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THERE IS STILL TIME FOR FALL ADMISSIONS

Grade 12 students in India start their final exams this week. Like every year, the atmosphere  is fully charged and very tense.  Parents have seized all mobile phones of students and social- media- time,  in most cases is limited to a max of a few minutes every day or none at all.

In stark contrast I see, students in Grade 12 in the US K-12 education system have the best year of their school life in Grade 12.  Year books are being readied, and everyone seems to be shopping for their Prom night and there is total bonhomie around.

What a contrast! I don’t want to get into the  why’s and what’s of this, but my heart really goes out to the students in India. You can see pressure, tension and worry on the faces of these 17 year olds and their parents, and with all of them having just one question uppermost on their minds - the all important - What if? What if the student does not do well in the final exam, on which everything depends? What if - the child falls ill on the day of the exam? What if - the student in spite of his straight A’s, does not get into the program of his choice…. What if…..

My answer to you all as always is – keep your options open! In the last about 2 weeks I have got calls from over 20-25 parents all asking the same question  – Is there still time for Fall 2017 admissions in the USA or Canada?  To all of you my answer is – Yes, there is still time! While the Ivy leagues and similar do start their early birds and round 1 in October and November of the previous year but there still are a lot of good schools where admissions are still on for the Fall of 2017. So I re-iterate here – keep your options open.  Do apply to some universities in USA and some in Canada and continue your efforts to get into the school of your choice in India whether it is the IIT, or Med School or the prestigious SRCC or St. Stephens.  We all know in Delhi University in the prestigious programs, admissions open at 98 % and close at 97% ! God help you if you scored say a 91%... and what about the thousands and thousands who score between say 70% - 80%, they never seem to get into the college of their choice nor the program of their choice. Should a situation arise where you are not able to get into your desired program, at least you can go overseas and fulfill your dreams!

Good Luck to all of you 12th graders! Do well!