Well, 1 thing that you can do is to start planning for what you want to do or where you want to go in a few years time!
Here is a checklist of things which you will have to do en route your college admissions:
1. Do the SAT/IELTS/whatever standardized tests you need
2. Collate your academic portfolio
3. Come up with a list of extracurriculars which mean the most to you
4. Shortlist schools that you want to apply for
5. Write personalized statements/essays
6. Shortlist scholarships that you want to apply for
So let's go through each one before we do a summary of your timeline.
1. I am not so sure about the other standardized tests as I have never taken them but I will talk about the SAT.
Collegeboard holds the SAT on the 1st Saturday of October, November, December, January, May and June in various testing centres in Singapore (such as ACJC, St Francis Methodist School, etc). You have to sign up for them yourself, our school does not make it mandatory for you to take it.
From the collegeboard website: http://www.collegeboard.com
The SAT is compulsory for you to apply to most US colleges. There are 2 types of SAT: The SAT reasoning test (SAT I) or the SAT subject tests (SAT II). You cannot take the SAT I and SAT II in the same sitting, but you can take multiple SAT IIs (up to a maximum of 3) in 1 sitting. Again most universities require 2-3 SAT IIs so it's always good to do 3.
Dont take the SAT last minute because you never know if you want to take it again and you want to be in time for the scores to be sent to the colleges! Since the deadline of college applications are typically on 31/12 or 1/1 the following year, December is the last SAT score sitting that they will accept.
I would recommend that you do your SAT I from June/October in year 5. If you dont like the result, give it a period before you take it again, because you might want to re-evaluate the way that you have been preparing before you waste that ~$100.
For SAT II, most colleges expect a math SAT among the 3 that you take. Math I or Math II? Take math II - and you shouldnt do too badly in it. For the other 2 subject tests, given that you are in a math and science school I think chemistry, physics or biology would be easy. If you dont know whether to choose physics or biology, I'd say physics because physics has a gentler curve - i.e. easier to do well because there is more room for error.
When to take it? Math II is simple math, chemistry covers things that are slightly easier than AP syllabus and biology covers things that are less detailed (I didnt say easier, I said less detailed) than the AP biology syllabus. Physics covers concepts that are simpler than Physics B syllabus. So taking it during your AP month would be ideal because you are already studying for AP anyway. Trust me, taking it in October or November means that your studying level is not as high as May and you dont do as well. You shouldnt need to take SAT II more than once...or twice.
Of course you can choose to take other subjects, it's up to you. Don't bother taking Chinese if you are thinking of that because everyone who takes it gets 800 and you have your O level results anyway which are more valuable.
Biology E or M? Take M if you are good in your cell biology, take E if you are good in ecology. If you are good in both, I would say take M because the options are more clearcut whereas in Biology E the options can be vague at times and you may get confused.
Dont think that the environment and mock tests dont mean anything. The 1st time you take SAT I, you will find that after a while you can get very tired and unfocused because it's 4 hours of testing with intermittent breaks. Get used to it! Bring a jacket or sweater if you think you will need it, biscuits, buns, etc. The school you choose as your testing centre matters too! Proximity is often the 1st consideration, but different schools have different 'styles' of conducting SATs. For example, ACJC conducts it in a hall (with everyone taking it together), while St. Francis holds it in air conditioned classrooms - if that makes a difference to you.
Time required for SAT: 2 mornings of your time. SAT I will be from 8 (reporting time) to about 1, while SAT II will be from 8 - 12 assuming you take 3 tests on that day.
2. Collate your academic portfolio.
This means that you have to have on hand the following:
a) Overall CAP
b) Subject CAPs
c) Standardized test scores (SAT, APs, Chinese/Higher Chinese O Levels, IELTs, BMAT, etc)
d) Modules taken, subject combination
So ideally you have your transcript at hand and your progress reports. However when you apply for college you wouldnt have graduated so you wouldnt have your final transcript, so you will need to get your results from the college counsellors.
3. Coming up with a list of extracurriculars.
Most colleges want to see that you are not just an exam smart person, so be prepared to think of some activities to show that you have a passion for something else (e.g. sports, music) other than studying. What motivates you?
4. Shortlist schools you want to apply for
Already mentioned in other post. Check out the choosing a school label.
5. Essays and statements
Yes this is the most *^(@$%!@* of your application. Start EARLY. What are the advantages to starting early?
a) You get more time to make modifications
Dont assume that just because your english is good you dont need the extra time because your essay will be good. Similarly, dont assume that just because your english standard is bad your essay will be bad. Since your essay is not graded on language proficiency but on the impression it gives to the reader, you will want to write the essay with all your heart and thought. I know of people who made up to 20 drafts, and yes, I had about 10 drafts before I finalized my essay. Every sentence makes a difference, especially when you have a character limit.
So when do you start? As early as possible. I started in June. There are often > 1 essays to write, so you will need a lot of time to make sure all of them really reflect who you are! Remember, you = your essay, not your essay = you.
You can write about anything at all, from what inspires you, to what you like, your favourite holiday, etc. The best advice that I can give (from Mr. Allan to me and now from me to you) is to show, not tell. Meaning instead of saying "I am a cheerful person" say "There is always a smile on my face" or something like that.
b) When you start early you end early, and you can submit your application early. Admission officers read your application the moment it comes in as they have lots more to read as time passes. When college admissions officers read your application first, lesser people have submitted their applications then, which means that they have more time to look at your application as compared to if you submit it last minute.
I submitted my Stanford application 1 month early, if you want to know.
c) You never know what you might need to add to your essay last minute. Maybe you came across an essay that gave you more inspiration than your current one. Etc. More time, again.
Get as many people to read your essay as possible, but take each comment with a pinch of salt. You'd be surprised at the variety of comments - the trick is to have a good balance because you dont know how your admission officer will think. I had someone telling me that a particular line is the crux of my essay and it made the whole essay funny. Another person, however, told me that line made me sound pompous and arrogant. Another person told me that line was unnecessary. Etc.
Ultimately it's your essay so you have to make the decision on what you want to retain and what you want to cut. I eventually decided to leave that line as it is.
6. Shortlist scholarships - I will talk about it another day.
So this is what your timeline should look like:
June, Year 5 - shortlist schools and scholarships
June - December Year 5 - take SATs
1st half of year 6 - take SATs
June Year 6 - start on essay
June - October Year 6 - Collate academic portfolio and extracurriculars
October - November Year 6 - Finalize applications and nitty-gritty, SUBMIT!
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