WHY COLLEGE ADMISSION ABROAD IS AN ELABORATE PROCESS?
Studying at a college abroad is a matter of choice that we make – either due to lack of good opportunities in the home country, or to get a truly better education ecosystem from the developed world. And it is one of the most critical choices we make as kids or for our kids. It is surely one of the biggest investments and hence it is important that the choice we make is well thought out & a choice that is truly of value.
College admissions abroad is complex & complicated process – it does take a significant level of understanding of the admissions ecosystem to go through it successfully.
Various Choices:
Just sample this – The USA has over 2,800 four year degree colleges1, and yet most of our knowledge is limited to the ones we have heard about, the top ranked 20, or maybe at best the top 40.
There are about 50+ different rankings2 that one can encounter & while the top list is pretty much the same, there are a whole lot of colleges & universities that are of very high quality – in terms of learning, campus & facilities, faculty, resources, industry connection and much more.
College Admissions Complexities:
The fact is that one can explore so many more colleges that may not be on the “top lists or rankings” but maybe exceptionally good for you in terms of learning, fitment, culture, and beyond.
Be it the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, or any other country that you are exploring, it is critical to dive deeper into what you want from your education.
Application Modalities:
You would have also heard that many colleges and universities abroad use what is called “a holistic approach”. What exactly does that mean? How do you make sure you have “a holistic application”? Well, honestly, there is no single answer to this. Every college and university has their own set of criteria for admissions, and interestingly, these criteria may change year on year. You have to understand and evaluate how each of these criteria work with your interests, strengths & aspirations to be able to make the right set of decisions for your college admissions.
Then there is the issue of testing – SAT or ACT? When should you take the SAT? What course should you study? What extra curricular activities should you pursue? What should your essays or personal statements talk about? How can you get a strong Letter of Recommendation? What should you do in your summer break?
The questions can be numerous and daunting, and often it is challenging to get the right answers to these questions. But that is what is imperative. It was only through extensive research into the mysteries behind yourself, your aspirations and the universities that one is able to gain a sense of confidence about the admissions process.
Created by Sandeep Lakhina, Chief Dreams Enabler, UUNDERGRAD
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