Many students dream of studying in the world’s prestigious universities like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, but it is not that easy to get into such universities.
Not only do they get hundreds of thousands of applications from all over the world, they also have very strict and exquisite standards that you need to meet in order to get admission to the institute.
If you are someone who is trying to get into the world’s best educational institutes, here are some of the steps you need to follow:
1. Make a Killer Application
Many students make the mistake of sending their applications to too many universities, which ends up compromising the quality of their application.
Well, it’s always better to send your application to just a few filtered universities so that you can ensure that you make the application as great as possible.
However, these universities get so many applications that sometimes even the best ones get turned down. That is why, just to stay on the safe side, you must send your application to 3-4 universities only.
Moreover, make sure that you send your application on time because top universities generally have small windows where they accept applications. Plus, making a killer application is going to take a lot of time.
Thus, you must start with the process ahead of time, I suggest before the universities even make the announcement.
2. Maintain Excellent Academic Grades
If you have made up your mind to study in a top-tier university at a young age, you need to make sure that you maintain good grades throughout your academic career.
In order for you to get into a standardized university, many things need work in conjunction for you, good academic performance being one of them.
Also, you need to ensure that you keep improving your English language skills because that can make a huge difference at the end of the day. Try out different ESL speaking activities for adults.
Such practicing materials are commonly available on the internet. They will help you sharpen up your English language skills, which will help you a lot later down the road.
3. Prepare Hard for the Placement Test
Although grades matter a lot, they’re not everything. You don’t have to worry if you don’t have exceptional grades, you can still get into a top-tier university if you get a high score on one of the standardized college tests like the SAT or ACT.
Most universities will require you to take one of these tests and a great score on these tests can make all the difference.
Therefore, you need to make sure that you prepare as well as you can for your placement test and focus all your attention on your chosen subjects.
Besides that, you also need to prove a good level of English proficiency by getting a high score on your TOEFL or IELTS test.
4. Practice Writing a Comprehensive Essay
As mentioned earlier, top universities get so many exceptional applications that it is not possible to get in simply on the basis of good grades.
You also need to make a case for yourself by nailing your essay. Yes, your essay is what can end up being the deciding factor for you.
The best way to be sure that your essay stands out is to write from the heart. Rather than filling it up with your achievements, talk about your aspirations and goals.
Convince the school to pick you over all the other applicants not because of what you have already achieved, but because of your potential to achieve even greater things.
5. Try to Get Some Noticeable Recommendations
A significant recommendation can make all the difference when it comes to getting into a top-tier educational institute.
You need to get two or three letters of recommendation from your previous teachers, employers, or coaches who know you well.
Ask them to write about everything that you have been through with them and the kind of person that you have become because of that. Positive letters of recommendation will come in very handy to make a lasting impression.
Over and above that, you also need to keep in mind that you will have to take a student loan to cover your fees because such universities can be very expensive for foreign students.
Thus, please make sure that you look into some students’ debt management strategies in advance to avoid the trouble in future.
The Takeaway
If you don’t get into the university of your choice on the first try, do not lose motivation because often students have to try multiple times before their application gets accepted.
At the end of the day, it comes down to how passionate you are about your studies.
If you have an exceptional academic record along with a number of extracurricular skills, you are sure to get into any university in the world.
