We field many questions from anxious students and parents regarding the American university admissions system and the SAT. We noticed that many questions asked and decisions made were founded on assumptions that are not only wrong but also may severely worsen one’s chances of getting into a quality school. Here are some examples, with many more to come:
I’m a shoo-in for the Ivy League:
Columbia last year admitted only 9% of all applicants, and only 6% of those applying from Singapore. Almost all of these applicants are talented, have strong test scores and good grades and are active in their respective communities. Given the hyper-competition for places in top schools, no one applicant is a shoo-in for any top school.
I’m applying to MIT, Cornell, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Michigan…
…and so is everyone else in Singapore. Since nearly every selective school want to ensure diversity among their student body, they will admit only a certain number of students from Singapore or any other specific location regardless of the quality of the applicant pool. You will have a better chance of admission if you apply to schools that are not on the traditional and popular Singaporean destination list.
No backup:
See above. If you are determined to study in America, but apply only to the most competitive schools, there is a good chance you will not get in anywhere. Do an honest assessment and, as a backup, apply to two or more schools that offer quality yet don’t get 150 applicants from Singapore.
I can’t apply until I get my A/O level results:
Most good American universities are aware of the Singaporean education system and know that students do not get their final exam results until well after the university admissions deadlines. Therefore, they will accept prelims and will admit students provided their final results are not significantly worse. Don’t slack off after applying though as schools have been known to rescind admissions offers to students who get sloppy!
Good SAT, bad A’ levels? No problem!
Actually, there could be a problem. The SAT is not the equivalent of the A’ levels in America; it is one of several admissions criteria that universities consider. There are many students that do well on the SAT and the A’ levels and, all things being equal, they will have a better chance of admission than those with good SATs and bad A’ levels.
I need a 2250 on the SAT in order to get into Stanford:
SAT scores posted on school websites serve only to indicate what the average admitted student scored on the test. It does not serve as a minimum accepted score. Admissions officers look at the SAT score in addition to all the other components required in the application. That being said, since the SAT is not the only thing schools look at when deciding to admit a student, we have seen cases in which students with an SAT score below the median or average - but with excellent qualities in other areas - get into top schools, while some students with perfect SAT scores and straight A’s get rejected because they were not active in other activities and interviewed poorly.
I wrote 800 words for my 500-word university application essay:
Word limits exist for a reason: to help the extremely busy admissions officer assess applicants in a timely manner. Most essays are at most 500 words so that it can fit on one page and be read easily. If the admissions officer comes across and essay that significantly exceeds the asked-for length, your application will be viewed negatively. In fact, they may discard your application and move on to the next applicant.
Answer the freakin’ question!
If you are writing an essay in response to a question asked, be it in the SAT Writing section or in a university application, make sure you follow the prompts, understand the details completely and respond directly to any questions asked. You may have in the past written a kick-butt essay about your championship win in a televised science competition, and want to use it as one of your essays, but don’t make the mistake of making only a few superficial changes and attempting to use it as your admissions essay response to a question about the importance of diversity in a university environment. If the essay question asks you whether or not tragedy can serve as a motivator, make sure you do not refer to the time your maid went on vacation and you had to cook and clean on your own (we’ve seen this!).
If you are guilty of any of these, you are in need of guidance. Be sure to contact the United States Education Information Center (USEIC) who will put you on track to achieving admissions success.
