5 Things that Most Successful International Applicants Have in Common
5 Things that Most Successful International Applicants Have in Common
International applicants face an increasingly competitive admissions landscape. Colleges in the United States limit the percentage of international students they admit to 10-20 percent of the student body. At most competitive schools, acceptance rates have reached historic lows, with more and more students applying every year.Though this may sound daunting, have no fear!Colleges love building classes of students with dynamic experiences who hail from hometowns across the globe. Their unique backgrounds enrich classroom discussions, broaden cultural understanding, and liven up lunch conversations.Every international applicant has something distinctive to bring to the table. Creating compelling college applications is a matter of learning to demonstrate the qualities that make you exceptional. Here are five things that successful international applicants have in common.
1. They Start Early
As the old adage (almost) goes: the early bird catches the college acceptances.Any student can benefit from starting early, but that goes double for international applicants. You may face additional test requirements (such as the TOEFL) or need to translate school documents to English.Course requirements from colleges could differ from your school’s curriculum, and you would have to figure out that differences. University of California schools, for example, enforce the A-G course requirements. Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences asks for four years of English and three years of a foreign language.Developing a game plan early on will help you to navigate this maze of college admissions requirements, bringing focus to your application journey.
2. They Become Leaders in their Community
Did you ever feel that you need to save the world to impress admissions officers? Many of our students do. They think their extracurricular activities need to be ground-breaking to be noteworthy. But the pressure to resolve global inequality or end poverty can often be paralyzing and is unfounded.Admissions officers do not expect students to solve global issues at age 17. Instead, they look for young community leaders who demonstrate potential for impacting their nation later on. You can become a community leader by addressing issues pertinent to your hometown, neighborhood, school, or even particular individuals. One of our students helped to kickstart his teacher’s dream of owning a gourmet restaurant. He managed his teacher’s finances and wrote reports on their projected sales.Another student joined her city’s youth advisory board and spearheaded projects to address mental health needs among adolescents. Later, she was invited to sit on a national board for youth involved with local politics. Both were accepted to Ivy League schools.Find a problem to solve in your community, whether it’s mental health needs or reigniting a teacher’s dream. Then, brainstorm ways to solve it. Start with small steps, and you can soon become an outstanding community leader.
3. They Visit College Classes
College visits are a great way to learn more about a campus and gain a sense for whether you want to call it home for four years. Finding the right fit is especially important for international students who must adjust to life in a foreign country. Most students attend informational sessions or campus tours during their visits. While these give a board overview of a college’s offerings and its history, they only skim the surface of the student experience.Sitting in a class lecture, on the other hand, will give you a fuller sense of the academic feel of a school. Many professors are open to prospective students attending their classes. When planning your college visits, shoot professors an email asking for permission to visit their lectures. You’ll gain a much stronger impression of what four years of studying at this college will look like.
4. They Explore Niche Majors
Finance, medicine, and engineering are among the most popular—and thus competitive—fields of study for international students. Successful applicants explore niche majors that better align with their particular interests to stand out in the crowd.Instead of economics, consider social entrepreneurship. The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania features the Social Impact and Responsibility concentration.Curious about the connection between human cognition and artificial intelligence? Then Stanford’s Symbolic Systems major is perfect for you. Do you find interdisciplinary approaches to medicine thrilling? UChicago students can major in History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine—also known as HIPS.The off-beat, specialized majors available at some colleges could be just your cup of tea and they are more likely to place you in a smaller pool of students with whom to compete.
5. They Communicate Differences
In addition to differences in language, grading scales, and school curriculums between U.S. and international schools, there may be more subtle dissimilarities between you and your American peers. Giving admissions officers a full context of your background will help them to better understand your achievements and circumstances.Did you accomplish something that has never been done before in your hometown, or home country? Have you overcome obstacles that are considered unique within your cultural context? These are important things to include in your college applications. Without explaining your context, admissions officers may gloss over or misunderstand the significance of your achievements. Be sure to describe the backdrop of your life as you share your story.The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute conversation today!Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.See what others are saying about us