You all must have heard by now that the SAT has gone digital. The test remains largely the same as the pen and pencil version except for a few changes. There are a number of resources available for practicing for the SAT but the Bluebook app also offers practice tests as a form of free assessment for the final test. The app contains testing previews which show you the real test questions, and allow you to try out testing tools and to practice testing with other assistive technologies. The app also contains four full-length SATs. These will be automatically scored for you giving you a good idea of your strengths and weaknesses. College Board has partnered with the Khan Academy as well to provide students with free SAT prep resources. Familiar Terrain The SAT remains one of the most important college prerequisites. Even colleges and universities that are SAT optional, value the SAT as an important tool for the college admissions process. The SAT lets you apply to universities in the US and worldwide. But in case you are wondering, the digital SAT is largely the same as the pencil and paper version. It is still testing what you learnt in school in preparation for college. The score scales also remain the same as the pencil and paper version. So What’s New You may be wondering, so what’s changed? Well, there are 2 additional SATs added to the calendar making it a total of 7 dates per year. The digital SAT is also shorter than the pencil and paper version, lasting 2 hours and 14 minutes instead of 3 hours. Conversely, you’ll have more time to answer each question as the SAT will be more concentrated on testing your knowledge and skill rather than your test-taking speed.   Preparing for the SATs Within the app, you will have access to test preview which allows you to get familiar with the app and the structure of the test. You’ll also get to try out sample questions from the Reading and Writing and Math sections. You will also have access to full length practice tests which will also give you a final score. These tests will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, helping you craft a targeted study plan focusing on areas that will have the greatest impact on your score. What’s more, with the College Board partnering with the Khan Academy, you have an entire suite of resources available to you including videos, articles and worked examples. The Khan Academy will also give you resources relevant to your test type based on your test date and location. Edufit and Eye on Ivy For students in Pakistan Eye on Ivy is offering a unique opportunity in preparing for the SAT. We have partnered with the US-based Edufit, which is an online SAT prep program. Edufit is the only customized online program where 89% of students have achieved a 200-point/4-point increase in just 8 weeks of prep time. Additionally, the advisory board of Edufit includes the Senior Director of College Board, the creator of the digital SAT. By using the tools available to you and staying dedicated to your SAT preparation, you can improve your confidence, performance and ultimately your test scores. Success on the SAT takes time and effort, so it is important to stay focused and motivated and to keep pushing yourself towards your goals. Author, Fatima Burki

Higher education analytics firm QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) recently published a report on what students in South Asia look for when choosing universities abroad. The report surveyed 29,000 students from across South Asia on their preferences when it comes to picking international universities.  Cost and Funding For the majority of students from South Asia cost of living was the number one concern when choosing colleges and universities to apply to. 67% of the respondents said the cost of living was their main concern and this figure goes up to 76% for students from Sri Lanka, 70% for those from India, and 63% for those from Pakistan. Consequently, the availability of scholarships and funding is also a major concern for students when applying abroad. In Pakistan especially this was the number one concern (66%). Future Employability The rate of employability was the next biggest factor for students from South Asia when choosing universities abroad with 58% of students citing it as their main concern. 55% of students said links to industry and information about work placements was the most important factor when choosing a university. In South Asia, this was the most important criterion compared to other regions of the world. Teaching Quality The quality of teaching was one of the top three factors for students from South Asia when it came to choosing an international university. 56% of students said this was their most important concern. Important factors when assessing a university’s teaching quality included up-to-date technology (63%), the university being nationally recognized for its teaching quality (59%), the university’s teaching staff (57%), and the university organizing work placement as part of the course (56%). Environmental Sustainability The next most important factor for South Asian students when choosing a university abroad was their environmental sustainability efforts with 51% of students saying it was a big concern. Interestingly, English Language course students and postgraduate research students were most likely to look at a university’s environmental sustainability efforts (55%). And 74% of students who looked into their university’s sustainability efforts said they were somewhat or extremely satisfied. University Responsiveness Prospective students said they expect a complete and personal response to their queries from universities within three days (66%). However, only 53% said they received a complete response from the university within three days. Email is the most preferred form of communication with 86% of students saying that’s how they want to communicate with their university, followed by WhatsApp at 67%. International universities have to be cognizant of the type of messaging they are sending to international students. It is important that they stress funding and scholarships along with future work opportunities and highlight their teaching credentials when engaging with students from the South Asian region.  Author, Fatima Burki Fatima Burki is a graduate of the University of Sussex in the UK. A former editor at The Daily Times in Lahore and research editor at Imagination Publishing in Chicago, with 20 years of experience in writing and editing, Fatima currently works with students as an editor at Eye on Ivy.

Now that you’ve made it to college, it is time to start thinking ahead to entering the workforce and establishing a career. And you don’t have to wait till your college graduation to get started. According to career counseling services, one of the most effective ways to get a jumpstart on your career is through college internships. Most employers also look for prior internship experience when hiring. College Internships: Usually, students start looking for internships in their junior or senior year but there is no reason not to start as early as the freshman year. There are multiple reasons why starting internships in your freshman year is a good idea for your career development. It can help you rack up relevant experience, build more connections and help you decide on a career path early in college and select a major and courses accordingly. One of the best ways to get good internship recommendations is by building a relationship with the college career counselor. Almost all colleges have one and they are well connected with local companies. Other ways to find out about internships include job sites, college career site, college career fairs, seminars and workshops. Building Connections: College internships not only help you beef up your resume but also help build critical connections with people who can later on help you in your career. Make use of your internship to get to know your co-workers. These are people who have critical experience and insight into your career field. They can help guide you and even help you get a job down the road. Be active and participate in all company events. Most companies arrange post-work events, especially for networking purposes. It is worthwhile to take part in these and get to meet people you may not normally interact with in your daily work but who can help you in your career later on. And let’s not forget about the all-important alumni network. Ask around and find out if there’s an alumnus from your college working at the company you’re interning with. If there is one, connect with them. Most will be willing to look out for you based on your shared interest in the same college. That’s not the only way to connect with an alumnus though. Your college may also have mentorship programs where you can be paired with an alumnus. Look into it and find one you can be paired with based on similar career interests. Personal Growth Internships can help you discover yourself. Through them, you can find out your strengths weaknesses and interests in a particular career path. Starting early will give you ample time to decide on a suitable career and help plan your college accordingly. Internships can also build your interpersonal skills which will help you in the workplace. They are also useful in making lifelong connections.  LADDER INTERNSHIPS 8 weeks, 1 company, the internship of a lifetime. AcademicQuests offers a competitive internship program, Ladder Internships (by Lumiere Education). This program connects talented college as well as high school students with ambitious start-ups from around the world. Ladder Internships was founded by entrepreneurs from Harvard and focuses on nurturing students by providing top-notch training and pairing them with world-class start-ups. The program offers students a unique learning experience with founders from prestigious backgrounds like Harvard Business School, Y-Combinator, McKinsey, Google, and Microsoft. More information about them can be found here. Author, Fatima Burki Fatima Burki is a graduate of the University of Sussex in the UK. A former editor at The Daily Times in Lahore and research editor at Imagination Publishing in Chicago, with 20 years of experience in writing and editing, Fatima currently works with students as an editor at Eye on Ivy.

All your high school has been culminating towards getting into the college of your dreams. You have worked hard to make sure your application stands out. Securing good grades and building a portfolio with carefully curated extra-curricular activities. You got your applications sent well in time and now all that’s left to do is wait for the acceptance letter. Except you end up getting a college rejection letter instead. Isolating as it may seem, the first thing to remember about admissions rejection is that you’re not alone and academic setbacks happen. Many people have received college rejection letters and managed to move on and continue with their alternate plan. An admissions rejection may in fact turn out to be a good thing as perhaps you’ll realize that plan B worked out better for you. Maybe you didn’t get into your target school but got accepted into other schools that may prove to be a better fit. The second thing to remember is that it is not personal. A lot goes into a university’s decision to admit a student and sometimes it can be just a numbers thing. It could be that the university simply received too many applications. Other reasons for possible admissions rejection could include a low GPA or SAT score or perhaps a documentation error. The important thing to remember is not to dwell on the reasons for the college rejection but to move on. Moving on can come in many forms but first, it’s also okay to let yourself wallow. Allow yourself time to grieve, acknowledge your feelings, and then move on. Your next step can entail any one of the following: The College Appeal Process: Another route you can take, which may or may not yield results is appeal the rejection. Each college has a different policy on appeals and you would need to look at the particular college you’re interested in. Most colleges will also give you a timeframe to appeal within. The letter of appeal should ideally include new information that wasn’t in your original application. These could be updated test scores, a higher GPA or a new extra-curricular activity. One way to improve your chances of acceptance is to consult with an educational counseling service like Eye on Ivy. These are professionals dedicated to breaking the code to what colleges require and helping their clients get into their target and even reach schools. Author, Fatima Burki Fatima Burki is a graduate of the University of Sussex in the UK. A former editor at The Daily Times in Lahore and research editor at Imagination Publishing in Chicago, with 20 years of experience in writing and editing, Fatima currently works with students as an editor at Eye on Ivy.

Once upon a time in the land of No-Nap Time, there lived a young and spirited scholar named Sam. Sam’s dream was to enter the hallowed halls of the Ivy League, where textbooks were bound in gold and lectures were conducted by geniuses.Sam embarked on a quest of epic proportions, armed with a backpack full of textbooks, a laptop with more stickers than screen space, and a caffeinated potion that could power a small city. Little did Sam know that the path to Ivy’s glory was fraught with more obstacles than The Amazing Race.First, there was the dreaded SAT dragon, a beast that feasted on test-taker nerves. Sam battled this monstrous multiple-choice menace, armed only with sharpened pencils and a fervent hope that guessing C for every answer would somehow lead to victory.Then came the treacherous labyrinth of college essays, where Sam had to prove that writing skills were as sharp as Excalibur. After drafting more essays than a medieval scribe, Sam learned that the secret to Ivy’s acceptance was to write about “finding the meaning of life” and “making a world-changing app for squirrels.”Interviews with alumni were next, where Sam had to talk about their passion for figure skating and the time, they saved a unicorn from a dragon. Sam even considered auditioning for a spot on America’s Got Talent, showcasing their talent for juggling fire while reciting John Keats’ odes.Finally, after months of caffeine-fueled crusading, Sam received a golden envelope that signaled victory. They were accepted into the Ivy League! Sam danced with joy, accidentally knocking over their 17th cup of coffee.And so, Sam embarked on the most magical academic adventure, where the biggest challenge was not acing exams but navigating the treacherous cafeteria food.

Getting into reputable schools is a labor – of love and perseverance. Students need a lot more in their arsenal of college application than good grades. They need to show skills and experiences that go beyond the classroom. One way to build up your college application profile is through internships as they are a great way to show college admissions officers your enthusiasm for learning. Eye on Ivy has partnered with a number of organizations to provide students with opportunities for internships. These organizations offer a variety of expertise in many different disciplines. Students can choose whether to intern at an organization that matches their future career path or diversify their portfolio by choosing an organization that builds on other traits such as social work or communication skills. Most colleges and universities are interested in knowing what values the student will bring with them to the institution. These values are not limited to academic pursuits but should go beyond them. Social work is one great way to show prospective colleges a diversity of interest. Eye on Ivy has partnered with a number of non-profit and social welfare organizations to offer internships to students. An internship at these organizations demonstrates a commitment to social causes and community engagement. A research or scientific study based internship showcases a student’s critical thinking and analytical skills. Internships at corporate offices or startups are a great way to gain insights into the world of business and entrepreneurship. They help students learn problem-solving skills in a professional setting. Eye on Ivy has partnered with many local businesses and startups to provide corporate training opportunities, structured and curated especially for high school students. Then there are the much sought-after media or publishing internships. These show the universities your writing, creative and communication skills. Internships in the end are a valuable tool that gives admissions officers an important insight into your abilities and skill set. Choosing the right internship is critical as well. There should be a healthy dose of them in your CV and ideally aligned with your academic passion. Internships need to be tailored to your needs and requirements, both financial and academic. Are you looking for a remote opportunity? Would you like a chance to intern physically in one of the top companies in the UK or the US? Does staying local make the most sense for you? It can get overwhelming to choose the right combination of internships. That’s where Eye on Ivy counselors can be your most trusted guides. They can offer guidance on what internships would give the most complete and impressive glimpse into your personality based on your CV, interests and chosen major. And our extensive list of partners ensures that there is something for everyone. Author, Fatima Burki Fatima Burki is a graduate of the University of Sussex in the UK. Former editor of The Daily Times, Lahore, Pakistan, she’s also worked as a research editor at Imagination Publishing in Chicago, USA. With more than 20 plus years of writing and editing experience, Fatima is Eye on Ivy’s resident lexicon and ace proofreader.