You’ve submitted all your applications to U.S. colleges. Now you’re waiting to hear. Or maybe you did hear, and you’re waiting to go. You’ve combed through college Web sites to learn about programs and majors and whether the school you hope to attend has a badminton club or a debate society. But, if the closest you’ve ever come to life on an American college campus is watching Animal House on DVD, then here is some required reading for before you begin your U.S. adventure.

The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College by Harlan Cohen (Sourcebooks, Inc.) will give you a glimpse of what to expect …and how to behave … on an American college campus. Some of the tips may seem obvious (”Too much partying and no studying can be your downfall …” or “Avoid judging your roommate based on first impressions”) but it can’t hurt to be reminded. Also, each nugget of advice is followed by an anecdote or two which will provide additional insight into typical college dilemmas and how those who have gone before you have dealt with them.

Sometimes, too, new students–especially international students–simply need some encouragement, as in:

“Get involved sooner than later. You’ll have more time to explore opportunities and you’ll gain a sense of belonging.”

or

“Don’t be afraid to go on an adventure with a club or activity if you won’t know anyone in the van.”

For many international students, the blunt messages in the book about social life and sex may come as a wake-up call. Pregnancy, drug use, and casual “hook-ups” are all addressed here and can be less “foreign” to American collegians than the international students in their dorms. If you come from a culture that doesn’t even allow you to be alone in a room with someone of the opposite gender, it may be disconcerting to learn that “Free condoms are all over the place, Never pay for a condom again.”

And, as for that “Naked Roommate” … just be sure to arrive at college with the understanding that, according to Harlan Cohen, ” … all people have different comfort levels with themselves and their bodies.”

In fact, if you approach your entire U.S. experience with the expectation that you will meet very diverse people and may see … .and have … a broad range of unfamiliar experiences, you will greatly increase the odds of a happy and successful American college “career.”

Last spring, in Too Few Extracurricular Activities? Take a Closer Look!, I explained that U.S. admission officials are aware that international applicants often pursue fewer outside-of-school activities than their American counterparts. But I also pointed out that international students don’t always realize that their after-school, weekend, or summer pursuits are worth sharing with admission committees, even if they’re not organized or official activities such as sports clubs or debate societies. I reminded readers, too, that writing poetry, fiction or blogs, caring for a sick relative or younger sibling, cooking, dancing, hiking, swimming, etc. are all interests that admission officials will want to know about.

This week, via the College Confidential “Ask the Dean” column, I heard from a young woman in Africa who is involved in several church and volunteer projects and is also working on a novel. She wanted to know how to convey this information to admission committees when she applies to U.S. colleges in a few years. I realized when I read her message that, although my earlier blog had instructed international students to report their extracurricular interests and endeavors to colleges, I never fully explianed how this can be done. There are, in fact, several approaches. You can read about them here, in my “Ask the Dean” response: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/how-can-international-student-convey-accomplishments-to-admission-committees.htm

Keep in mind that most college applications don’t provide adequate space to explain your activities, only to list them very briefly. While this is often a problem for American students, it can be an even bigger one for international applicants, whose undertakings may be very different than those of the typical American applicant. So do take advantage of the “Additional Information” section of most applications and/or use your essays to tell admission folks about your activities.

Most colleges also allow you to send a resume (curriculum vita). However, if you follow the standard formats, you really won’t have any place to explain your activities any more thoroughly than you did on the application itself. So you might want to consider an “annotated resume.” This is when you not only list your activities but also briefly explain the ones that aren’t completely clear. It’s also a good opportunity to let your sense of humor shine through. And it’s fine to brag a little bit, just don’t go overboard.

EXAMPLES:

Standard resume entry:

Volunteer, Saint Agnes Hospital, May 2008-present

Annotated Activities List:

Volunteer, Saint Agnes Hospital, May 2008-present

I’m not the world’s youngest doctor, as some of my “patients” initially believe. I’m just a teenage volunteer, whose duties include chatting with children with cancer to help them to relax as they await chemotherapy. I have found that I not only enjoy this work but I’m even good at it. One (real) doctor told me that he can even tell when I have been with one of his patients because the patient enters the examination room calm and smiling.

You don’t need an “annotation” for every item on your activities list, but do make sure your admission readers will understand what you do and never abbreviate unless the abbreviations are recognized world wide

Did you apply to a U.S. college in the Early Decision or Early Action round and get the disappointing news that you were deferred, not admitted? If so, take heart … all is not lost … and take steps, too. That is, don’t sit around and do nothing besides hoping for better news in the spring. Instead, follow the guidelines below to maximize your acceptance odds.

–First of all, make sure that you were deferred (for consideration in the Regular Decision pool) and not denied outright. Students who were denied admission in the Early Decision or Early Action round are NOT eligible to apply in the Regular Decision pool.

–Make sure that all your application materials reached their destination. Some students–especially international students–are deferred because their application folder was not “complete” by the Early round. If you have not received confirmation that all materials were received, check with admission offices right away to see if anything is missing. (If it is, don’t panic; just replace it promptly. For colleges other than your ED/EA school, it may take a couple weeks after submission for databases to be updated.)

–Send an Update Letter. Granted, it’s not likely that you cured cancer or published a novel since you submitted your Early application just a couple months ago. But if you can come up with anything that’s new and different in your life since November (or whenever you applied) you should compose a letter similar to the one you’ll see in this College Confidential “Ask the Dean” column: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/how-do-i-send-resume-updates-to-colleges.htm

–Read this advice for Waitlisted students in a previous “Admissions Without Borders” column: In particular, note that your Update letter can include a paragraph or so that describes why this college is a great match for you. Only include information that’s really personalized and meaningful. Generic comments such as, “I like your school the best” or “Your college will give me an excellent education” mean nothing and may actually hurt you. Instead, cite more specific reasons why this school is the right fit. Ideally, this list will include a special academic program–but NOT those that you can find almost everywhere (”You have a psychology department.”) Even proximity to relatives or family friends can be a valid reason for a student from far away to choose a particular U.S. school. Don’t forget to check out the section on “Gimmicks,” too. They definitely aren’t for everyone … but if you have a good sense of humor … or a great idea … a gimmick can help you stand out in the crowd.

–Consider retaking the TOEFL. If English is not your native language, and you think that your TOEFL score may have hurt your admissions outcome at your ED/EA school, consider retaking it. Of course, you only want to do this if you have been studying or practicing English since you last took the test. Typically, you can register for the TOEFL up to 7 days before the test date. And even though many Regular Decision deadlines have passed, it’s not too late to submit an improved score. See http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.fab2360b1645a1de9b3a0779f1751509/?vgnextoid=69c0197a484f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

–Update financial information. If you need a lot of financial aid, this should hurt your admission odds at many U.S. colleges. So, if you can dig up a source of financial support that you did not previously disclose on the financial statement you submitted with your application (e.g., a relative or family friend), then this may help a lot. However, be prepared to provide validation of this source of support.

–Make sure you have other Realistic and Safe options. Many deadlines have already past, but it’s typically the less selective colleges that are still accepting applications. So make sure that you aren’t counting on an affirmative answer from a college that has already deferred you.

Although the steps to reverse a deferral are similar to those recommended to students who hope to be admitted from a waitlist, your odds of reversing a deferral are considerably better. Some colleges ultimately admit few … or no … waitlisted applicants, but many take 10 to more than 50 percent of those who were deferred.

Your nationality will probably play a role in whether or not you will be admitted after a deferral. In the Regular Decision round, admission officials will determine how many applicants are from your country and how you compare. If you come from a nation that rarely sends candidates to your top-choice college, this can work in your favor, especially if no other students from your country were admitted in the Early round. Feel free to ask admission officials if there were students from your homeland accepted via ED or EA. The response, if you get one (don’t count on it), may help you gauge your admission verdict, but don’t put too much stock in this information or let it get your hopes up … or down. And don’t bug admission officials either. It’s fine to send an Update letter and ask about other admitted students from your country. But don’t expect the admission folks to be your pen pals. This will only work against you when the final decisions are made.

So, remember, by putting some effort into a Deferral Reversal Campaign, you can definitely improve your chances of getting good news in the spring.

“Janez,” the international applicant from Slovenia who served as a recent guest blogger on “Admissions Without Borders,” has also been accepted by his Early Decision choice, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Reminder: Early decision applicants must commit to attending, if accepted (unless the financial aid package makes doing so impossible). But the trade-off is that applying “ED” boosts admission chances.

Most Early Decision deadlines are in November, but a growing number of colleges offer a second round of Early Decision, with many of these deadlines on or around January 1. So there’s still a little time left to get the early-bird advantage, if a college that really interests you has ED II.

Remember Shahdabul Faraz … better known as Shad? Back in September, this high school senior from Canada discussed his U.S. college quest with “Admissions Without Borders.”

He told us then that his tentative college list included Emory University, University of Chicago, Wake Forest University, Brandeis University, Tufts University, and University of Rochester. He also planned to apply to some liberal arts colleges such as Carleton College, Davidson College, Grinnell College, and Macalester College.

Well, this weekend, Shad sent me some great news. He was admitted to Emory University (in Atlanta, Georgia) via Early Decision. Shad explained that he first heard of Emory on the College Confidential discussion forum.

As an “Early Decision” applicant, Shad realized that he would be making a binding commitment to Emory, if accepted. That wasn’t a problem. “I like Emory for a lot of reasons,” he explained, when I asked how he came to choose it above all other contenders. “I visited during last summer and absolutely loved it. I liked it so much that I went back the very next day! The people there were extremely friendly towards me, and the counselor I talked to was gracious enough to answer all my questions. The campus is also very beautiful and, yes, it is much warmer there than up here in Toronto. Most of all, however, I liked the multidimensional aspect of Emory. The counselor there focused on the importance of well-roundedness and balance. He told us that when a student attends a university, he or she should seek ‘fit’ because going to college is much more than just pure academics. I appreciated this honest message! I feel that I can contribute and thrive in multiple ways at Emory whether it be as an student, volunteer, activist or athlete. Simply put, Emory has a wide array of opportunities that I feel will be very beneficial for me and I hope to make good use of them.”

Undecided about studying in the USA? Undecided about a major field or career choice, too? Your answer to Question 2 may help you answer Question 1. More »

“Janez” is a high school senior in Slovenia, a small country in Eastern Europe. (Janez isn’t his real name but it’s a common one in his country.) He lived in the United States when he was little (because of his father’s job) and went to kindergarten in Virginia for about a year. He says that, ever since, he’s wanted to come back. His English is excellent although, other than that, he has never attended a school where English was the primary language of instruction. “We do learn English in Slovenian schools,” he told me, “from 4th grade until we go off to college. (In Slovenia we have our own language that only we speak, and we realize that we have to learn at least one foreign language if we want to communicate with others).”

Below, you’ll see Janez’s answers to an “Admissions Without Borders” questionnaire. This is the second in a series of blogs featuring current international applicants. If you, too, are in the midst of applying to U.S. colleges as an international student and would like to respond to these questions, please let us know in the “Comments” section.

-Name: “Janez”

-Current Country: Slovenia

-Have you lived in any other country? If yes, where and for about how long?

Yes, I lived in the United States for four years when I was a child.

-What were your SAT (or ACT) test results? TOEFL results?

SAT Math: 760
SAT Critical Reading: 680
SAT Writing: 570 (I retook the SAT in November, hoping to raise this score.)***
SAT II Chemistry: 770
SAT II Physics: 790
SAT II Math: 700
TOEFL: Internet Based Test and got 108 (out of 120)

***UPDATE from Janez***

“I just found out my November SAT scores today; My math didn’t change (760), I improved my CR by 10 points (to 690), but most importantly, I raised the Writing score to 710!”

-Why do you want to attend college in the United States?

Firstly, I’ve always been an adventurous type of person and I’ve always wanted to live abroad for a few years. But more importantly, U.S. Universities offer a broader curriculum than European ones. A lot of things interest me and I want to take a lot of different classes before I declare my major.

-Prospective Major:

I haven’t decided on a major yet, but I’m interested in economics, so that’s something I may major in. But I’m also interested in chemistry, and I plan to take a few courses in college. Maybe I’ll discover I like it even more than economics.

-Prospective Career Goal:

None yet

-To what colleges did you apply or do you plan to apply? Why did you select these schools?

I applied Early Decision to Brown University. I figured that Brown would be the best fit with their open curriculum, since I’m interested in a lot of different things. Other colleges that are high on my list are Cornell University and the University of Chicago, if I get rejected from Brown. One of my main interests is economics, and both schools have a great economics department. But I’m also very interested in science, and of course, both schools have great science departments, too. (My father, who is an electro engineer actually told me that some of the most talented electro engineers and physicists that he met while in the U.S. went to Cornell.) Also, both have beautiful campuses!

I think that Brown is a good match, but I also know that there are a lot of other great schools in the US and so even though I hope Brown will accept me, I won’t be heart-broken if they don’t

-How did you first hear about the colleges on your list? (Particularly the lesser-known ones, if any)

I actually can’t remember when exactly when I first heard of U of C and Cornell, but I know that I had heard of them or read about them before I started my college search process.

– Are you asking for financial aid? If yes, do you need a lot of aid or a little?

No, I am lucky enough not to need financial aid.

-What aspect of the college admissions process have you found to be the most confusing or frustrating?

Where to start? Okay, I’m just kidding. Probably the most frustrating part is not being able to compare yourself to anyone. If you’re in the U.S. you see the people that graduated before you and see where they got accepted and then you can compare yourself to them and get a general feeling about how realistic you chances are of getting into a particular college. The only thing I can help myself with in assessing how good my chances are at a particular college is comparing my SAT score to the 25 – 75th percentile SAT scores of those who got accepted.

-Has anyone in particular been helping you with your US college selection and application process (e.g., school official, parent, private college counselor, even a Web site, etc.)?

My parents have been very supportive, although they didn’t study in the US, so they can’t really give me a lot of first hand advice. Also, CollegeConfidential.com is a site with a lot of useful information.

– What advice would you give to another international high school student who is considering applying to college in the U.S.?

Start early! I started planning and preparing for my application process the summer after sophomore year. There’s quite a lot to do, but if you start early and distribute the workload over a long period of time, it’s very bearable.

– What were your admission results?

I don’t have any yet.

This week, I received a letter from Monique, a young woman in French high school who is applying to U.S. universities. Monique told me that her high school is very rigorous and only accepts top students, which means that there is a lot of competition to earn the highest grades. “Will admission officers know this about my school?” she asked me. “And, if not, can I tell them?”

When American students apply to college, each admission office receives not only a high school “transcript” (a record of all classes taken and grades received) but also, with it, a “School Profile.”

This is a document published by almost every high school that includes:

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

-Courses offered, including availability of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Honors, Accelerated, etc.

-The grading system + how Grade Point Averages are calculated

-The class ranking system–if any

-Post high-school plans: What percentage of students attend 4-year colleges? 2-year colleges? Which colleges specifically, do they attend?

The most helpful profiles also explain course selection policies or schedule restrictions that affect them (Example: “Students cannot take two Advanced Placement sciences in the same school year.”)

SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHICS

-Admissions policy (e.g., Do students take a test or enter a lottery to enroll? Is admissions selective or simply based on residence?)

-School size

-Racial and ethnic breakdown

-Socioeconomic breakdown

COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS

-A description of the city, town, neighborhood where the school is located. What is the average household income? What is average the level of parent education?

Here are a couple samples of real school profiles:

http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/content/programs/guidance/hs-profiles/Profile%20JHS.pdf

http://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/vance/profile.html

Some school profiles are more comprehensive than others and are thus more useful to admission officers. Here, Northwestern University admission officials present a “Wish-List” of information they would like to see on all School Profiles:

http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/counselors/hsprofile/

As an international applicant to U.S. colleges, your high school may not publish a school profile. So you can help college admission officials by providing this information for them .. or asking a school administrator to do so. The transcript that your school sends to colleges should include a “Key” or “Legend” that explains the course levels and grading system. But you would be wise to ask for a copy to be sure that the explanations are clear to someone outside of your school … or your country.

You should also make sure that colleges are aware that your school is highly selective or rigorous–if, in fact, it is. Conversely, if your school is a very poor one where few students pursue higher education and many leave school before graduation, colleges will want to know this, too. (And it will not work against you … in fact, it can work in your favor once admission officials see that you have overcome obstacles to pursue a college education.)

Use the Northwestern U. “Wish-List,” above, to see what else you can tell U.S. colleges about your high school that might assist them as they review your credentials.

When U.S. admission officials evaluate their applicants, they do so in the context of their background, and the high school each applicant attends is a critical part of this background. So don’t hesitate to provide as much helpful information as possible. You can even send a photograph along, if you think that “one picture is worth a thousand words.”

I get a lot of queries from international students about U.S. colleges that offer “need-blind” admission to non-citizens. “Need-blind” means that admission decisions are made without any consideration of a student’s ability to pay … or not pay. Then, once these decisions are made, those who are admitted and require financial assistance will receive as much aid as necessary. More »

College Web sites can be confusing. That’s one of my pet peeves. Especially confusing are the different application timetable options (often called “decision-plans”) because deadlines, rules, and even names are not consistent. More »