Experts point out that starting in August, some of the top 100 ranked universities in the United States have already opened applications for the fall 2011 semester. Since applications to prestigious schools begin early and close early, many students wishing to apply to U.S. Ivy League schools need to start their applications now.
Applying to U.S. Ivy League Schools
First come, first served for review and securing spots
Study abroad experts indicate that, on a comparable level, the earlier a student applies, the greater their options, allowing them to be admitted to better schools and choose from better programs. Schools ranked in the top 30 in the U.S., such as Wake Forest University, Brown University, and Cornell University, require applications to begin in August or September. Many U.S. universities adhere to the principle of reviewing application materials on a first-come, first-served basis, so students who apply early can gain an advantage, significantly increasing their chances of admission.
Experts state that the results of applications from 2010 have been released, and many students feel that the admission results are not as ideal as expected, even far from their target goals, reflecting the increasingly severe situation for domestic students applying to U.S. Ivy League schools. The number of international students admitted by U.S. schools is limited, while the number of domestic applicants is surging, making applications more difficult.
Taking the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor as an example, it ranks third among public universities in the U.S. In the 2005-2006 academic year, there were 300 applicants from mainland China, while this year, the number has surged to over 2,100, a sevenfold increase. The number of admission spots has not increased; rather, due to the economic crisis, the school has reduced the number of spots for international students to accommodate local and neighboring state students. Additionally, to efficiently process the large number of applications, the school has raised the TOEFL threshold and started reviewing applications as early as the end of August. Many domestic students are unaware of this and blindly follow the information provided by predecessors, resulting in unsatisfactory outcomes. Experts suggest that some U.S. Ivy League schools are already preparing to accept applications for the fall 2011 semester, and for students who already have language scores, applying early to these schools will undoubtedly help secure spots.
U.S. University Selection Criteria
Five Key Abilities Are Most Valued
One significant difference between Chinese and American education is that Chinese students often study hard before the college entrance examination but become lax after entering university. In contrast, American students participate in various activities during high school, striving to broaden their knowledge and cultivate diverse interests, gradually finding their direction and goals. Even during their first and second years of college, the content of their studies remains very broad. They believe that the broader the learning during undergraduate and even master's studies, the more advantages they can form, and only in the doctoral stage is it appropriate to narrow their focus.
When selecting students, U.S. universities primarily focus on five aspects: first, whether the student has special talents in arts or performance; second, whether they have athletic talents and have won awards in relevant competitions; third, whether they actively participate in social practices; fourth, whether they participate in competitions such as mathematics, physics, and robotics and have won awards; fifth, whether they hold positions such as student council president.
However, many students fall into another trap by trying to cater to the preferences of American universities, deliberately participating in social practices for a period. This approach often proves unsuccessful. In American values, it is crucial whether students are genuinely interested in the activities they participate in. Chinese students often focus on the activities they have participated in or their roles in student government, but in reality, Americans do not place much importance on what activities students have organized or their ability to manage. The leadership they recognize is reflected in service, not in the ability to manage people.
Successful Study Abroad Essay Examples That Impress Reviewers
Example One: A Dreamy Girl
If your average score or language proficiency is good, you might typically write in your essay: "I study quite hard..." If so, you are done. A child who works exceptionally hard to achieve excellent results often lacks depth in the eyes of Americans. There was a girl whose grades were nearly perfect, but she never participated in activities, had no hobbies, and did not engage in community service. Experts guided this girl to write an essay titled "Opening Pandora's Box: A Dreamy Girl."
This essay had only two key points: first, the girl did not study too hard yet achieved such good grades; second, this girl loves to dream, dreaming at night and daydreaming during the day. More importantly, she contemplated many life philosophies in her dream state. This student received offers from several schools, including Stanford, MIT, and Caltech, and is now a direct PhD student at Caltech. Essays do not need to be lengthy; often, a single point or sentence can capture the attention of the reviewing professors.
Example Two: A Natural Helper
There was once a student who joined the Boy Scouts in the U.S. and, through continuous advancement, earned the highest honor, the "Eagle Scout Award" (in the U.S., 25% of youth join the Boy Scouts, but only 4% ultimately become "Eagle Scouts"). Logically, such a child should have proven leadership, but he still encountered difficulties during his application. Simply listing all his achievements did not impress the school.
Experts guided him to reorganize his essay, with the theme set as "I am naturally a child who loves to help others." As a result, he was ultimately admitted to Occidental College (Obama's alma mater).