American College of Dubai and Carian highlight common issues facing UAE students applying for US University Admission

Dubai, UAE; December 10, 2013; American College of Dubai (ACD), a leading American curriculum institute of Higher Learning, and Carian College Advisors, an independent educational consultancy focusing on American universities, are collaborating to help UAE students navigate the complex US Admissions process through  a series of seminars and presentations .

Mary de Villiers, Associate Director, Carian College Advisors, said: “The most common issue that faces students in the UAE when it comes to the US university application process is feeling overwhelmed or confused by all of the components. They may feel intimidated by the SAT requirement, as well as the personal statement or essay. Also, students may not be aware of the timeline universities in the US follow when it comes to applications, so they often find themselves scrambling to complete the process or applying only to those schools that are still offering admission late in the school year.”

The free-to-attend seminars held at American College of Dubai premises in Garhoud highlight what parents and students should be considering when conducting their college search, including admissions selectivity, courses of study, standardized testing, and creation of a balanced college list. Each component of the US application process is explained, within the context of how each piece is evaluated in the admission decision. Parents and students get a holistic sense of how approach their application to US universities and what makes a university a good fit for the student.

According to de Villiers, “First, students need to understand that universities in the United States each have their own campus culture and level of competition among students. They should be looking for the universities that are the best fit for them and not necessarily just schools with a well-known name. The diversity of universities when it comes to geography, student population, majors on offer, programming, and intellectual climate needs to be highly considered in regards to what will make them the happiest and most engaged.”

She also pointed out that students also need to be aware that universities, particularly highly selective schools, are looking for well-rounded and high-achieving students. Students need to be invested in their education and extracurricular activities as early as possible in high school. They also need to be doing the necessary preparation for exams such as SAT and ACT because these tests are a critical factor in the admission process.

American Universities use a holistic approach when it comes to making admission decisions, so every piece of the application needs to be treated with equal care. 

American College of Dubai offers undergraduate students the opportunity to complete two years of study at their Dubai campus, prior to transferring to public and private universities in the US.  With strong course offerings in Engineering, Business, and Liberal Arts, ACD serves as a reasonably priced and well-established gateway to Higher Education in the USA.