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3 To-Dos for International Students Ready to Submit College Applications

By U.S. News & World Report

After hitting the “submit” button on the Common Application website, some international students feel satisfied and relieved, as they took great effort to prepare their applications. However, those who have not done careful research and who are unsure about their chances of admissions can become nervous. Below are three steps that one can take to avoid that stress.

[Steer clear of four common mistakes international students make.]

1. Don’t dwell on admissions statistics: A common mistake made by a lot of international students is that they tend to gather information about average SAT scores, GPA and even backgrounds of those applying previously to weigh their chances of admission. However, if college A had an average SAT score of 1900, and your score landed in the 1850s, you should not be too discouraged.

A lot of other factors are considered, as college admissions is a holistic process. Message board “chance me” topics, where students post their personal achievements and grades to ask current college students to weigh their chances usually scare a lot of students away as well. Those statistics online are often very impressive, such as “I have a perfect 4.0 GPA and have been a high school team a cappella captain for 3 years … ” You can simply Google “chance me, college X”, with X as the name of your dream school to see these.

But keep in mind that sometimes these posts can be dubious, as students can fabricate and even make up such statistics to scare others away. Moreover, the “advisers” who are current college students can only speculate about your chances. A lot of their advice was even wrong when acceptances come out. For instance, my friend who applied to Vanderbilt University last year was rejected, even though people on the forums were impressed with his SATs and GPA and said he had a high chance of getting in.

[Find out what to look for when researching U.S. colleges.]

2. Check out Rate My Professors : Many international students are not familiar with this website which includes both praise and criticism about the professors at U.S. colleges and universities.

What it does is allow students to, as the name says, rate their teachers on a scale of 1-5 — with 1 being the least favorable and 5 being the best — and comment about how they felt after taking the class with that particular professor. However, it is not just a place where students go just to criticize their teachers, but to give insightful reviews about their classroom experience.

While this is not to encourage you to judge their teaching ability based on whether the students like them, it is a way to get a sense of the educational quality of the places you’re apply to. Those instructors who receive 4 to 5 stars are good ones to try to take classes with. The site explains how teachers are scored based on the students’ experience in the classroom, and it also removes vulgar and dubious posts to make the system more objective. For instance, if you are an aspiring biology major, you can look at the average grade that professors in the biology department at one college get before you send your application there.

[Learn about ways international students can weigh potential majors.]

3. Read your essay over and over, until the last minute : Many international students are comfortable writing their essays in just two or three weeks, and submitting right away, or putting it aside to submit it when the time comes. Remember, your college essays speaks the most about who you are, and therefore is the most time-consuming part of your application.

It does not need to be the most inspiring topic you can ever think of, but can be something very simple about your life. However, it requires tremendous editing efforts and consideration. The more admission counselors see that you spend the time taking care of your admission essay, the more they find you responsible and mature as an applicant.

More from U.S. News

Demystify the Variety of Degrees Awarded at U.S. Colleges

5 Ways Studying at a U.S. High School Can Strengthen a College Application

Pay Attention to 4 Overlooked Factors When Researching U.S. Colleges

3 To-Dos for International Students Ready to Submit College Applications originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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