How to balance HSC with applications

The most important part is to start early. This allows you to do a lot of school research, standardised testing preparations, and write essays in a timeline that doesn’t clash with your HSC studies.

Here’s the timeline I had when preparing for overseas applications:

Year 9 - Confirm interest in applying overseas

-        Start casually researching schools and options of standardised testing via different resources 

-        Start discussing studying overseas with your parents---make sure they’re okay with it!

-        Look at extracurricular and leadership options at school, and set short term and long term goals (e.g. have one leadership role every year and be a prefect by year 12)

-        Research extracurricular options outside of school (E.g. summer school, competitions, volunteering), and have a list of ones you are interested in pursuing

-        Think about potential majors and year 10, 11, and 12 subject selection choices

-        Learn about the different styles of UK and US universities, and decide if you want to apply to just one country, or both.

Year 10: Start executing the plans

-        Work on the extracurricular activities you’ve identified interests in

-        Start preparing for standardised exams (e.g SATs). Try to take the exam at least once by the end of the year.

-        Look more into and prepare for leadership opportunities at Pymble.

Year 11: Continue executing the plans

-        Study and finish completing your standardised exams with a mark that (hopefully) falls in the target range of your schools. Tip: Learn more about retaking SATS here

-        Finalise list of universities you are applying to. 

-        Focus on building good supportive relationships with teachers, consider who to ask for recommendation letters.

-        Start brainstorming a topic for Common App essay.

Year 12: Writing the applications

-        February to May: start writing extracurricular and awards list for Common App, ask teachers to write recommendation letters

-        June to July: Finish Common App Essay and UCAS essay

-        August to September: write supplementary essay to REA, ED and EA schools.

-        August-October: prepare for HSC.

-        November-December: Finish admissions (especially for University of California) essays and all supplementary essays for other RD schools.