1. When did the application for studying in the United States begin to be prepared?
American high schools begin in the ninth grade, which is the third grade in China. Admission to American universities will consider grades and students' performance from the third year. Therefore, in the face of the top universities in the United States, which are constantly raising the entrance threshold, and aiming at foreign students from Ivy League or first-class universities, we must make the following preparations from the beginning of the third semester:
1, choose a difficult high school course.
Most American universities only look at the core courses (English, mathematics, science, social science, foreign languages, programming) when calculating GPA. If you attend Gaomei or AP, IB courses, AP courses, IB courses and honor courses, try to choose as many subjects as possible and get high marks, you will be considered as an excellent student. If you are taking ALEVEL courses, it is recommended to choose some humanities courses.
2. Make achievements that reflect efforts and progress.
It's better to get a slightly lower score in a difficult course than to get a straight A in an easy course.
3. Get true TOEFL and SAT/ACT scores consistent with high school scores.
It is suggested that TOEFL should be studied from the third grade. Please note that the high score of SAT/ACT cannot make up for the lack of GPA.
4. Highly participate in a small number of extracurricular activities, reflecting leadership, initiative, influence and interest.
The most important thing is the depth of experience, not the breadth. American universities are looking for students with passion and specific interests, not "all-round development" students. Instead of taking part in many general activities, it is better to have substantial efforts and gains in few but intensive extracurricular activities. As a supplement to the application, if the university allows, students should make a detailed resume to show their extracurricular activities.
5. Enriching extracurricular experiences, including summer school, work and hobbies, can reflect students' sense of responsibility, dedication and interest.
It's important to do meaningful things in your spare time! Students should include their efforts after class in their resumes.
6. Having special talents or experiences helps to improve the richness and diversity of school students.
If a student makes extra efforts to develop his talents in sports, academic research, writing, art or any other field, he will have an advantage. Consider providing proof materials (such as creative writing compositions, research report abstracts, videos, etc.). ) go to school.
7. A good application composition can give the school insight into students' personality, value orientation and goals.
A practical writing should be thorough, highly personalized and reflect students' serious and well-structured writing. This is an opportunity to share your story! Applying for composition requires high writing ability, so I began to practice writing in the third grade and began to train English writing.
8. Letters of recommendation with specific examples of teachers and career guidance provide evidence for students' curiosity, professional skills and positive personality.
Additional letters of recommendation from coaches, leaders or others who are familiar with students will only be helpful if they can further prove the students' ability. Letters of recommendation from family and friends (although they are all familiar to students) are difficult for schools to refer to.
9. Show real interest in attending a specific university, which can be proved by visiting the school, interviewing or keeping in touch with the admissions department.
As early as the planning stage of university application, students should make a visit plan, including obtaining necessary information, visiting and interviewing (if feasible). Students should always keep in touch with the admissions staff of American universities and attend lectures held by them in their own schools.
10, through the books you read, your performance in school, your choice of extracurricular activities, your holiday activities, etc., show your thirst for knowledge.
American universities have high requirements for students' reading. If you don't study much after studying abroad, it is a terrible thing to go to a foreign university to study.
2. Universities with strong study abroad in the United States
1, Harvard University
Harvard University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, was founded in 1636. It is a well-known American institution of higher learning with a long history, a world-renowned private research university and a well-known member of the Ivy League. Harvard University consists of ten colleges and an advanced research institute. It has a lofty academic status and extensive influence in many fields such as literature, medicine, law, business and so on. It is recognized as one of the top higher education and research institutions in the world today.
2. Yale University
Yale University was founded in 170 1, located in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. It is a world-famous private research university, the third oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, a well-known member of the Ivy League, one of the founding institutions of association of american universities 14, and also known as the "cradle of the president". Yale has always been at the top of the university rankings, tied with Harvard and Princeton University, and has been fighting for the top three in the United States for many years. In addition, among many disciplines in the school, humanities and social sciences, law, public policy, art and basic disciplines are the most famous.
3. Princeton University
Princeton University was founded in 1746, located in Princeton, New Jersey, on the east coast of the United States. It is a world-renowned private comprehensive research university, a member of the American Ivy League, a member of the association of american universities, the Global University Presidents Forum and other organizations, and has the reputation of "the cradle of American politicians". Princeton is good at theoretical academic research, enjoys the world-famous tradition of emphasizing quality, research and theory, and adheres to the principle of academic supremacy, representing a rigorous, solemn and pure academic atmosphere.
4. Columbia University
Columbia University was founded in 1754, located in Manhattan, new york, USA. He is a world-renowned private comprehensive research university, one of the Ivy League schools, and a member of the association of american universities and Global University Presidents Forum. Columbia University is an important research center in the world, providing a unique and excellent learning environment for undergraduates and postgraduates in many academic and professional fields. Its journalism schools, education schools, international public affairs schools, medical schools, law schools, business schools and art schools are among the best in the United States and even the world.
5. University of Chicago
University of Chicago, located in Chicago, USA, was founded in 1890. It is a top private research university in the world and ranks among the top ten universities in the world all the year round. The University of Chicago has four undergraduate colleges, four graduate schools, seven vocational colleges and affiliated schools. The undergraduate course is famous for its harsh standards and great academic pressure, and many well-known schools in Chicago, such as Chicago School of Economics, have been born. * * * produced 100 Nobel Prize winners, 10 Fields Prize winners, 4 Turing Prize winners and 25 Pulitzer Prize winners who worked or studied in the University of Chicago.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Founded in 186 1, it is a world-renowned private research university. During World War II and the Cold War, MIT researchers made great contributions to the development of science and technology such as computers, radars and inertial navigation systems. MIT's QS World University Rankings in 2002 1-22/,American News World University in the second place, academic ranking of world universities in the fourth place, Times Higher Education World University in the fifth place and Times Higher Education World University in the second place in the world in 2020.
3. Preparations for applying for studying in the United States
1. Prepare your passport
If you plan to study in the United States, you should get a passport before applying. Many schools require it when applying. Especially students applying for business. You must have a passport to take the GMAT exam. Every year, many students have no choice but to switch to GMAT because they can't take the exam without passports. But the transfer exam is very expensive. Therefore, you must prepare your passport before studying in the United States!
2. Prepare proof of funds
American universities also need to provide proof of funds when applying, whether in the name of parents or students. The amount is to meet the tuition and living expenses for the first year. It should be noted that many banks can only open once. If it is found that it is not enough to be reopened after opening, all the previously opened qualification certificates need to be returned before opening. So open it again, just in case. Yunxue Education Group believes that parents should have more snacks in the aspect of economic proof, and never block their children's way to study in the United States just because they have opened one less certificate.
Prepare a dual-currency credit card
Most American universities need to pay application fees when applying, ranging from tens of dollars to hundreds of dollars, which are generally paid online. Students are not allowed to apply for credit cards in general banks, so parents should be reminded to go to the bank to apply for dual-currency credit cards before handling them. At present, VISA or MasterCard are internationally accepted, and some schools only accept MasterCard.
Prepare transcripts
Recently, it has been found that many students will make some minor mistakes in their report cards, and some students are careless. After the school opened the report card, it was sealed without reading it, but I don't know if the teachers in the school will make mistakes. So after the school gives you the report card, compare it with Chinese and English, and correct the mistakes in time when you find them. At present, the falsification of students' report cards in China has left a very bad impression on foreign universities, so we should be as careful as possible in this aspect. In addition, in addition to the problem of correct rate, it should be noted that the transcripts issued by the school should be sealed in the envelope and stamped at the seal of the envelope to be formal. American universities attach great importance to this. Before preparing for studying in the United States, you might as well check your report card to see if there are any mistakes so as to correct them in time.
Prepare a letter of recommendation
At present, many universities in America can submit letters of recommendation online. Specifically, when applying online, the school will send the recommender a link to submit the recommendation letter, and the professor can open the link to upload the recommendation letter. This method can complete the materials quickly without the need for the teacher to sign a letter of recommendation. But only if your teacher knows a little English and computer. If some teachers don't know English or can't surf the Internet, it is safer to have a paper recommendation letter. Moreover, submitting letters of recommendation online requires the cooperation of teachers, because if you apply to the school of 10, the teachers will receive letters of recommendation from 10 from time to time, and it will be very troublesome if the teachers don't check the email frequently.