Year after year, we encourage students who plan to study abroad to begin the application process early. When we say early, we mean in “seconde” or “première”. Students dreaming of studying in an English-speaking institution that requires the SAT/ACT or TOEFL must understand that the earlier they began to prepare for these exams the better. By starting early students also have time to re-take the exam if they do not meet their desired results. In reality, “terminale” is much too challenging a year for a student to also have time to focus on these tests.
In the French higher education system, most universities will accept a student when they have successfully completed the Bac even with a “passable” result. North American universities or colleges in addition to the Bac will probably ask for 2-3 years of “ relevè de notes”. For this reason, we urge students to understand that merely completing the Bac with a “passable” is not enough to be admitted to their first choice university. Students should focus on earning good results throughout secondary school.
Starting early may not guarantee 100% success however it can provide students with the time needed to work efficiently towards the desired results.