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March is the time when universities send out admission letters. First of all, congratulations to those who have received their desired admissions. May you enjoy your college life happily for the next four years or even longer, and may you gain fruitful experiences. For those who did not receive admission from your dream schools, getting into college is not the end of the story; it’s just the beginning of a new chapter. You never know what lies ahead. You never know if oday's disappointment will turn into tomorrow's blessing. So, how do you choose an offer after receiving admission? Today, this article will provide some directions. The first factor to consider is straightforward: Can you afford the tuition? Of course, students generally consider this question before applying. However, after receiving an offer, there are two things to consider: 1) How much financial aid have you received? After receiving financial aid, consider how difficult it may be for you to pay the remaining fees. 2) The cost-effectiveness of the university. Can you negotiate with the school for more financial aid? If you find that the cost-effectiveness of the school is not high or if it's financially challenging for you, then you need to weigh your options and consider whether it's worth it. The second factor to consider is your future planning . Does the university align with your future plans? For example, if you plan to major in biochemistry, do you intend to work after graduation or pursue further studies? Are you considering medical school, research, or working in a pharmaceutical company? Are you aiming for a master's or a doctoral degree? All of these factors influence the choice of college. For medical school, you would definitely want to attend a university with a good medical school. For research, you would prefer a university with faculties you like to work with or subfields you are interested in. If you don't plan to pursue a PhD, then you might prioritize a university with a good location or abundant internship opportunities that lead to easy employment after graduation. The third factor is rankings and reputation , which are actually related to future planning too. For example, if you're in the humanities or business, or if you plan to study law in the future, then rankings are very important. However, if you're in engineering or computer science, rankings may not be as crucial. Your internships and projects would be more important in these fields. The fourth factor is "Will you be happy at this college" . After all, you'll be spending four years or more there, it's important to consider whether you'll enjoy your time there. Some schools are highly competitive, and students may not have much leisure time for extracurricular activities. Others have a vibrant campus life with numerous clubs and social opportunities. Some schools are small, while others are large; some are located in rural areas, while others are in urban settings. These are all factors to consider, and there's no right or wrong choice—what matters is finding a school that suits you best. The fifth factor to consider is the academic aspect of the school . This includes grading policies, the ease of earning high grades, and how strict professors are. This is particularly important for students who plan to pursue graduate school after college. Attending an undergraduate program where it's easier to maintain a high GPA is crucial for those considering further academic pursuits. The last factor to consider is the availability of job resources . For example, whether the school offers co-op programs, the specifics of these programs, when you can apply, whether the school is a target school for recruiters, the scale of campus recruitment, the strength of the alumni network, and the effectiveness of the career center. While these factors may seem far for freshmen, four years pass quickly, and it's important to consider them when choosing offers to avoid discovering insufficient job resources when it's too late. Below are some questions I often received from students and parents and my suggestions. Regarding seeking more scholarships. If the student prefers School A but wants to negotiate for more money, is that possible? First, you need to speak with the financial aid office, not the admissions office. You need to convey who you are, that you've been accepted, that you're very interested in the school, and that you're genuinely willing to attend. You must make them believe that the school is your top choice, and the only obstacle is the financial aspect. If it's not possible, they will tell you right the way. If it is, they will try to find a solution. Generally, if the school has room for negotiation, you can secure more scholarship funds by advocating for yourself. Many students are conflicted about school rankings and prioritize them in their school selection process. For fields like finance, business, and social sciences, the school can indeed help you secure your first job. However, in other fields, this may not be as apparent. For example, in the engineering field, internship experiences are more critical than the school's ranking. The prestige of the school can only assist you in securing your first job, and its aura will diminish within five years. If you consider it rationally, ranking should not be your sole criterion for selecting a school. Small Pond vs. Big Pond Many studies indicate that at second-tier schools, which are typically ranked between 20th and 40th, professors tend to pay more attention to students, provide more support and guidance, and invest more time in them. The reason is simple: there are too many outstanding students at top-tier schools, and there isn't as much individual attention available. Some students may experience a cultural shock when they enter college because they were at the top of their class in high school but find themselves blending into the crowd in college. This is also a factor to consider when choosing offers: Are you willing to be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond? This isn't just about psychological adjustments but also about how many resources and attention you can receive from professors. For instance, in a big pond, you may miss out on opportunities for research assistant positions because of the competition.

At this time of year, students are typically planning their activities for the upcoming months and considering applying for summer programs. So, let's focus on the topic of activity planning and delve into it thoroughly. In the previous article, I talked about summer programs, and in this one, let's talk about competitions. The underlying logic of participating in competitions From the perspective of students and parents, participating in competitions is, of course, to enhance competitiveness for their college applications. The higher the prestige of the competition, the more it can boost your application. Types of competitions Typical examples include various Olympiads, the AMC (American Mathematics Competitions), robotics competitions, coding competitions, and so on. Some well-known competitions include the Science Bowl, Regeneron Science Talent Search, ISEF (Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair), and the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). The most familiar business competitions for everyone may include various business contests. Some well-known ones include the Conrad Challenge and the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition. There are writing competitions as well, such as the New York Times, and John Lock essay competition. For the humanities competitions, probably the most famous one is the Model United Nations. The reasons why competitions are popular as follows: It's straightforward and easier to navigate: if I want to study CS, I go with computer related competitions. All I need to do is practice with test questions and advancing step by step. In contrast, independent research projects may leave students feeling lost about where to begin. Tangible results: Competitions provide clear outcomes, which are easily understandable compared to activities like research projects or summer programs, where the impact may be less tangible. Students and parents assume that competitions are more objective, making them more appealing to admissions officers. Competitions also simplify their work when write application essays. However, if it’s accurate? I think it might be true that students find competitions easier to start with since everything was set by the organization. Students don’t have to come up with a tangible plan. However, the second point, which is that admissions officers are more likely to accept this, is not a fact. For admissions officers, there is no distinction between good and bad activities; what matters is that your activities reflect your application theme, your activities are reasonable, logical, and coherent. Conversely, if you have engaged in a bunch of activities but admissions officers don’t know why you did them or what passion and achievements you have, then those activities are not successful. The difficulties of taking the competition route When admission officers review competitions, they categorize them into four tiers. The tier one, the highest, includes national/international sports competitions, national/international music competitions, and national/international science competitions such as IBO and USAMO. The tier two includes awards or positions that demonstrate leadership, such as being the president of Model UN or debate teams. There are a couple of main reasons why participating in competitions is difficult. Firstly, the top-tier competition winners, whom top universities favor, are mostly recipients of the tier one and tier two awards. Only a few individuals can meet such standards, so statistically, competing in these events should not be mainstream. Secondly, it's also a matter of probability. Think about how many students do Ivy League schools admit each year? However, how many students participate in competitions? If 70% of your peers are doing the same thing, you can rest assured that most people are just part of the denominator. Thirdly, participating in competitions requires a significant time investment. You have to climb up the ladder step by step, which requires early planning and practice. Compared to other types of activities, competition is not an efficient choice. Of course, I'm not here to discourage anyone. I just want to emphasize the importance of tailoring our approach to each individual. Every student is different. And competition is not for everyone. We have students who are suitable for competitions, and we encourage them to participate. For those who don't enjoy or excel in competitions, then they should do things they like or they are good at. Competitions are just one of many options for background enhancement Here, I want to broaden your horizons and introduce other alternatives besides competitions. For example, in mathematics and natural sciences, students can engage in summer schools, research projects, tutoring others, joining clubs, conducting independent studies, and internships. Whatever you choose to do, it should reflect your application theme, be logical and reasonable, and strike a balance between the depth and breadth of activities. If you choose to pursue the competition route, participating in tier one and tier two competitions will be most beneficial to your application. Finally, here are a few recommendations for tier one and tier two competitions for your reference. Business/Economics Conrad Challenge Blue Ocean High School Entrepreneur Pitch Competition Wharton Global High School Investment Competition GENIUS Olympiad Business Yale DHSRI High School Investment Competition STEM Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair Regeneron Science Talent Search International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) International Biology Olympiad (IBO) Writing New York Times Essay competition Social Science Model UN 

The first core of job hunting lies in being the subgroup one. This means becoming a unique individual in a specific niche area, making it difficult for others to replace you. Just like in the application process, where we discuss the concept of "application theme," essentially defining your “selling points”, job hunting requires identifying your unique selling points and increasing your irreplaceability. Some of you may say that we all study CS or business, can one differentiate themselves? I'll explore this through case studies shortly. Second core principle is early planning and gathering information . It's not something you start preparing for right before graduation. Instead, it begins during the application process for college. And continually reassess your goals and challenge previous assumptions to progress throughout your college years. Additionally, don't just follow the crowd. You need to personally gather information and verify what you hear. Based on the two core principles, I'll provide two strategies: Strategy 1: Explore niche STEM majors STEM majors like computer science or financial engineering are getting increasingly competitive. But, from a career perspective, other majors can also do the job that CS and DS do. Here are some lesser-known STEM majors that are less intense to apply: ● Engineering: Operational Research and Supply Chain Management. These majors aren't as demanding as computer science or financial engineering, and the employment prospects are excellent. ● Natural sciences: Nutrition. Some schools offer nutrition as a branch of agricultural science, while others have it as a standalone program. With the increasing focus on nutrition and food safety today, nutrition is a highly employable major. Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Science are also good options. It's an applied branch of biology with broad employment opportunities. ● Even in the humanities, there are STEM options. For example, under media studies, there's digital communication and media/multimedia. Under education, educational statistics and educational research are considered STEM, such as Educational Evaluation and Research. Strategy 2: Become a versatile talent To explain this point, let's look at a few examples from our students. Example 1: A student majoring in Media/PR at NYU, with a passion for photography. She took elective courses in TV production at NYU and produced short films independently. Eventually, she was hired by a PR company. Analysis: PR and media are often considered one of the most challenging majors to find jobs. However, this student's proficiency in producing short films provided her with an additional advantage and opened doors for her in the industry. Example 2: A student majoring in Public Policy at a top 30 university, who took an exchange program at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) and was involved in a research project on the European Union. She’s also fluent in French. The student was ultimately hired by an NGO. Analysis: Social sciences are among the most challenging majors for students to find employment. Due to the small job market and limited number of positions. Students who succeed in these areas are often outstanding in a specific niche. They successfully leverage their unique strengths, making themselves stand out in a highly competitive job market, and ultimately secure their dream jobs. Example 3: A student with a background in linguistics (humanities) who minored in programming, and was hired by a startup company specializing in speech recognition for human-computer interaction after graduation. Analysis: This student sought guidance from BosonEd during the application process. I suggested that since her major in linguistics was more humanities focused, it would be a good idea to minor in computer programming because the employment prospects for pure theoretical linguistics were bleak. Human-computer interaction, particularly in the field of speech recognition, is a booming topic. A background in linguistics would undoubtedly contribute to success in this area In summary, these successful job-seeking students are essentially versatile talents, possessing a diverse skill set. The requirements for a position are less about specific majors and more about a combination of skills. When you look at job postings, they typically list a variety of skill requirements, such as proficiency in certain software, operational skills, teamwork, and communication abilities. One of the advantages of American higher education is their emphasis on cultivating diverse skill sets. With flexible course selection and the ability to explore various disciplines, students have ample opportunities to develop their skill combinations. The second key to finding a job is gaining internship experience. As seen in these examples, almost all of them had internship experience. It's essential to fully utilize the career centers at your university, and if your school offers a co-op program, it's highly recommended to participate. Final advice: • Networking Ability: Establishing connections is crucial, which are often characterized by their social networks. Especially when you're away from your parents, friends from your home country/hometown. It's essential to quickly build a new support network. With this network, you'll find many things become much easier. • Curiosity + Proactivity: Don’t wait for professors, staff, or classmates to come to you. There are plenty of resources available in college, but you need to be proactive in seeking them out. The driving force behind this should be maintaining curiosity. Some activities may seem boring, and you might debate whether to participate in certain clubs or classes, but it's often these opportunities that allow you to seize the chance. Participating in a club, for example, might introduce you to someone who could offer you a job in the future. Curiosity is the best motivation to take initiative. • Confidence, Resilience, and Boldness: Whether in academics or job hunting, you're bound to face setbacks. Even the most successful individuals have experiences of sending out hundreds of resumes without receiving a single interview invitation. Never lose heart. Sometimes, you need to be bold. Apart from waiting passively for interview invitations, you can also directly email or call to inquire. Employers appreciate employees who take initiative.

We are thrilled to share that we've achieved outstanding Early Decision results again, with acceptances to prestigious institutions like Oxford, Penn, Columbia, Cornell, Northwestern, U of Chicago, Wellesley, Claremont McKenna, Wesleyan, and more. At BosonEd, we go beyond securing application decisions; we're committed to helping our clients build a bright future. Below are our results for the top 40 colleges

Now, we have entered the season for summer program applications. Parents are once again becoming anxious, wondering whether they should apply for summer programs for their children and whether it will truly benefit their college applications. So today I'll discuss how to make the right choice for a summer program. Underlying logic of summer programs From the perspective of schools: The fundamental logic behind not-so-good programs is to make money. Every summer break, school facilities remain unused, and the costs still need to be covered. Schools take advantage of this opportunity to organize summer programs and offset the expenses. These programs often highlight prestigious locations, such as “host on an Ivy campus”. For top-notch programs, the underlying logic is to enhance the school or program’s brand, cultivate and select outstanding talents. Successful programs usually have a long history and an established reputation. Therefore, they have a well-developed system and operational inertia. They do not compromise on standards solely for profit. Some are operated by independent organizations, while others are hosted by colleges. Therefore, the location is not as crucial, as students apply for the program based on its reputation, not the location. For example, the Garcia program is at Stony Brook, TASS is at the University of Michigan and the University of Maryland. However, these programs are highly reputable and challenging to get accepted into. From the perspective of parents and students: The goal is simple: to enhance competitiveness in college applications. Overall, this logic is reasonable, as participating in summer programs is better than doing nothing. However, there is a cost and benefit issue to consider. We aim for maximum results with minimal effort, hoping that the time and energy invested will lead to significant benefits. This is a common concern for many parents. To solve such a concern, we need to know how college admissions evaluate summer programs How college admissions evaluate summer programs

Transfer Case One: Switched Major Transferring from: UIUC Accepted by: Cornell, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, New York University, Emory, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Virginia Major: Mathematics Applying for Computer/Information Science High School GPA: 4.0, College GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1480, TOEFL: 109 Activities: UIUC CS Course Assistant • Google internship • Speedcubing competition Case Analysis The student joined BosonEd in the summer before he started college. Therefore, we were able to plan two activities for him. Transfer activities should reflect the student's academic and career plans, and ideally, also show interactions with the university. The goal is for the target schools to see that the student is doing well at the current school, leaving the school is not because of difficulties but with a clear plan. This student's activity plan has a challenge because he is transferring across majors, especially to the highly competitive field of computer science. Therefore, enhancing the computer-related background is crucial. Being a CS course assistant at UIUC and having a Google internship both demonstrate a capabilities in computer science. Being a course assistant also shows the student's care and dedication to the university community. School Selection We've discussed in the previous article that choosing the right schools is crucial. When selecting schools for this student, we first needed to meet the requirements for prerequisite courses, planning the courses for the new semester before the start of the first year. Secondly, we contacted each school to ensure that transfer quotas for that year were reasonable to apply. Essay Transfer essays should first address the concerns of the target school. All admission officers, upon receiving transfer applications, will ask two questions: 1) Why do you want to transfer? 2) Why do you want to transfer to my school? Most students, when writing the "why transfer" essay, concentrate 70% of the content on why they want to transfer, neglecting "why transfer to particular school." For admission officers, what matters most is why the student chose their specific school. "How is my school different from your current one? What does your current school lack that ours can offer? How do you plan your academic life at the target school, and what can you bring to this school?" and so on. Application Theme A smart STEM guy with a sense of justice. Highlighting a story of catching cheating in a Rubik's Cube competition. Reason: Activities related to the major have already proven the student's learning ability and academic qualities. The trap that CS applications easily fall into is the lack of individuality and a homogeneous background. This theme vividly portrays his personality, showing that he is just, responsible, and intelligent. Combined with the relevant professional display in the "why transfer" essay, the combination gives his image warmth and depth. Transfer Case 2: To Liberal Arts College Transferring from: UCSD Accepted by: Hamilton College, Wesleyan University Major: Politics/International Relations High School GPA: 4.16, College GPA: 3.85 (with a C), SAT: 1360 Activities: • A a pre-college internship in journalism • High school tennis team captain, won Northern California championship • School magazine editor • Author, multiple essays included in essay collections • Volunteer for international organization Analysis The student had a preference for the Liberal Arts colleges when applying as a freshman but was admitted only to UCSD. In the first semester at UCSD, the student contacted me to prepare for transfer. She had only one semester of courses and received a C. A decline in GPA in the first year of college is not unusual. The average grade for this particular course was actually a C-. We wrote a supplementary material explaining the situation. Grades must be analyzed in context to make sense. Application strategy 1) Precise positioning of the application theme, 2) Strengthening strengths and compensating for weaknesses. Her standardized test scores were not a strength. Instead, her strengths are various activities and the student's personality. Activities included published works, tennis, and volunteer experience in the international organization. The student was very articulate. Therefore, we first precisely positioned the application theme to reflect the student's preferences for 1) liberal arts education, 2) an international perspective, and 3) an outgoing personality – all preferences of liberal arts colleges. For transferring, determining the application theme must align closely with the school's preferences. The student was an editor for her high school magazine and published decent number of articles in both her high school magazine and publications outside of the school. So we submitted a portfolio of the her writing. The student interviewed at each school. The student was articulate, making interviews an added advantage. Second, liberal arts colleges pay attention to the personal characteristics, and interviews provide an excellent platform to showcase personality. School selection School selection for liberal arts college transfers is particularly important because admission numbers are limited; Hamilton College, for example, admitted only one student for the spring enrollment of that year, and it happened to be this student. Transfer Case 3: Transfer to a Ivy League Transferring from: Wake Forest University Accepted by: Columbia University, Emory University, Georgetown University, New York University Major: Economics College GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1490 Activities: • Four research projects during college, including Research Fellowship and Research Assistant roles • Proficiency in painting Case Analysis In terms of school selection, we applied to several Ivy League schools and several within top 30. Considering these goals, the student's strengths do not lie in cores. For Ivy League schools, a 1490 SAT and a 4.0 GPA are fairly standard. The student's advantages lie in her research experience, personal background (went to high school in Europe. We ensured that these aspects were prominently featured in the application theme and essays. School Selection These top-tier schools place significant emphasis on demonstrating interest. Why Columbia and not Penn? How well do you understand the school? (In terms of course offerings, unique features, campus culture, and atmosphere). We made sure that the student's essays reflected this understanding. For example, Columbia seeks students proficient in their major who are also willing to take Core courses, and we ensured that this was mentioned in the essay. Portfolios and supplementary materials are effective ways to gain extra points. The student submitted research abstracts as supplementary materials, and her painting works. Summary: How to Prepare for Transferring to Top 30 Universities Maintain a High GPA It's crucial to have a GPA of 3.5 or above. Complete Prerequisite Courses Ensure that you meet the requirements for general education courses and have a minimum number of credits in natural and social sciences. Since each school has different requirements for prerequisite courses, early and accurate school selection is crucial to avoid realizing too late that you haven't met the requirements of your target school. Highlight Your Application Theme Having a standout application theme is important. Admissions officers have limited time to review your application materials, and materials without a theme are forgettable, especially in fields with significant homogeneity, such as computer science, where many students transition from math or engineering backgrounds, having a distinct application theme is essential to differentiate yourself from others. Precise School Selection Consider factors such as admission rates, transfer admissions policies, and different prerequisite course requirements when choosing the right schools. Accurate school selection enhances your chances of successful transfer. Excellent Essays Craft compelling essays that tell a captivating story and emphasize your application theme. Well-written essays are key to showcasing your personality and motivation. Demonstrate Achievements in College Showing improvement and accomplishments in college compared to high school can enhance your competitiveness.

Differences Between Transfer and Freshman Applications

After Submitting the Application: Do's and Don'ts Do: Check Email Daily after submitting your application. The first thing to do is check your email. You will receive a confirmation email, and any requests for additional materials or notifications about any issues will also be communicated via email. Do: Register for Student Account After submission, you'll receive an email for activating your account. It contains your login information (usually your application email) and a temporary password, along with an account activation link. Click the link and set up your student account password. This account will display all information related to your application, and you can use it to upload any additional materials. Do: Submit Additional Required Materials The application deadline is just for the application form; there are still other documents to submit afterward. Some colleges may require self-reported scores, some might have a second part of the application, and you may need to submit official standardized test scores and recommendation letters. Transfer students need to submit a mid-term report. Don't: Let Your GPA Drop Some students may think that once the application is submitted, subsequent grades are not as important. This is a big misconception. If you are placed on a waitlist, you'll need to submit the latest transcript as additional material. You wouldn't want to submit a transcript with a declining GPA. Additionally, you'll need to submit all transcripts before enrollment, including those with grades earned after the application was submitted. If your GPA drops significantly, the school has the right to revoke the admission offer. Therefore, even after receiving an acceptance, it's essential to maintain academic performance. Don't: Be Passive or Disengaged Submitting your application doesn't mark the end of the process. In the subsequent stages of admission, most students have already met the academic and extracurricular requirements. When all other factors are equal or close, the school prefers to admit students who show strong demonstration of interest. The more interaction you have with the school, the more interest you will demonstrate. Can I Submit Materials the School Doesn't Require, Such as Standardized Scores, Additional Recommendation Letters, or Research Reports? This depends on your application goals. If you are aiming for highly selective schools, remember that "optional" is often not optional. Even if the school doesn't explicitly require standardized test scores, it's advisable to submit them if they are good; last year's data showed that more than 70% of admitted students to top 20 universities submitted standardized scores. As for recommendation letters, you can submit them, but don't overdo it. If the school asks for three, submitting four is reasonable. But, submitting too many may have a negative impact. Admission officers won’t have time to read letters from your neighbor or teacher in 4 th grade. If I Want to Email an Admissions Officer, How Should I Write the Email? If you can directly message through your account, that's the fastest and most direct method. Otherwise, email the school. Common mistakes include not including your birthdate and application number. Including these details helps the admissions officer identify you quickly. Avoid using your Common App ref#; use the reference number provided by the school in the confirmation email. When emailing an admissions officer, be polite and include a greeting such as "I hope this email finds you well." Also, avoid asking obvious questions that can easily be found on the school's website. Admissions officers are busiest during this time, so asking questions that could have been easily answered online may not receive a response. Below is a template Dear Admissions Officer, (list the name if you can find the name of the admission officer who cover your region) I hope this email finds you well! I am applying regular decision for fall ‘2024 and would like to ask you how to share an important piece of updated information. Recently, I was named as a finalist in the Regeneron International Science Fair. Attached you will find the letter from Regeneron notifying me of my status. Thank you for your advice on this matter. Albert Camus Can I Contact the School to Confirm They Received My Recommendation Letters? Yes, it is advisable to contact the school to confirm whether they have received your recommendation letters. Some recommenders may forget the deadline, so while they may have agreed to write the letter for you, there's no guarantee it will be submitted on time. It's essential to confirm with the school. However, be aware that some schools consider this information confidential and may not disclose whether they have received the letters. It's still worth asking. Can I Submit New Scores After Submitting the Application? If you're referring to standardized test scores, most schools do not accept them after the deadline. However, if you mean the latest transcript with new grades, you can typically send that to the school. There is another scenario. If you were to be put on the waitlist, it’s an opportunity to update everything, including new standardized scores. If I Have New Developments in Activities, such as a Published Article or an Award, Should I Update the School? In theory, yes, you should update the school. However, it depends on whether the school accepts updates. For example, the University of California system does not accept new activity updates. For schools that do accept updates, make sure to provide relevant information. Also, when emailing the school, be sure to include detailed information, such as the title of the article, the journal's issue number, and your authorship position, if applicable.

9th Grade: Exploration Phase I call this stage the exploration phase. The primary focus is on ensuring good grades since transcripts starting from 9th grade are essential for college applications, making GPA crucial. Start familiarizing yourself with and preparing for standardized tests; for subjects that can be self-studied, do so, and for those requiring classes, enroll in them. Both SAT and ACT scores are valid for five years, so it's advisable to take them early. Some students may opt for a PSAT as a trial run. Colleges accept PSAT scores as well, and they can be advantageous for scholarships. Regarding extracurricular activities, see this period as an opportunity to explore interests. Engage in a variety of activities to gain exposure and experience. Begin contemplating application themes, understanding yourself—your interests, what you aspire to study and pursue in the future, whether you are introverted or extroverted, and whether you prefer socializing or spending time alone. Additionally, consider creating a Common App account to familiarize yourself with the application form. 10th Grade: Direction-Setting Phase I call this stage the direction-setting phase. Maintain a strong GPA and start taking AP courses. In terms of extracurricular activities, begin narrowing down your interests to allocate more time and focus on one or two activities to achieve notable results. Regarding academic direction, gain an understanding of subjects that interest you and start to set a general direction. I'm not suggesting that you have to decide on a major at this point, but having an academic focus is beneficial. 11th Grade: Application Prep Phase Standardized Tests In 11th grade, it's crucial to decide whether to take the SAT or ACT. My advice is to take practice tests for both the SAT and ACT to determine which one suits you better. Everyone has different habits and strengths, with some people finding the SAT more suitable while others may prefer the ACT. I recommend taking the first test in the spring of 11th grade, around March. If necessary, consider taking it again during the summer. I suggest limiting the total number of test attempts to three. The testing process is lengthy, and excessive retakes can be draining. Spending that time improving your essays and engaging in activities can be more beneficial. So, how many points are considered sufficient? If you plan to apply to a top 30, a score above 1500 on the SAT or a 34 on the ACT is recommended. For the top 50 schools, a score above 1400 on the SAT or a 31 on the ACT is advisable. Schools beyond the top 50 often don’t care too much about standardized test scores. Some may question the need for standardized tests, given the test-optional trend. However, for the top 30 schools, a majority of applicants (about 70% admitted students) still submit standardized scores. Without them, you may put yourself at a disadvantage in the application process. Activity Planning By 11th grade, it's essential to achieve notable results in your extracurricular activities. It's not necessary to win awards or have tangible outcomes, but rather to demonstrate persistence, insights gained, and the impact on yourself and others. Additionally, activities should align with your application theme, logically making sense and being relevant to your chosen field. There should be a logical progression between activities, relevance to your major, and standout features. From January to April, apply for summer activities happening in the same year. The summer before 12th grade is the last opportunity for impactful summer activities in your application. Plan this summer wisely. All top 30 colleges consider students' activities during the last two years of high school. Summer is also an excellent time for campus visits. Visiting campuses is crucial for demonstrating interest, significantly improving your chances of acceptance. The 11th grade is also the time to research your target schools. Explore the schools' websites to understand their academics, student life, resources, and more. 12th Grade: Application Execution Phase 12th grade is the stage for executing and sprinting through the application process. For students who haven't achieved satisfactory standardized test scores, a final push in standardized testing is necessary. AP exams usually take place in May. Common Application opens on August 1st, with early application deadlines around October 30th and UC application deadlines by November 30th. Scholarship applications open in October. Here are some recommendations: Start Early: Start planning early. Applying early provides a competitive advantage for the same schools. 2. Recommendation Letters: Request Early: Ask teachers for recommendation letters as early as possible, considering the potential workload. Prepare a Resume: If you have an educational consultant, let them help you prepare a resume. This can be shared with your recommenders to enhance the quality of the letters. Choose Wisely: Select teachers for recommendation letters from AP, IB, or honors courses, especially in STEM subjects. Ensure the letters are personalized, providing details about you. Diversity: Each recommendation letter should cover unique aspects and complement each other. For example, if one is from a math teacher, the second one could be from a humanities teacher, followed by a recommender who can speak about your extracurricular activities. Avoid Early-Year Teachers: It's generally not recommended to request recommendation letters from teachers in 9th or 10th grade. Focus on those who can provide more recent and relevant insights.