1. U.S. University Application Process
Yang Zhu
Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute Yale University

2. Topics Self-introduction General Timeline The SATs!
Academics and Competition
Extracurricular activities
Volunteer experience
Summer Activities
Recommendations
Essay
Interview

3. Self-introduction Shanghai, China (14 years) Toronto, Canada (4 years)
United States
Prospective major:
Math and Economics at Yale University

4. General Timeline Grade 9-10
Participate in as many activities as you can
Make friends, have fun
Self-discovery—find out who you are and what you want
Academics—take courses that are challenging and interesting

5. General Timeline (cont’d)
Grade 11
Discover what your major interests are
Take the SATs—SAT I and SAT IIs
Decide on which universities to apply to: Research, research, research!
Time management—balance your life
Maintain your grade!

6. General Timeline (cont’d)
Grade 12
Finalize your school list
Application essays
Application forms
Recommendation letters
Interviews

7. SAT SAT Reasoning Test SAT Subject Tests (2-3)
Critical Reading, Math, Writing
Resources—where can we get the books we need
SAT Subject Tests (2-3)
Math and sciences
Foreign languages
Social sciences
Which ones should we choose?

8. SAT College Board Research the requirements for SAT I and SAT IIS
Self-study the knowledge that is not covered in school
Choose an SAT II test that is a) something you are good at or b)something you will study in university; ideally, these two should overlap

9. Academics and Competitions
A challenging course load
AP courses
Essay Contests
DECA competition
Science Contests
Math Contests

10. A challenging course load
Don’t take a course because it’s easy; take it for its content and future value
Don’t limit yourself too early; explore all the areas you can
Try to take higher level courses if you think you can handle the academic challenge

11. AP courses Advanced Placement courses 37 courses and exams available
Sharpen your problem-solving techniques.
Develop the right study habits for university
You can self-study AP courses and register through to write the official exam

12. Essay Contests The Royal Commonwealth Society, annual essay contest
Dominion Institute-- Great Canadian Questions Essay Contest
And A lot more!
Try “Canada high school essay contest” on Google if you are interested in more essay contests

13. DECA competition
Based on different areas in business, but anyone can participate
Oral/written exams
Participated by thousands of high school students in Canada

14. Science Contests Sir Issac Newton Physics Contest
Canadian Chemistry Contest
National Biology Competition

15. Math Contests AMC, AIME, USAMO COMC, CMO Euclid, Fermat, Cayley
COMC, CMO
Euclid, Fermat, Cayley
Kangaroo Math Contest and Tournament of Towns by University of Toronto

16. Extracurricular activities
Do what you like and like what you do
Do what you are good at, but also participate in activities that will help you improve your weaknesses
Don’t be afraid to try new things
It’s not about what you do; it’s about how you do it and what you can learn from it
Time management

17. Extracurricular activities
Student government
Yearbook Committee
Academic groups (math/science clubs, etc.)
Peer Tutoring
Drama/performance groups

18. Volunteer experience
Many organizations are always looking for volunteers
Charities, girl guides/boy scouts, hospitals, school libraries
Try to find something that you are interested in/passionate about, and see if there is anything you can do as a high school student
It doesn’t matter where you volunteer or who you work for, it’s why you do it, and how you do it that matter

19. Summer Activities Summer camps Internship/job Volunteer abroad
Study for the SATs!
Registration/application for summer activities usually end before May, so start looking as early as you can!

20. Rural China Education Foundation
RCEF takes an integrative approach to rural education.
Focuses on developing teaching methods that make rural education more relevant to rural students' lives, more well-rounded, and more enjoyable.
You can volunteer as a long-term volunteer for our projects (fundraisers, translations,etc) or you can apply to participate in our summer volunteer program

21. Recommendations Get someone who knows you, and LIKES you!
It doesn’t matter how famous the person is
Length is not as important as content
Requirements can vary, make sure you prepare the right ones for each school

22. Essay
One of the few steps in the application process that you can carefully work on
Present yourself as who you are
Show the universities what is important to you, what changed you, and what made you the person you are today
Edit very carefully. Ask someone who knows you (your teacher, counselor, friend, etc.) to evaluate it for you.

23. Essay (cont’d)
Essays that are too long tend to cause readers to lose interest.
Use proper English; no msn language, etc.
Start brain storming as early as possible (Gr.11). Ask yourself—who am I and what do I want?
Why do you want to go to this school? How does it meet your special talents and interests?
You know yourself the best; therefore, believe in your own writing!

24. Interview It’s not mandatory It is randomly assigned
Good interview skills are not only useful for applying to universities in the U.S., they are also crucial for applying to scholarships in Canada

25. University interviews
Bring a copy of your resume
Dress appropriately according to the setting (Starbucks=casual, office=business casual)
Read over your application to that school, make sure your answers are consistent
The one question that will always be asked—Why did you choose our university? Make sure you know the answer for that

26. My 2 university interviews
University of Pennsylvania
Starbucks
80 minutes, current professor at University of Toronto
Found a common interest to talk about
Was very nice and gentle
Yale University
Office
50 minutes, currently a lawyer
Found common interests and common life experience to talk about
Was very nice, but asked a few sharp questions

27. Scholarship interviews
Most scholarships require at least one interview.
It’s very hard to prepare for interviews, but not impossible if you know yourself very well.
The day before interview, take an hour to think about your experience, interests, ambitions, accomplishments, failures, and why you did the things you did
Dress appropriately! (business casual for most)
Stay calm and composed.The interviewers only want to get to know you more.

28. My scholarship interviews
Phone interview
Talk slowly, and cover all details since the interviewer can’t see your body language
Individual interview
Look at your interviewer in the eyes when you talk
Group interview (several students Vs. one interviewer)
Don’t interrupt others when they are talking
Be friendly, yet firm and confident
Answer all your questions clearly and carefully; this might be your only chance

29. Scholarship interviews (cont’d)
Lunch interview
Eat carefully, because you will have to talk through the whole thing!
Usually quite low-stress due to the setting
Panel interview (one student Vs. many interviewers)
Usually used at the final stage
Make sure you cover all the questions raised by all interviewers
Don’t get nervous! They just want to know you better.
Show them who you are, but don’t argue with your interviewers.
Usually the hardest of all types of interviews.

30. General tips for interviews
Stay calm!
Know who you are and why you want the scholarship (or a certain university)
Don’t seem unsure about your answers
Arrive on time and dress appropriately
Take time to think if you get a tough question, make every answer count!

31. A Few Things to Keep in Mind…
Be true to yourself. Be true to others. Consistency is very important no matter what you are applying for.
Manage your time wisely.
Use university as a stepping stone to success, not as the definition of it.
Relax, no one is perfect.
No matter how busy you are, don’t ignore your friends. They will pick you up when you fall.
Never limit your options; Always believe in yourself.

32. Resources www.collegeboard.com www.collegeconfidential.com
The official websites of various universities

33. Resources (for essay writing)

34. Thank you! Good luck with your applications!
END.
Thank you!
Good luck with your applications!