Before I continue the school research series tomorrow, I’d love to get a quick sense of where everyone stands with testing. It'll help me guide my future support 🤍 Let me know in the poll below 👇

Wondering what college life actually looks like in the U.S.? Whether you're applying to an Ivy League or any top U.S. university, the structure is quite different from many other systems. Here’s a breakdown of a typical year—calendar, coursework, exams, and campus living.👇 🗓️ 1. Academic Calendar Most U.S. colleges follow a two-semester system: 📍Fall Semester - Starts: Late August / Early September - Ends: Mid-December - Finals: Early–Mid December 📍Winter Break: ~3–4 weeks off 📍Spring Semester - Starts: Mid–Late January - Ends: Early May - Finals: Late April–Early May 📍Summer Break: ~3 months (May to August) Students use this time for internships, research, jobs, or summer programs. 📚 2. Classes & Exams Each semester is ~14–15 weeks of class + 1 week of finals. - Most students take 4–5 classes per semester - Classes typically include lectures, discussions, labs, or workshops - Assessment includes: Midterms + Final exams or major projects + Regular homework, essays, and participation ✨ In many countries, your grade depends on a final exam. In the U.S., your grade is built throughout the semester—so homework, essays, and even class participation often matter. Not all finals are sit-down exams—many classes end with a presentation or research paper instead. 🧪 3. Grading System - Most U.S. colleges use a GPA scale (0.0–4.0) - Final exams often count for 25–40% of your course grade - The rest comes from midterms, smaller assignments, and engagement A few days before finals, many schools offer a “reading period” with no classes—just time to prep and study. 🏡 4. Dorm Life Most first-year students live on campus, usually sharing a room with one or more roommates. Dorm living includes: - Shared bathrooms, lounges, and laundry rooms - Resident Assistants (RAs) who support students - Meal plans with dining halls - A built-in social life—it can feel like summer camp, but with homework 😄 For many, this is their first taste of independence—while still having support built in.

🔗 Drop your questions & upvote here: https://www.skool.com/the-ivy-wizard-2876/bi-weekly-qa-you-ask-i-answer?p=eb3bae39 Loving all the questions so far! If you haven’t dropped yours yet (or haven’t upvoted your favorites), this is your chance. 💡 🔹 How it works: ✅ Comment ANY college admissions question—extracurriculars, essays, financial aid, UK vs. US, anything! ✅ Upvote (👍) the questions you want answered—even if you didn’t ask them. ✅ The top 3 most-liked questions by Sunday at midnight CET will be covered in the next Q&A video! Got a question? Want to see a great question answered? Get involved now! ☝️

Here are the 8 most upvoted questions from our first bi-weekly Q&A answered 👊 If your question wasn’t covered in the video, don’t worry—I’ve added it to the queue for upcoming written posts 💜 Questions Covered (with Time Stamp ⏳ Total 27 minutes at 1.0x Speed) 1. 💰 Financial Aid: How do we typically apply for financial aid at U.S. universities? (Time 1:38) 2. 💰 Financial Aid: How far can good grades really get you in terms of aid? (Time 6:56) 3. ✍️ Personal Statement: I’m struggling with changing my essay topic—any advice? (Time 8:26) 4. ✍️ Personal Statement: What are some common and less common mistakes students make in essays? (Time 13:30) 5. 🌍 Moving Abroad: How do you apply for a UK & US visa and passport? (Time 15:36) 6. 🌍 Moving abroad: How does moving overseas work? What should students consider? (Time 18:10) 7. 📝 Testing: What’s the process for registering and taking the SAT/ACT as an International / Indian student? (Time 21:13) 8. 📝 Testing: What’s the exam pattern, and how important are scores for Ivy League Admissions? (Time 24:04) 🎯 Questions Added to Queue for Written Posts 📌 Financial Aid: How do you structure letters to financial aid organizations? 📌 Financial Aid: How to create a strong hook for letters? 📌 Relationships: How to handle parental resistance in regard to studying abroad? 📌 Work Life: How does having a job work? 📌 Rec Letters: How do you get compelling recommendation letters? 📌 Rec Letters: Who should you ask, especially if teachers only see you for one academic year? 📌 Application Timeline: When should students register and submit applications to US unis and when do they normally hear back? 📌 Unis in Asia: What’s the process for getting into top Unis in Asia? 📌Stanford: What does it take to stand out among thousands of Stanford applicants?

💡 The U.S. college application process is unique—and with so many moving parts, it’s easy to feel unsure about where (or when!) to start. Some students rush to write their personal statement before they’ve even explored their story or school list, while others wait until the fall of senior year and scramble to meet deadlines. This timeline breaks it down step-by-step 🎯 ⏰ First: Understand the Timeline If you want to start college in Fall 2026, most applications are due between October 2025 – January 2026. That means you’re applying before your final year ends—often with predicted grades if you’re studying outside the U.S. 🧠 Junior Year (Jan–June) ✅ Reflect on your strengths & build an application narrative (see separate post) ✅ Research colleges, majors & requirements ✅ Finalize your SAT/ACT testing (if you haven't already) ✅ Late spring: Brainstorm essay topics for your personal statement ✅ Late spring: Ask teachers for recommendation letters ☀️ Summer Before Senior Year ✅ Finalize school list & timeline (Early vs Regular applications) ✅ Draft & finalize your Common App personal statement ✅ Organize your activities & honors & finalize your list in CommonApp format ✅ Research supplemental essay prompts ✅ Create your application tracker 🍂 Senior Fall (Aug–Oct) ✅ Finalize personal statement & EA/ED supplements ✅ Fill out CommonApp (or other platforms) ✅ Submit Rolling Admission apps if any ✅ Submit UC Application (due Nov 30) ✅ Retake SAT/ACT if needed ❄️ Senior Winter (Nov–Feb) ✅ Submit Early Action / Early Decision apps ✅ Finalize & submit Regular Decision apps ✅ Submit TOEFL/IELTS if required ✅ Apply for external scholarships (often due Oct–Dec) ✅ Complete CSS Profile / FAFSA if applying for aid 🌸 Senior Spring (Mar–May) ✅ Receive decisions 🎉 ✅ Compare offers & financial aid ✅ Attend admitted student events ✅ Accept one offer by May 1 ✅ International students: Apply for student visa 💡 Your Takeaway 📌 U.S. apps are due almost a year early—plan ahead