US Universities Application Handbook
November 2020
Contents Introduction Recommended timeline OHs studying in the US
1 1
Why apply to the USA? Flexibility Liberal arts curriculum Teaching style College life International experience for the job market Is a US education right for you? Is the US college life right for you? How should you start preparing for a US application?
3 3 4 4 5 6 6 6
Funding a US education Costs Financial Aid Need based aid Merit based aid Sports Scholarship and Recruitment
8 8 9 9 10
Admissions decisions What do admissions teams want to see?
12
The application process Researching institutions Which factors are important for you? Liberal arts colleges Further considerations
15 16 17 17
The application Application components Early Action and Early Decision Common App and supplementary essays Recommendations/references Alumni interviews
20 20 21 23 24
Admissions tests The ACT The SAT SAT or ACT? When to take the tests How to register SAT test dates
26 26 27 28 28 28
ACT test dates Cost Access arrangements Tutoring
28 29 29 29
Planning your journey Year 11 Year 12 Year 13
30 30 30
Useful Publications
31
Introduction The aim of this handbook is to give you a general idea of what the US education system has to offer, the application process, and the factors you should consider when deciding whether to apply. There is a huge amount of research to undertake if you are to be successful in your application, which is equivalent in terms of time and work to an additional A Level.
Recommended timeline Years 10* and 11
Discover and develop co-curricular interests and community service *Note please that Year 10 marks are the earliest ones US schools consider
Year 12 – Winter
Begin studying for the SAT or ACT
Year 12 – Spring
Take the SAT/ACT
Year 12 - Summer
Take any required/recommended SAT Subject Tests (SAT IIs)
Year 12 - Summer
Begin drafting a Common App Personal Statement & supplements for your schools
Year 13 - Autumn
OPTIONAL: Take SAT/ACT again (if desired)
Year 13 - Autumn
Finalise Common App / apply early (if applicable)
Year 13 - Winter
Apply to universities by respective deadlines
Year 13 – Winter/Spring
Interviews/campus visits (if applicable)
Year 13 - Spring
Receive offers, usually in March/April. You must make a choice by 1 May.
OHs studying in the US NAME
GRADUATED FROM HABS
UNIVERSITY
Tim Duschenes
2013
Rhode Island School of Design
Jared Baker
2013
University of California, Berkeley
Efe Uwaifo
2013
Harvard University
Zak Burns
2013
Columbia University
Will Aldred
2014
University of California, Berkeley
Jake Sacks
2014
University of California, Los Angeles
Ben Stelzer
2014
University of California, Berkeley
Christopher Combemale
2015
University of North Carolina
Adam Gozdanker
2017
University of Chicago 1
Jacob Shaw
2018
UCLA
Aryaman Jhunjhunwala
2019
University of California, Berkeley
Ishan Gandhi
2019
University of California, Stanford
Tamilore Awosile
2019
University of California, Stanford
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Why apply to Schools in the USA? There are a number of reasons it might make sense to apply to schools in the US: Increased flexibility, broad curricula, different teaching and assessment styles, and a different campus atmosphere. Early on, you should consider if you are the type of student who might thrive in an American college or University.
Flexibility Relative to the UK, American degrees allow for a much more flexible, interdisciplinary approach. A US degree is generally four years long, and you do not specialize normally until the end of your second year. Even then, you will have time to take classes in other fields, and indeed this is encouraged. Your field, known as your “major” will thus be enriched by all the different departments and disciplines you have encountered thus far. Note that because it is not chosen for the first two years, you do not need to apply with an intended major—it neither hurts your application if you do not list one, nor helps your application if you do. Engineering can be an exception to this rule, in which students often have to choose a field by the end of their first year. Even so, the priority on flexibility throughought the US means that changing your major later on is always possible.
Liberal arts curriculum Many schools in the US are described as “Liberal arts schools,” which means the emphasis is on interdisciplinary learning and critical thinking. These schools prioritize breadth of knowledge as well as depth, training their students in science, humanities, and arts so that they might better understand the world around them. This is in addition to choosing a major and producing research in your area of specialty. Often, this looks like “general education requirements” which are the generic term for a college’s set of required course types. It may be as specific as “all students must take this class on world literature in their first fall semester,” or as broad as “all students must take a science by the time they graduate.” Please note that this will likely require you to begin a brand new subject. The amount of choice students have varies greatly from one institution to another. However, most universities do offer courses that cater toward varied interests and levels of prior learning. That is to say, if you really don’t want to do math, you can 3
likely satisfy a quantitative reasoning course with something else—coding, perhaps, or astronomy. In addition to a major (your area of focus), many schools will allow you to have a “minor” as well. This is essentially a field that you have taken a number of classes in, but not at the level of your major. You might take 10 classes in Economics, and then six in English Literature, so you could declare Econ your major and English your minor. This system allows people to explore interests that are different from their major. At some schools you can also “double major” which is exactly what it sounds like: fitting two majors’ requirements in your courseload. This may or may not be to your advantage. Students with strong multi-disciplinary interests may find rewarding, others would prefer to use their time to focus on one thing.
Teaching style University teaching in the United States emphasizes contact hours above all else. The goal for most schools is to reduce class sizes, so that you can have fruitful conversations with faculty members. Many schools require office hours, that is, they require professors to be in their office for a certain number of hours per week, doing nothing other than fielding student questions and conversing with them. Certainly there will be lectures as well, but generally far fewer than in the UK. Seminars, or discussions, are more common, and they are compulsory. The model in the UK is based on independent study, with attending class usually not seen as quite as important as learning the material on your own. In the US, you absolutely must attend class and contribute to the discussions—often around 10-14 hours per week of class. This makes the US a good place to go if you enjoy debate, or working through a reading as a group, because you will get better marks the better you are at this. If you’re the kind of person who really just wants to go off and learn the material and show up only for the exam, you will likely struggle at US schools.
College life US schools also differ in their residential aspects. At many schools, the majority of students live on campus, and at some schools, students are required to. This creates a type of close-knit culture that some love, and others do not—again, things to think about before deciding to apply. Co-curriculars are also extremely important in American schools. There are often three tiers of athletic teams, lots of opportunities to join classical or jazz ensembles, theatre clubs, debate and political societies, and 4
dozens more. This is a part of why your co-curricular involvement is so important to admission officers. They want to see that when you attend their school, you will contribute to their co-curricular life.
International experience for the job market Employers are increasingly interested in and indeed favour applicants who offer an international study or work experience. International students in the US have the opportunity to gain work experience during their studies and, through the Optional Practical Training Scheme, to work in the US for up to one or two years after graduation, depending upon their major. There exist very active alumni networks at US universities which help students find internships and employment.
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Is a US education right for you? Only you can decide if you would thrive in the US education system. Reading the above points, consider it carefully. You should spend some time preparing for the admissions tests – the SAT or ACT (see the recommended timeline on page 1). By Year 12, you will have already covered virtually all of the content on the tests, however, it may take some time to adjust to the test’s format. Take a practice test early on, and use it as a diagnostic: see how you did, what areas went well/badly, and how you can improve next time. In the US, undergraduate medicine and law is generally not offered – nor, indeed, when it is offered, do medical or law schools normally want you to have taken it. You are usually recommended to find a related discipline, like chemistry or biology for medicine, and politics or history for law. In the US there is more emphasis on continuous assessment than on end-of-year exams. You will need organisational skills in order to keep up with weekly problem sets/papers midterms, and finals. While it is generally possible to switch institutions without restarting, it is still very difficult to do this at the more selective universities. Therefore, it is important to do your research on your prospective university/programme of study before you matriculate.
Is the US college life right for you? Above all, keep in mind that this is your chance to be independent. To travel to a new country, make new friends, and experience a very different part of the world. Many people who study internationally attribute their confidence, skill at handling different circumstances, and wider circle of friends and colleagues to that decision.
How should you start preparing for a US application? Ultimately, the heart of any college application is your marks, that is, what you have attained in the classes you attend. You should begin preparing in Year 10, since those are the first set of grades admission officers care about. Begin honing your academic interests, and start to develop relationships with your teachers (so that they can eventually write you strong letters of recommendation).
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In terms of academics, it is recommended that you take four A Levels, preferably in four different subjects (although this is not a requirement). Please bear in mind that US universities are extremely familiar with the way course selection works in the UK school system and will take this into consideration when reviewing your application. After making the decision to apply to the US you have a great deal of research to do. There are thousands of higher education institutions in USA and countless differences among them. Almost no single statement can be generalized even across a random sampling of 10 colleges in the US. You may choose your short list based on academic programs offered, campus location, a sports program you wish to join, etc. In order to gauge your chances of receiving an offer, you should visit each university’s website and look at sections like “Admissions Statistics” and “Student/Freshman/Class Profile,” although bear in mind that these are necessarily misleading, and always skewed by outliers. You should create a list of prospective universities that can be placed into three categories for you: “reach,” “target,” and “safety” schools. Safety schools are those from which you are quite certain you will receive an offer (i.e. your A Level predictions and standardised test scores will be in higher than the average listed for that school). Target schools are those from which you are somewhat likely receive an offer (your A Levels and standardised test scores will be in the 50-75th percentile range). Reach schools are the highest level of competitive institutions where you simply cannot predict whether or not you’ll get in. (e.g. the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc) In general, you should aim for between two to four of each, for a total of six to 12 schools that you eventually apply to. If your schedule allows, it is a wonderful idea to visit campuses before applying. Most institutions offer an information session and a student-lead campus tour almost every working day of the week and sometimes you can even sit in on classes. Many universities offer virtual tours on their websites. At the very least, you should visit a university (on a “preview weekend” in the Spring) before accepting any offers. Every US school is different, and sometimes the only way to know if you’ll feel at home there is by spending a few hours on site. Some universities also host summer schools you can attend in Year 11 or Lower Sixth Form to give you a taster of what it might be like to study there.
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Funding a US Education A student holding a US passport can claim aid from the federal and state government. A student without US citizenship often looks at a very expensive US education without financial aid.
Costs At the top private universities, annual tuition fees are around $40,000 and the annual cost of attendance, which includes accommodation and expenses, can be as much as $60,000. Tuition fees tend to be lower at the public universities, averaging around $20,000. Individual university websites provide average figures as well as information on financial aid options and how to apply for aid.
Financial Aid Financial aid is available to international students at many top-level institutions. It may be in the form of grants for those who cannot meet the financial requirement, meritbased scholarships for gifted and talented students, work-study programmes, tuition waivers, loans or combinations of any of these. You must thoroughly research what form of aid you may be entitled to before embarking on the lengthy application process. A few useful websites are: http://www.fulbright.org.uk/study-in-the-usa/undergraduate-study/funding http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-listcollege/articles/2015/09/24/10-universities-that-offer-international-students-themost-aid http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/admissions-advice/guide-need-blindadmission-us-universities
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Need-based aid US universities fall into two camps regarding need-based aid: need-blind and needaware. Need-blind At time of writing, five of the most competitive institutions, Amherst, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Yale make their admissions decisions without taking into account an applicant’s financial situation. If they decide to admit a student they will cover any cost they think necessary for that student to be able to attend their institution. There is a trend towards more need-blind admissions, so this list will likely grow. Need-aware These institutions assess an admission application with an awareness of the applicant’s ability to pay. They have a certain amount of funding available to assist international students who cannot afford to pay full fees. Funding is limited, and the amount available varies from institution to institution. Given the limits on funding, competition in this need-based pool of international applicants is extremely high. How need is calculated The institutions base their decision on your family’s income and assets and how much demand is being made on family income from other dependents e.g. your siblings. An applicant from a lowincome family may well find that a US education costs less than a UK education. Higher earning families, for example earning over £80,000, may well find that very little aid is available and large adjustments will have to be made to their lifestyle if they are to be able to fund their child’s education. Of course, institutions with very large endowment funds, e.g. Harvard and Princeton can afford to be more generous. Many institutions provide a financial aid calculator via their website.
Merit-based aid Merit-based aid is awarded to an applicant who has proved a particular skill, talent or achievement. The aid may be in the form of a full scholarship or a specific monetary
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amount. Some institutions do not award merit-based aid to international students and some, particularly the Ivy League institutions, do not offer it to any student. Merit-based scholarships are, naturally, very competitive and there are far fewer available for international students. Some institutions offer students at the top of the academic pool a gesture amount, for example $5,000-$15,000 per annum. To be considered for the ‘full-ride’ or other significant merit scholarships, applicants will have to not only exceed academically but also demonstrate qualities such as leadership and contribution to their community, perhaps overcoming obstacles and challenges. Examples of the most competitive ‘full-ride’ scholarships include: Morehead-Cain Scholarship, University of North Carolina: http://www.moreheadcain.org/ Jefferson Scholarship, University of Virginia: http://www.jeffersonscholars.org/ Robertson Scholarship, Duke University: http://robertsonscholars.org/
Sports Scholarships and Recruitment Sports scholarships are extremely competitive but do depend on which sport you offer and to which institution you wish to apply. For sports in which the US excel, you may well find that your being on the national UK team is not enough to secure you an offer. To see if you stand a realistic chance you must research the institution’s current team and compare your own performance. From as early as Year 11, you can contact coaches directly. Coaches have set rules, laid down by the NCAA as to how and when they can engage with applicants they would be interested in recruiting, but this should not dissuade you from introducing yourself to them early. Send coaches a CV of your sporting achievements and references from your present coach/es. Make a video of yourself playing the sport as well as a blog so that your performance can be seen. You might wish to employ a sports agency to approach universities on your behalf. Sports scholarships tend to be renewable for each year of study. Division One institutions may offer full scholarships and Division Two part scholarships. Division Three institutions do not offer them. To find out which institutions are represented in which divisions for certain sports, visit www.ncaa.com and http://www.fulbright.org.uk/study-in-the-usa/undergraduate-study/funding/sportsscholarships 10
Any scholarship must be written into the contract. Applicants should never rely on a verbal agreement or even a letter from a coach. The Ivy League does not offer sports scholarships. However, their coaches may recruit applicants onto their varsity teams, which makes chances of admission more likely; however, you must still prove that you are academically able. The admissions team, not a coach, will always make the final decision whether or not to make you an offer.
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How Admissions Decisions Are Made Admissions teams take a holistic approach when reviewing applications. It is not enough to have an excellent school record and excellent SAT/ACT scores. The top institutions expect to see these results, and are looking for more. It is very important to appreciate that you are not applying for a particular course but to a particular institution. What that institution wants to know is what you are going to bring to it. You will have to be able to convingly argue: Why did you choose to apply to that specific institution and what are you offering which they want? It is vital to understand that most US universities want to admit as diverse a student body as possible, not just in terms of race, ethnicity and socio-economic status but also in terms of demographics and personal interests. Schools also do not have quotas. Universities like to have as many US states and foreign countries represented in their entering class as possible. You have to have more than an excellent academic performance, though that is the minimum requirement. You have to want to push back intellectual limits, and learn for the sake of learning. Do not be the “Why are we doing this? Is this on the exam?” learner, but the “This is interesting, where can I find out more?” learner. What is more, you have to have a profile that fits that particular institution. Quite unlike the UK universities, the US institutions are looking for students who will fit into their ethos while being happy and successful. An applicant who applies to, for example, all eight Ivy League schools is proving that he has not done enough research, because the schools are totally distinct in terms of personality and culture, and no human being would actually consider themselves a good fit at all of them.
What do admissions teams want to see? 1. High Academic achievement A history of excellent achievement in GCSE, AS, A Level predictions and in the SAT/ACT admissions test is expected. However, this is not always enough; students with 100% in the admissions tests are rejected every year by the top institutions. Admission is less a reward for what you have achieved to date than a belief and an investment in what you will do in the future.
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2. Extra-curricular passion The US institutions want to admit a diverse range of students who will take advantage of all that is offered on campus. They want to see genuine, long term commitment on your part and true passion for something outside the walls of the classroom. They want to know that your passionate interest is going to add value to their institution. Attending a few lunchtime meetings of a particular in-school society, however worthwhile it may have been and however much you may have enjoyed it, or taking up an activity just for your US application is not going to impress. The obvious examples are sports, drama, music, debating, etc, but note that extracurriculars are not just school-based; you can show initiative by participating in a club, sport, religious group, or volunteer opportunity outside of school (something that is not organised by Habs). A part time job is an extracurricular. Taking care of a sibling is an extracurricular. Anything that you are putting hours into is an extracurricular, and as long as you can demonstrate passion, interest, skills, and leadership, no one extracurricular is inherently better than another. The student who captains a football team and the student who works a part time job to support his family are both considered to have exceptional extra-curriculars. Admissions teams also like to see applicants having distinguished themselves as leaders within their co-curricular activities, school, or wider community. This might be demonstrated by becoming serving as a member of student council, the captain of a sports team, or a prefect. Intellectual curiosity Similar to the UK application process, you must demonstrate intellectual curiosity. This means reading beyond your A Level syllabus, making the most of extra-curricular opportunities in school but also seeking out external lectures and events which genuinely interest you. You should be up-to-date with current affairs related to your interests. You should be an engaged and engaging personality, enthusiastic, pro-active. If you like to take shortcuts, if you prefer to be given an answer rather than find it out for yourself, the US educational system is not for you. Think back to the assignments you enjoyed most in class. If it was things that really challenged you to think, maybe in a different way from what you were used to, definitely apply to the US. If what you prefer is simply copying off the board and then later regurgitating, you will find it extremely hard to succeed in a US school.
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Remember that your teachers at Habs will have to provide recommendations letters (references) for you. They will not say you are someone you are not!
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The Application Process The application process for US universities can be somewhat time consuming. If you want to research your options properly and put in a good application to several institutions, commit to spending a few hours per week on applications. Of the 4000+ degree-granting institutions in the USA, there are arguably at least 200 well- regarded, as opposed to arguably 20-30 in the UK. I t therefore takes a f a i r a m o u n t o f time to research where you wou ld want to apply. Although you have a vast number of choices the best advice is to apply to no more than 10 or 12 to ensure you submit plausible applications. Above all, please remember that US schools are not ‘tiered’ so much as they are distinct. Is Amherst or Princeton a better school? It’s a meaningless question, as they are aiming to do totally different things for totally different students. Your goal should be in trying to find the RIGHT school for you, leave aside all questions of the ‘best’ or ‘better’ schools. If you hold any stock in rankings, go and look up how ‘top schools’ rankings are produced. When you see that, far from being a magic pronouncement on how good a skill it is, rankings are calculated in a very obviously silly and unhelpful way, you will probably find yourself unable to take rankings seriously for the rest of your life.
Researching Institutions http://www.princetonreview.com/ http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges http://www.fiskeguide.com/ http://www.petersons.com https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org https://www.thoughtco.com/choosing-the-perfect-college-786979
It is not the right approach to apply to the US as a sort of back up should you not get into Oxbridge or another top Russell Group university. It is evident from OH experience that students who treat the application process i n this way will tend to not receive offers. OHs who have applied just to the Ivy League and other competitive universities have occasionally been left with nothing. Although it is the case that US universities do not have minimum entry requirements in the same way that UK institutions do, tens of thousands of students with similar academic results and co-curricular involvement might be competing for fewer than 2,000 places. It is arguably much more of a lottery than Oxbridge, as outstanding academic achievement is not enough. The former Dean of Admissions at Princeton used to say that they could admit 15
seven or eight equally strong classes every year, but because of space restrictions, they only admit one. Please keep in mind that the vast majority of people rejected were NOT not good enough, but simply did not fit into that year’s class. When you are drawing up your list of where to apply ask yourself “Why this institution?”, because you will usually be asked that on the Common App form. If all you can come up with as an answer is “Because it is world-renowned/because I will get a good job at the end of it”, then you seriously need to revisit your answer. While most applicants are familiar with the Ivy League, there are many excellent institutions in the US which are just as good if not better. Remember: find the RIGHT school for you. https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-universityrankings/2018#sorting=rank+region=+country=+faculty=+stars=false+search=
*2,400 four-year colleges *1,400 ‘ranked’ colleges *Private (e.g. Stanford, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, North Carolina, William and Mary, Tufts, Rice) *Public (e.g. UC Berkeley, UCLA, Florida State) *Technical Colleges (e.g. MIT, Caltech) *Liberal Arts Colleges (e.g. Vassar and Bowdoin)
Which factors are important for you? Public vs private, large vs small student body, rural vs urban location (and distance from the UK!), campus culture – these are all fators to consider. See below for a comparison of private and public universities in the US: Private
Public
Size
Usually under 10,000 Could be 30,000+ students students. Usually smaller Often more course/majors class sizes. on offer.
Funding
Privately funded and Regulated by State managed. Big endowment Assembly. Restricted on funds and very good at how they spend funds. raising funds. Large investment in teaching and facilities. 16
Admissions
Determine admissions
their
own Could be required to accept around 50% from home state.
Financial Aid
Help often available. Depends on the endowment funds of each institution.
Tuition fees lower for instate students. Less likely to offer aid to international students but scholarships may be available.
Institutions
The Ivies, Stanford, MIT, CalTech, Univ of Chicago, Duke University, John Hopkins, Northwester, Washington Univ (St Louis), Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Rice, Emory.
Univ of California (Berkeley, LA, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Irvine), Pennsylvania State Univ, Univ of Florida, Univ of Washington, Univ of Texas-Austin, Ohio State Univ, Georgia Institute of Technology, College of William and Mary
Liberal Arts Colleges Liberal arts colleges emphasise developing critical thinking skills and have a broad curriculum. The colleges offer a c l o s e - k n i t c o m m u n i t y because of their smaller school sizes. Alumni networks are therefore very strong. Class sizes are small and there is a low teacher:student ratio. Only some liberal arts colleges offer Science and Engineering programmes. Research Amherst (e.g. c 2,000 students), Bowdoin, Williams, Swarthmore, Pomona, Wellesley, Carleton, Middlebury, Claremont McKenna, Haverford, Davidson, Vassar.
Further Considerations: Study •
Your preferred learning style: discussion or taking lecture/seminar notes?
•
Would you like to see undergraduates and postgraduates in class together?
•
What percentage of classes are taught by professors vs. teaching assistants?
•
What is the student-to-faculty ratio?
•
Are professors widely accessible to students outside class?
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• Major: check t h a t y o u r c h o s e n i n s t i t u t i o n offers the major/s you might be interested in pursuing. How much flexibility w i l l y o u have to explore and change y o u r major? Research • Are there opportunities to participate in research? It is more common to find these opportunities at colleges where undergraduates significantly outnumber the postgraduates. •
Do professors work with undergraduate students?
•
How many students conduct research?
•
What help are students given to find research opportunities?
Location and climate • The city may more vibrant but does not have as much sense of community and has a higher cost of living. Campus-baed universities have a strong sense of community but can feel a bit isolated. It all depends on your preferences. • If ease of getting back for the holidays is important, consider the East Coast rather than the West. • The climate in the USA varies considerably across the country. Do your research. Extra-curricular activities •
Can you continue with your favourite activities?
•
Are there new activities listed you want to try?
Housing and dining •
Is housing guaranteed for four years?
•
Will you have to live in dorms? With roommates?
•
What are the dining options?
• The Greek system (fraternities and sororities) is still a feature of many colleges in the USA, although how much these groups impact on the social life of a college varies considerably. Composition of the student Body • What is the percentage of international students? (Public universities are likely to have a large percentage of in-state students)
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Careers Advising •
How will the university assist with internships and career prospects?
•
Do employers recruit on campus?
•
What are the statistics for graduate employment?
Competitiveness of Admissions Look at the admitted class profile for the previous year's applicants. The Ivy League, MIT, and Stanford will generally admit less than 10% of applicants (the most competitive 5-7%). Colleges with excellent reputations - Tufts, Amherst and Williams - have an admittance rate of around 14-17%. International students should also pay attention to the percentage of international students admitted. Look at the SAT/ACT range where applicable. Some universities will give you the range of scores for the mid-50th percentile of admitted students. Compare your score.
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The Application Each institution has its own application requirements and deadlines. It is up to the applicant to be fully aware of these. For some institutions applications are made directly to the university. See the websites for precise details. Many top institutions are part of the CommonApp (similar to UCAS), though not all (most notably MIT and UC schools). www.commonapp.org/member-institutions
Application components: - Common Application Form (Common App). You submit it yourself, unlike UCAS. - School-specific supplements (additional questions & short essay) - Transcript of GCSE and AS grades and A Level predictions - SAT/ACT scores - Letters of Recommendation (x3) OPTIONAL informal interview in the UK OPTIONAL arts portfolio, if you want to show them your art/music/drama/etc. Some institutions require SAT subject tests (a minimum of two, with the most competitive suggesting three) Some institutions declare standardised testing as optional. Most of the deadlines are 1 January in your Upper Sixth Year. All of the University of California Schools’ deadline is 30 November
Early Action and Early Decision (usually 1 November deadline) Check which institutions offer these deadlines. Early Action means you could receive a decision by December but it is non-binding, i.e. you do not have to take the offer. You can apply EA to many institutions. REA (restrictive early action) is available at, e.g. Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Stanford. It is also non-binding and aimed at applicants who are sure of their first choice. It is only different from EA because you can only apply to one school early. Early Decision is binding. You HAVE to take the place. You must give up all other US and any UK applications. You must be absolutely sure an Early Decision at the particular institution is right for you. You can apply ED to only one institution. You could, however, apply Regular Decision (RD) to others if you are not accepted. 20
Not all institutions offer ED. Such an application allows you to receive an admission decision sometime in December. You are showing full commitment to that institution and are competing in a smaller applicant pool; you often stand a better chance of being accepted. Other deadlines There are other deadlines, such as ED2 which you can make to just one institution and might choose to do this if you are waiting for a test result. Best advice? Make an ED application if you are certain the school is your top choice.
Common App and supplementary essays Many Common App institutions ask for additional essays or questions to be answered in addition to the Common App Essay, which is sort of the equivalent of a Personal Statement. These essays should provide a picture of you as a holistic individual. As students are not applying for a particular subject, the essay questions tend to be more general and often not academically orientated. They may require an answer of a few lines or anything up to around 500 words. College essay questions can be found on Common App or the college's website usually from 1 August. Help is offered through the E&E programme for writing essays. Your essay should be open, sincere, well written, personal. It is your opportunity: •
to illustrate who you are and why you are unique
•
to show who you are outside your academic life
•
to express what you are passionate about
The essay is non academic (unlike the UCAS personal statement). It is an exploration of your character, your experiences based on what you are really passionate about. From this essay the institutions gauge your personality and whether or not you will fit in at that institution. Your use of language must inspire them to believe you are the right person for them.
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Typical Common Application Essay Prompts (choose 1, answer in 650 words) 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. Supplementary essays The Supplementary essays give you the opportunity to tailor your application to a particular institution and often ask “Why this university?” Some questions may run along the lines “What is your dream job?”, “What is the greatest invention of all time?”, “What is your favourite food?”, “What would you do with a free afternoon tomorrow?”, “What do you wish you were better at being or doing?”, “If you could witness one moment in history, what would it be?”. Some institutions require very short, e.g. 25 word answers, some 500 word answers. This is why you must research the universities very carefully as each is unique. Extra-curriculars There is an opportunity to list and elaborate on your extra-curricular activities on the Common App form. Although they provide 10 rows to fill in, it is insane to imagine most people are doing 10 extracurriculars. This is all about quality, not quantity. If you 22
only have two, but you spend lots of hours doing them at a very high level, you will be more successful than an applicant with nine which they do barely an hour a week.
Recommendations/references School Counsellor recommendation letter The goal of a school counsellor letter is to find out a little bit more about the context you come from. As such, it does not need to be personal (as with your other two letters). Often, school counsellors write a brief note about the school itself, how you compare to the average student there, any necessary family backstory or major life events that have occurred. It’s a very top-down letter, and used to give us a basic overview of “you in context”. Two teacher recommendation letters By contrast, this is one of the most important parts of your application. Normally students would choose two different A Level subject teachers but check each university's requirements. For example, MIT requires a Humanities/Arts reference and a Science/Maths reference even if you are studying all Science/Maths subjects for A Level. Sometimes you can submit an extra recommendation e.g. from a sports coach, music teacher. You add your teachers' emails to your Common App Application Form so that they can submit a reference for you. Students should choose subject teachers who can say the most about their personality, academic ability, commitment to their subject, and contribution in class. You must have a very good relationship with the teachers you ask to be your referees. They should be fully aware of your personal qualities. You must also be in permanent contact with them regarding deadlines, etc. Explain to your referee why you chose them, how they have inspired you, what you think you have achieved in their subject and inform them exactly what else you have achieved in that subject. The Admission Officer is hoping to answer the following questions from your letters: what is this student like in the classroom, and what are they like as a human being.
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Transcript of grades School provides your School Transcript: your GCSE and AS results and A Level predictions. Most institutions wish to see tracking grades as far back as Year 10. Financial Aid/Scholarship Application Funding options vary considerably. It is up to you to investigate what is available on each institution’s website. Research this early as competition is high. Go to: https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile Many institutions use the above profile to assess financial need. Check! Register a few weeks before it is required by your chosen institutions. FAFSA This is relevant for students with US citizenship. Deadlines for submission vary. It is up to you to submit on time.
Alumni Interviews You may be offered the opportunity to have an interview with one of the alumni of the universities you have applied to either in person (in London) or via phone call or Skype. Not all universities will interview students in London. These interviews tend to be informal (often held in a coffee shop) and ‘ optional’. It is recommended that you accept the opportunity to have an interview if offered as it shows enthusiasm for the university and gives you a chance to convey aspects of your personality and interests you might not have been able to communicate so easily on your application. They are very unlike Oxbridge interviews in that they are not subject specific as you are applying to the university as a whole. Your alumni interview has no idea who you are or what you’re applying for. They are a chance for students to find out more information about the university and also a chance for the alumni to find out more about the student and their reasons for applying to the university. They will then feedback to the university whether they think you would be a good fit for their community. These interviews are never 'make or break' and barely have any impact on admissions decisions unless they go catastrophically wrong, but are meant to evaluate your personality. Since the US institutions place great importance on discussion-based learning, they are naturally looking for students who make an active contribution to class. You must be able to not only express your opinions but also listen to others. 24
If you happen to get on very well with your interviewer and they think you would be perfect fit for their institution, it could of course be very helpful for your application. See http://youtu.be/rgelZujuHRc
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Admissions Tests Most applicants for undergraduate study in the US have to sit a standardised admissions test, either the SAT OR ACT. It is recommended you research the College Board site (for the SAT) and ACT website thoroughly yourself to learn about the content of both tests. While the tests are multiple choice and while you will likely have covered most of the content already, both tests require specific strategies that are not particularly intuitive. Research question types and recommened strategies, rather than practising aimlessly.
The ACT (3 hours 45 minutes long test including the essay) The ACT tests in four sections – English, Reading, Math, & Science – each scored 0-36 points. The overall score is out of 36 (32+ is generally considered a good score). Plus the Essay, scored separately out of 36.
The SAT (4 hour long test including the essay) English – English and vocabulary in context. Essay is optional (some universities might require it!), 50 minutes, analysis of text. Total is 1,600 and 750+ on each section, English and Maths, is generally good. Essay is scored separately out of 24. Http://international.collegeboard.org/programs/sat-sat-subject-test tells you in great detail all you need to know about the content of the test, when and where to take the test and how to send your scores to your chosen institutions. Areas of overlap between SAT and ACT Preparing for the Tests: Prepwork for both will involve taking many practice tests, and perfecting areas of improvement and incorrect answers. English •
Grammar categories, including verb-tense agreement and punctuation
• Types of reading passages (e.g. fictional vs social science); vocabulary in context Maths •
Largely algebra but also higher level topics
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SAT or ACT? US colleges are equally accepting of either the ACT or the SAT. You can take a practice test for both and compare your scores. This demands a lot of time and effort on your part. Below is some general advice on which test is best for a student: ACT You can take it in September rather than October, therefore earlier. It does not clash with SAT subject tests (see next section). Generally easier, and has a stronger focus on science. SAT Slightly harder, requires more knowledge of English grammar. Does not ask anything about science.
SAT subject tests Many institutions require or recommend you to do these in addition to the SAT/ACT Most top institutions require two subject tests, though some recommend three. Do your research. A good score in more than two tests shows good ability! These are one hour-long, content-based tests that allow you to showcase what you know in specific subject areas where you excel. There are 20 different SAT Subject Tests in five general subject areas: English, History, Languages, Mathematics, and Science. If your chosen institutions ask for SAT Subject Tests you will need to register for these in a separate transaction from your SAT registration. SAT Subject Tests cannot be taken on the same day as the SAT. Most institutions do not specify which subject tests to take. The best advice is to take those you will do well in and which match your A Level studies. If you are applying for engineering, you would be advised to take subject tests most compatible with engineering. It could be a good idea to sit a SAT subject test alongside your GCSE e.g. French, Latin. While you may do very well in GCSEs or A Levels, the Subject Test content may be different to what you expect and you may need to employ test-specific strategies to do well. 27
You must be careful that the test content matches the syllabus you have been studying (e.g. the history test includes US and world history). Practice tests will give a good indication of whether or not you should tackle specific tests. The library has two copies of the official practice book with one sample test for each of the 20 Subject Tests.
When to take the tests It is important to take the tests within two years before you expect to start your studies. Taking them for the first time when you apply in October of the Upper Sixth Form will most likely lead to an unsuccessful outcome. You should aim to take the ACT/SAT during Year 12 and subject tests should be taken in Year 11 or 12 (June is recommended). Give yourself enough time to prepare for the test. Most students take the tests once or twice. Most colleges will ask you to submit your best test scores and others will ask you to submit everything. The colleges that ask you to submit everything will often 'superscore' your results i.e. look at your b e s t test scores in each section.
How to register for the SAT/ACT and SAT Subject Tests The most efficient way that UK students can register for the tests and SAT Subject Tests is online by creating a College Board account. Book for the following academic year as soon as registration opens in June. Be aware that test centres can get booked out very quickly. We have had Habs boys travelling to Paris to take the tests because they waited too long to book!
SAT Test dates Go to https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/international for detailed help and to find a test centre.
ACT Test dates http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act.html The above link tells you everything you need to know about registering for and taking the ACT.
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Cost Students outside the US are charged the testing fee plus an international processing fee for extra services that ensure the same standards of quality, service, shipping, and security for the international administrations as for those in the United States. Additionally, there may be additional surcharges for students in certain countries. For a current list costs and additional fees see the College Board site.
Access arrangements Students who have access requests will be helped as much as possible for either SAT or ACT. All reasonable requests are considered. ‘Accommodations’, as they are known, include extended time, laptop use, extra breaks, large print exams, etc. Such requests may take a long time to put in place for when you take the test so do your research in plenty of time. View the following links for information: SAT: https://www.collegeboard.org/students-with-disabilities ACT: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/taking-thetest/services-for-examinees-with-disabilities.html
Tutoring Below is a list of tutoring institutions we are aware of: http://www.ueslondon.co.uk/ https://www.arborbridge.com/ http://www.alisteducation.co.uk/ http://www.catestutoring.com/london-map.html https://www.khanacademy.org/sat http://www.kaptestglobal.com/prep/course/sat-free-events-resources http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/testpreparation.html http://www.stlogic.co.uk/What-We-Do/Where-We-Teach Look on https://www.amazon.co.uk/ for plenty of practice books. https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-tests http://collegegoals.com/ is a counselling service
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Planning your journey Year 11 •
Consider taking SAT subject tests alongside your GCSEs.
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Keep your eye on the Fulbright site and the Common App site for all relevant information: o http://www.fulbright.org.uk/study-in-the-usa/undergraduate-study o http://www.commonapp.org/
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Keep your eye on the Careers Bulletin on HabsNet, for any upcoming events about which School has received information.
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Sign up to the Fulbright newsletter.
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Attend the September Fulbright USA College Day and Seminar.
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Apply for US Summer Schools. Get on to the university websites to see what is available.
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Visit the US universities to which you wish to apply. There are many companies which take prospective applicants on tours to various universities, for example www.college-visits.com
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Make contact with sports coaches/admissions officers.
Year 12 •
Study for the SAT/ACT. It is advised that you meet with the Aske-Princeton fellow before you begin studying – it will do you no good to burn through all of the practice tests without first seeking advice on strategy.
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Take the SAT/ACT for the first time early enough to take it again if your results are not satisfactory.
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Take the SAT Subject Tests again (or for the first time).
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Begin writing your Common App personal statement – it would be helpful to meet with the Aske-Princeton fellow before beginning any essays to be sure you understand the prompt and purpose.
Year 13 •
Confirm your university choices with the Aske-Princeton Fellow.
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Complete the CommonApp.
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Continue to work on essays and prepare for the tests.
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You may be called for an interview.
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Complete any financial aid application.
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Receive admissions decision March/April, waitlist in May.
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Useful Publications Uni in the USA Takes readers through the application process, step by step, and gives insider info on getting in, scholarships, fellow students, best dormitories and campus bars, life on campus and off. In short, what it's really like to be there. The media is full of recommendations for students to choose the US but they and their parents typically don't know how to go about it. This book answers all their questions - accurately, impartially and wittily. It is the authoritative resource for anyone - student, parent, teacher - considering University in the USA. This book is written by students, for students and includes straight talking articles written by Anthony Nemecek, former USUK Fulbright Director of Advising. It is purchased by Fulbright Commission annually for all Sutton Trust students. Uni in the USA is the only such guide on the market and is editorially independent - no advertising or paid-for entries. 379 Colleges: 2016 Edition 9780804126304 by Princeton Review, Paperback The Fiske Every college and university has a story - and no college guide tells those stories like the Fiske Guide, written from the honest, independent perspective of Edward B. Fiske. Students, parents, and counsellors agree, Fiske is the best way to get to know the unique personalities of schools, without visiting campus. Featuring Fiske's trademark descriptions, exclusive ratings, tips from current students, and tools for broadening and narrowing your list, the Fiske Guide is the #1 source for discovering the 322 best colleges and universities and finding the right one for you. Guide to Colleges •
Four Year Colleges 2016 (Peterson’s Four Year Colleges)
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Barron’s Profile of American Colleges
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College handbook
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Book of Majors
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US University Scholarships for International Students: A Comprehensive Resource for Financial and Funding Opportunities at America’s Top-rated Institutions. Steve Fenoglio.
My thanks to V Hill of City of London School for Boys for her guidance in the US application process. JBS. 31
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