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• THE EARLIER THE BETTER

1.      More popular universities have deadlines in Jan or Feb.

2.      Some have deadlines till March.

3.      The applications require considerable time.

4.       Applications usually ask for atleast one 250- 500 word essay.

5.       In addition, the SAT and TOEFL tests have registration deadlines at least one month before the test.

6.      Allow 3-4 weeks to report SAT and ACT scores to the university.

7.      So, an ideal time to start would be second half of your class 11. That way you can take the TOEFL and SAT in the summer or even before and still have time to take them again if the need arises.

8.      Apart from these considerations, some universities have early decision deadlines (which come before the normal deadlines) and applying before that deadline is an advantage.

9.      However, not everybody can think that far ahead. It is ok even if you are a couple of months into your twelfth standard. It is still possible to get everything done on time. It might be a little hectic with your 12 class work but it is still possible. (I only started in the September of my 12th class.)

• I think I may have waited too long ! What do I do now?

1.      Start Later: Wait and apply for the spring semester which starts in January. Most universities take students for the spring but some don’t take in international students in the spring. Make sure you check with the university you are interested in. Financial aid is generally not offered for transfer students. So, consider applying as a freshman.

2.      Transfer: Finish one or even two years of college where you are and transfer after two years. This can also save a substantial amount of money.

3.      Apply to a smaller campus: Apply to a smaller campus of a big university. For example, Purdue University has its main campus at West Lafayette, Indiana. But it has many other campuses in the same state of Indiana. These smaller campuses are generally easier to get in and have longer deadlines. Then, you can transfer to the main campus after finishing a year or two. Some even offer scholarships if your academic records are good.