ACT Launches a New Testing Interface for International Students

This month ACT released updates on its transition to computer-based testing (CBT) for all international students. ACT announced last year that all students taking the exam abroad (including Canada) would take the ACT on computer starting in September 2018. Since that announcement, ACT has not released much information on the transition.

ACT has now launched a site where students, parents, and educators can try the new computer interface. The site also features a new FAQs sheet and a place to sign up for email alerts on the transition.

Thoughts on the Interface

Navigation: Now, students always see all of the questions in the section at the bottom of the screen, with indicators of which questions they flagged to revisit or those they left blank. This feature used to be hidden in a separate dropdown menu.

Highlighter: ACT added a highlighting function so students can now highlight words in the passages or questions. But this function is far from perfect. Students can’t highlight diagrams or pictures in Math and Science. And the highlights don’t carry over when a student moves to the next question. Why is this a problem? If you take the time to read an entire Reading passage, highlight all the important parts and then start the questions, the highlights you made only stay on the screen for the first question. When you move to the remaining nine questions for that passage, the highlights are gone. There are strategies to address this tool’s shortcomings, which students will need to learn and practice.

Timer: Students can now hide the onscreen timer that counts down for the section; it used to be a prominent and permanent part of the screen. This hiding feature is valuable for students with anxiety who might be intimidated by watching the seconds tick down.

Answer Eliminator: One of the best tools that has always been part of the interface is the Answer Eliminator, a tool that allows students to quickly cross off an answer they know is wrong. Now the eliminator tool is more convenient. Students can turn the tool on and leave it on for the entire section, and easily use it on any question at any time. In the old interface, students had to activate the eliminator on each question individually.

What We Know and What We Still Don’t Know

The FAQ sheet is not particularly groundbreaking for those of us who have been carefully tracking the transition, though it will be helpful for anyone new to the process. Some of the answers are particularly wishy-washy still and demonstrate that ACT doesn’t have the entire process nailed down. For example, the FAQ states ACT will do something to ensure students with accommodations have “a fair testing experience” but doesn’t provide details on what that actually means.

As information slowly trickles out, there are a few things we do know for sure. But there are still a number of questions. Many of these questions—test site changes, number of seats, cost, etc.—won’t likely be answered until registration opens in June

4 Prestigious Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad

Studying in top international universities is a dream for many Indian students, but financial constraints can sometimes be a hindrance to such dreams. This is why many national and international bodies try to ensure that our talented students are not denied quality education due to lack of funds. 

Tata Scholarship

Undergraduate

This scholarship makes it possible for Indian students to study at Cornell University in the United States for their undergraduate courses.

Scholarship Eligibility – Candidates applying for this scholarship should be Indian Citizens who have secured an admission to Cornell University, and require a need-based financial aid.

Expenses Covered – The Tata Education and Development Trust covers the tuition fee for undergraduate programs up to eight semesters. For programs exceeding that duration (such as Architecture), the student will need to bear the additional cost. Living expenses, food, medical, and travel expenses are also covered under the aid.

Areas of Study – Students accepted to the College of Architecture and Planning, the College of Engineering, the Applied Economics and Management major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and majors across Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, “Hard” (such as Biology, Physics, Chemistry, etc.) Sciences, and Social Sciences are preferred.

Application Time – Applications for this scholarship open around the time of college applications, generally in October/November each year, and awards are given out in December.

No. of Seats – The trust supports 20 students in total studying at Cornell at once.

Country of Study – The aid is limited to students going to study in the United States of America at Cornell University.

Check it out – https://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/international-students/tata-scholarship

Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarships

Undergraduate/Postgraduate

These scholarships are offered by Newcastle University to students who have been offered a place to study at the university. It encourages international applicants and considers every applicant who applies to the university based on merit and diversity priorities.

Scholarship Eligibility – Candidates who have been extended an offer to study at the university, for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, are eligible for this scholarship.

Expenses Covered – It covers a partial aid of £3,000 towards college tuition for one year.

Areas of Study – The scholarship covers undergraduate, postgraduate, as well as integrated master’s programs.

Application Time – The University allocates the scholarships in February, there is no need to apply separately for it. The University automatically considers international students who are accepted to the university for the aid.

No. of Seats – There are 255 awards up for gras every year.

Country of Study – The Scholarships are only offered to students admitted to Newcastle University, United Kingdom.

Check it Out – http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/finance/scholarships/vcis/

Chinese Government Scholarships

Undergraduate/Postgraduate

These scholarships are offered under the India-China Cultural Exchange Program to students applying to Universities in China for undergraduate, postgraduate, as well as doctoral programs.

Scholarship Eligibility – The candidates applying for the aid should have at least 60% marks or above in their last academic qualification, and should have adequate knowledge about the geography, culture and heritage of China. Since the medium of instruction for the courses is Chinese, candidates are required to undergo one-year training in the Chinese language prior to admission.

Expenses Covered – The scholarship covers tuition fee and living/travel expenses, based on the financial needs of the candidate. The Indian Government takes care of the airfare expenses to China and back.

Areas of Study – Students applying to 16 different disciplines of Science, Literature & Language, and Humanities & Social Sciences are preferred.

Application Time – Applications for the grant begins in March for the same year.

No. of Seats – There is no specified number of seats for the scholarship. Each offers a different number of scholarships to candidates.

Country of Study – The scheme covers study in China.

Check it out – http://www.csc.edu.cn/laihua/

UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award

Undergraduate

The Award is offered by the University of British Columbia for international students applying to their undergraduate courses. Students who hold an outstanding academic record, and have achievements in the field of Sports, Performing Arts, Debating, etc. are encouraged to apply.

Scholarship Eligibility – A student (only non-Canadian students are eligible) needs to be nominated by the school which s/he currently attends. It should be the student’s first undergraduate degree, and the student should meet all requirements for English Language as well as the program applied for. The student should also demonstrate financial need that would prevent them from pursuing a program of their choice.

Expenses Covered – The scholarship is given based on financial need, and an assessment is made by the university about the financial situation of the candidate. The scholarship can cover tuition fee, as well as living expenses. The Award can be renewed for all three years of undergraduate study provided the student display satisfactory academic performance and financial need.

Areas of Study – The scholarship can be availed by any student who has been admitted to UBC in any undergraduate program.

Application Time – The deadline to complete applications is November for sessions starting the next year.

No. of Seats – There is no specified no. of scholarships mentioned by the university.

Country of Study – The Award is only given to students accepted to the University of British Columbia, Canada.

Check it Out – http://you.ubc.ca/financial-planning/scholarships-awards-international-students/international-scholars/

If you need more help with scholarships, come join us for coffee!

Succeeding at Online Classes

Whether you’re trying to a learn a new skill or gain college credits during the summer, online classes are on a definite rise. However, unlike an offline class, online learning is quite different.  Here are 4 of the best methods to succeed in online classes!

Create a schedule

Once you know your assignments, creating a schedule for the entire semester can help you prioritize what to work on. Mark big projects that will be due by the end of the semester in red. Get started on them from the beginning of the term as you learn content related to the projects.

Avoid procrastination

Don’t wait till the due date to start working on your assignments. Most that fail at distance education do so because they have put off working on what needs to get done until it’s too late. This is easy to do when you don’t regularly have a class to go to, with a teacher reminding you of upcoming deadlines. Learn what motivates you and use it to keep yourself moving at an appropriate pace to complete your courses.

Find an organized quiet place for learning

Treat learning like a job. Minimize distractions. Organize your space so you have all your textbooks, notebooks, and writing tools at hand. Just because you are home and can listen to lectures in your pajamas doesn’t mean you should treat your studies like leisure. Turn off the TV, sit at a desk, and treat yourself like you were sitting in a classroom among your peers.

Get help

You are not in a classroom where you can turn to classmate to ask a question, or raise your hand for clarification. You will need to make an extra effort to get your answers. If you can’t find the answer to a question in the text, don’t be afraid to email your professor and ask. Follow the instructor’s guidelines for communicating with him/her. Usually this is found in the instructor’s syllabus. Understand that it may take time to hear back from the instructor. Use Google to your advantage to find supplemental information for the subject you are learning. There is a host of research information at your fingertips. Utilize it. Ask for a tutor at the first sign of trouble, so you get one assigned before it’s too late.

Online classes are very a convenient however, it’s important to know there are different ways to succeed in online classes. Remember to make a schedule for yourself, have a designated spot for studying, and don’t hesitate to reach out when you have a question.

Comment below with any questions or concerns you might have of online classes.

How to Search for Scholarships for International Students

When considering higher studies abroad, financing your education may be one of the first concerns that come to your mind.  The cost of an education at a top institute abroad can be a deterrent for students.  However, with proper planning and information, hopefully no aspirant will face this predicament and have to compromise on their plans to study aboard. There are multiple types of scholarships available for international students based on different eligibility criteria. They can also be sponsored by a broad range of institutions from universities, the government and private organizations. Here’s a few tips to guide you about scholarships for studying abroad:

• Start early: Applying for a scholarship needs a great deal of groundwork starting with researching the broad range of options, identifying the most appropriate choices, preparing a convincing application and much more! The sooner you start, the better you’ll manage the work load and avoid any last-minute panic situations. We recommend you start at least 3-4 years prior to applying.
• Do your research: Every institution will have its own set of norms and conditions regarding grants and awards. They could be merit-based, need based, subject based, nationality based etc. Consider where you realistically fit in before finalizing your options. One of the best sources of financial aid can be the college you attend, so make sure you thoroughly explore the options they have available and how you can sign up for it.
• Read the fine print: Have a clear understanding of what the scholarship guidelines entail. For example, if I win the scholarship do I need to maintain a minimum GPA. Or does the scholarship only fund tuition or will it cover all expenses associated with study abroad. Are you expected to return back to India after completing the program?  Make sure you read the fine print!
• Polish your writing skills: An exceptionally well written essay will convey the calibre of the writer. Aim to make your write-up near perfect so that you become a natural choice of the scholarship committee. Practice writing every day, focus on your content, argument, organization of ideas, structure and above all grammatical accuracy.

Merit-based Scholarships 

 Are you exceptionally meritorious in studies or blessed with the voice of a nightingale? In either case, you are a strong competitor for the scholarship of excellence that recognizes students with rare talent in academics as well as non-scholastic areas like music, sports, painting, leadership skills etc. A merit based scholarship not only helps you finance your education but also adds an incredible amount of value to your academic and career profile. Some distinguished scholarships under this category are:  Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA): It’s one of the most prestigious scholarships in the field of higher education and research. Only superlative candidates are eligible to apply and enjoy the benefits. The scholarship is awarded to international applicants from various walks of life; you can be a graduate student, a working professional or an artist. The allowance would cover expenses related to tuition, books, travel etc. for the entire tenure of your study. The Fullbright-Nehru Awards are conferred to accomplished academics, professionals and talented students in India to study, research and teach in the US. If you are applying for this award, brace yourself for a rigorous application and interview process. Once you qualify the rounds and get selected, the organization helps you through and through with visa application, obtaining health insurance and a pre-departure orientation. 

The Rhodes Scholarship (UK): Under the program of the Rhodes Scholarship of India, the Rhodes authority offer 5 scholarships to high-calibre students from India chosen on the basis of “exceptional intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service” who would be eligible to pursue further education at the eminent University of Oxford. The grant includes tuition, personal stipend and airfare to Oxford at the beginning of the term and back to your home country at the end of the term.

Need based scholarships

It’s a boon for those in need of financial aid and there are a host of top universities that offer financial help to students, in the league are Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton to list a few. There are also several private organizations in collaboration with multinational companies that are providing financial support to students of any nationality aspiring for international education. To illustrate: Harvard has its financial aid program named the ‘Harvard Financial Aid Initiative’ which caters to the financial deficiency of low and middle income group of students. International students receive the same amount of aid as a US students. You have to apply for financial aid with your demonstrated need and family income details for the committee to review. Harvard assures students of a need blind admission procedure and financial support throughout the year. 

Davis United World Colleges Scholars Program: All graduates of United World Colleges (UWC) schools who gain admission on their own merits to selected U.S. colleges or universities qualify for need-based scholarship support through the program. The program currently supports over 2,700 scholars at 94 partner colleges and universities throughout the United States. 

Government of India facilitated International scholarship

Did you know many countries invite Indian students to study in their institutions by offering scholarships? Invitations are sent through the Indian government under Cultural/Educational Exchange programs. The Government advertises the scholarship offers through newspapers, the website of the department of higher education as well as notifies colleges, universities, UGC through circulars. So, keep a tab of the latest updates about the scholarships by checking out the relevant sources.

• The Commonwealth Scholarship (UK): You’ll be excited to learn that it is fully government funded. The grant covers tuition, travel, living cost including spouse and children allowances. The scholarship is awarded in the fields of Engineering and Technology, Science, Agriculture, Humanities and Social Science. That covers almost every field!
• Other countries that offer scholarships on this platform are Commonwealth scholarship by New Zealand, China, Japan, Italy, Mexico and the Presidential Scholarship offered by Sri Lanka.
• Program/Subject specific scholarships: Students can also probe into options for their specific subject or degree of interest.  For instance, if you are eying international law for study abroad, good news for you. The AVVO Scholarship program offers scholarships for JD Law students as well as pre-Law and undergraduate students. Science students be amped up about participating in the Global Science Course (GSC) Undergraduate Transfer Program. The School of Science Scholarship sponsored by Tokyo University is an attempt to bring young science lovers on one platform to harbor great interactions and exchange of ideas.  Likewise, many more subject/program specific scholarships are available that help students to advance their education in the subject field.

The number of scholarships today for international students is baffling. Approach your selection process keeping in mind what your strengths are, which subject is your forte, and what goals you want to achieve. Review every detail from eligibility to the fund amount, and only after you’ve done your due diligence, apply for the scholarship.

7 Things You Still Need To Do Even After You’ve Chosen Your College

You put in a lot of hard work over the past four years. You dedicated yourself to service projects and passionately pursued extracurriculars. You studied for standardized tests, and when you weren’t satisfied with your first scores, you prepped and prepped again. You completed your courses with diligence and took responsibility for your academic achievement, and it paid off.

You made it through college application season, and you’ve chosen the school that you’re going to attend. You’re nearing the finish line. You can finally breathe a sigh of relief, right?

Well, yes and no. While the rigors of college applications and vying for a spot at your dream school are now behind you, (and you’ve most certainly earned a break), there are a few more important things to take care of before you post up on your beach chair and let the summer begin.

In this post we’ll outline ten things you need to do after you’ve chosen your college and before your arrival on campus in the fall. Some are absolute essentials, and others are just helpful recommendations, but all will ultimately make your transition to college smoother and more carefree. Keep reading to learn ten things you still need to take care of, even after you’ve chosen your college.

1. Send Your Decision and Enrollment Deposit by the Deadline

This might seem like a no-brainer, and it usually is, but can you imagine the heartbreak of losing your place at your dream school just because you forgot to send your college admissions acceptance and deposit back? Yeah, us neither. Do yourself a favor and make this a TOP priority. No procrastinating — do it as soon as you’re certain of your choice.

2. Decline Other Offers

While you aren’t technically required to formally decline an offer for college admission, it’s the right thing to do for a few different reasons.

First of all, the admissions committee took the time to review your application carefully and ultimately offered you a place at their school. It makes sense that you would give them the same courtesy of a few minutes of your time in return. Second, if you take the time to decline the offer, the school is able to more quickly offer your place to someone else, if they choose to do so. If the roles were reversed, and you were on the waitlist hoping to get a place at that school, you’d be grateful for timely students who formally declined their offers in advance. 

3. Review Financial Aid Packages and Formally Accept Ones to be Used

Some students may have several aid packages to choose from. If you’re reviewing financial aid options, generally you should accept scholarships and grants first, followed by work-study programs, and finally loans only if necessary.

But don’t accept anything until you’re certain that you understand it. Some scholarships come with strict rules, and certain grants turn into loans if you don’t meet your side of the bargain. Also, if you’ve been offered a loan that is bigger than what you’re likely to need, you should consider asking for only a portion of it. It’s never good to over-borrow.

Once you know what package you’ll be accepting, make sure to formalize it by letting the school know what aid you’re accepting. Sometimes you do so by entering the information into an online form; other times, you have to sign and return a letter. You may also need to sign a promissory note, which indicates that you will repay your loan.

No matter what your specific situation is, be sure that you understand your financial aid package and that you take the correct steps to formally accept it, if applicable. Your award letter will contain directions specific to your package.

4. Decide on Your Housing Arrangement

At some colleges, all freshmen are required to live on campus in assigned dormitories. If that’s the case at your school, your decision is already made for you. But if it’s not, you should consider where you are going to live next year.

While dorms might be an easy option, you should also consider the cost of room and board, the rules of dorm life, and the types of shared living spaces to which you’ll have access. Some students find it is more economical to live off-campus. Others simply prefer to be more independent. And still more are content to live in dorms. Research your options and make an informed decision.

5. Put Orientation on Your Calendar

At many colleges, orientation is required for new students, and even if it’s not mandatory, it is still very beneficial to attend. At orientation, you’ll learn the campus layout, gather information about campus services, get to know other incoming students, and sometimes even register for classes.

Keep in mind that if you are attending a school where course registration takes part during orientation, you should consider attending an orientation date on the earlier side to ensure that you can get into the classes you want to take. Many schools now offer parent orientations as well. Find out if this is an option at your school and make sure your parents know about it.

6. Check Out the Course Catalogue

Even if you don’t register for classes until orientation, it’s a good idea to do some thinking about what you’re interested in ahead of time. Pay particular attention to any programs or academic tracks with prescribed prerequisites. The earlier you can enroll in these prerequisites, the more options you’ll have later on.

Also, sometimes you can choose prerequisite classes that fill other requirements too. That way, even if you later decide that you don’t want to pursue premed classes, your introductory calculus class from freshman year might still fulfill the math graduation requirement. Beyond browsing course descriptions, also consider the course schedule. If you will be playing a sport or working an afternoon job, you’ll need to schedule classes to accommodate your commitments. Having some familiarity with the schedule before you register will make the process easier in the long run.

7. Send in Your Tuition Payments on Time

This is another one that seems like a no-brainer, but it’s a fairly integral part of the process. While it’s generally quite consistent that most schools require an enrollment deposit with your formal acceptance, the date that your first actual tuition payment is due will vary significantly from school to school. Be sure that you know this date and have the money liquidated and ready to be sent by the deadline.

Important Next Steps After Receiving a College Acceptance Letter

March is THE month for admissions decisions on regular decision applications. For all of you 12th graders who are waiting to hear back from colleges, your wait is over! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Decision time is upon you!

Just because you’ve been accepted into college, however, doesn’t mean your college admissions process is over. There are still a few final steps you need to complete to ensure that you will be attending the college of your choice next year. For a complete list of everything you need to do to secure your college future, read on.

Ask The Tough Questions

Now that you’ve gotten into a college, it’s time to think if what that college is offering really the best choice for you? Even if the college you were accepted to is your number one choice, you should really think hard about whether this is the college for you before you accept the offer.

Here are some things that you really need to consider before you make a final decision on whether you will attend the college you were accepted to:

• Finances: Can you and your family realistically afford this school? Are there financial aid options available to you if you attend this school?
• Location: Do you really want to live in ________ for the next four years?
• Campus: Do you get a good vibe or impression of the campus when you visit it? Do the buildings and the overall campus feel make you excited to go there?
• Friendships: Are you going to know anyone or have anyone to help you get settled if you go to this college, or are you going to have to start your social life over again?
• Career Prospects (*THIS ONE IS BIG*): Is this the best college to gain the skills that will help you pursue the career field you are interested in? Is the degree program that you would be entering into well-ranked?
• Immigration: Take into account the country its in and if immigration is favorable. If not, how will they help you getting opportunities in your home country. These are things we often forget to factor in but very important if you are an international student

Visit (or Revisit) The Campus

Oftentimes, if a student is struggling with the decision between two or more campuses, they do another round of campus tours to help bring them some clarity about which campus they should choose. Walking around a campus as an accepted student rather than just a prospective student forces one to look at a campus a lot more critically and notice new things that you like/dislike about the campus. Now, we know a lot of you are international students but hey this is a big investment into your future! Definitely find the time to Skype admissions, other international students, and faculty before you take the plunge.  

Many universities big and small have a designated day dedicated to incoming freshman. The college will usually have all sorts of fun activities planned and have a lot of opportunities for you to learn more about the academics, campus life, and other opportunities.

Try to go to these on-campus events if you can because they will be the easiest way for you to get the most information about your prospective life at that school in a relatively short amount of time. Keep in mind, however, that the entire point of these events will be to convince you to attend the university, so the information you get may be a tad biased

If You Feel That This Is The College For You, Accept The Offer

If you have revisited the campus, asked the tough questions, consulted with your friends and family about whether attending this college would be feasible, and you still think that this is the college for you, go ahead and accept the offer! You have officially succeeded in the college application process!

Make sure that you accept the offer by the decision deadline. For most universities, decision day is May 1st. Accepting sooner rather than later is usually preferred, but if you have to wait until closer to the deadline because you’re waiting to hear from another college, it won’t negatively impact your admissions decision at all.

Usually, the college will require you to submit a financial deposit along with your acceptance confirmation response. This won’t always be due at the same time as your acceptance confirmation, but you should do it as soon as possible to secure your spot at the university and ensure that you are officially enrolled.

It is important to note that your financial deposit is not the same as your tuition. Tuition is a separate, often much larger, fee that will be required a little bit closer to when you start college.

Also, if the university in question has offered you some sort of financial aid, you will likely have to send in a separate acceptance confirmation for your financial aid package. Be sure to check with the college’s financial aid office to make sure you’re completing all the necessary steps to receive your financial aid in the fall.

Decline All Other Offers

If you’re one of those lucky students who is considering multiple college offers, make sure you respond to every college that has accepted you. Once you’ve accepted a college, you need to individually reject each other offer that you were considering. It’s not enough to simply let the acceptance deadline pass.

If you don’t accept a college by the deadline, a college will likely rescind their offer of acceptance. While this won’t negatively affect your college prospects in any way, it goes against the common etiquette practices in college admissions.

Start Preparing For Your First Semester of College

You have gone through the wringer with college applications, but unfortunately, your work has just begun. Now, you have the fun task of uprooting yourself and moving to a college campus. With that comes many logistical complications that you need to work out well before your first semester. Here is a short list of some of the things you need to start thinking about sooner rather than later so that you’ll be ready for college:

• Attending your first college orientation
• Submitting all vaccinations and other necessary forms required by the university
• Signing up for your fall-semester classes
• Creating a four-year degree plan
• Finding Housing/Roommates

Congratulations once again. Read more about college life here!

SAT vs. ACT: Which one is right for you?

The SAT and ACT  are two of the most popular standadized testing programs. While the SAT has had the larger presence in India, both are equally an instution of testing when it comes to undergraduate education in the United States. At Edbrand, we have seen scores differ widely with the same student as they take both the tests. The difference lies in the questions. To understand this better we’ll take you through both the tests and then dive into a comparative analysis. 

SAT 

The newly designed SAT was introduced in 2016 with four sections and an optional essay. 

Section 1: Reading (52 questions spread over 5 passages. Time allotted: 65 minutes) 

Section 2: Wrting (44 multiple choice questions on grammar, spread over 4 passages. Time allotted: 35 minutes) 

Sections 3 & 4: Math ( In all 58 Q to be solved in 80 min. Calculator not permitted for Section 3 whereas section 4 permits the use of Graphing display calculator) 

Optional essay, a commentary to be written in 800 words long argumentative prompt. 

ACT

Leaving minor changes aside, the pr esent structure of ACT has been around since 1989. It has four sections: 

English (75 Q – 45 Min) 

Math (60Q – 60 min) - Graphing calculator permitted 

Reading (40 Q – 35 min) 

Science (40 Q – 35 Min ) - Calculator not permitted 

The ACT essay is easier to write than the one on SAT as you are permitted to use your own examples here. 

So what’s the difference

1. The SAT is more a test of reasoning and logic and always attempts to size up your ability to improvise and act in a situation. The SAT syllabus is limited and an effective SAT prep can be put in place in as little as 30 hours, although that is not recommended. ACT , on the other hand , is a pure speed test and the questions here are generally on the easier side. The average time allowed per question on ACT (4 9 seconds), however, is 30% lower than that allowed on SAT (70 seconds). 
2. The Grammar sections on the two tests are pretty much identical. Although there are more rhetorical questions on SAT, you get more time to answer t hem as compared to the ACT. Students from any background can answer these , given appropriate inputs and adequate practice. 
3. The math sections on the two tests differ vastly in their scope and required approach and prep. SAT has a tiny syllabus and students irrespective of their math options in junior and senior years will be comfortable here given some additional inputs in areas like parabola and statistics. The questions can tend to be tricky though. Also, most of the SAT math questions are lengthy in wordi ng and inadvertently end up testing your reading speed as well. Time will not be a challenge on any of these tests for the math sections unless the student has a weak math foundation from the middle years of schooling. ACT math is highly curriculum based a nd students who do not hav e math as a subject in their high school will struggle here. High school math students will find ACT math simple as the questions are usually direct and superficial, merely testing one for the concept involved and not its applicat ion. That said, these students will take more time as the syllabus is large and loosely defined. Having prepared for ACT math with usually give the students an edge in their SAT math level 2 prep as there is almost a 50% overlap in the syllabus . 
4. The reading sections of the two tests are poles apart. My favorite line here is “SAT tests you for reading between the lines. On the ACT, you just have to read the lines; there are too many of them though ” . SAT reading is highly inferential requiring the student to u nderstand the passage in great depth and align herself with the thoughts of the author. ACT reading is direct and answers to all the questions can be found directly i n the passage. The only challenge here is attempting four long passages and 40 questions in a minuscule 35 minutes. 
5. ACT has a science section, which is not there on SAT. This section, in my opinion, should have been called Data Comprehension as it does not really test you on scien tific principles. Having all three sciences in freshman and sopho more years of high schools should suffice. Even if you do not have sciences in junior and senior high school years, you will usually do well here provided you know the technique. Students who have not studied Biology and Chemistry in Grade 9 or 10 ( Year 10 or 11 for some curriculums ) will struggle here. 

Recent Trends

ACT has been more or less a stable test over the last ten years and the actual tests have shown a gradual increase in difficulty level in the math and English sections and a gradual decrease in difficulty in reading and science sections. The October and December administrations, however, had a substantially lengthier reading. 

The redesigned SAT was introduced in March 2016 and till the January 2017 administration, it was more or less in line wit h the mock tests. From the May 2017 administration, the reading section has witnessed an increased level of difficulty. Another issue with SAT is the fact that only 8 official tests are available for practice. The ones published by private publishers like Kaplan and Barron’s are nowhere near the real test in terms of the level of difficulty or scope. For ACT, as many as 35 real tests are easily available for practice.

How do you choose? 

If you find the above description to be too much of a jargon to comprehend, I can recommend three basic questions that you should ask to make this decision. 

1. Have you opted for math at a standard of higher level in junior and senior years (this applies for IB students. ISC and CBSE students are doing this already)? 
2. Have you studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in class 9 & 10 
3. Were you able to attempt at least 34 questions on an ACT reading diagnostic and got at least 28 of these correct? 

If the answers to all three questions are yes, go for the ACT. If the answer to even one of these is no, opt for the SAT. Please refrain from conducting a full length diagnostic for both tests to decide. Students rarely have the stamina to last through a three - hour standardized test and this will rarely provide an accurate picture. 

What’s an Elevator Pitch, and Why You Should Have One?

As you enter professional networking events and find yourself waiting in those long lines to talk to a potential employer, you may realize that those few minutes you get with an employer are crucial. In those few minutes, you need to express your interest to the hiring manager and tell him/her anything else about you that will make you stand out as an applicant.

How are you supposed to cram all of that information into a few minutes of conversation? The simple answer is that you should have an elevator pitch ready to go when you get there.

An elevator pitch is a common tool that both professionals and students use to summarize themselves in a short period of time. If you’re not sure that you need an elevator pitch as a high school student, here’s some brief points about what an elevator pitch really is and why a high schooler may want to write one.

What is an elevator pitch?

“Elevator Pitch” is a metaphorical way of describing a very brief spiel about yourself. The term was first used by an executive at Vanity Fair and is derived from the following scenario: If you were on an elevator ride and only had those thirty seconds to a minute to sell your qualifications to someone, you should be ready to give a brief summary of yourself.

More generally, an elevator pitch is a brief speech on the important, impressive, and memorable aspects of your academic and professional career. It highlights your most impressive and relevant past experiences, your main interests, and your short- and long-term goals. 

An elevator pitch is extremely useful to have on hand if you ever find yourself needing to give a summary of yourself with limited time or space. In fact, there are many situations you may encounter in which that will definitely be the case.

As already mentioned, networking events and job fairs provide the perfect opportunity to use an elevator pitch. Often, you only get a few minutes at a networking event to chat with a hiring manager or someone who could help you professionally. If you have an elevator pitch handy, you can ensure that you hit all the major selling points about yourself in those few minutes that you have.

An elevator pitch may also be helpful for you on college and job applications. For example, many college applications require a personal statement or interviews. While an elevator pitch is too short and vague to count as a personal statement, it can be used as a to showcase all your interests at the start of your college interview. After all, if you already know what you want to highlight about yourself, all you will have to do in crafting your personal statement is elaborate

Similarly, job applications sometimes provide an option for you to give a brief summary of yourself, either on the application or in the form of a cover letter to your resume. Like the college personal statement, these few-paragraph summaries would be much easier to write if you already knew your main selling points from crafting an elevator pitch.

How to Develop an Elevator Pitch

The first part of the elevator pitch is the easiest part. This is a brief sentence or two giving your name, what your current occupation is, and why you’re there. In your case, you’ll say something along the lines of, “Hi, my name is [name], I’m a [grade] student at [name of high school], and I am very interested in [name of position or college].”

The next part of the elevator pitch requires a bit more thought. This is where you want to highlight any interests and goals that would make the hiring manager or college consider you as a candidate or simply take notice of you. While you likely have many interests and ambitions, you want to pick two to three universal ones that will work in most networking situations.

For example, if you see yourself becoming an economist, the interests you pick should be at least slightly related to social sciences. Your goals should involve getting a bachelor’s degree, a masters or Phd, and doing research work.

Lastly, you should have at least one past experience or example of how you have tried to pursue your interests and achieve your goals. The aforementioned economics student would be sure to mention anything along the lines of working at a bank, think tank, or research group. 

The examples and past experiences you bring up do not have to be work or professional experience. In fact, as a high school student, you likely do not have that much work experience to speak of. Instead, you can draw on any clubs or extracurriculars that fit.

You should never try to make up an interest or a past experience. If you find yourself without an example of how you’ve pursued an interest or goal, choose a different one.

How long should an elevator pitch be?

Once again, the old metaphor of having a conversation in an elevator holds. You need to keep your elevator pitch short and concise, so that you can say everything that you need to say without boring a potential employer or college. Nobody wants to hear a person ramble about themselves for too long.

If you’re worried about the length of your elevator pitch, write or type it out. If it is longer than the average introduction to a high school essay, trim it down. If it’s shorter, feel free to elaborate a little bit more. Keep in mind that most high school essay introductions do not go past half a page. You can also try timing it aloud; an elevator pitch should last no longer than a minute when speaking at normal speed.

When to Use an Elevator Pitch

While an elevator pitch can be a great summary of who you are as a person, it’s not great for every social situation. For example, you shouldn’t use your elevator pitch if you are meeting someone in an informal setting like a college orientation. An elevator pitch is mostly for professional use.

However, as mentioned above, professional networking events and college applications and interviews are perfect places to utilize your elevator pitch.

One setting where an elevator pitch would be extremely useful is a college fair. This is not technically a professional setting, as you are not interviewing with the college advisors you meet nor are you necessarily going to apply to their university. However, college fairs generally have long lines of people waiting to talk to a single college representative. You will likely only get a few minutes with each college representative, so an elevator pitch is useful to keep the conversation succinct while still saying everything you want to say and leaving a positive impression.

Attending a college fair? Check out the 15 questions you should be asking. 

In fact, in a college fair setting, you may want to keep your elevator pitch shorter than usual. The college representatives at each table are trying to see every student in a very short period of time, so you may have even less time to chat with the college than you may anticipate.

It is also worth noting that an elevator pitch could also be useful when you are meeting your guidance counselor for the first time. Many college applications require counselor letters of recommendation. If you give them your elevator pitch, you will have inherently outlined the main goals, interests, and accomplishments that they should highlight in your letter of recommendation.

In general, you should use the elevator pitch in any networking session where you may have to mingle with adults. You may not always have to use it, but it is good to have it ready.

Conclusion

An elevator pitch can be a useful tool in professional settings as long as they are done right. If you follow the right format and know which instances to use it, an elevator pitch can genuinely impress an adult or future employer and leave a great first impression.

As a final tip, make sure you practice your elevator pitch. All of the sophistication goes away if you try to give your elevator pitch and have to pause and stumble the entire time! That being said, don’t over-rehearse. You don’t want to sound mechanical and robotic by regurgitating a script. Keep it natural.

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IB vs. AP: What should you choose?

The Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs are both high school programs that offer college-level courses and the opportunity to earn college credit. So what’s the difference between the two programs? Does one look more impressive than the other? Which will improve your odds of getting into a top school the most?

We’ll introduce you to both programs, and explain which one will look more impressive on your college applications.

Key Differences

Both the AP and IB programs offer challenging courses to high school students that they can earn college credit for. But their philosophies and goals are quite different.

The AP program was developed in the US to help high school students prepare for college by taking advanced courses, with no set program of courses. Students could take just one or even a dozen AP classes, depending on their school, schedule, and goals.

In contrast, IB was developed in Switzerland to be an internationally recognized diploma. To earn the diploma, you have to take a certain amount of courses in a range of subjects. 

While both are exams for college credit in US colleges, IB curriculum is a lot more internationally renowned and credits aren’t contained to US colleges only

Program Goals

The programs have different goals, as well. IB has more emphasis on writing and developing critical thinking skills – and not just on the exams themselves. The IB diploma also requires the extended essay, a long, college-style research paper. The IB program also has extracurricular requirements.

In contrast, the AP is program focused on teaching students specific content and testing their knowledge on the exams. There is more multiple-choice and emphasis on meeting certain content goals.

Classes and Exams

You can take AP exams without being enrolled in a class, but you have to be enrolled in an IB class to take an IB exam. If you have proficiency in a language not offered by your school, or if you want to self-study for a niche subject like Art History, the AP program gives you more flexibility.

Also, IB offers higher-level and standard-level courses. To get an IB diploma, you have to take at least 3 higher-level courses. AP courses are offered at a single level, though there are certain subjects, like calculus and physics, that have different course options. IB higher level is at some high schools considered harder than AP. Most colleges give credit for AP exams and higher-level IB exams, but not all give credit for standard-level IB exams.

You can search the AP credit policy of various colleges at the AP college database.  The IB program doesn’t have a similar database, but you can look up the IB credit policy of any college or university by searching “[Name of College/University] IB Credit.”

You may be attracted to the IB program’s focus on writing and a broad education, or you may think the AP program’s flexibility makes it a better choice for you. Definitely take these program differences into account as you make your choice.

While in India, there aren’t many AP “classes,” there has been a rise in the number of queries about the exams itself. IB on the hand is growing rapidly and most private schools in metro cities offer the diploma 

Reputation at Colleges

So now that you know more about the two programs, we’ll get to the big question – which one do colleges prefer? Which one looks the most impressive?

Actually, colleges don’t automatically consider AP or IB harder or more impressive on a transcript. Since IB is a rarer program, they can’t penalize students for not taking it. Plus, there are huge differences in how both AP and IB courses are taught and graded at high schools across the country.

Because of this, colleges – especially the most selective ones – just want to see you have taken the most challenging course load available at your high school. That means instead of worrying about AP versus IB, you should worry about taking the most rigorous classes your high schools offers.

For example, Princeton says on their admissions website, “Whenever you can, challenge yourself with the most rigorous courses possible, such as honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-enrollment courses. We will evaluate the International Baccalaureate (IB), A-levels or another diploma in the context of the program’s curriculum.”

AP v. IB in India

If you are choosing the IB program you are choosing to essentially not apply for college in India. While some colleges have started accepting IB scores, most are vary of it and well.. most of your peers will be going abroad. 

If you take the AP exams, you still have to choose a board in high school (ISC or CBSE). This means that the AP exams would be an extra set of exams that you study for and take during the same time that you get done with you board exams. 

The IB program will not only get you college credit but also a holistic education, getting you ready for a rigorous curriculum in college. 

Both options are great but it all depends on: 

1. The country you want to study in 
2. If you want to change your current educational board 
3. If you can have the mental and physical time to take another set of tests other than your board exams
4. If you want to learn something new or just get college credits

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15 Questions to Ask at College Fairs

As you go throughout high school, particularly during your Junior year, you ought to start thinking about which colleges you may want to apply to and form a preliminary college list. To help you narrow down your college choices and decide what schools would be a good fit for you, you can attend College Fairs in your school or local community.

College Fairs involve representatives from various universities coming to a school or community and pitching their university to prospective applicants. As a high school student, College Fairs are a great opportunity for you to show your interest in a particular college or university and ask questions to those who are most knowledgeable about the college.

It’s always good to come to College Fair prepared, and one of the best ways to do that is to prepare some questions to ask the college representatives so that you come across as an informed and serious applicant. To get you started, here are 20 great questions you could ask a college representative at a College Fair. Even if you don’t decide to ask some of these questions, you should still try to find their answers before you finalize your college list.

Academic Questions

    1    Does your school offer [major/minor program]? If so, can you tell me about it?

You shouldn’t ask a college representative about which majors and minors the university offers because oftentimes a college offers too many programs to list. Instead, you can show that you’ve given your college and career some thought by asking about a specific major or minor that you may be interested in. If you haven’t quite narrowed down your prospective major all the way, you can ask about a specific discipline like the sciences or humanities.

    2    What program(s} is the college noted for?

Give the college representative a chance to brag about the college (they love doing that)! Ask them what majors or minors are the most accredited at the university and why. This will give you some good insight into what degree program gets the most resources and which majors are the most competitive for admission. After all, you may not want to major in philosophy at a university where most of the funding, attention, and resources goes towards the engineering department.

    3    How do first-year students choose their classes?

This is a more important question than you might think. At some universities, freshman are given priority enrollment and can thus begin taking required courses for their degree as soon as they enter college. In other universities, however, freshman enroll later than other students and are given last priority, making it extremely hard to get into the classes they want. So if you’re trying to graduate early or pursue multiple majors in college, you should ask this question to clarify whether that would be possible at the university in question.

Admissions Questions

    1.    In what SAT score range/ACT score range do most of the admitted students score in?

If you’ve already taken the SAT/ACT and have received your scores, this question can indicate where you stand in comparison to admitted students and what your chances are of getting admitted. You can also use this as a gauge of whether you need to take the test again to try and achieve a higher score.

On the other hand, if you haven’t taken the SAT/ACT yet, this question can give you a goal score range to aim for.

This question is also a good gauge of the competitiveness of the college or university. The higher the average standardized test score for the university, the more competitive the school’s college admission is likely to be.

    2.    Are there any specific requirements for certain programs at the university?

Some colleges require extra application supplements like a portfolio, special interview, or audition (that one is mostly for performing arts majors). These requirements are not always obvious so it might be good to clarify with an admissions expert from the university.

If it turns out there are special requirements for the program you’re interested in, you can use the college fair as an opportunity to ask about and learn more about what the college wants to see in this extra supplement.

    3.    What percent of applicants are accepted to the university?

This question is a great way to gauge the competitiveness of a university’s college admissions. The lower the acceptance rate, the more competitive the university is. You should have a good mix of universities with low acceptance rates and high acceptance rates on your college list so that you apply to a good mix of safety and reach schools.

Financial Aid Questions

    1.    What financial aid programs does the college have?

This is a pretty vague question, and you may not receive a very specific or detailed answer. What may happen, though, is that the college representative will ask you about your financial situation, starting a bigger conversation about financial aid options that tailor to your specific needs or qualifications. Alternatively, the college representative could refer you to a website or an office that you can contact to find out this information.

    2.    What is the amount of the average financial aid package awarded to students at the university?

This is an important question not just for you as an applicant but for your family, who may be thinking about how they are going to afford to send you to college in a few years. You can use this question to decide whether attending a certain college is financially feasible, and you can also use the representative’s answer as a guideline for how you should be budgeting your money and saving for college during these next few years.

In general, you’ll probably find that private universities, while more expensive to attend, offer more financial aid, whereas public universities are cheaper but don’t always offer the same level of financial aid.

    3.    Are there separate deadlines for admission and scholarship applications?

Sometimes, colleges include their financial aid applications within the college application itself. In other instances, there’s a separate application, or even multiple applications, for financial aid awarded from the university.

    4.    Can you tell me about other fees and costs in addition to tuition?

Tuition is definitely not the only fee that universities charge, and it does not even remotely take into account the everyday costs of living in college. There are room and board fees, textbook fees, meal plan costs, etc. These costs tend to vary per university.

It’s worth asking this question to see how expensive it is to attend a particular college in comparison to other colleges you are considering. You can also use this question to see if the college representative mentions any college costs that you hadn’t thought of before.

Campus Life/Activities Questions

    1.    Does your university have [name of club/organization/activity]?

If there is one activity or club that you know you want to continue participating in in college, feel free to ask the college representative if it already exists at the university. Just keep in mind that they may not know the answer if it’s a club that is not very common or well-known on the college campus.

Always keep in mind that if a club doesn’t exist on campus, you can start one! So if the college representative says that an organization isn’t yet established on campus, you can follow up and ask if it’s possible for students to create organizations on campus. This demonstrates initiative and enthusiasm to the college representative.

    2.    What do students at the university usually do during their free time?

This question invites the college representative to tell you about the different on-campus and off-campus amenities along with various places to hang out. It’s an insider’s perspective that you may not be able to get by looking at an admissions website.

While the college representative is describing what students do in their free time, imagine yourself doing those same things. Do you see yourself doing the things a typical student at that university does? Use that answer to assess whether you think the college would be a good fit for you.

Post-College Questions

    1.    Is there job placement help for graduates?

At the end of the day, you are going to college so that you can eventually get a job and begin your career. However, in a competitive job market, a college education won’t always guarantee you a great first job. Sometimes, you need some resources and assistance from your university like a career center, information sessions from companies, resume help, interview prep, etc to set you apart from other job applicants. You ought to make sure that the college you are attending has at least some of these career resources so that you’ll be set up for good job placement in the future.

    2.     What do most graduates from the university go on to do?

Perhaps the college in question is great at getting students into graduate programs or med school, or perhaps their graduates are highly sought after by the Fortune 500 companies. You ought to attend a school whose alumni go on to do things that align with your post-college goals. If you do that, you’ll probably have an alumni network that can give you tips and potential job opportunities when it comes time for you to pursue your career.

    3.    How big/helpful is the alumni network on campus?

Colleges who stay in touch with their alumni are often able to get those alumni to provide tips and resources to current students such as connections with grad schools and companies, interview and resume tips, and even just a friendly face to chat with. The bigger and more extensive the alumni network, the more resources you’ll have while attending the university.

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