Studying abroad is not all bread and butter; it takes a lot to be considered eligible for college admissions. So while you fantasize about how exciting your college experience will be, endeavour to make yourself eligible for admission. To do that, let’s consider some admissions considerations colleges make for international students.
1. Courses and Grades
One of the first things colleges consider are the courses you took as well as the grades obtained in each of them. They want to know how well you’ve been performing academically. Highly selective colleges look for students who:
- Complete core academic requirements.
- Take more challenging classes.
- Enrol in several college-prep or college-level courses and perform well.
- Take four years of a world language, showing evidence of academic discipline and challenge.
2. Standardized Test Scores
Standardized test scores are very important to most colleges that’s why examinations result from SAT and ACT are taken seriously. These exams enable colleges to compare students from different parts of the country.
3. Personal Statement
A student’s personal statement is a clear reflection of who s/he is. It is one of the admissions considerations colleges make for international students and it goes a long way to show students’ writing skills.
4. Extracurricular Activities
While it is good to be academically sound, colleges want to know if you are well rounded. They want to know if you have soft skills beyond the four walls of the classroom which makes you diverse and employable in the future.
5. Recommendation
As a testament of good character and learning, colleges seek to hear from people who know and can vouch for you. This is where recommendations come in handy and should be specific to you. The recommendation should reflect how students challenge themselves, attempt original projects and add value.