UG Students Talk AboutApplication Process To Universities Abroad

Question: What mistakes do Indian students usually make in their application process?

Iqra Khan: I’ll start with Letters of Recommendation (LoR). There is a misconception is students’ minds that the weightage of LoR depends on the designation of the recommender. This is just a myth. I would say you add more value if you choose a recommender with whom you have worked closely. So the closer your association with the recommender the better. The LoR provides the admission officers with a comprehensive insight into the students’ profile. So a recommender could be someone who has taught you, or someone you have worked together with for a project/assignment. They have to recommend your skillsets which are relevant to your course. So if you are planning to get a recommendation letter from your principal or head of the department, do so only if they have taught you. If they haven’t, then avoid getting it from them.

As far as Statement of Purpose (SoP) is concerned, you need to highlight your aspirations and motives behind pursuing that particular course. You need to relate your choice of course to your academic profile and career goals. SoP is not a very common requirement for undergraduate courses, but wherever it is required you need to make sure you highlight your aspirations and career goals.

Question: Akaash and Vedant, how was your experience of application process like when you were applying to your universities?

Akaash Sethi: As is common across Canadian universities, I wasn’t required to submit either LoR or SoP. Although I was required to submit my school transcripts from class ninth to eleventh, along with an expected or provisional scores for the twelfth class.

Vedant Jain: Since I study at an American university, I was required to submit three LoR and one SoP along with transcripts from class eighth to twelfth. Your SoP should reflect your interest in that particular course and your reason behind choosing it, along with why that particular university and city.

Question: Divya, since you work at the University of Ottawa, tell us what is the admission process to undergraduate courses is like.

Divya: Most Canadian universities require class tenth, eleventh and twelfth scores. Some may require ninth scoresheet as well. You are required to take a language proficiency test, like IELTS or TOEFL, and particularly for the Ontario region, there is a common application form through which you can apply to most universities within the region. The form for international students is called the 105F form. Then you will have to fill out the details on the form. The Canadian universities give more preference to academic profile than only the SAT scores because just the SAT scores are not enough to judge a student’s capabilities.

Student Question: I’m currently in eleventh class and scored 90% in tenth class. I wish to pursue either mechanical engineering or computer science for my under graduation from the US. What are the application steps to get admission? What scores do I need to have on my SAT and classes?

Udit Narang: For US universities, you need to score really well in SAT. There are total six SAT dates every year, the next available ones being in January, May and June. You need to figure out how are you going to prepare for it and you can even take the exam in October and December in the next academic year. What is more important is that you can still take up more extracurricular activities in school since you are in class eleventh and you still have year and a half to graduate. So focus on those activities especially sports. Some American universities offer even 100% sports scholarships so you still have time to look into that.

Vedant Jain: In US all your scores from tenth, eleventh and twelfth are converted into GPA. If you wish to focus on Ivy League universities, then you need to have a GPA of at least 4 which would mean anything above 90% in all classes. In SAT, you need minimum 1500 out of 1600 for the top universities.

However keep in mind that even these parameters don’t guarantee admission, as the admission process to these universities is very competitive. The acceptance rate for American citizens to these universities is only 5% and even less for international applicants, maybe 1-2% or even less.

About the Expert Panel

Vedant Jain

Vedant is in his first-year of the Biology undergraduate course at Pittsburg State University, USA.

Aakash Sethi

Akaash is currently pursuing the course Baccalaureate of Applied Sciences in Software Engineering from University of Ottawa, Canada.

Udit Narang

Udit is a student admissions counsellor at Shiksha.com with 4+ years of experience and is an expert of the US and Canadian universities.

Iqra Khan

Iqra is a student admissions counsellor at Shiksha.com with 8+ years of experience in study abroad counselling. She is an expert of European universities and Rest of the world universities.

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