I was talking with Shruti, who was planning to study abroad, about college admissions in the USA. She is in 12th grade and is planning to apply to some of the top universities in the USA and Canada. She has excellent grades and SAT scores, so she thinks that she should be able to get into one of the Ivy League universities for an undergraduate degree in physics.
Then the other day, I was talking with Kiran who is in the final year of engineering degree in computer science. He is the topper of the class, has excellent academic records and GRE scores. He also thinks that he should be able to get into a top university in the USA or Canada for a master’s degree.
They both would be very right if you go by the admission process of Indian universities where academic records and standard test scores are the criteria for admission. But universities in the developed world have a different admission process which is much more complex and comprehensive. Of course, they look at your grades and test scores. They do have cut off limits too. Grades and test scores can only get you past the first threshold of those universities. Most students that apply to the world’s top universities have excellent grades and test scores, so universities need ways to differentiate between candidates and at the same time assess their potential to be successful at the university and then in their career.
How do they do it? They ask students to provide one or more essays on their achievements and future plans. Some universities ask for just one essay called the Statement of Purpose (SOP) or a Personal Statement while others require additional essays about your interest in a particular major/department. They also ask for ] recommendation letters from professionals who know you well and a resume to show your experiences and achievements.
Top universities have been in the business of pursuing excellence for hundreds of years. Hence they look for your ability to work hard and your consistency in performance. They want to see if you are passionate about your area of study and what you have done with that passion. They look for your vision in your career and life.
Coming back to Shruti and Kiran, needless to say, both of them stand a chance only if they have excellent essays, recommendations and resumes.
It takes substantial effort to gather the required information and to write your essays, recommendations and resume. Certainly, it takes expertise and experience to craft them effectively so that you can impress the admission officers in those top universities. Also, if you start early in your high school or undergraduate years, you can build a great resume with the help of experts. This is where Voyed can truly make a difference. We are with you. Together, let’s set the ball rolling.