CareerGOD Webinar Series- "Expert Speak: Demystifying US Admissions" We live in a globalized world where nationalities and geographies are no longer a barrier. You can pursue your education in the US, UK, or any country. You can learn Economics-Biology, Sociology-Mathematics or any other combination of your favorite subjects. However, there is a gap – a gap of knowledge and awareness. You are not aware of the plethora of global learning avenues. CareerGOD strives to breach this gap through our latest webinar on “How to get admission into top global colleges?” in the 5-day webinar series ‘Experts’ Speak: Demystifying US Admissions’. Our experts with decades of industry experience share important insights on aiming and cracking through into the best of global universities. Visit www.careergod.com for more info.

1. In association with
Monday, 26th December 2016, 5 PM – 6 PM IST

2. Mapping student’s potential to Globally Available Opportunities !

3. MR. ARINDAM MUKHERJEE

4.  Why US as a destination (and not others)
 Unique features of USA Higher Education system
 The College Application Process
 Application Essays
 Key requirements for compelling applications including extracurricular
activities
 Letters of Recommendations (LOR’S)
 About SAT Subject Tests
 Importance of AP Tests

6. Consistently High Reputation of Quality Education
 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2014
 Top 3 Ranks from USA : Harvard, MIT, USA
 8 out of Top 10 Ranks from USA
 27 out of Top 50 Ranks from USA
Higher Concentration of Top Fortune 500 Companies
 128 are in USA
 28 are in UK
 28 are in Germany
 31 are in France
 10 are in Canada

7. Job Opportunity After Graduation
 OPT (Optional Practical Training) of 12 months after Graduation
 Extended OPT for STEM Programs - total 29 months after Graduation
STEM Initiative of US Government
 Preparing 100,000 new and effective STEM teachers over the next decade
 According to ACT Inc. only 4700 students in a survey wanted to be STEM
Teachers
 Over $700 million already invested in public-private partnerships
Live The Great American Dream
 The American Dream written by James Truslow Adams in 1931, envisages "life
should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each
according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or
circumstances of birth."

9. Uniqueness of American Education is the breadth of study available
 The American system is notable because so many of its colleges and
universities offer a four-year liberal arts degree which encompasses a
wide range of disciplines and courses.
The Credit System
At competitive Universities, each credit may equate to a minimum weekly load of:
 One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction
 A minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work
 At least an equivalent amount of laboratory work, internships, practice,
etc.
 Student normally have to complete between 30 to 45 credits in a year

10. At many US colleges a student does not have to declare his or her ‘major’ subject of
study
 Majors may be declared within 2 years of start of programme.
 This contrasts with the Indian system, which requires application to a specific course of
study.
 US universities allow students to study a broad range of subjects, in addition to certain
required core curriculum courses in both the humanities and sciences.
A “Liberal Arts” education provides students with general knowledge and broad
education.
 The goal is to prepare students for a life of learning.
 In addition to their majors and the core curriculum, students are encouraged to take courses in
disciplines outside their major. In America, one can major in Folklore and Mythology, study French
and take Physics classes during the four-year course.
US colleges continuously assess a student’s performance in each class
 Whereas most Indian universities give students final subject examinations at the
completion of their semester/ year.

11. The original US Academic Pattern consists of:
“Core Curriculum Courses” or “Distribution Requirements".
 These are General basic courses, available for study during first two years.
 Comprise about a third of the degree.
 Include subjects such as English, a natural science, social science and mathematics.
A "Major" in which a student wishes to specialize
 This is akin to the "Honours" degree in India.
 Mostly taken in the last two years
 Usually amount to a quarter or more of the total degree requirements.
“Elective courses” which the student chooses from any field.
 Can be taken in any/all of the four years
 Up to 40% of course load consists of electives

12. Academic Challenges Students Face in US Colleges
 College schedules will be less structured than those in school - Some classes meet
every day, others two or three times a week, others may only meet once a week.
 Classes are often longer and more intensive - The forty-five minute classes of
school will give way to sessions that are considerably longer, with science and
computer labs often running as long as two hours.
 The volume of work that is required is significantly greater - In addition, your out-
of-class requirements may require an unexpected amount of time
 The academic challenges to be a successful student will be increased
 Higher education is just what the title implies—higher standards, more
difficult subject matter and greater expectations of you as a student.
 By taking charge of the changes that lie ahead, students will eliminate or
minimize pressures and go forward with confidence.

14. Most college decision-making takes place between 10th and 12th grades.
 Continue To Excel In School - There is simply no down side to working hard in school
and getting good grades. Good grades open the door at many colleges.
 Meet College Counsellors - Meeting College Counselors before applying, can help in
picking the best fit. USAUQ will endeavour to give students access to
counsellors/alumni of leading US Colleges
 Compare Colleges - Are there a couple of colleges that seem interesting? Can't decide
which one is best? Compare colleges, including the percentage of applicants accepted
at each school, the admissions criteria, the cost, etc.
 Find Out Admissions Requirements - What is the school's admission requirement.
Compare with students who have been accepted and are currently enrolled
 Appear For Standardized Tests - Take the SAT test. Appear for AP and Subject tests
 Create The All Rounder – ECA, Internships, Job Shadowing, Research, etc.

15. Apply To Colleges –
 Note each school's deadline, and follow application instructions. Set aside time to be
thorough. Pay attention to detail. Internal deadline is 15 days before actual deadline.
It's important to complete college applications accurately !!
Wait For Acceptance Letters
 Regular Application decisions announced in early April
 Early Decision Applicants get decisions by end December
 Early Admission Applicants get decisions by end January
Choose A College
Apply For Visa
Attend USAUQ Pre Departure Orientation
 Will provide briefing on cultural issues
 Link with other students who are attending same college/city
 Discuss common apprehensions on USA

16. Some tips on The Essay
 Choose a topic that is important to you and that you are passionate about.
 The essay should say something that cannot be found, or isn’t explicit, elsewhere.
Writing the essay is a three-part project:
 Brainstorming
 Writing, and
 Editing

17. Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a crucial exercise. Ask yourself:
 What is my background and what are some of my experiences?
 What is most important to me?
 What are my aspirations?
 What am I passionate about?
Narrow down potential topics by asking these specific questions:
 In my autobiography, which 7-10 events would be included?
 What are my 3-5 biggest accomplishments over the last four years?
 Which 3-5 extracurricular activities are most important to me?
 Which 3-5 people do I admire most?

18. Writing
 Once you have identified a topic, think why you chose it.
 You need to decide on the point you are trying to make, and how you are going to make it.
 Get your point across through use of specific details and stories.
 Personal experiences can help to validate the statement you are making.
 Write your heart out! Get your message across and then worry about the word limit.
Editing
 PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD! No typos please !
 Ensure that most sentences are between 12 -15 words
 Try to use active voice in sentences.
 Maintain tense consistency.
 Keep to word limit. Words in excess of 650 will be deleted.

19. Student Specific qualities colleges look for while considering ECA's:
 Leadership
 Competence
 Effectiveness
 High energy level
 Adventurous nature
 Perseverance
 Team Work
 Passion and focus

20. What colleges look for when in your ECA’s ?
 Dedication - The significance of your contribution is often a factor in the admissions
decision. Admission professionals favour depth over breadth. For example, while Jay
may attend almost every weekly chess club meeting, Jaya organized a chess clinic and
tournament at a nearby school, creating such a success that she ran a second one at a
homeless shelter and persuaded local merchants to donate prizes.
 Leadership -"Evidence of leadership" is a phrase that comes up often at admission
decision committee meetings, and it can be what separates you from someone who
ends up on the waitlist. There's a world of difference between the student who joined
the Geography Club and the one who founded it. The more selective a college is, the
more carefully your leadership role is examined.

21. What colleges look for when in your ECA’s ?
 Balance - While there may not be as much talk of "well-roundedness" as there used
to be, diverse ventures appeal to admission officers who are offering college
acceptance. If you participate in the science club, drama club, and tennis team, you'll
usually stand out more than someone who only chooses athletics. If you're a good,
but not exceptional athlete, put other things on your activity roster. Similarly,
balancing school-related activities (clubs, teams, etc.) with those taking place
elsewhere (volunteering, interning, community theatre, etc.) suggests that your
horizons extend beyond the school.
 True involvement - Volunteerism is very important, and the key here is real, hands-on
involvement. Admission people are usually able to differentiate between the
candidates. The person with real involvement is much more likely to get that college
admission letter.

22. LOR's are important because every other part of your application comes
from you!
 Choose teachers from academic subjects who know you well.
 LOR's should talk about your personality, experiences and aspirations.
For LOR from your guidance counsellor, provide more information
about yourself !
Include info like:
 What is your experience at your school?
 What are you known for at the school?
 Did you take any advanced-level classes? If so, why?
 What are your grades like? Class rank?
 What kind of extracurricular activities are you doing?
 What are your goals after high school?
 What you want to major in and where you want to go?

23. A Good LOR tries to address the following questions:
 What is the context of the recommenders relationship with the applicant?
 Has the student demonstrated a willingness to take intellectual risks and go beyond the
normal classroom experience?
 Does the applicant have any unusual competence, talent or leadership abilities?
 What motivates this person? What excites him/her?
 How does the applicant interact with teachers? With peers?
 What is his/her personality and social skills?
 What will you remember most about this person?
 What leads the recommender to believe The College is a good match for this person?
 How might he/she fit into The College community and grow from the experience?
 Has the applicant ever experienced disappointment or failure? If so, how did he/she react?
 Are there any unusual family or community circumstances of the student?

25. Charles Deacon, Dean UG Admissions at Georgetown, on the importance of Subject Tests:
"Georgetown, like Harvard and other selective schools, finds SAT IIs to be quite
predictive of academic success at a high school level and we feel they are a
valuable addition to SAT....“
How Many SAT Subjects Tests Are Available
 20 SAT Subject Tests covering the following subject areas : English, History,
Mathematics, Science and Languages
List of important Subject Tests
 English - Literature
 History - U.S. History; World History
 Mathematics - Mathematics Level 1; Mathematics Level 2
 Science - Biology E/M; Chemistry; Physics
 Languages - French & French with Listening; German & German with Listening; Spanish
& Spanish with Listening

26. Why Appear For SAT Subject Test
 Mandatory requirement at about 160
elite colleges.
 Especially vital for specific areas like
Science or Engineering.
 Demonstrates interest, knowledge and
skill in specific subjects
 Strengthens candidacy for admissions
 Compares knowledge of that subject with
that of other International Students
 Helps avoid introductory classes - allows
focus on more advanced-level courses
 Subject test scores look good on future
resumes
If a school recommends Subject Test, it
should be treated as MANDATORY!
Average Scores of SAT Subject Tests
SAT Subject Average Score
Literature 589
US History 599
World History 590
Math Level 1 586
Math Level 2 670
Biology – Ecological 595
Biology – Molecular 627
Chemistry 628
Physics 652
French with Listening 629
German with Listening 631
Spanish with Listening 635

27. When To Appear For SAT Subject Tests
• The best time is right after finishing the corresponding School course.
• If appearing in both the AP Exam and Subject Test for same course, the sequence
should be: AP in May & Subject in June
Requirement of SAT Subject Test in Select Universities
Institution Category ACT in Lieu Subject Test Requirement
Brown University Required (2) Yes
SAT and 2 SAT Subject Tests
OR
ACT with Writing

28. Requirement of SAT SubjectTest
Requirement of SAT Subject Test in Select Universities
Institution Category
ACT in
Lieu
Subject Test Requirement
California Institute of Technology Required (2)
Required: SAT or ACT with Writing
Also Required: SAT Subject Test Math Level 2, and one SAT Subject
Test in Biology (Ecological), Biology (Molecular), Chemistry, or
Physics.
Carnegie Mellon University
Required [Some
exceptions] (2)
SAT or ACT with Writing.
AND
2 SAT Subject Tests. Subject requirements vary by program, but
include Math (Level 1 or Level 2).
College of Fine Arts programs, with the exception of Architecture,
do not require Subject Tests.
Columbia University Required (2) Yes
SAT and 2 SAT Subject Tests
OR
ACT with Writing
Students who choose to take the ACT may submit Subject Test
scores for consideration if they wish. Students may take any 2
Subject Tests for Columbia College; for Columbia Engineering,
students must take a) either Math 1 or Math 2; and b) one of the
following: Biology, Physics or Chemistry.

29. Requirement of SAT Subject Test in Select Universities
Institution Category
ACT in
Lieu
Subject Test Requirement
Cornell University
Required [Most
Programs]
Required: SAT or ACT with Writing
Additional Requirements: 0, 1, or 2 Subject Tests depending on
the college.
Dartmouth College Required (2)
SAT or ACT with Writing
AND
<="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">2 SAT Subject Tests
Duke University Required (2) Yes
SAT and 2 SAT Subject Test (foreign language recommended)s
OR
ACT with Writing
Harvard College
Required ["Normally"]
(2)
Required: SAT or ACT with Writing
2 SAT Subject Tests are "normally" required.
"While we normally require two SAT Subject Tests, you may
apply without them if the cost of taking the tests represents a
financial hardship or if you prefer to have your application
considered without them...If your first language is not English, a
Subject Test in your first language may be less helpful."
Requirement of SAT SubjectTest

30. Institution Category
ACT in
Lieu
Subject Test Requirement
Harvey Mudd College Required (2)
SAT or ACT with Writing
AND
2 SAT Subject Tests (Math Level 2 and one other)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Required (2)
SAT or ACT with Writing
AND
2 SAT Subject Tests -- Math (Level 1 or Level 2) and a science. "We
do not have a preference as to which" science and math that you
choose.
Princeton University Required (2)
SAT or ACT (With Writing, where available)
AND
2 SAT Subject Tests (Engineering candidates are advised to take a
math Subject Test and either chemistry or physics. More than two
Subject Test Scores will be considered if submitted, with greatest
weight given to the two strongest scores.
Requirement of SAT SubjectTest
Requirement of SAT Subject Test in Select Universities

32. Importance of APTests
 Student will be Challenged: The challenging nature of AP classes will enable students to
build the skills they’ll need in college and beyond. This type of preparation is invaluable.
 Student will add courses to their High School Transcript: AP Courses add to a students
school academic accomplishments.
 Students increase the possibility of College Admission: Admissions counsellors do look for
things that make a student stand out from the crowd. AP classes are one of the unique
indicators of ability.
 Students will Save Money: Decent AP scores (3-5) may make a student eligible to receive
college credit for the course. This could potentially allow them to graduate early (and that
will save money).
 Students might Win Scholarships: Taking part in the AP program will increase a student’s
chance of netting a scholarship. College Board says 31 percent of colleges consider AP
when determining scholarships.

33. Importance of APTests
 Students could add a Second Major more easily
 AP Credits free up time, that could be used to study another major.
 A University of Texas study of 24,941 students said those who used their AP credits to take more
advanced courses in college had better grades in those courses than similar students who first
took college introductory courses instead of AP.
AP Scholar AwardsAward Criteria
AP Scholar
Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or
more AP Exams.
AP Scholar
with Honor
Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on
all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these
exams.
AP Scholar with
Distinction
Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all
AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these
exams.

34. Number of AP Tests
Taken
Percentage of
Applicants
Percentage
Admitted
0 11.3% 15%
1 9.8% 17.8%
2 10.3% 18.7%
3 11.1% 20.9%
4 10.8% 23.0%
5 9.5% 25.8%
6 7.4% 27.8%
7 5.0% 29.3%
8 3.4% 32.5%
9+ 3.5% 36.2%
Source: Sociology of Education, Vol 78, No 4
ADMIT RATE AT 3 ELITE UNIVERSITIES OF STUDENTS APPEARING
IN COLLEGE BOARD AP EXAMS

35. THANK YOU!
arindam.mukherjee@usaunivquest.com