With the envelope from Duke University in her hands, she knew whatever was written on the inside would be life-changing. Heart pounding, palms sweating and with thousands of feelings welling up, she tore open the letter and read the first line. Congratulations! Duke University is now your University.

This same experience was repeated by several Columbus School 12th graders this spring, many of whom worked for over a year on the application process to universities in the United States, Europe and Canada.

Application to Universities and Scholarships

Twenty-nine students from class of 2017 applied to universities in Europe, Canada and US. These ambitious students look forward to studying at top institutions. This year’s graduating class applied to numerous US universities including Babson, Purdue, Harvard, Yale, University of Chicago, Princeton, Dartmouth, Instituto de Empresas (Spain), John Cabot (Italy), Bocconi (Italy) among others.

“I applied to University of Maryland College Park, Catholic University of America, Cornell, Stanford, Boston College, University of Chicago, Loyola University of Maryland and have been accepted to 3 of them,” Isabella Cardenas, 12th grader, said.

Additionally, some applied and received academic scholarships. Although Ricardo Angel received a scholarship to John Cabot, he has also applied to IE, Yale, Harvard, Chicago and Dartmouth but is still waiting to hear back from them.

“I have received two scholarships, one from El Instituto de Empresas which is a 15% of the total tuition, and one from Pepperdine University in California, which is of US $30,000, which is half of the annual tuition for 8 months,” Adelaida Urrea,12th grader, said.

Why Study Abroad?

Most applicants stated one of the main reasons they chose to study abroad was due to the limited options of universities in Medellin. For some, studying outside of Colombia offers a better education and ensures better job opportunities internationally.

“I chose to study outside of Colombia because I don’t like my options here. The main [ones] were “La Escuela” and Eafit, and neither of them really excited me,” Ricardo Angel, 12th grader, said.

Most insisted they chose to study abroad not only for the universities the US and Europe offered, but for their development as human beings. Living by themselves would make them more independent, more sociable and would force them to step out of their comfort zone.

“I decided to apply to universities outside of Colombia because if I stayed in Colombia I would be around the same people, and I wanted to get to know new people and experience new things. This is why I will be attending HULT International Business School on UK starting on this year’s summer,” Pedro Solórzano, 12th grader, said.

The Application Process

For all seniors who applied abroad, the application process took many months, starting at the end of 11th grade or at the beginning of the student’s senior year. By  October and November most had sent their Common Application to universities of their choice. Most students took the SAT and ACT tests months before so they could reach a high score.

With the help of Maria Teresa Mejía, TCS College Counselor, students put together their information on the Common Application which is intended to make applying to colleges easier. With the Common App, students fill in information about themselves and their family only once, and add information including JPA, SAT or ACT scores and teacher recommendations to sent to universities of their choice.

As part of the common application, students wrote an essay on one of the four prompts they were given. Each student selected the prompt of his or her choice. Students could ask their English teacher for help to revise and edit their the essay and to Maria Teresa with the content.

“My main job is to help the students through all their application process, but also help them and guide them in their decision regarding what major or what they want to study and be in the future,” Mejía said.

What do Universities Look for in a Student?

When universities look at student applications, they focus on “well rounded students”, which are not only students with excellent grades, but also, students with interesting hobbies, and students who contribute to their communities through social service and other types of volunteer work.

Several TCS applicants contributed to their community by attending to TECHO, a program that gave them the opportunity to help in very poor communes of Antioquia. Others assisted foundations for disabled people, abandoned kids, and one volunteered at a mental health center.

“For my community service I helped create the school’s wood shop with the help of Felipe Rey, Antonio Castrillón and Agustin Solórzano. Our job was to organize chairs for the school’s foundation, ” Solórzano, said.

Importance of Choosing a University With an Exceptional Campus

The majority of these students hope to study for a master’s degree related to their career field after completing the four year bachelor’s degree. Because they may spend up to seven years studying at a single university, it is important to choose a campus they will enjoy.

Studying at a university with a pleasant campus helps students live a better life and adapt easier to the changes they will face away from home.  Some factors to consider are how large each campus is, what sports and recreational opportunities each offers and whether it is an urban or rural environment.

“I chose to apply to this universities because I love the East Coast of the USA. I also wanted a university to have a campus where I could have a student life, but at the same time, I wanted to live near a city,” Isabela Cardenas, 12th grade student, said.