Students seeking admission to undergraduate colleges abroad appear for the SAT or ACT exam to ace their application. Along with the CGPA and other qualifications, the best universities abroad highly consider a good SAT or ACT score. Once you are done with your exams and get your results, the next phase of your admission process starts. And this is what this blog is all about.
“What after SAT exam?” This is one of the most common queries amongst students who are at the threshold of the most crucial stage of their academic life. But do not worry as we have got you covered.
In this blog, we have discussed everything about what to do after SAT exam, by covering aspects like how to choose the right university, requirements, courses after SAT exam and more.
|
Table of Contents: |
An Overview of SAT and ACT Exam
Scholastic Aptitude Test or SAT is a standardized test that makes one eligible to apply for undergraduate courses in colleges across the globe. The SAT exam syllabus mainly concentrates on three areas: Reading, Writing and Math. According to the latest guidelines, there is a new section added called ‘optional essay’ added to the syllabus. All three sections evaluate a student’s knowledge of vocabulary, sentence construction, data analysis, arithmetic, grammar and other problem-solving skills.
The ACT exam on the other hand is a multiple-choice-based test used by many colleges and universities across the USA to determine the eligibility of the students applying for admission to universities for graduate courses. It is an opportunity to stand out with a unique STEM score to attend any university in the USA . The ACT exam is quite different from SAT exam, but both are equally beneficial for you to gain acceptance to an American university.
Suggested: SAT Checklist
What After SAT Exam?
A high SAT score enhances your chances of getting into the college of your dreams. Since you are here, we assume that you have cracked the SAT or planning to appear for it and looking forward to the next steps. Let us begin our discussion right away on what to do after SAT exam and important things that should be kept in mind:
So now you’re done with the SAT/ACT! Congratulations on your score! You’ve now finished 1/10th of the application process so that’s great! Moving ahead, here are some of the other things you should be working upon:
- Deciding your list of universities
- Filling out the Common Application (CommonApp)
- Filling out applications to other universities. (UC system, UIUC, GeorgiaTech, etc.)
- Checking your Grade Transcripts
- Appearing for TOEFL / IELTS
- Preparing your Letters of Recommendations (LOR)
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Drafting an attractive Résumé
- Organizing the Bank Statement of your parents/guardians
We are already familiar with most of the points listed above. For better clarity and understanding, let us have a deeper look at them:
Shortlisting Universities
Picking the colleges offering the best courses after SAT exam is one of the most important steps in your application process. Mentioned below are some factors used by a majority of applicants to choose the colleges they apply to. After that, you can double-check your list by making sure you have a good ratio of schools where you have a good chance of admission, an average chance of admission and a low chance of admission.
The Common Application
Each student applying to the United States for their undergraduate studies is required to fill out some sort of application form. A large number of universities came together and decided that they could have a common component in their applications. The Common Application is that common component. It consists of all your personal information, academic records, extracurriculars and an essay. Each college has its own section on the Common App and you choose which ones you apply to with a simple click of a button. Some colleges may have supplementary materials in addition to completing their application.
- For further details about the CommonApp and the process.
- Get the full list of Universities on the Common App.
- Go to our CommonApp Walkthrough article.
Note: Not all colleges are on the CommonApp! The list will be given in the next section.
Non-CommonApp Universities
So you started your CommonApp but you realized that some of the universities you want to apply to are not on the CommonApp! That doesn’t mean you can’t apply to them. It just means that those Universities have their own separate application process and that they want your information in a different format for their admissions officers to read.
A list of Top Ranked Universities not affiliated with the Common Application include:
|
Cal Poly Pomona |
||
|
California State University |
||
|
Indiana University – Bloomington |
||
|
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
||
|
University of California (All Campuses) |
University of Florida (All Campuses) |
|
|
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities |
University of Texas (All Campuses) |
Suggested: What are ACT Scholarships?
Checking of Grade Transcripts
Before you start sending off your documents, you check the minimum CGPA set by any college/university. Most colleges abroad ask for grades from the 9th standard onwards. While your school may keep an academic record, make sure that everything is reflected correctly before you send them to respective universities.
TOEFL/IELTS Test
TOEFL/IELTS is a test of your English skills. It is required by most universities for admission. The TOEFL is offered on certain days every month. So, you may decide on a date at your convenience and appear for the tests. Both these tests evaluate your Writing, Speaking and Reading skills. The TOEFL scores are valid for 5 years. Hence you may take it anytime in your 11th or 12th grade.
Letters of Recommendation
A Letter of Recommendation is mostly written by a teacher to a university about a student. In the letter, the teacher highlights why the university should accept the student by giving details about his/her abilities and talents. A well-drafted LOR from a good recommender can help your application stand out among other applicants, as it provides a holistic view of your persona, academic and professional performance.
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose is a letter of intent which speaks about you, your goals and intentions that the admission committee will evaluate. It is a document which shows your passion, clarity of thoughts, dedication, inspiration, and most importantly, uniqueness. You may explore more about important questions that must be answered here.
Bank Statements
Most universities abroad require financial documents or proof of funds at the time of application. For this, you need to know how much are you or your family/guardians are willing to pay, or in other words, how much can you spend for the next two years to live and study abroad. (roughly around USD 100,000). Once everything is sorted, talk to your bank manager and get attested copies of the bank statement which is a proof of your financial solvency.
Suggested: SAT Cut Off For Top Universities
Résumé
This is a document highlighting your achievements which consists of your academic achievements, SAT/ACT, AP and TOEFL scores, co-curricular and extracurricular activities and any awards. You must add skills like the number of languages you speak, whether you know any coding languages, any musical instrument, etc. However, mention only your most relevant awards and achievements.
Suggested: Best Strategies & Tips for SAT Exam Preparation
So this was all about the issues and queries that arise to while finalizing courses after SAT exam and ACT exam. SAT or ACT do get you one step closer to reaching your university abroad, but the process after clearing these exams is equally important in determining your overall study abroad experience. Hence, analyse the above-mentioned information and make the best choice. For further guidance and assistance, connect with our counselors at Yocket now!
