Former US high school valedictorian advises on how to prepare for college

 Former US high school valedictorian advises on how to prepare for college

Christina Nguyen, valedictorian at Wichita East High School, Kansas, shares the steps to prepare for scholarships and go to college in the US.

According to Christina Nguyen (Nguyen Ngoc Trang) - currently a doctor - if you are planning to go to university in the US, high school (grades 9-12) will be the four key years that decide whether you can get into prestigious schools and receive admission. scholarship or not.

Dr. Christina Nguyen (Nguyen Ngoc Trang). Photo: Character provided

Dr. Christina Nguyen (Nguyen Ngoc Trang). Photo: Character provided

1. The higher the GPA, the better

GPA is the average of the four years of coursework. In the US, most schools charge a factor of 4.0. "If you study subjects that are all A, your GPA will be 4.0. The higher the GPA, the greater your chances," Christina said.

According to CollegeVine, a platform that helps students apply to college in the US, if you want to be admitted to top universities, such as the Ivy League school system, your GPA should be 3.5 or higher.

In addition to GPA, universities also want to see in students important skills such as communication, learning, and a sense of responsibility to themselves and the community. Therefore, activities outside the school curriculum such as research, participation in sports teams, clubs, volunteer work are essential for candidates to express themselves.

2. Take special courses/programs if possible

Special courses include Honors, AP and IB. These courses often have certain entry requirements, in-depth curriculum, and are faster than other high school courses.

Therefore, when students' transcripts include those courses, college admissions committees and scholarship applicants will have a better impression. They will see the student's learning ability, seriousness and effort.

Honors Courses: Christina took an honors course in Honors Biology.

Advanced Placement Courses (AP course or Advanced Course): This course is usually more difficult than Honors Courses. However, the special point is that after completing an AP course, you will have the opportunity to participate in an assessment exam, which is scored from 1 to 5. If you get 3 points or more, you are recognized for credit. university for that course.

Christina joined AP Chemistry, got 5 points, and when she went to college, she didn't have to take General Chemistry, which is the initial class of Chemistry, but could immediately enter a higher class. This saves her time and money in college, as college credits are more expensive than in high school.

In Vietnam, the organization that organizes the AP exam is usually an international school and it is not until March every year that a list of schools organize the exam. Some international schools organize AP and exam courses such as Saigon South International School (SSIS), The American School (TAS)... The exam fee at exam boards (not in the US and Canada) is 123 USD for one subject. .

IB program stands for International Baccalaureate (International Baccalaureate Program): This is a special educational program aimed at the all-round development of students with an international outlook. Students can participate in the IB program right from grade 1. However, not every city has an IB school. Some places only teach from 2nd grade or 3rd grade and up. The maximum IB score is 45.

Similar to AP Courses, after completing IB's intensive classes, students will have their own exams and if they get high scores, they will receive college credit. An outstanding feature of IB is that this program is prestigious and prestigious. Therefore, universities in the US all like students of this program. If you aspire to get into the top American universities in the Ivy League, studying for an IB will be a great stepping stone.

3. Prepare for the university entrance exam

The US has two exams that students need to pay attention to, the ACT and the SAT. Two exams help admissions committees assess a student's readiness to apply for college. According to statistics from US News, in 2020, 2.2 million students complete the SAT and about 1.7 million students complete the ACT. All students who want to apply to college need to complete at least one test. Both exams are accepted by all universities.

"The trend in recent years is that more and more students do both to help the admissions committee better understand their academic ability and improve their chances of getting a scholarship," said the doctor.

Students can retake two tests if they are not satisfied with their score. This helps to reduce exam pressure and avoid studying talent. In the US, you will never encounter the bustling university exam days like in Vietnam.

If you want to go to college right after finishing high school, you should take the exam in 11th grade and no later than 12th grade. Take the exam early, you will have time to retake the exam if you want.

The ACT (American College Testing) consists of four parts: Reading Comprehension, English Language Arts, Math, Science, and a Writing section (optional). The test lasts three hours and is held seven times a year in cities in the United States.