Since there are quite a few university fairs coming up, I thought i'd write a short note on how to make the best of the opportunities.

Ideally this would apply to anyone at all, but realistically speaking people only get really into the process nearing the applications (just like the A Levels).

So if you still have 2 (even 3) years to go before you apply, take it as a kick start to the process. At these fairs you will meet admissions officers from the schools and most of the time, Singaporeans who are studying there currently. They will be able to give you the inside scoop on the life, academics and other issues like lodging and activities or special programmes like study abroad, joint degrees or research programmes.

For people who are into the process right now, this is a very special opportunity to get the fine details that will help you:

1) Choose the school you want to spend a very significant 3/4 years of your life, if you get accepted at more than one of these schools

2) Get a clear view of the admissions process specific to the schools you're applying to. You'll want to do this so that you can prepare as best you can, especially when it comes to things like taking tests or getting school recommendations when its not totally in your control.

     - How many SAT IIs do I need to take? Which subjects?

     - Do I need to send full transcripts i.e. prelim and promo grades, or would the A/O Level cert suffice? (If they don't need the prelim/promos and you didn't get relatively good results then you can safely keep them at home :)

     - Can TOEFL be waived if I get above a certain result on the SAT I Verbal Section? What about A level English grades?

     - Does the university hold places for deferment due to military obligations?

3) Find out as much as you can about these schools, and take notes, because they will form an important part of your application, especially for US universities. A substantial amount of knowledge about the school is important if you are to come up with a good/competitive application because there will be "What in particular about Yale has influenced your decision to apply? Please limit your response to the space provided.", "What makes Stanford a special place for you?", "Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why?" and "Tell us about the academic areas that interest you most and your reasons for applying to Brown." questions.

Meeting with current students:

You'll be able to get a feel of what it's like there, at the same time, try to get beneath the surface issues that most people tend to talk about when describing their school. (Oh yeah Stanford has great weather, you can sunbathe and study on the lawns everyday!)

     - Special programmes, or what the school is known for (Penn's Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Programme or other Joint degrees, Princeton's Operations Research & Financial Engineering (ORFE) - engineering for business, commerce, and industry etc.)

     - Anything peculiar about the school's admission's process

     - What courses are they taking, their activities, do they double major, how's the place like - no cinemas for miles or right smack in the city?

     - You could ask them about their most memorable activities (building wheelchairs in Africa, trekking etc.) and perhaps significant school traditions.

     - Many of these people are scholars so you could also ask them about it.

Not everything they tell you will be relevant to your specific interests, but they will help you build on the impression that you get from friends, the website and other guides. The thing about us here is that few will get the chance to fly to the US or UK to get a real feel of the schools we apply to, so this truly is a valuable resource. Also, don't just take one person's word for it, although some traits and experiences are common to everyone, most people will have unique experiences so speak to a few people if you have the chance. Get the contacts of these people (their emails usually) - you may want to send them a simple thank you note and ask if you can send them any questions when you need help further down the road.