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Be on time for US college admissions

Ahmed* (not the actual name) was a proud senior at ATHS Dubai, one of the country’s top high schools for producing Emirati engineering students. He proudly displayed the weather station he had created for the Spring Science Fair with his two fellow students, both of whom were intent on enrolling in Zayed University in the fall, which was less than four months from now. I asked Ahmed where he wanted to study and he told me he wanted to study Mechanical Engineering at either Georgia Tech or UC Berkeley. Unfortunately, Ahmed had missed the deadlines for both and would have to wait another academic year to apply.

Many UAE students are completely unaware that US University application deadlines are much earlier than those of UAE universities. There is a tremendous misconception among students that university applications should wait until after final high school grades are issued and graduation. Popular universities such as the American University of Sharjah can apply through July 14, while those to the American University in Dubai can apply as late as August 10, for enrollment in the following fall semester. Those to the American University of the Emirates have through September to submit their applications.

In the United States, for entrance into university the following fall, most universities have application deadlines between November and January of the students’ final year of high school. If you apply to any of the undergraduate schools in the University of California system, for example, you face a deadline of November 30. This is a hard deadline by which all of your application materials — including fees, official transcripts, teacher recommendations, counsellor recommendations, official test scores, and certification of finances, and personal statement — must be received. If your application is incomplete, it will not be reviewed.

Early action and early decision applications are typically due even earlier — November 1 or November 15 — while most regular decision deadlines are between January 1 and January 15. Students must remember that even schools that have rolling admissions policies fill their seats as they are available; late applicants face increasingly stiff competition as available seats become increasingly scarce. Not understanding these deadlines can lead to lost academic opportunities and, even worse, a lost academic year.

Students must also be acutely aware of when they attempt to schedule standardised tests. In the busy fall season, a student can wait several weeks for a TOEFL or iELTS English Language Proficiency test date to become available. They must also understand that it takes an additional few weeks after the test is completed for scores to be dispatched from the testing service to the universities themselves. A successful score on one of these tests is required by all US universities of international applicants.

Most universities also require the SAT, which is offered six times a year internationally. If your application deadline falls in early or mid-November, then the October SAT is your last opportunity to sit the exam. Most universities will accept the December SAT for January application deadlines and this exam fills up quickly. It is always best to register for the SAT at least two months in advance, in order to secure your place at your preferred testing centre.

I know firsthand of many students who were denied admission because they tried to complete their applications at the last minute. Sadly, oftentimes it is not directly the fault of the student, as there was simply not enough time to rectify the mistakes of others. For example, students should make sure that the spelling of their names on their passport match that on their transcript; if not, this could delay the application review process, as admissions officers may struggle to match the transcript to the correct applicant. This is a particular problem for names like Mohammed, which can be spelled several different ways.

Students also need to be vigilant in making sure that their recommenders submit their recommendations on time. While this is now done digitally, I know of several cases in the UAE in which irresponsible teachers did not do so, costing the student his chance of admission. Ideally, plan on submitting your application materials a month in advance, to ensure that there are no unforeseen circumstances. Some universities, like Boston University, are extremely specific in their instructions regarding proving the ability to finance a student’s education and the incorrect submission of a bank letter can also hold up an application. The best strategy is to be prepared, understand deadlines and why they are important, and submit all materials as far advance as possible.

(Peter Davos is Managing Director of Carian College Advisors)