Pathway to University

During the early years, there should not be a specific focus on college admissions.
The emphasis should be placed on the following:

• Taking solid academic courses at the appropriate level of challenge; developing current interests and exploring interests in new subject areas where possible.

• Engaging fully in extracurricular activities, sports, and/or community service – trying out new interests and taking on leadership roles if available.Colleges prefer to see a sustained commitment to extracurricular activities. It’s more impressive to do one activity for four years and continue to show growth in that activity than it is to start doing a bunch of activities in Grade 11.

• Becoming comfortable interacting with teachers and forming positive friendships with peers.

• Reading - whether novels, poetry, non-fiction, newspapers, or special-interest articles, students should be reading outside of school. This is probably the single best possible preparation for the demands of school, university, and even standardized tests.

• Direct preparation for the college process (which begins in Grade 11) however profile building especailly for US universities starts from 8th/9th grade.

• PSAT scores have no bearing on the US college admission process; it is simply practice for the PSAT in Grade 11 and the SAT, taken later in Grade 11. PSAT enables American citizens to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship based on scores.

• The SAT Subject Test, is only required for some universities in the US, and should be taken at the end of Grade 11. If you are taking the Math Subject SAT that can be taken at the beginning of Grade 11 as well.

• Grade 9 and 10 students who are planning to apply to the US should not take the SAT or the ACT. These tests are designed to be taken for the first time in Grade 11.

• Students involved in sports or the arts may want to consider summer experiences to enhance skills and explore the depth of their interest, and to consider what role these activities might play in their choice of college later on.

• Other students should use summers to explore an interest, or to get involved in some kind of service work - and to take time to relax and reflect before returning to school!