College Application Planning Schedule
9th Grade:
August – September:
August:
And here's the Myths, if you've made it so far.
College Myths and FAQs
Myths about the college application process abound, and should be busted so you make sure you are entering the process with no preconceived notions!
Here are some of the most common myths around town exposed for you:
1. If I go abroad I am trying to escape the pressure of Indian competitive exams like CA, IIT-JEE, CET, etc…
Different people have different styles of learning, and it is high-time we unzip our straight-jacketed, narrow approach towards what constitutes education and appreciate newer systems of education that are yet underexplored. And make the most of the opportunity we have been presented with. Universities abroad truly give you the choice to discover, explore your interests, and find out what you are really passionate about. Apart from academics, since these universities have very active student lives, you can really learn from getting very involved on campus, and interacting with some of the most interesting people you will ever meet! In today’s world, the importance of being a global citizen cannot be really underestimated – the world is indeed becoming flatter by the day. Education abroad makes you understand different perspectives, and broaden your horizon and way of thinking. While education abroad is truly exceptional, saying that by no means implies that education in India is of inferior quality. Eventually, it boils down to personal choice – and remember, you are the master of your fate, the captain of your soul!
2. Only international school students are admitted, state/national boards are not recognised by international universities.
Absolutely false! No matter which educational background you hail from, be it SSC/HSC, ICSE/ISC, CBSE, IGCSE/IB/A-levels, all universities assess applications individually irrespective of the course studied, as long as it is recognised by the Government of India. In certain cases, the score conversion may require a special procedure, but please remember it can be done for all. Universities primarily look for how you have made the most of the opportunities you had – so show them that despite whatever board you are enrolled in, you attempted to truly maximize your education. Let not your past educational background preclude you from exploiting your future!
3. My impeccable academic record will see me through the admission process.
One of the most commonly held (and erroneous, if we may add) viewpoints. Your overseas application is not an assessment of your grades, and while sound academics are the unsaid necessary conditions for the best universities, they are not sufficient. The 21899 schools in Mumbai will each have their own “toppers”, all of whom will also do brilliantly in outside-school exams and Olympiads. So what sets YOU apart from the rest? What is you’re USP? Why YOU over other equally qualified peers? There is no set formula for a perfect application (if such a word even exists), but what does help is academics, SAT/TOEFL scores, extra-curriculars, community involvement and the presentation of your application itself.
4. Undergraduate education abroad is costly and will be an unnecessary financial burden to my family.
Again untrue. For the vast majority of universities, yes, even the ivy-league ones, there is always some scholarship available. Merit scholarships are limited, although you may qualify for need-based financial aid if funding undergraduate education is a concern. You’ll be surprised at the generosity of the scholarship amounts, so don’t be afraid to apply – university websites are excellent places to start your research. Additionally, some trusts in Mumbai also grant part-scholarships. They want bright students like you just as much you want them to admit you.
5. If I work hard enough, I will get into my dream college.
You may have the perfect score, a 2400 on your SATs, extracurriculars exploding from your resume, stellar recommendations, insightful essays – and still not make it to your dream college. Remember, one of the biggest component in the entire application process is luck. With over 30000 applications to the most competitive universities, even through a very effective filtering system, the luck factor plays a huge role in deciding whether you get into a college or not. Don’t berate or congratulate your self too much on any failures or successes. All your achievements are half chance, and so are everyone else’s. College is an opportunity to explore, and discover your interests, and begin your journey of being a master of what you love. Every single college will provide with amazing opportunities to do so. It’s all your choice on whether you want to grab those opportunities and make the most out of your college education, or not.
6. The more the prestigious the college, the better. An Ivy league will give you the rich, full and successful life.
The most prestigious colleges in the US are primarily the large research universities where the emphasis is on research, publishing, consulting and graduate teaching. At some of the ‘brand name’ schools, around 70% of the teaching for freshmen and sophomore us done by Teaching Assistants. According to studies, 90% of the faculty taught less than the average teaching load of 12 – 14 hrs / week, and 25% do not teach at all. At small liberal arts colleges, only 3% don’t teach at all. Research shows that the ‘success’ of your life really doesn’t matter on where you went to school, but on your personality. So don’t run behind the brand – develop your passions, learn more about what you love, meet interesting people, and grow as a person. As stated in ‘Three Idiots’, pursue excellence, not success. Success will come if you love what you do.
7. SAT Scores are the most important thing to get into college. A good one will get you into the college of your dreams.
This is what we call absolute garbage! 25 – 33% of the very high test scoring candidates don’t get into the highly ranked colleges. If you have a great test score and poor grades, this expresses underachievement, and lack of interest in academics. So really, try to make a whole application: grades, SAT scores, recommendations, extracurriculars, and essays.
8. A SAT Prep Course will improve your SAT score.
The best way to do well in SATs, is to just sit down with your SAT book and practice. All you need to do well is practice, and good resources (look at the SAT pages to find out best resources), and not necessarily a preparation course. So just get going, and you will succeed. However, if you feel that you simply cant get yourself to go through the material, or have several doubts and questions, a SAT preparation course may be better for you.(Our advice: Start learning to do stuff on your own – that’s what you’re going to do for the rest of your life! So why not start early?)
9. A college you’ve heard of is better than one that you haven’t.
Magazine rankings or what society says (they often have no idea of what they are even saying!), are truly poor indicators on which to base your decision of which colleges to apply to. Magazine rankings are so foolish, that if you decide where you want to spend the rest 4 years of life on the basis of US News, you will be probably making one of the ingest mistakes of your life! Decide where to go on the basis of several factors: standard of education, student life (this is the most important factor to decide how happy you’re going to be at college), opportunities to get involved in research as an undergraduate, reviews of current students are just a few that you should consider.
And more myths…
9th Grade:
- Work hard for your subjects
- Try to figure what you like doing best. If you don’t know already, explore different interests, and identify possible areas that you might be passionate about.
- Develop extracurricular activities (see our Extracurricular Activities page) that you find interesting, and learn more to develop a passion for them. No extracurricular activity is superior to another, so do what you actually find engaging and can possibly love.
- Increase your aptitude in subjects that you are interested in by learning more about them, through not only reading beyond assigned readings, but also by participating in competitions, examinations, and conferences that can reflect that interest.
- Keep working hard for your subjects, and keep further delving into your interests and passions.
- Start finding out more about the college application process, and about different colleges and different nations that you would like to be educated in.
- Take the PSAT (not required, but can give you a good introduction on SAT.
August – September:
- Register for SAT I for either October of November.
- Start preparing for SAT I. By the end of the preparation period, you should have ideally solved at least 15 papers, reviewed all the key vocabulary words, grammatical rules and mathematical concepts, and have a valid passport.
- Attend college fairs and visits by different universities at your school. If your school/college does not hold such career fairs, you should find out about schools that hold them (e.g. Dhirubhai Ambani International School and Cathedral), send the college counselors an email requesting the information on the dates that universities would be attending for the term, and gather as much information about the universities through these fairs.
- Continue with activities, and start exploring even more activities that you find interesting.
- Study hard to get good grades! Your grades determine the kind of colleges that you will apply to, and more importantly, reflect your ambition and determination to colleges.
- Begin your search for schools. Ask yourself questions: Do you want to live in a city, town, or rural village? How big do you want most of your classes to be? What kind of people do you find interesting? Start talking to advisors and students about life in different colleges. Remember once again, don’t run behind brand names, but instead, look for colleges where you would be happy and have the maximum potential to grow.
- Discuss financial costs and colleges with parents. However, don’t let your parents’ choice influence you. Follow your dreams, and ensure that you pick the right range of colleges, where you would benefit most from the opportunities available.
- Concentrate on your academics, and try to improve your academic level and grades. Take challenging courses or examinations that reflect your sincerity.
- Take SAT I again, if necessary.
- Keep the ball rolling! Ensure that your academic standard is not only maintained, but also raised. Moreover, probe deeper into your interests, and learn more about what you love.
- Have lunch with your counselors, and favorite professors, and talk to them about your interests, as well as seek their advice on what colleges they believe would fit you best.
- Register for Spring SAT I, and SAT IIs.
- Keep your grades up!
- Keep learning about different universities and opportunities.
- Start thinking of how you want to spend your summer. You don’t necessarily need an internship in a big bank. Instead, seek opportunities where you can learn more, and develop your knowledge and interests. This could be in a small startup, or in a research lab, or just merely by travel and exploration. Try to find something where you could draw upon a great experience from, and tell a great story.
- Continue your research into different schools, and characteristics that you want.
- Request information from the colleges on their website. This depicts early interests, and can play a key role in differentiating candidates. Interests in the respective universities.
- Construct your resume.
- Continue college search,.
- Take SAT I again, if necessary. Else, take SAT II in 2 subjects (most students take Mathematics and Chemistry, since the material is covered in most Indian colleges at a relatively early stage)
- Ask teachers who are leaving for letters of recommendation. Write a thank you letter for anyone who has written this letter for you.
- Make a summer reading list, especially for UK universities, where you can use your reading to draw upon you interest in a particular field.
- Take SAT II either in 1 or 2 subjects.
- Continue your summer plans!
- If possible, visit colleges. Try to soak in the atmosphere. Is it competitive and cutthroat, or is it laid back? Is it more pre-professional, or more hippie-based? Understand the character of the college, and determine where you want to go.
- Request information from colleges through their websites, if you haven’t done so already.
- Start brainstorming on ideas for your college essays. Jot down a couple of ideas. Write a few drafts, and think of what experiences in your life have really molded your character or your interests.
- Start finalizing a list of colleges. After a lot of research and conversations with students, by the end of the summer, you should have a list of 5 – 15 colleges that you are interested in applying to.
August:
- Meet with your high school counselor to not only ensure that you have all the requirements fulfilled to graduate, but also discuss and review your plan of action over the next few months. You are most definitely not bound to the colleges your high school counselor suggests, but you must attempt to learn more about all opinions to make an informed decision.
- Start downloading applications. Never underestimate the number of essays you have to write! So start thinking about possible topics or ideas you could explore in order to illuminate on your best attributes.
- Talk to more people. Research every college more. By the end of the month, you should have your list narrowed down to 10 colleges.
- Develop your own timeline of dates that you want to accomplish tasks by (e.g. write first draft of essay by…., ask teacher for recommendation by… )
- Collect all financial documents NOW (In India, your CA will have to figure out the several financial documents required for college applications, especially if you are applying for financial aid. It is always better to be early and get your documents ready, instead of running into last-minute stress!)
- Register for October SAT II. You should have started preparing for it by now.
- By now, you should have also asked 2 teachers to write you letters of recommendations. Take them out for lunch, and let them get to know you beyond the classroom. Tell them stories of the most interesting experiences you have had. Illustrate to them what subjects / fields of knowledge you are most passionate about. Also, let them know by when you want your letter ready.
- Review your college choice and prepare a final list.
- Continue your work on the essays. Ask your peers, counselor, parents and siblings to read the essays, and give their suggestions on it. Let them however not alter by any means the character of the essay. (Read out section on the Essays for more information)
- Complete your college essays. Proofread it and polish it several times. Tie the loose ends, and ensure that your character comes out the most while reading the essay.
- Take the SAT II
- Register for November SAT I or SAT II if necessary.
- Finalize your college choices and let your counselor know by October 15th.
- Finish Early Decision and Early Action applications no later than October 20th.
- If you are applying to the UK, submit your UCAS forms.
- Take SAT I or II if necessary.
- Continue working on the essays for the rest of the colleges.
- Ensure that you maintain a high grade!
- Finish your application! You should attempt to submit all your applications no later than 20th December.
- Email all packages and forms that must be sent to colleges.
- Keep up with your activities, academics, and social life! Enjoy the last few months of life before college.
- If necessary, take the SAT I or II (highly discouraged though!)
- Check the status of the UK universities’ applications.
- Keep your effort up, and don’t slack off!
- Congratulations on all your offers! Don’t be dismayed by being rejected – rejections speak absolutely nothing about you or your abilities. Note the deadlines of when to respond. Talk to a lot of current college students to gauge the academics, student life and atmosphere at each college, and decide where you want to spend the next 3 / 4 years of your life.
- Write thank you letters to all your recommenders. The time and effort they have out in to ensure you get an excellent education is most definitely commendable.
- Take / prepare for your final exams.
- Send 1 deposit to the chosen school.
- Let your high school counselors and teachers know of your final decision.
- Take / prepare for your final exams.
- Request your final transcript to be sent to your college.
- Finalize your financial aid package.
- Start packing.
- Enjoy your summer with your friends, and cherish the beauty and value of home!
And here's the Myths, if you've made it so far.
College Myths and FAQs
Myths about the college application process abound, and should be busted so you make sure you are entering the process with no preconceived notions!
Here are some of the most common myths around town exposed for you:
1. If I go abroad I am trying to escape the pressure of Indian competitive exams like CA, IIT-JEE, CET, etc…
Different people have different styles of learning, and it is high-time we unzip our straight-jacketed, narrow approach towards what constitutes education and appreciate newer systems of education that are yet underexplored. And make the most of the opportunity we have been presented with. Universities abroad truly give you the choice to discover, explore your interests, and find out what you are really passionate about. Apart from academics, since these universities have very active student lives, you can really learn from getting very involved on campus, and interacting with some of the most interesting people you will ever meet! In today’s world, the importance of being a global citizen cannot be really underestimated – the world is indeed becoming flatter by the day. Education abroad makes you understand different perspectives, and broaden your horizon and way of thinking. While education abroad is truly exceptional, saying that by no means implies that education in India is of inferior quality. Eventually, it boils down to personal choice – and remember, you are the master of your fate, the captain of your soul!
2. Only international school students are admitted, state/national boards are not recognised by international universities.
Absolutely false! No matter which educational background you hail from, be it SSC/HSC, ICSE/ISC, CBSE, IGCSE/IB/A-levels, all universities assess applications individually irrespective of the course studied, as long as it is recognised by the Government of India. In certain cases, the score conversion may require a special procedure, but please remember it can be done for all. Universities primarily look for how you have made the most of the opportunities you had – so show them that despite whatever board you are enrolled in, you attempted to truly maximize your education. Let not your past educational background preclude you from exploiting your future!
3. My impeccable academic record will see me through the admission process.
One of the most commonly held (and erroneous, if we may add) viewpoints. Your overseas application is not an assessment of your grades, and while sound academics are the unsaid necessary conditions for the best universities, they are not sufficient. The 21899 schools in Mumbai will each have their own “toppers”, all of whom will also do brilliantly in outside-school exams and Olympiads. So what sets YOU apart from the rest? What is you’re USP? Why YOU over other equally qualified peers? There is no set formula for a perfect application (if such a word even exists), but what does help is academics, SAT/TOEFL scores, extra-curriculars, community involvement and the presentation of your application itself.
4. Undergraduate education abroad is costly and will be an unnecessary financial burden to my family.
Again untrue. For the vast majority of universities, yes, even the ivy-league ones, there is always some scholarship available. Merit scholarships are limited, although you may qualify for need-based financial aid if funding undergraduate education is a concern. You’ll be surprised at the generosity of the scholarship amounts, so don’t be afraid to apply – university websites are excellent places to start your research. Additionally, some trusts in Mumbai also grant part-scholarships. They want bright students like you just as much you want them to admit you.
5. If I work hard enough, I will get into my dream college.
You may have the perfect score, a 2400 on your SATs, extracurriculars exploding from your resume, stellar recommendations, insightful essays – and still not make it to your dream college. Remember, one of the biggest component in the entire application process is luck. With over 30000 applications to the most competitive universities, even through a very effective filtering system, the luck factor plays a huge role in deciding whether you get into a college or not. Don’t berate or congratulate your self too much on any failures or successes. All your achievements are half chance, and so are everyone else’s. College is an opportunity to explore, and discover your interests, and begin your journey of being a master of what you love. Every single college will provide with amazing opportunities to do so. It’s all your choice on whether you want to grab those opportunities and make the most out of your college education, or not.
6. The more the prestigious the college, the better. An Ivy league will give you the rich, full and successful life.
The most prestigious colleges in the US are primarily the large research universities where the emphasis is on research, publishing, consulting and graduate teaching. At some of the ‘brand name’ schools, around 70% of the teaching for freshmen and sophomore us done by Teaching Assistants. According to studies, 90% of the faculty taught less than the average teaching load of 12 – 14 hrs / week, and 25% do not teach at all. At small liberal arts colleges, only 3% don’t teach at all. Research shows that the ‘success’ of your life really doesn’t matter on where you went to school, but on your personality. So don’t run behind the brand – develop your passions, learn more about what you love, meet interesting people, and grow as a person. As stated in ‘Three Idiots’, pursue excellence, not success. Success will come if you love what you do.
7. SAT Scores are the most important thing to get into college. A good one will get you into the college of your dreams.
This is what we call absolute garbage! 25 – 33% of the very high test scoring candidates don’t get into the highly ranked colleges. If you have a great test score and poor grades, this expresses underachievement, and lack of interest in academics. So really, try to make a whole application: grades, SAT scores, recommendations, extracurriculars, and essays.
8. A SAT Prep Course will improve your SAT score.
The best way to do well in SATs, is to just sit down with your SAT book and practice. All you need to do well is practice, and good resources (look at the SAT pages to find out best resources), and not necessarily a preparation course. So just get going, and you will succeed. However, if you feel that you simply cant get yourself to go through the material, or have several doubts and questions, a SAT preparation course may be better for you.(Our advice: Start learning to do stuff on your own – that’s what you’re going to do for the rest of your life! So why not start early?)
9. A college you’ve heard of is better than one that you haven’t.
Magazine rankings or what society says (they often have no idea of what they are even saying!), are truly poor indicators on which to base your decision of which colleges to apply to. Magazine rankings are so foolish, that if you decide where you want to spend the rest 4 years of life on the basis of US News, you will be probably making one of the ingest mistakes of your life! Decide where to go on the basis of several factors: standard of education, student life (this is the most important factor to decide how happy you’re going to be at college), opportunities to get involved in research as an undergraduate, reviews of current students are just a few that you should consider.
And more myths…
- The college catalogue will tell me everything I need to know about any college.
- I need to know what I am going to do for the rest of my life at 17. (The most interesting people don’t know what to do with their lives at 22!)
- Bigger colleges are better than smaller ones.
- I am in the top 5% of my class. I belong to the Ivy.
- I am rejected by my dream school. This is the end of my life (if you really believe that, can we even help you much?)
- Colleges will be much easier than high school.
- Dorms are quiet.
- The college I get into will decide my life.
- Recommendations are not important.
- I will never get homesick at college.
- My room mate will be my best friend, my soul sister!
- I can skip orientation week.
- Flossing your teeth is not important (unless you want to get rid of any cute-looking boy/girl).
- It is not essential to wash your bedsheets more than once a year.
