With Covid-19 in the way, the instant thought of many students today is losing their application for further studies, especially overseas. But with education consultants in Mumbai, you can easily have access to world-class counselors, who will guide you by example.
It might seem tough, with Overseas Education Consultants in Mumbai, your ambition becomes achievable. You can create a list of Do’s and Don'ts to achieve your ambition with the help of these below-given points, at the comfort of your homes.
#1: Maintain a High GPA While Also Challenging Yourself
Most students probably know this, but you'll need a pretty high GPA to keep from getting rejected. Why? Well, a high GPA proves that you're not only responsible and studious but also capable of performing consistently well in a variety of disciplines. By excelling in several classes, you're providing direct evidence of your deep commitment to learning and academic success.
So, what constitutes a high GPA? The answer to this will depend on the school you're applying to. If you're applying to a top-25 school such as Stanford, aim for a 4.0 or pretty close to it.
If you're not sure how high of a GPA your school expects, try looking on the school's website for any information or data about the average GPA of admitted applicants.
That being said, getting a high GPA alone isn't as important as getting a good GPA and taking a challenging course load.
Here's what I mean by this: when applying to top colleges, a 4.0 unweighted GPA is no doubt great. However, you'll be a much more competitive applicant if you have, say, a slightly lower 3.8 GPA and have also taken loads of challenging AP/honors courses.
This means that you could get mostly As and a couple of Bs in challenging AP courses and still have a higher chance of getting accepted over someone who got all As but took only easy classes. This is because colleges like to see that you're continuously challenging yourself.
#2: Get a High SAT/ACT Score
Like the tip above, this is kind of a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how little I thought of it when I applied to college back in 2008.
While colleges understand that the SAT/ACT is just one part of your application, it's still pretty important to get a high score on one of the two tests—especially a score that sets you apart from other applicants.
A good SAT/ACT score will vary depending on the schools you're applying to. For example, if you were applying to Harvard, you'd want to aim for 1590 on the SAT or 35 on the ACT. These are the 75th percentile scores for admitted applicants to Harvard. In other words, get this score level and you'll have a higher score than 75% of applicants.
Even if you got slightly lower than this—such as a 1570 on the SAT or a 34 on the ACT—you'd still be in relatively good shape. The point, however, is that you want to shoot as high as possible so you can give yourself the best chance of admission.
On the other hand, if you were applying to a less selective school like the University of Houston, you'd only need an SAT score around 1300 or an ACT score around 27. Again, you could still get accepted with slightly lower scores than these but aiming high ensures you'll have a great shot.
As you can see, what's considered a high SAT/ACT score will depend greatly on where you're applying. If you can hit (or almost hit) your top-choice school's 75th percentile score, you'll stand out and lower your chances of rejection.
#3: Work On Developing Your Spike
This piece of advice is essential for those applying to the Ivy League or Ivy League-level institutions and here's what it is: part of crafting an incredible college application is working on developing a spike.
I briefly introduced this concept earlier, but now let's look at in detail. Your spike is what makes you stand out from other applicants. This is typically an ongoing passion for and commitment to academic or personal interest.
For instance, perhaps you're a lover of writing who's published his own self-help ebook and tutors elementary school students in creative writing on weekends. Or maybe you're a science whiz who's conducted numerous experiments and submitted her results to conventions.
Get the picture here? Think of this spike as the opposite of being well-rounded.
Now, here's what you can do right to help you further develop your spike:
Take classes related to your passion:
Into writing? Take extra writing-oriented classes such as newspaper, yearbook, or journalism. Also, if possible, opt for the hardest versions of these classes (e.g., take AP English instead of regular English).
Join a relevant club:
If you're a lover of geometry or calculus, join the math club. Putting in extra time shows that you're interested in this field outside of school as well.
Enter fairs, contests, and conventions:
This tip is especially relevant to those in the science field. Say you've got an invention, made a discovery, or created a piece of art that you want to show off. Don't just keep it for yourself—submit your project somewhere in order to highlight your commitment to making a change in the world.
Teach younger students:
Becoming a volunteer tutor/teacher demonstrates your devotion to helping others develop their passions in a field you enjoy. If you're an artist, volunteer to teach drawing or painting classes to students at a local Boys & Girls Club, for instance.
Get a relevant part-time job:
Not all students have the time or opportunity to secure a part-time job in a field relevant to their interests, but if you can, I highly recommend doing so, as it can stress both your commitment to your field and your responsibility as an employee.
All in all, don't rely on the trap of being well-rounded, particularly if you're trying to get accepted to highly selective schools.
#4: Write a Compelling Personal Statement and Consider Context
Even if you've got both stellar grades and a high SAT/ACT score, schools want to see that you're an interesting, passionate person who is committed to learning. This is why it's important to spend a lot of time crafting an impactful personal statement for your application.
In general, a good personal statement will accomplish the following:
Introduce who you are as a person (not just as a student!) and why you're applying
Provide context for your academic accomplishments, passions, and future goals
Focus on your spike and what makes you unique
Answer the prompt clearly and fully (if given one)
Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Be the correct length and file format (e.g., PDF, .docx, etc.)
Make the college want to admit you!
The statement is a great opportunity to explain what your spike is, how you got interested in it, and what kind of role you see it playing in your future. For a detailed look at what makes for a powerful personal statement, check out our analysis of more than 100 college essays.
In addition, the personal statement lets you explain the context of your academic situation. For example, does your high school not offer any AP or honors courses? Or are you the first person in your family to attend college?
It's important to answer questions like these in your essay so that the school can take into account your personal circumstances as well as how these might have influenced the quality of your application. This way, you won't get rejected simply because you didn't take any AP courses (even though none might have been available to you!).
Many schools stress the importance of considering each applicant's circumstances. For example, here's what Stanford says on its website:
"We take into account your background, educational pathway, and work and family responsibilities. By focusing on your achievements in context, we evaluate how you have excelled in your school environment and how you have taken advantage of what is available to you in your school and community."
And here's how Duke considers your background in applications for admission:
"As a part of our holistic approach, we consider both your academic and personal interests, what you've accomplished, and your unique experiences, perspectives, and background."
Evidently, the personal statement isn't just an opportunity to showcase your spike and strengths—it's also a chance to explain your personal situation. Do all of this, and you'll be far less likely to get rejected for something like a slightly lower SAT score.
