Importance of Class 11 score for Undergrad study abroad

Normally when applying for undergrad studies abroad, especially USA, focus of the students is on scoring well in the standardised test scores – SAT I / ACT / SAT 2 or subject SATs .

While a good SAT or ACT score will determine the colleges you can apply to, I would like to stress that these scores mainly function as a first level filter. It must be kept in mind that students from world over apply to colleges in US. These colleges receive application from students who have studied under various syllabi and different grading systems in their High Schools, thereby making it difficult to evaluate every applicant on a common parameter to determine his/her eligibility. Hence, standardised tests like SAT and ACT, which are taken by the students the world over, including US students, make it a good comparison tool to determine first level eligibility.

Hence, it should be clearly understood that a great standardised score which is unsupported by a good and a consistent academic record will not automatically secure an admission to the college you were eligible to apply for based on the standardised scores. It is the academic achievements, amongst other parameters, which will primarily determine the decision for granting admission.

Here I would also like to stress the importance of Class 11 score. First, it is the highest academic class based on which the student applies for undergrad studies. The application process commences after Class 11 results are declared and just as Class 12 commences. Second, the decision for admission is conveyed before your Class 12 results are declared. Hence, the decision is based on Class 11 results. Also, the applicants are required to submit Class 9 and Class 10 (Boards) performance by way of transcripts. This is to determine the consistency factor. In case of students under IB curriculum, Predicted Score for Class 12 is required to be submitted. This predicted score is based on Class 11 performance.

So my advice to all those who aspire to study for their undergrad abroad, is to focus on your academics, especially in Class 11. Ultimately, this alone will be the determining factor for your admission.

Good luck.

Amar Mainkar

Head of Counselling

Clear Perceptions.

Clear Perception: Undergraduate Program Education System | Study in ...

Clear Perception: Undergraduate Program Education System | Study in ...: Application process for Undergrad study in US – The Common App. What we in India commonly refer to as a graduate, is actually an undergr...

Undergraduate Program Education System | Study in the USA

Application process for Undergrad study in US – The Common App.

What we in India commonly refer to as a graduate, is actually an undergraduate as per the US nomenclature. So if you are applying to a college in US after your High School (Class 11 and 12) you are said to be applying as a freshman for undergraduate study. The first year is called the freshman year.
The application process for US colleges for your undergrad study commences August 1, when the online individual applications open for most colleges as also for the Common Application. It should be understood that many colleges in US are members of Common Application, a non-profit organisation which operates the application process. So whether you need to go through the Common Application process or have to apply to individual colleges, will depend on the colleges you choose. If your chosen colleges (or some of them) are a part of the Common Application, then you can apply to all these colleges at one go. This process is fairly streamlined and requirements of various colleges are captured in one single structured application.

Within the Common Application, there may be different deadlines for the participating colleges. However, the basic details of the applicant need to be filled up only once with course selection and college specific additional requirements of each college being filled up in the supplement.
If you are studying for your IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Program) then most of the requirements like teacher recommendation, school report, counsellor report and mid-term reports (if necessary) would be uploaded online by your school counsellor. For those in HSC / State Board or CBSE/ICSC or any other board, if services of school counsellor are not available, you have an option either to request the school authorities to upload the above mentioned documents or choose to send these offline by courier. This option has to be exercised as a part of the Common Application at the initial stage.

If the chosen college/s does not participate in the Common Application, then individual online applications need to be filled up and the documents sent as per the directions of each college. Here too the option to either submit required documents online or offline is generally available.
Choosing your college should not depend on whether the chosen colleges are part of the Common Application or require individual applications. This should be done with your profile (Academic record, Standardised test scores and intended major) in mind.

An important feature of the Common Application process is the Common Application Essay. This is mandatory. The essay prompts are available online and even before you start the application, you can read the topics and select the essay prompt which resonates with you and one you can do justice to. Generally, 5 prompts are given and the applicant is required to choose any one and write up to 650 words on the chosen prompt. Always remember that plagiarism can disqualify your application.

We at Clear Perceptions guide you step-by-step through the entire process and take away the stress right from helping you select the best suited college to submission of the application.

Amar Mainkar
Head of Counselling

How to Choose between Taking SAT or ACT? What is the Difference?

This is a decision bothering many prospective undergrad students seeking to study in USA

With changes in SAT effective May 2016 in India, when the first batch of applicants will write the New SAT, we find that there is a lot of confusion whether to take the New SAT or the ACT .

Hitherto, Indian students seeking to study in USA preferred to take SAT. But with the changes introduced by College Board, we find that many students are anxious about the difficulty levels in the New SAT and prefer to take the time-tested ACT.

Our study at Clear Perception indicates that while the difficulty level in New SAT, especially in the Math section is slightly higher, test takers find the ACT paper longer. For a student who finds Math a challenge, New SAT will be tougher as compared to ACT. However, the ACT paper has more number of questions to be answered in roughly the same time as the New SAT.

Besides, ACT has a science section. However, this need not necessarily deter the students who have dropped these subjects in their high school (class 11 and 12) as the science section has passages and tabular information or graphs from science. The questions are based on these passages. Thus, if the test taker is familiar with the terminology used (most of them would be as science subjects are mandatory in secondary school (up to class 10) the science section need not be scary.

However, at Clear Perceptions we have a scientific way of determining your preference. We administer a small test (aptitude test) which helps you discover your liking and ability for either SAT or ACT.

For further information regarding this please contact the phone no. provided in the homepage.

Author
Amar Mainkar
Head of Counselling – Clear Perceptions