Application Advice for Third Culture Kids
Application Advice for Third Culture Kids
Third culture kids, called TCKs, are children who grew up in a nation that is different than their parents’ homeland. Their parents are often expatriates working as diplomats, military personnel, missionaries, business executives, or other positions that require relocating to new places.If you are a third culture kid applying to the United States for college, you have many strengths to bring to the application process. Because TCKs have to navigate between the customs of their parents and their host nation(s), they often learn to become dynamic, adaptable individuals with insightful perspectives on global and multi-cultural affairs.More and more U.S. institutions recognize the importance of developing students who are world citizens, able to competently navigate cross-cultural situations and befriend peers from all walks of life. Unlike other domestic or international students, TCKs have the added experience of growing up in a fusion of different cultures, which prepare them to serve as role models for how to step outside of your comfort zone and connect with those who do not look, act, or think like you. While being a TCK will not automatically earn you acceptance to your dream college, you likely have unique stories to share that can set you apart. Here are tips for how you can make a strong case for yourself through the college application process.
Tell Your TCK Story Somewhere
Your whole application should not center on the fact that you are a third culture kid. It’s important to talk about your intellectual interests, career aspirations, and what you like to do for fun. Your major essay could very well be about growing up in a foreign country, but it could also be about your love for renaissance art or why you like to spend weekends programming robots.You should, however, address being a TCK somewhere in your application—whether in the major essay, supplements, or the additional information section. A significant number of colleges such as Brown, University of Michigan, and Caltech ask students about a community to which they belong or how they would contribute to the diversity of the student body. These supplemental essays are an excellent opportunity to talk about your TCK experiences.
Highlight Your Growth
Shock value does not necessarily make for a compelling personal essay. Having lived in five different countries within the span of seven years is remarkable, but that fact alone reveals little about your personality and values. More important than the facts of your story are the ways you grew as a result. These are the characteristics and viewpoints you will bring to college campuses.Reflect on the challenges you have faced and meaningful things that you have experienced. Many third culture kids find that they do not have a concrete sense of home because of how often they moved. If this is you, then perhaps discuss times when you felt a strong sense of belonging and methods you would use in college to make your dorm feel like home. Tell readers about the different cultures you have been exposed to. Give specific, descriptive details: the sound of languages that people speak, the pace of life and what foods are served for dinner, the idiosyncrasies that you have picked up.How have these experiences shaped your personality and perspectives? Did you become more adaptable, sensitive, curious, or open-minded?
Explain Your Context
Remember that your normal can be very foreign to the admissions officer reading your application. If few of your classmates apply to U.S. colleges, then write about what your high school experience was like in the Additional Information Section.You can note details such as opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities being rare, or how you developed proficient English skills despite attending a school where instruction was in another language.The Common App allows students 250 words to write about interruptions in their secondary education, which includes moving from one school to another. In addition to noting the reason for your move, you could also detail any impact the transition had on your grades.
Highlight Language Proficiency
Knowing multiple languages can give you a big advantage in the application process. Some school, like Cornell, require applicants to submit scores from two SAT subject tests, which are available in many languages, including Spanish, French, Chinese, German, and Latin.On the Common App, students may note all the languages in which they can speak, read, and write in the Profile section. You could also demonstrate proficiency in a language by taking a certification exam. For example, the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) is available for Chinese speakers and Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française (DELF) for French speakers.You have rich stories to tell as a third culture kid—from the people you have met to the personal growth you have experienced. College applications are a great opportunity to share them.If you feel uncertain about how to best demonstrate your unique multi-cultural perspectives in your essays, an admissions counselor can help you draw out your strongest stories.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