EDUCATION
the writing portions, and plan a revision programme focusing on areas that they need to improve”. Tere are some websites that offer free resources to help students become familiar with the test format and revise, such as:
khanacademy.org,
collegereadiness.collegeboard.org and
kaptest.co.uk. But what if your child is simply too busy
and stressed out while preparing for A-lev- els or IB exams to even think about prepar- ing for the SAT/ACTs? Ten all is not lost. Tere are a growing number of schools that are implementing test-optional and test- flexible policies. A test-optional policy leaves the decision to the student as to whether they will send SAT or ACT scores with their application, meaning SAT/ACT- optional colleges, such as Sarah Lawrence College, do not actually require that scores be sent. Instead, the student must decide if their test results accurately represent their academic ability and potential. Schools with a test-flexible policy generally do re- quire test scores, however under certain cir- cumstances, alternatives to SAT/ACT scores may be used. For example, under NYU’s test-flexible policy, IB curriculum results and actual or predicted results for national, standardised, subject-based exam- inations such as: UK A-levels, French Baccalaureate, ISC, German Abitur, etc may be submitted by the student's school in lieu of SAT/ACT results. Te Fiske guide will provide this information with additional detail available on the websites of the schools in which you’re interested.
Making the shortlist
The Fulbright Commission USA College Day
Te Fulbright College Day is the largest US university fair in Europe. It is held in London each year and over 150 US univer-
www.focus-info.org
sities exhibit. It is free to attend and gives students the opportunity to speak one on one with international college admissions officers from each school in order to ask questions about the schools and their pro- grammes. Tis is an ideal opportunity to further explore the schools on their long list with an aim towards beginning their short list. Even if your child’s long list isn’t fully
formed by the autumn following GCSEs (and it probably won’t be), then attend the fair. It’s good practice for child and parents for the following year. And if your child has a few schools that are already on their list, it’s a great opportunity to begin to make that interest known.
Fair follow-up
During the fair, get names, business cards and e-mail addresses from each of the rep- resentatives that you meet. Soon after, send thank you notes. Once a school makes your child’s shortlist, get in touch and stay in touch with those contacts. Tis is an ideal way to make your interest known to the schools. Both of my daughters benefit- ted greatly from this fair by making impor- tant connections and maintaining a dialogue with their contacts at their pre- ferred universities.
Consult a consultant
Tere are many alternatives for US univer- sity consultants in the UK (and the US). It is important to note a consultant will not get your child into a school. What they can do is help advise as to which schools are the best fit for your child as well as advise on what actions your child may take dur- ing the process to help themselves. Additionally, consultants have read many college essays and are likely to be ac- quainted with the international admissions officers at many of the schools in which
FOCUS The Magazine 23
“Keep in mind that, although US applicants can apply to as many universities as they wish, from my experience, you should narrow it down to five to six.”
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