, it is not your responsibility to actually write these letters. However, it is you who should approach your teachers, request the letter from them, guide them as to what to include in the letters,
and follow up on them regarding the submission. To help you accomplish all of these, here are helpful tips on how to get letters of recommendation:


Start Early

During your junior year, you should already be listing down your options of which teachers, mentors, or employers would be able to write your recommendations. Keep in mind that these people are busy with their own schedule, so you need to ask them early for such favor. You need to remind them about your deadline and suggest when the best time is to submit the letter. To avoid pressures, give them at least one and a half month to prepare the letter.

Engage Actively

Asking teachers or employers to write a letter of recommendation for you doesn’t stop at telling them about your college plans. You should prepare to set up a meeting with them and discuss what personal qualities you want to be included in the letter. Give them as much information about you as possible. For their reference, you can hand them over a copy of your resume, transcript, writing samples, list of extracurricular activities, and even a draft of your college essay if you already have it.

Communicate

After your initial discussion, you need to constantly keep in touch with your teachers or employers and get updates about your recommendation letters. Remind them about the timeline of your college
application process and provide them with clear instructions on how to upload the letters electronically to the Common Application database. However, always be professional when you do a follow up. Understand when they get a little busy and be patient when they can get back to you.



Most importantly, do not let this stage of your application stress you out. If you need help, you can click here to get some tips
. You have a lot of other things to work on with your college application, and getting good letters of recommendation should not worry you too much. As long as you stay patient and diligent, you will get the kind of letter you’ve always wanted.

Questions Asked On College Interviews

The college interview is an important part of the college application process at many US colleges and
universities. Although it is rarely the deciding factor in whether an applicant will get admitted to or rejected from a specific school, the college admissions interview is a great opportunity for candidates to showcase themselves, share information that are not available in their application file, discuss their expectations about the school and the program, and talk about their future career plans and goals. This is where you will be tested if you can communicate well and express your thoughts in a confident manner. Combine that with an impressive application letter, you'll have a very good chance of being admitted into your dream college.


Conducted by a faculty member, admissions committee member, an alumnus, or a current student in
the school, interviews give candidates a chance to meet with someone who represents the college. Most college interview questions are meant to help them and the interviewer find out if they are a good match to the school and the program.



Common Interview Questions

Below are some typical questions asked during college interviews that can help you prepare and think

about your answers ahead of time.

 Why are you considering this college?

 What makes you think that this college would be a good match?

 Where else are you applying and why?

 What do you hope to major in?

 What do you expect to be doing ten years from now?

 How do you define “success?”

 What have you liked or disliked about your school?

 How would you describe yourself to someone who did not know you?

 What newspapers and magazines do you read?

 What books not required for school have you read recently?

 What television shows do you watch?

 Tell us about your family.

 How do you spend a typical afternoon after school? Evening? Weekend?

 What extracurricular activities have you found most satisfying?

 What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

 What has been your proudest achievement so far?

 If you could talk with anyone living (or deceased) person, whom would it be and why?

 What events have been crucial in your life?

 What is the most important thing you’ve learned in high school?

 What mark do you feel you’ve left on your school?

 What do you want to get out of your college experience?

 What makes you unique?

 What could you contribute to our college community?

 Talk about a significant challenge you have encountered.

 Is there anything you’d like to tell us about your transcript?

 What is your greatest passion?

 How would your friends describe you?

 If you had high school to do over again, what might you have done differently?

 What are your goals for your senior year?


Other Pointers to Remember

Different schools have different interview questions and guidelines. You can be interview either by one school representative or a panel of interviewers.  There is no official set of interview questions, as well.

All you can do is to anticipate what they could probably ask you, and how you will respond to their
questions. Feeling nervous is normal, but you have to contain your emotions during the interview. It is important that you be confident and show that you are well-prepared for the interview and are ready to take on whatever is in store for you during the entirety of the college admissions process.

College Application Tips

Application tips for college

Applying to college can really be challenging and stressful. Just imagine the tons of requirements you need to gather, the long application forms you need to fill out, and the different essays you need to write for each of the different schools you are applying to. With the overwhelming college application process you need to undergo, do you think you can perfect all your college applications? Here are 3 effective tips on how you can make the best out of your college application.

1.       College application is more than just filling out application forms with personal information and statistics about yourself. More importantly, when preparing your college application, you need to strategically sew together the major components of your application – extracurricular activities, personal statement, supplementary essays, and resume – to create a picture of you that the admissions committee will appreciate. Through these components, you need to build an image that would grab the attention of the one evaluating you and convince him/her that you are a good fit to the school you are applying to.

2.       Preparation and diligence are keys to perfecting your college application. Take time to complete your application and carefully provide information. When you write essays, for example, write with your heart and make sure to review, edit, and refine your write up. Prepare for interviews and present yourself well. If you do not show diligence in your college application, other candidates can take your spot in your dream college. With more and more students applying for highly selective schools, setting yourself apart can be challenging, if not impossible. Thus, you have to work as hard as you can and prove that you deserve to be in your school of choice.

3.       Finally, do not work on your application just before the deadline. Several months before the application process begins, you need to be doing some preparations already like figuring out what SAT subjects you want to take, reviewing for your standardized tests, and gathering your application requirements. When you do this, you’ll have your requirements ready and you won’t have to cram when during your application.