Securing a place at a prestigious International University

Securing your child’s place at a Prestigious International University

STEP BY STEP GUIDELINES ON WHEN AND HOW TO START THE PROCESS

Dr. Kat Cohen, IvyWise Founder and CEO

Over 2,000 UAE students study in the US each year according to the 2020 Open Doors Report, often competing for limited spots at the most selective universities, like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. The admissions process at these top universities is always extremely selective, but especially so for international students. For example, MIT’s Class of 2024 acceptance rate was 3.42% for international students, compared to 8.26% for US students. It can also be difficult for foreign families to understand the holistic application process used by American admissions offices and how important it is for students to spend just as much time on the “soft” factors like activities and essays as they do on the “hard” factors like grades and test scores

UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN ADMISSIONS

First and foremost, it is important for UAE applicants to familiarize themselves with the unique American college admissions review process and application requirements. Unlike universities in other countries, like the UK and India, that rely strictly on test scores and grades, US universities review applications holistically, taking more into account than just numbers (or the “hard factors.”) They don’t just want outstanding students with impressive resumes. Ivy Leagues could fill their classes three times over with applicants with perfect grades and test scores. When reviewing applications, admissions officers consider the applicant as a whole person by reviewing qualitative elements, or what I call the “soft factors,” like extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendations. Admissions officers particularly use the personal essay and school supplements to get a feel for each applicants’ personality, so students should use these opportunities to reveal aspects of themselves that may not be demonstrated elsewhere in their application.

TIMELINE BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL

Developing these hard and soft factors takes time, so it’s important for UAE families to understand that it’s never too early to begin preparing for college and the future. While colleges only evaluate high school transcripts and activities during the application process, preparing in advance allows students to start their high school career on the right foot. During middle school, students should start exploring extracurricular activities to identify which ones they want to continue in high school and begin planning their high school curriculum based on their academic passions. Younger students can benefit from thinking about their interests and learning styles from an early age and developing a strong base of executive functioning skills to set themselves up for future success in high school, college, and beyond.

IDENTIFYING PASSIONS

During the application review process, American universities aim to build well-rounded classes made up of specialists – students who have identified an area of interest and explored that passion throughout their secondary education. Taking the time to explore their interests in middle school will help students really hone in on their passions in secondary school. However, some students don’t get a chance to explore their passions until high school – and that’s ok.

During 9th and 10th grades, students should explore a wide range of interests to identify the subjects and topics that most excite them. Once they identify their passion, students should continue to become an expert in that field of interest by reading, participating in related activities, and taking courses that align with that subject. That way when it comes time to apply to university, their applications are consistent and tell an authentic story about what really matters to them.

IMPORTANCE OF FIT

Wherever a student and their family may be in their application process, whether just starting to consider attending university in the United States or awaiting decisions

on their submitted applications, they need to understand the importance of personal fit. Most families, particularly international ones, are only familiar with the elite “name brand” universities in the US, such as those in the Ivy League. However, there are over 3,000 four-year colleges and universities from which to choose from in the US, each with their own specialties and atmosphere. When evaluating universities, students should consider a wide range of factors, including academics, majors, location, size, extracurricular activities, social life, and financial aid and tuition in order to determine if it is a good fit for their personality, interests, and goals. Now that campus tours and information sessions have pivoted to virtual formats, it is much more cost- and time-effective for international students to ‘visit’ a variety of universities when building their college list. If a student does decide to apply to an American university, it is crucial that they conduct thorough research to ensure they ultimately enroll at a university where they will be happy and thrive for four years.

CHANGES DUE TO COVID-19

As many readers probably already know, the US college admissions process has been greatly impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. From SAT/ACT interruptions to travel restrictions, changes have affected international applicants the most. More than two-thirds of universities implemented test-optional or test-blind policies for the 2020-2021 application cycle. As a result, college admissions officers are evaluating applications through even more of a holistic lens this year. International students should conduct thorough research of requirements for each university on their list, as some colleges may still require international students to submit test scores, whether that be the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, or IELTS, and this can greatly impact students’ admissions timeline. On a positive note though, because many international students were unable to attend US universities during the 2020-2021 academic year, we expect that administrations will really ramp up international recruitment and enrollment in the coming years to make up for those losses. In fact, according to Inside Higher Ed, 31% of admissions directors planned on increasing their marketing efforts to international students in 2020-2021, which could be a benefit for UAE students!

UAE students should strongly consider applying to American universities, as attending one is a very valuable opportunity. Not only will a degree from an elite institution carry significant weight when applying to jobs in America and abroad, but the experience in itself is so unique and creates lifelong memories.