Extraordinary Undergraduates

great results for great kids

student: “I’m a good student, but I need financial aid.”

adviser: “You can do it, but you’ll have to work hard”

What the Student Needs

• Choose the right schools

• Score high on TOEFL and SAT

• Compile impressive applications

Choosing the Right Schools

7 Need-blind schools• Harvard University• Princeton University• Yale University• Dartmouth College• Massachusetts Institute of Technology• Amherst College• Middlebury College

78 Schools Offer Full Fin Aid

• From prestigious to not very

• Up to full financial aid

• Only for undergraduate (!)

• Here

590 Schools on Nancy’s List• Nancy Keteku, REAC out of Ghana

• Adviser reported undergraduate aid

• New list every year

• Here

Cross-reference at collegeboard.com

• Geographic preferences

• Majors

• Campus life

• Other preferences

Score well on tests

• Strong English

• Vocabulary

• Preparation

Three Keys to Great Test Scores

• Diagnostic TOEFL

• Take a year off

• Podcasts, lectures, online news

ENGLISH

• SAT vocab difficult for everyone

• Boosts verbal scores

• Big help for financial aid

VOCABULARY

• Practice tests

• Lots of essays, lots of speaking

• Focus on weaknesses

PREPARATION

Last Step: Great Applications

Write powerful essays

• Introspection: what’s unique about you?

• Interesting angle;

• Sense of audience;

• “Show, don’t tell!”

• Get Feedback from:

– Peers

– Teachers

– EducationUSA Center

Polish

• Research schools

• Write separate essays

• Follow application guidelines

Tailored to Each School

• Build a relationship with referees;

• Provide comprehensive info on

goals and accomplishments;

• Allow enough time!

Get Strong Recommendations Each School

• Personal, honest

• Unified image of the student

• How the student fits the school

Focused on the Student

• Neat, complete application

• Show care and attention

• “Surprise them on every page”

The “Wow” Factor

Example, please!

Art Resume Description of Work

• Positive approach to the

application process;

• Study skills; Lang. skills;

Marketing; Management; ALL

TRANSFERABLE!!!

Develop the Process Approach

Questions ?Bradley GorskiRussia Country CoordinatorEducationUSA Moscow, RussiaRussiaCoordinator@gmail.com

Mihaela ArseneSenior EducationUSA AdviserFulbright CommissionBucharest, RomaniaMihaela.arsene@fulbright.ro