Role of Ethnic Student Groups in College Application

Many US colleges and universities promote diversity within their community and embrace varying ideas, experiences, and backgrounds from students of different races and cultures. However, this concept raises a lot of wrong assumptions from applicants and parents alike. Many people think that US colleges, to encourage diversity, bypass more qualified applicants to be able to accept minority candidates.


A college admissions coach and counselor debunks this myth, and confirms that highly selective
universities use high academic benchmark in selecting candidates. This benchmark includes factors such as a GPA, class rank, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and unique accomplishments both inside the school and within the community. Now, diverse candidates who have been considered would mean that they were able to reach this academic benchmark. The fact they belong to an underrepresented ethnic group simply adds further dimension to their profile. So, all things being equal, this distinction may enable a candidate to move from the “being considered” pile into the “accepted” pile.


Below is a list of some interesting student ethnic groups that can help members boost their college 
application further and help them get into the “accepted” pile of students.


African American Student Group

The African American ethnic student group focuses on the academic
and non‐academic concerns of African American students. It aims to address challenges facing African Americans and provide necessary cultural and educational assistance. The group also fosters student development and success through academic excellence, cultural awareness, leadership, and community service.


Asian American Student Group

The Asian American student group is composed of Asian Americans
who are committed to promote awareness and encourage interaction within the community they
belong in through social, cultural, academic, and athletic activities. The group also vanguards the
different issues facing Asian Americans today.


Hispanic and Latin American Student Group

The Hispanic and Latin American student group serves to
establish a bond among Hispanic students, while preserving and promoting the richness and diversity of the Hispanic and Latin American culture. Members of the group are taught to encourage cultural
diversity, articulate the concerns of Hispanic and Latino students, and cultivate relationships with other student organizations.


Korean Student Group

The Korean student group is normally composed of Korean Americans, Korean
Adopted, and Korean International students. It aims to introduce and spread the Korean culture into a
wider community. Members of the organization are committed to contribute their efforts into
supporting the Asian and Korean community through volunteer works and social and educational
events.


While ethnicity is not the primary criterion of colleges and universities when making admissions
decisions, it sure does boost a candidate’s application, especially when s/he can demonstrate how actively s/he participates in and contributes to an ethnic student group.

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.

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).