When you’re in your senior year of high school, there’s always a lingering feeling of anxiety and confusion about what your next step is, and whether you’re doing enough. Those feelings are only amplified when it comes to university applications and the different requirements each university has. Some universities require certain grades of specific tests, while others don’t. There’s also the question of what exams need to be given, and when.

Your first priority should be your school grades. If you’re planning on giving AL or IB or any such board exams then make sure you achieve the best you can in these exams.

There’s two types of exams you may be required to take: Standardised Tests (such as the SAT, ACT, etc.) and Language Tests (such as IELTS or TOEFL).

Some universities require you to sit for the SAT. There’s no certain time that you should give the SAT, it depends on how long it would take for you to prepare for the exam and to get ready. Ideally, you want to give the exam in the summer before you start applying for universities, however if you’ve passed out on this opportunity, give the exam 2-4 months before you finalize your application. If you give the SAT earlier, and aren’t pleased with your grades you can always give it again, if you have sufficient time, and try to improve your grades.

Most universities require international students to give a test to prove their proficiency in English, and the most common test for that is the IELTS. Students who wish to appear for the IELTS test should look for a date 3-4 months before their application deadline, to give themselves enough time for a retake if necessary, and to prevent any last-minute errors.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is accpeted globally and tests the skills of students, across reading, speaking, listening and writing modules.

Both the SAT and IELTS scores are valid for a term of 2 years.

If you need extra guidance and more counselling on what you need to do before applying for university, or with your applications to university, you can always contact us at Acumen to have a session with our skilled staff who will ensure to extensively address all confusions and issues you may have!

STEM covers the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As the world progresses in the 21^st century, we find that there is an ever-rising need for more ingenuity and experimentation. STEM education has been highlighted in recent years as encouraging many skills, such as teamwork, resilience, problem solving, that are required for one’s career and in life in general. STEM skills are in demand in almost any career field. The importance of careers in STEM has also skyrocketed. STEM careers are among the most coveted and highest paying of all fields, especially for new college graduates eager for new opportunities.

Previously, we covered the careers in Sciences. To read more on that, you can click here.

Another part of STEM is Technology. The world has progressed towards a more high-functioning society due to advancements in technology. We’ve seen many different ideas on what the future will look like. One thing is for certain, and that is that the future will be much more advanced than the world is today. And to make that happen, we need more aspirants to join this field in order for the world to progress. There is a current rise in the scope of different careers within the technology industry, some of which we’ve mentioned below:

–   Software Developer: Analyze user needs and requirements, come up with practical solutions and design and develop software to meet those needs

–   Information Security Analysts: Install software and take measures to protect sensitive information and computer networks and systems. Prevent cybercrimes.

–   IT Manager: Skilled and well-trained professionals that take on the entire responsibility of dealing with a company’s computer and information systems.

–   Computer and Information Research Scientist: Research, design, develop and improve computer software and hardware.

–   Database Administrator: Ensure databases run efficiently

–   Cartographer: Create maps and examine and create visuals for both quantitative and qualitative data.

–   Computer Network Architect: Plan and develop data communication networks.

–   Computer Systems Analyst: Analyze an already existing technology use and procedures and come up with improvements so that operations can be more effective and efficient.

–   Web Developer: Program codes for web operations.

–   Computer Support Specialist: Analyze and troubleshoot network or software problems.

–   Artificial Intelligence Engineer: develop applications and systems that use AI to improve efficiency and performance

While the idea of technology can be scary (Black Mirror has us all fearing for our lives), it is undeniable that the current rise of technolgoy has eased life in a way that wouldn’t be possible without some brilliant minds. It’s very important, for the way the world works and how it will perform in the future, to have as many developing ideas as possible. If you’ve found this article helpful, please leave a comment and let us know!

For more on Careers in STEM:

If you want to read about Careers in Sciences, click here.

If you want to read about Careers in Engineering, click here.

If you want to read about Careers in Mathematics, click here.

In 2019, more than 1.5 million students came to the United States from all across the globe. The US is by far the largest international student market in the world, but that market is shrinking. The number of international students in the US fell 1.8% in 2019, on the heels of a similar decline in 2018. Bangladesh and Pakistan bucked the regional trend, growing 4.3% and 2.4%, respectively. Each country sent around 10,000 students to the US in 2019 and both have significant growth potential. Newly elected President Joe Biden’s administration could mean a significant shift in a number of international relationships, which could in turn affect the flow of international students to the US. But some of the trends we’ve observed will undoubtedly continue regardless of the outcome of the election, and of course any shifts that do happen will be in the context of those already occurring trends.