5 Common Mistakes International Students Make on College Applications

International Students Bring Tremendous Enthusiasm To The College Application Process, But Often Fall Victim To The Same Common Mistakes…

Across the world, universities use different admissions systems, and the system used most often in the United States comes with its own unique trials. International students often find themselves facing more than a language barrier, with the college application and college essay making up the two most complex parts of the admissions process.

Even so, there are many benefits to studying in the United States, even at lesser-known or state schools. Students eager to increase their chances of admission into a US school should look to avoid these common mistakes that could hurt their chances.

What You’ll Find In This Article

• The Challenges of Applying to US Colleges as an International Student
• The Top 5 Mistakes International Students Make
• Viewing College Applications Through an American Lens

The Challenges Of Applying To US Colleges As An International Student

There are many challenges an international student will have to take on when studying abroad at a United States college. In the 2018-2019 school year, more than 1 million international students chose to take on those challenges. Students from around the world choose to study at colleges across the United States for a variety of reasons, but in general international students face many of the same problems regardless of where they come from or which college they attend.

One of the largest and most obvious challenges is distance. As an international student studying in the US, you can end up at a college that places you thousands of miles from home. Unlike US students, who often attend colleges in their home state, international students will face much more distance between themselves and their support system: their family, friends, peers, and mentors back home.

Thankfully, in the digital age, there are more ways than ever to bridge the distance between those studying in the United States and their loved ones back home. Of course, every international student still needs to consider the challenge of being so far from home when they consider applying to a US college.

Distance, as well as the current political and cultural climate of both the United States and your home country, should play a role in your decision in choosing to study abroad, but you should not look at these things as disadvantages.

Your unique contribution as an international student will be highly valued by colleges, but the very thing that helps you bring a new perspective to the college can also present its own set of potential challenges. While cultural differences may only play a small role in adjusting to life at an American university, the potential language barrier faced by many students who speak English as a second language can be one of the most difficult obstacles for international students to overcome.

Finally, international students should consider that colleges and universities often have extra requirements that they must meet in addition to their application. Students who take the time to research these requirements and prepare can more easily face these hurdles in the international college admissions process.

The Top 5 Mistakes International Students Make

Not every student will make the same mistake, however, there are a set of common areas in the college application process that international students struggle with as a whole. Students who take the time to become aware of these common mistakes can do more to prevent themselves from making them. Simply avoiding these errors can increase your chances of being accepted into a college in the United States dramatically.

NOT DOING YOUR RESEARCH

It’s very tempting to stick to the familiar and apply for the most well-known US colleges and universities like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, and Dartmouth. Yet, by only applying to these top colleges, international students often miss opportunities while also failing to prepare a backup plan.

While there’s no arguing that you’ll receive a world-class education at an Ivy League college or other well-known schools, there are colleges and universities across America with the potential to provide an education that’s just as enriching and valuable, and often for a lower price tag.

Don’t miss out on all the different opportunities America’s colleges have to offer. Approach the college admission process like an American student would: create a reach, target, and safety list of colleges. Once you’ve done that, take the time to learn how you should be researching colleges to maximize your time.

If you don’t know where to start, check out WeAdmit’s collection of US College Guides. These will walk you through everything from admissions requirements, campus life, and academic programs at some of the best colleges in the US!

WRITING A WEAK ESSAY

One of the biggest things you can do to ensure you’re admitted to your dream college as an international student is also true for native English speakers: keep your essay’s language simple while making sure the story you’re telling is strong.

Avoid unnecessary jargon, complex terms, or generalizations. Your college application essays should focus on telling the story of who you are – both as a person and as a student. With only so many words to make an impression, you should avoid simply restating your accomplishments already listed in your application. You want to answer the prompt with passion rather than with a list of your accomplishments.

Writing a strong essay doesn’t necessarily require a perfect understanding of the English language either. Even native writers struggle with the more technical aspects of their applications, especially when it comes time to write an essay. International students who approach writing their US college admission essays with the right attitude can produce an essay that’s as good as any written by an American student and can truly show off what will make them a worthy addition to that college’s campus!

TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE SYSTEM

While the fact that English may not be your first language can make writing college application essays harder, it’s incredibly important that you submit an honest, original application. This means writing your own essay, taking your own tests, and avoiding trying to “cheat” or manipulate the system.

Having someone else write your essay can come with severe consequences, and it’s often very obvious when the level of English skill in your essay does not match your test scores or the rest of your application. American universities take a holistic approach to college admissions, which takes a broader look at your application to see the bigger picture of who you are as a student.

Above all, be honest with your college application and admission essays. Once you’ve filled out the form to the best of your abilities, having a fluent English speaker proofread your application and essay is a great way to catch mistakes. As long as you’ve written all your own material, proofreading is completely ethical, and even encouraged.

FORGETTING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Often, US colleges require international students to submit additional paperwork, which can range from authenticated transcripts to translations for your letters of recommendation. Read over each college’s requirements for international students carefully, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the admissions office by phone or email if you have questions.

However, just because one college wants one piece of paperwork doesn’t mean that they all will. Stick to only sending the documents and paperwork each school requires. Focus on keeping your application simple while you showcase a few core activities and achievements.

IGNORING THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF COLLEGE

Many international students fall into the belief that their financial aid options are limited. While financial aid may be harder to find as an international student, those who start researching scholarships and grant opportunities the summer before their senior year will give themselves the best chance of success.

Several schools, including well-known and prestigious universities, admit students using a need-blind system. These need-blind schools admit students regardless of their ability to pay, and often cover a large amount of aid needed to pay for college, even for international students.

Taking the time to familiarize yourself with how paying for college works in the United States can help you identify likely options for financial aid. As an international student, your US federal and state options will be almost nonexistent, so the best place to start looking will generally be school-specific scholarships or grants, or at financial aid programs from your home country.

Viewing College Applications Through An American Lens

Whether you’re applying for one of the top colleges in the United States or a smaller four-year university you’ve found nestled in the middle of the country, your possibilities as an international student are endless.

However, it’s important to remember that you’re applying to American schools, with their own way of handling admissions, applications, and essays. This approach is holistic, which means you’ll need to polish all aspects of your application in order to improve your chances. Another way to improve your chances is by tailoring your applications for each college; our college guides are a good foundation to get started with.

Of course, if you’re struggling to make sense of the way the United States handles college admissions, feel free to reach out to our WeAdmit counselors. International students can benefit greatly from having a US-based counselor who knows how to navigate the US college application process. Our counselors can guide you through the process and help you stay on track to achieve your goal of studying in the US!

You Can Do It, So Long As You Watch Out For These Five Common Mistakes!