If you want to improve the success rate of undergraduate application in the United States, start preparing from the first year of high school. Generally speaking, two years from the beginning of senior one to the summer vacation of senior two is the preparation period, and the most important thing is to have a good GPA. You also need to take an active part in various competitions and extracurricular activities to cultivate your abilities in all aspects, including organizing and leading, communicating with various people, making public speeches, managing your time and so on.
In addition, foreign language learning is also very important. Prepare to apply for necessary English tests, such as TOEFL, SAT or IELTS. It is suggested that before the summer vacation of senior two, it is best to finish these exams and get an excellent result. English learning is more than passing the exam. We should learn more about foreign cultures and customs, and pay attention to the all-round development of listening, speaking, reading and writing, so as to lay a good foundation for our integration into foreign university life as soon as possible in the future.
If time and conditions permit, you can learn about some foreign universities through the internet, such as school websites or special websites for studying abroad, or participate in "education exhibitions" of foreign universities.
American high school students' study abroad planning-summer vacation of senior two;
July:
Before applying for studying in the United States, you should know the basic situation of American universities: university classification, geographical distribution, enrollment process, policies, and various employment choices after graduation. At this stage, we will focus on collecting information about 20-30 schools we are interested in. Make an application document, including: basic information of the school, required application materials, SAT, TOEFL or IELTS score requirements, GPA score requirements, application deadline, contact person and their contact information, etc. , and highlight the special precautions. Finally, 10- 15 school was determined, which was divided into three levels: guaranteed school, realistic school and challenge school.
Please note that some American schools do not accept IELTS scores.
August:
After the list of schools was confirmed in July, the application materials were requested in August. If the school can apply online, please check the list of required application materials on the school website.
In addition to transcripts, diplomas, resumes, letters of recommendation and other necessary materials, the most important application material for undergraduate applications in the United States is to apply for ESSAY. Generally speaking, each school requires at least 3 essays, and some schools even require 7 or 8 essays. For any applicant who wants to do DIY, this is a great workload. Essays are generally within 1 0,000 words. It is definitely not an easy task to fully tap one's own advantages within 65,438+0,000 words, especially the initial idea of a composition. So be sure to start preparing as soon as possible, because an excellent composition may take several times, even a dozen times. If you can't finish it in August, you must finish the paper in September.
Contact references. Undergraduate applications generally require 2-3 letters of recommendation. In August, it is best to get in touch with referees, and at least have a comprehensive and in-depth communication with them, so that they can understand your personality, personality, ideas, ideals and your expectations of them, and leave enough time for referees to write letters of recommendation.
High school students study in the United States-senior three;
September:
Many schools have started in September. Write a report card and find a reference to write a letter of recommendation for yourself.
One copy of the transcript is in Chinese and one copy is in English, which requires the seal of the school. Because I haven't entered the third year of high school at this time, I just need to provide the results of the first and second years of high school. However, some schools still need to provide the results of grade three, so be sure to pay attention when browsing the school homepage.
You should also contact references in September to find out the progress of letters of recommendation, and be sure to get them before September. I would like to remind you that because every school needs a letter of recommendation, if you apply for a school of 10, you need to recommend printing 10, and each copy must be signed by the recommender.
Many American universities accept early admission (EA, ed). Early admission is a special category in American university enrollment. Generally, the application deadline for early admission is 65438+ 10 or 165438+ 10, sometimes earlier. So if you want to apply for early admission, you must prepare all the materials in August.
October and November:
Submit application materials. If the school can apply online, the school's online application system has basically been opened in June 5438+ 10. You can submit the application materials directly through the website. Even if the materials are submitted through the online application system, some application materials still need to be submitted by mail. Each school has different requirements for submitting materials. Please log on to the school website or contact the admissions office directly to confirm.
After the materials are submitted, you should also keep in touch with the Admissions Office to confirm whether the materials have been delivered successfully or whether there are any omissions.
Tip: If you apply for early admission, you should submit the application materials in September.
December:
Finish the finishing work of the application and start preparing for the interview.
Many American universities will arrange alumni or teachers to interview students who may be admitted from all over the world to decide the final admission. Therefore, for undergraduate application, interview is also a very important part. Some interviews are alumni interviews, and some school telephone interviews. Either way, you need to fully display your talents. Of course, you can also learn more about the school through the interviewer. You know: the school is choosing you, and you are choosing the school.
Some early admission schools will issue admission notices from mid-June 5438+February to Christmas.
January:
Most early admission decisions will be announced in January.
February:
You may have got the admission notice, or you may still be waiting. Anyway, study hard and make progress every day. All schools want to see a beautiful report card for the next semester of senior three. The admission notices of some schools require that you must achieve certain grades before you can enter the school. Remember that the letter of admission is only the beginning, far from the end, and you still have a lot of work to do.
From March to May:
In the meantime, admission notices will arrive one after another. Read all the documents, letters and emails you receive carefully. Some schools require you to make a decision or response before the specified date, otherwise it will be regarded as giving up automatically.
If you have decided the school you want to go to, fill out the application form and send it back to the school together with the deposit check. Most schools require students to make a final decision before May 1 day, otherwise your admission notice will no longer take effect. At the same time, you should also send a letter to those schools that you have received the admission notice but have decided not to go, thank them politely for accepting you and tell you that you are going to other schools.
Reject your admission notice as soon as possible so that the school can consider the applicants who are still on the waiting list as soon as possible. If you are listed on the waiting list, don't be discouraged, keep in touch with the staff of the Admissions Office, tell them that you are still interested in their school, wait for their decision, and supplement the latest report card and the activities you participated in to help them get to know you better and strive for the last chance.
After June:
The preparation period before departure. Handle passports, visas, prepare luggage, contact the airport to pick up and stay, book air tickets and so on. I won't introduce it in detail here.
Due to different personal operating habits, you can also slightly adjust the above time plan and apply in a more suitable way, but you need to be careful not to miss the school deadline.
In short, the undergraduate application in the United States is a long and difficult process. If you want to apply for studying in the United States, I suggest that you make a good study plan for undergraduate students in the United States from the first year of high school. The earlier you prepare, the better your chances of success in the future.