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Introduction Applying to American universities is complex, and even more so for

Introduction Applying to American universities is complex, and even more so for students navigating the process from abroad. There are many decisions to be made and unfamiliar terms to learn when researching schools, visiting campuses, and understanding application requirements. Some questions you might have include: • What is the Common Application and how do I use it? • What is Early Decision and how do I know if I should apply early or in the regular round? • Which standardized tests (ACT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS) do I need to take? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, don’t worry! Much of the complexity can be relieved with the proper organization, research, planning, and guidance. The experts at IvyWise have written this guide to provide you with important information that will help you find and apply to a US university where you will be successful and thrive. Finding the Best Fit Schools for You There are thousands of universities in the US and the most important part of the admissions process is finding those that are the best fits for you. The myth that you must attend a highly ranked college in order to receive an excellent education is far from true! A school’s ranking often depends on many factors that have little to do with the classroom experience. For example, student selectivity, academic reputation, and alumni giving account for nearly half of a school’s US News & World Report ranking. We encourage our students to create their own rankings based on the academic, social, and financial factors that are important to them. There are many such factors to consider when creating your college list. Think about the school’s location and size, the specific programs and professors that you would want to study with, the availability of clubs and sports that interest you, and social offerings. What else do you think is essential to your college experience? Answering these questions on the next page will give you a unique list of criteria through which you can evaluate potential schools. A Guide for International Students Applying to US Universities 1 Here is a brief questionnaire to help you get started: Which areas of the US are you considering? Northeast Southeast Midwest West Mid-Atlantic Northwest Southwest All Which types of location are you considering? Rural Urban Suburban All How often do you plan to return home? ______x per month ______x per year What size school will suit you best? Small (Under 3,000 undergraduates) Medium (3,000-7,000 undergraduates) Large (Over 7,000 undergraduates) All Are any of the following campus cultural issues important considerations for you? Religion Socioeconomic Level Race Other:___________ Would you prefer a general or specialized curriculum? Do you plan to declare a major immediately? What do you want to study? Liberal Arts Engineering Sciences Business Other: Will you be seeking outside funding for your education? What extracurricular activities and amenities (dorms, dining options, gymnasium, etc.) are important to you? 2 What are admissions committees looking for? When selecting a freshmen class, colleges are not looking for well-rounded students, they are looking for well-rounded student bodies made up of specialists. A significant number of US schools base admissions decisions on an applicant’s academic record. However, some of the most selective schools will also consider an applicant’s personal record. Who you are as a person can be nearly as important as your academic success. A successful college application will give the application reader a sense of who the applicant is, beyond the facts and figures. You are responsible for conveying the best and most accurate representation of yourself to the admissions committees at your targeted schools. Here’s what US universities consider when evaluating applications: Unlike universities outside the US, which only consider an applicant’s grades, test scores, and other quantitative qualifications, US universities evaluate college applications on what IvyWise Founder and CEO Katherine Cohen calls “Hard Factors” and “Soft Factors.” Most schools will base the majority of their admissions decisions on a student’s “hard factors,” which are part of a student’s academic record and include the high school transcript (course work, grades, GPA, and class rank) and standardized test scores. However, US colleges will further evaluate applicants based on the student’s personal record, or “soft factors,” which are manifested in letters of recommendation, essays, extracurricular activities, and interviews. This is known as “holistic review,” meaning the university looks at the whole applicant as a person and a student, not just their academic qualifications. Hard Factors Grades – Your grades and GPA are the most important factors that colleges will consider when evaluating your application. Colleges want to see an upward grade trend, meaning that your grades improve year after year as you take more challenging courses. This shows you’ll be able to handle a college course load. Courses - Colleges want to see you’re taking challenging, advanced courses that match your interests. For example, if you’re applying to an engineering program colleges will want to see you taking a higher number of science-related courses. Test Scores – Most schools will require either the ACT or the SAT, a specified number of SAT Subject Tests, and for international students, an English proficiency test (either the IELTS or the TOEFL). Most colleges will take the highest score achieved in each section of a test, even if they occurred on different test dates. Some schools require that you achieve a minimum score on standardized tests, particularly the IELTS and TOEFL. However, these policies vary by school so it is important to research the policies at each school on your college list. 3 4 Soft Factors Letters of Recommendation – Most colleges will require you to submit two letters of recommendation; one letter from your school guidance counselor, and the second from a teacher or other adult who knows you well. Essays – College admissions committees want to know something about you that they cannot otherwise learn from the rest of your application. You should avoid writing an essay that lists or reiterates activities or information that can be learned from other areas of the application. A good essay can make an applicant come alive to an application reader, and transform a candidate from a series of numbers and statistics to a living, breathing human being. Demonstrated Interest - Colleges want to admit qualified students who are a good-fit for the institution and are excited about the possibility of attending. Colleges will look to see if applicants know the institution well, have visited, maintained contact with the admissions office, and completed compelling supplemental essays. This all factors into demonstrated interest. Activities - Admissions officers want to see what you’re doing in your free time and how you’re impacting your community. Schools will look at your extracurricular activites, your level of involvement, and how those activities relate to your interests or intended course of study. Interviews – If the colleges on your list offer interviews, then you should make every effort to schedule one. The in terview is an excellent opportunity for you to express your interest in a school, as well as for you to ask questions and learn more about the school. Also, the person whom you meet with during your interview can be a valuable point of contact throughout the application process. Additional Components – If you have an interest in music or the arts, it often makes sense to include an audition tape or portfolio. Some schools require that a specific form accompany the artistic submission. Each school has different requirements, so it a good idea to make a checklist including the specific application materials required or recommended at each school on your college list. The Common Application Some schools require that students write one or more essays as part of their university application. Schools that use the Common Application require one personal statement and one activity essay, in addition to any essay ques tions that may appear on the university’s separate supplement. The Common Application Personal Statement is a 650-word-or-less essay that addresses one of five prompts created by the Common Application. Here are the prompts for the 2015-16 Common Application: • 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. • The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you expe rienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? • Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? • 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. • Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal uploads/Litterature/ us-admissions-guide.pdf