Chinese universities are climbing up in the rankings for research institutions, while the United States continues to fall, attributed to the widening between top American colleges and the rest, according to the Times Higher Education. However, China lacks internationalisation and a few international students seek higher education in China.

The United States and the United Kingdom continue to dominate the top rankings, with the United States holding seven of the top 10 positions and Britain’s three. Harvard University, Cambridge University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, Yale University and Imperial College London follow Oxford.

The number of American institutions in the top 100 universities decreased from 43 in 2018 to 34 in 2019. There are now seven Chinese institutions within the top 100.

Since more than two decades ago, the Chinese government has continually invested in higher education and research and development, with financing aimed primarily at constructing world-class universities, educating academics at prestigious Western institutions, and boosting capacity in China. Since the mid-1990s, the number of Chinese academic publications has increased steadily.

This funding has also influenced the number of Chinese students entering American institutions this year. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the number of the US visas given to Chinese students for the next academic year is much lower than the pre-pandemic levels.

Conversely, the number of student visas granted to Indian students’ increased substantially. Most student visas were given to Indian students between May and August when over 84,000 F-1 student visas were issued. That’s around 45 per cent more visas issued to the Indian students, compared with the same period last year and a stunning 148 per cent more than in 2019.

Admission offices throughout the United States make decisions based on your test scores and GPA. If you’re out of range, you’re out of luck. However, one of the most significant disparities between admission to most American institutions and foreign universities is holistic evaluation.

Holistic evaluation, as opposed to merely scholastic assessment is the process of looking at several aspects of who you are as a student and determining how you would fit into a campus. It means that the great majority of American institutions demand a variety of admission paperwork. Why? Because colleges are as interested in who you are as they are in how you will do in the classroom. The admission counsellors analyse these materials, as they go through the process of choosing and organising a class.

As an international student, the documentation necessary for the admission will differ by institutions. A quick list of the most typical elements requested (in addition to the application itself) is provided below, along with an explanation of why they are crucial to an admission committee.

Almost all the US institutions demand evidence of English competence; however, what they accept varies greatly. Some institutions, for example, only need confirmation of English proficiency if your high school’s primary medium of instruction is English. Others will waive proof of competence only if you attend high school in a nation where English is the prevalent language.

It is critical to research the university’s particular policies when you build your college selection. Universities often publicise the minimum score required for the admission to overseas students. Suppose you test below those criteria or are close to the advertised minimum, in that case, you may still get conditional admission to the programme.

The admission officers place a premium on oral and written communication skills. Returning to the holistic evaluation, remember that your English proficiency is being tested to grasp your ability to speak in the classroom and to comprehend your ability to participate in the campus activities and social life.

Suppose, the institution approves a third-party English interview. You may have an edge if you have extraordinary oral (speaking and listening) abilities. Vericant and InitialView are the two most popular.

These interviews are not evaluated and are generally not required. Still, they may be played by an admission counsellor and are one of the most valuable tools an admission counsellor has in determining an applicant’s English proficiency.

Suppose, your application is in range for the institution you are applying to, except for your English skills. In that case, you should be aware of a practice known as “conditional acceptance”. A university may admit you on the condition that you finish an ELL or academically-oriented summer programme.

Next, after you have determined that you will be applying to institutions in the United States, you should begin preparing to satisfy each school’s English proficiency criterion.

Transcripts are an essential aspect of your application. However, colleges use transcripts to determine your academic performance and understand how hard you push yourself.

Although a growing number of institutions accept self-reported transcripts your high school counsellor is generally the one who delivers your transcripts to an admissions office. Always examine the particular regulations of the school to which you are applying.

When sending your transcript as part of the application process from Pakistan, keep in mind that the institutions will almost probably recalculate your GPA. So do not try to convert them yourself!

While your high school may consider your IB and AP coursework, the institution you are applying to may not. Do not be discouraged; however, since admission counsellors also look at the courses you choose. They recognise that a B in a higher-level class is sometimes better than an A in a lower-level subject.

The years considered “high school” in the United States, and many other nations constitute a significant distinction. Many institutions need four years of transcripts, even though high school in other countries is generally just three years. If that’s the case, be prepared to get your ninth-grade transcripts. University admissions departments may be obliged to reject admission to otherwise competent students who have incomplete applications due to a lack of ninth-grade transcripts.

Finally, if your transcript is not in English, the institution may request that a third-party firm analyse it. It’s a good idea to examine, which evaluators are recognised. However, WES is often regarded as the gold standard.

The SAT and ACT are broad aptitude examinations and several coaching programmes and study aids are available. Ten years ago, this could have been the easiest part of applying to the institutions in the United States. Most institutions needed an ACT or SAT sent directly to the schools. Not so much anymore. Many schools have made these examinations optional in recent years and others will not even accept them if they are delivered. The Covid-19 has maintained this trend, with many more colleges opting out of taking the exam.

It is vital to know that the institutions will look at your section results if you are an international student from a non-English-speaking country. For example, only some SAT 1,400s are the same. A 700 in each area differs from an 800 in mathematics and a 600 in reading and language.

You can see how you compare other candidates because most institutions publish the middle 50 per cent of the accepted students’ scores on their Common Data Set. It is a positive indicator if your score is in that range or above. Every year, the students with higher-than-average exam scores are refused admission. In contrast, the students with lower-than-average test scores are allowed.

Further, in the test-optional period, most average test scores have skewed higher because only the students with better scores submit the result. Schools are aware of these occurrences and consider them when calculating the test results.

So, what are you going to do? First, determine if you will need to submit test results for other purposes, such as an institutional scholarship that requires a test score to apply. Then weigh all the benefits and drawbacks of submitting or not. Remember that although many students are concerned about their test results, they make up a portion of the application. You are not your exam result!

Next, determine whether the institutions on your list demand a standardised test score. Even though it is unnecessary, you may take standardised examinations to determine how you fare. Based on the quality of the other components of your application, you may decide whether or not to submit it. Having the test score ready to submit gives you an alternative that you would not have if you chose not to take the exam at all.

Some colleges need a “certification of funds”, which reveals how much your family can afford for your college tuition, as part of the admissions process. Questions on the certification of finances form typically include sponsor names, contact information, the amount of money they have saved, an assurance that they will pay for your education throughout your studies and a proof of their ability to pay for your education in the form of bank statements or signed letters from the bank.

Some admission offices, but not all, need financial verification, as part of the admission process because they do not want to accept a student who will be unable to get a visa owing to financial constraints. To get a student visa in the United States, you must demonstrate that you can support yourself with your finances and any financial help the institution provides. In the immigration requirements section below, you can learn more about how financial certification is part of the visa process.

The universities that are need-blind for overseas students throughout the admissions process are an exception to this.

(The writer is an Edtech expert)