Planning for College

A higher education degree or certificate takes time and money. To get the most from your investment, do a little research. Understand what college is and how you can use it to obtain the education and technical training you need. Then survey the college market to find a school — whether 4-year university or a 2-year community college that deems to be a good fit for your career aspirations.
The following points will give you a heads up an can be used as an overview to plan for college:
If you are interested in drama, music, art and sports and want to pursue these fields at a university in the US, start to gather material for a portfolio of what you have achieved. Many universities may require a portfolio of your accomplishments for your admission.
Make lists of your abilities, social/cultural preferences and personal qualities. List things you may want to study and do in college. Explore universities by looking at their websites. Talk to friends, family, teachers and recent graduates of your school now in college. Make lists of college features that interest you.
Register online to take college admission tests (e.g., the SAT/ ACT) at least once between March and June. If you are not satisfied with your score, you will have time to retake the test between October and December.
Sit down with your family and start to learn about how to finance your education abroad and let us know if you need any assistance as we do know about many scholarships available!
Create a master list or calendar that includes: tests you’ll take and their fees, dates and registration deadlines and all other important dates that do play a vital role in your admission.
Start exploring scholarships (e.g., TOEFL Scholarship) and other financial aid resources and do not hesitate to contact us if you would like information regarding this.
Ask a counselor/The IKC about taking the SAT Subject Tests™ in the spring. You should take them while course material is still fresh in your mind. You can download “Taking the SAT Subject Tests,” which offers in depth test-prep advice, from www.collegeboard.com
Also, if you have the time and the opportunity, register for AP (Advanced Placement Program) exams, given in May. You can earn college credit depending on the AP course and the scores you achieved in the AP exams. However, please understand that AP exams are not required for admissions. Check out https://www.ap-india.org to learn more.
Scan local newspapers and websites to find out which civic, cultural or service organizations in your area, award scholarships for students going to study abroad.
Make a list of the top 10 components that are important to you in a university.
Explore universities and bookmark the universities that make a perfect fit for you.
Remember to update your resume — a record of accomplishments, activities and work experiences since you started high school.
Once you are done with all this start shortlisting a list of 5-10 universities to which you will apply.
Make a timeline of your application schedule and visit a counseling office to meet counselors for their unbiased opinion. If your school does not offer these resources, you are more than welcome to visit the IKC and avail of all our free services.
Mail us at info@myikc.com if you have any clarifications on where to start and we’ll be happy to help 🙂