APPLYING TO UNIVERSITIES IN THE U S

Applications Requirements

Transcript (GPA)

This is the most important part of the application package. End of year transcript grades from Year 10 through Year 12 are reported as well as Predicted IB scores (released in September of Year 13) and IGCSE grades. Mid-Year transcript grades are also sent to universities in early February of Year 13 and a final transcript at the end of Year 13.

*NLCS Jeju Transcript

The individual R grade report is not sent to Universities. In the final week of summer term, students will receive their Transcript Grade for the year. The Transcript Grade represents performance across the whole of the school year and incorporates all academic attainment, including homework, tests and classwork. It is these transcript grades which are sent to those universities that require them.

Standardised Test - SATI, ACT, TOEFL

We advise that students taking any standardised testing finish before Year 12 so that they can successfully complete the IB Diploma Programme. It is recommended that the student take the SAT/ACT no more than three (3) times.

Teacher Recommendations

Students are responsible for requesting two Teacher Letters of Recommendation directly from their Year 12 subject teachers. UGC will provide guidelines on when and how to request Letters of Recommendation from teachers. Students/ parents will not have access to the Teacher Recommendations.

Activity List

Activities inside and outside school are very important. They provide the colleges/universities context on the type of applicant.

Rather than a high number of activities, colleges/universities prefer seeing consistency and quality of activities. The colleges/universities want to see ‘demonstrated interest.’

Students keep a record of activities on the Cialfo platform. The school CCA and Bryant programmes, societies and enterprises support the student in choosing a suitable range of activities.

College essays

US college essays are an important part of the application and need to be coherent with other parts. Essays are prepared in several stages at our school:

• Counsellor discusses strengths of individual student’s application deciding on what to emphasise.

• Decide on how to lay out the ‘story’ - how you write is more important than what you write.

• First draft is written and forms the basis for subsequent drafts.

UGC work with the student through all stages of college essay preparation and always review with the student before essays are sent.

Counsellor letter

Counsellor letters of recommendation for US universities are different from UK references in tone and objectives. Counsellor letters show detailed knowledge of the student’s profile. It is therefore very important for students to get to know their UGC from Year 10 onwards. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange appointments with their UGC.

Standardised tests

While more and more colleges and universities have elected to extend ‘test optional’ policies (www.testfree.org), we currently advise students that students who wish to apply to top colleges/universities SHOULD take either the SAT or the ACT. Competitive applicants are more likely to have a set of standardised test scores. In an ever-increasing competitive environment, it is important for students to present evidence of academic achievement.

One of two standardised tests that most colleges/ universities in the US require for admissions. It has mathematics and critical reading and takes three hours to finish. You can register for the test at Collegeboard.org

One of two standardised tests that most colleges/universities in the US require for admissions. It is highly recommended for students to take the ACT with Writing. You can register for the test at act.org

Both tests are widely used for college admissions in the United States. Some colleges/universities will require or advise international students to take an English proficiency test. Regardless of your standardised test scores, we strongly advise that all students take one of these tests in the summer before Year 13. https://www.ets.org/toefl/ for TOEFL, https:// www.ielts.org/ for IELTS