<p>As a parent, I am confused with the terms sophomore, freshman, junior, senior used in the US. Could someone in India please translate these into the Indian system for me?</p>
<p>Also I see a lot of you applying after 12th. Can one apply after 10th instead? If so are the SAT requirements, etc. the same? Thanks!</p>
<p>Even Im confused about the first part…but for the second part…what exactly do you mean?? Is your child applying to a school or a university in the US. If it is the former…I have no clue 
but if it is the latter, He needs to show that he has cleared all of his 10/11/12th grade exams. If he has done that, with decent scores…I guess its fine for him to apply.</p>
<p>but please do ask for advise elsewhere too. I am no expert in this subject.</p>
<p>As far as I could make out, undergraduate programs have more than one entry point. Some refer to joining university as freshman and others to joining as sophomore. If someone can clarify the terms in the context of Indian education, it would be immensely helpful.</p>
<p>PS: Could you tell me where else I should ask this question?</p>
<p>Ok the undergrad program in US is usually a four year program.</p>
<p>The first year students are called Freshman.
The second year students are called Sophomores.
The third year students are called Juniors.
The fourth year students are called Seniors.</p>
<p>In the US High School system they follow the same pattern.
Class 9 students are called High School Freshmen.
Class 10 students are called HS Sophomores.
Class 11 students are called HS Juniors.
Class 12 students are called HS Seniors.</p>
<p>Also when you finish the second semester of freshman year, there is a about 3 month summer break between the next semester/ year. During these 3 months between the freshman year and sophomore you will be known as a Rising Sophomore. And in the next summer, a rising Junior, and a rising Senior in the subsequent summer.</p>
<p>You apply to college after the 12 grade. And one appears for SATs and ACTs generally from Class 11 onwards.</p>
<p>anialways: Thanks a lot! Your post is crystal clear.</p>
<p>Regarding admissions to college, the first option is to apply as a freshman after class 12. The applications open in August of Class 11 on CommonApp.</p>
<p>But if for some reason either you do your first year college here in India or get admission in a college not high up on your chosen list of colleges, then you can apply for a transfer as a Sophomore to another colleg after he freshman year. Obviously a very good GPA would be recommended for such a transfer.</p>
<p>Also some people are undecided or for lack of funds decide to drop one year between school and college. This is called a gap year. And after gap year one applies as a freshman. During gap year one usually does something productive like internship or teaching to make their applications more meaningful and impressive.</p>
<p>parentind</p>
<p>You are very welcome.</p>
<p>anialways: This is for my son who is not yet in class 10. I posted the previous question as I wanted to get some idea of when to prepare for college. I was under the mistaken impression that one can apply after class 10.</p>
<p>Would it be possible for you to give me some sort of a timeline on when to do the various activities for admission at a US university.? How many attempts of SAT should I prepare for? Also I understand there are some other tests that we have to take.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot. You have already been of great help.</p>
<p>There’s a thread on the India forum which gives you a timeline of sorts. Here it is: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/1413006-all-new-applicants-process-timeline.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/1413006-all-new-applicants-process-timeline.html</a></p>
<p>As for the SAT, it is probably a good idea to write it when you’re still in 11th so you have time for improvement if necessary. Maybe October of 11th grade?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>parentind, it is possible to enter college early if one qualifies. A few universities have some form of early entrance program which admit students as early as after 7th std. Housing is an issue with early entrance. They have to stay with parents or guardians before they reach 16 or 17. </p>
<p>Admission process for early entrance (before 10th std) is somewhat different and varies depending on the university. They require reasonably good scores in standardized tests (ACT 32+ or equivalent) and go through a formal interview process. Hoagie’s Gifted Education page has many pointers if you are interested. </p>
<p>Applying to college after 11th is not uncommon and they are treated like normal applicants.</p>
<p>Thanks ChubbyCheeks. No, my son is no child prodigy. I guess I better go the usual route. :)</p>
<p>anialways: Didn’t realize that it was Khione (Thanks, Khione) and not you who sent the link. But what an exceptional thread! I appreciate your effort. I spent the past few hours reading it.</p>
<p>In there you mention about the IB Diploma that your daughter took. My son is right now in ICSE and I am now wondering if I should send him to one of the International Schools in Bangalore after his 10th since only they seem to have the IB Diploma. My question is what happens if the US option doesn’t work out and he has to seek admission in India. Is the IB Diploma well accepted for admission to a regular college in India?</p>
<p>Thanks once again.</p>
<p>You’re welcome :)</p>
<p>I believe IB is usually accepted for college admission in India (I’m not an authority on the subject, though; this is just hearsay). And depending on what your son wants to study, it could complicate things. For example, if he wants to do engineering, admission is mostly based on entrance exams, which will be held in April and May. Similarly for medicine. But IB final exams will be in May, so that could cause a conflict. </p>
<p>On the other hand, US colleges love to see an IB curriculum on the student’s resume because it is very rigorous and generally produces very well-rounded students.</p>
<p>Attending IB just to improve chances of US UG admissions is tricky. You want an IB progam because you like that (and you can afford it). As Khione says, it is “very rigorous”. @parentind – you might want to see the IB/ISC/CBSE thread.</p>
<p>In the current JEE regime (for the IITs), IB is bordering on the suicidal.</p>
<p>parenting</p>
<p>Was travelling so was unable to respond to your queries. Am back home and will try to address your questions now. Give me a day or two to settle in. Had gone to US to look up my D as she landed an internship in NY and was unable to come home. I had as many queries as you have when we started our prep for our D. So I can empathise and connect.</p>
<p>Would like to once again thank anialways and Khione for your insightful replies. Thank you antialias and ChubbyCheeks too.</p>
<p>Firstly I must point out that I am a bit early into this. My son is now in 7th and my initial post was driven by my misunderstanding that he could get admission into a college in the US after class 10. Now since I know that is not true, it appears I have 6 years left.</p>
<p>Also my initial post was also driven by the fact that I am starting to get apprehensive about my son’s education. Up until now I was a happy-go-lucky parent, but now the competitiveness of the Indian education system is beginning to get to me. This is coupled by the fact that my son is average in studies & extracurricular activities and lacks ambition. He is generally an affable and content guy.</p>
<p>Could students in this forum please tell me at what age you started thinking of a career?</p>
<p>It appears to me that my son will most probably not take the engineering or medical streams that those in India usually aspire for. He would most probably end up in Arts, Commerce or Science. If he were to choose one of these, I think it may be better to study in the US since he is a US citizen and most universities there have multiple tracks and an open curriculum. In this way, he may also escape the brutal admission system in India where I don’t think it will be that easy getting into say a good Science or Arts college.</p>
<p>Sincerely appreciate your thoughts on this.</p>
<p>Anialways: Was looking into the IB Diploma and all the IB (International) schools in Bangalore seem to be in the outskirts and a fair drive away from where we reside. Instead I am thinking of letting my son continue with ISC in his ICSE school so that he is in familiar surroundings and can prepare for SAT, etc. Instead of IB, I am thinking of getting him to take some AP exams. Does this sound like a good idea?</p>
<p>PS: From what I could make out, in case my son does want to take up Engineering it appears he can take the Karnataka CET as it has a residency requirement but no citizenship requirement.</p>
<p>@parentind I am going through the 1st year of preparation for US study(a.k.a. 11th Grade), and am going through the ISC + SAT I, II, AP route. Many of the students here on CC India forums have taken this route and as you can hear from them that they have got excellent results. Try to get your son enrolled in one of the “feeder” schools like DPS, where applying to US Universities is the norm, and Best of Luck!</p>
<p>anishbasu: Than you for your reply. I really appreciate it. However I believe DPS is CBSE and I think ICSE to CBSE would be a change my son would find difficult. He already has one learning disability.</p>
<p>Since you seem to be young and also because I have a desperate need to reassure myself, could you please let me know what career you are looking for and what age you felt it?</p>
<p>It is very common for many to realize their desired career very late - sometimes, after their college degree!</p>
<p>For a more clear example, I love sciences and a few engineering disciplines too. I am still not sure about my ONE LOVE. Maybe I’ll discover it while in college or at least I hope to!</p>
<p>You can’t love anything (or anyone:p) without actually knowing about/experiencing it. To find out your son’s passion, first ask him what his basic interests are. Compile a list of the possible majors he would love. Make him aware of what a certain field can offer him and ask him if that is what he want. Don’t talk to him about “this brings this much money or respect” kinda things. Talk to him about which major would make him feel fulfilled.</p>
<p>As a student who is diving into an ocean with big dreams and ambitions, I feel that this is the right approach!</p>
<p>Thank you, hopingforbetter! I am open-minded but wouldn’t want to see him diving off a cliff. I like your approach. I will try it.</p>
<p>I faced this problem in the past with the US though. They seem to believe that one is determined to pursue a career path at a very young age. I have difficulty reconciling myself to this.</p>