Applying to The United States
4800 Higher Education
Institutions
900 majors
Graduate: Master’s and Doctoral Degrees
Dental
School
D.D.S.
4 years
Medical
School
M.D.
4 years
Law
School
J.D.
3 years
M.B.A.
2 years
M.Arch
2 years
M.A./M.S
2 years
Graduate
School
Ph.D.
3-5 years
Undergraduate: Bachelor’s Degree
Colleges/Universities
2 years
Community Colleges
Associate Degree
2 years
Colleges/Universities
4 years
Features of U.S Higher
Education System
• Different from other systems around the world
- a “best fit” for the institution is key
- the college will consider the all round student
• U.S. bachelor’s degrees usually take 4 year to complete;
associate degrees take 2 years
• Credit System
• Runs from Sept to May
• 2 terms, or semester (16-18 weeks); trimester or 3 quarters (1012 weeks) and
• Plenty of choices
• Liberal Arts Colleges [eg Claremont Mckenna, Scripps,
Amherst]
• Highly specialised institutions [eg Embry Riddle Aeronautical
Engineering University]
Undergraduate Degrees
in the USA
 Bachelor’s degree = four years
 Associate Degree = two years
 Not standardized/ No central ranking body
 Different to degrees in the other major
destinations for WIS students:
o Flexibility
o Emphasize a broad, well rounded education:
o Math, science, the arts, social sciences and
language - before finally need to choose a
specialization.
Undergraduate Degrees
• Diversity of choice
• Not standardized
– No central ranking body
– Different process and admission polices at
every institution
• Flexibility
• Emphasize a broad, well rounded education:
Math, science, the arts, social sciences and
language-before finally to choose a
specialization.
• Therefore offers not based on scores alone
Undergraduate Program
[Education USA]
Core courses
(General Education)
Internship
Study abroad
Co-op
Bachelor’s
Degree
Major courses
Elective
courses
The Application Process for
Regular Decision
[Education USA]
January-May
2014:
Research and
take SATs
June – August
2015
-Apply student visa
-Pre-departure
-Freshman
orientation
June – August 2014:
-Register for re-sits and
Subject Tests
-Filter your choices
-Request Teacher
References [subject
teachers]
-Draft College Essays
April – May 2015
By May 1, decide on
one college that you
will attend.
September –
December 2014:
-Take the tests
-Request
transcript
-Submit
applications
January – March
2015
Some nonCommon –App
university
application
deadlines
The Application Components
• Online Applications
• Common Application (www.commonapp.org)
• University of California
(http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-toapply/apply-online/index.html)
• Non Common Application: Eg. Texas at Austin, Parsons,
Georgetown
• High School Transcript
• English Language Proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS)
• Standardized Tests (SAT or ACT)
• Letters of Recommendation (School Report and Subject
References)
• Statement of Purpose/Application Essays
• Evidence of financial support (required for the I-20 visa
form)
Application Forms
• The Common Application-Standardized
application process for first-year and
transfer applications at undergraduate
level
• 456 member institutions
www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Memb
ers.aspx
• Students must check for supplements and
extra materials required on college
website
• Other systems such as Cal State Mentor,
UC Regents, CUNY, SUNY, individual
schools online application
West Island School
Support Documents
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Student transcript – grades from Y10-Y13
School Profile
Explanation of English medium of
instruction/explanation of CEEB codes
Certified copies of IGCSE certificates (or
previous school transcript)
Secondary school report/counselor
recommendation
Two/three teacher evaluations
International Supplement
Examples of Destinations for
WIS Students 2012 and 2013 entry
2012
2013
University of Pennsylvania
Cornell [2]
University of Chicago [3]
UCLA [2]
Scripps College
UC Berkeley [2]
Rhode island School of Design
NYU
New York University
NYU Stern
Bentley College
University of Southern California
Northeastern
OTIS College of the Art
University of Southern California
Southwestern
University of Maryland
Portland State
Pratt Institute New York
UC Santa Barbara
University of Wisconsin -Madison
UC Santa Cruz
Examples of Offers Made to
WIS Students for 2014 entry
Offers 2013
Cornell [2]
Chicago
Columbia [2]
NYU
University of Pennsylvania
Babson College
UC – Berkeley, LA, SD, SB,
Riverside, Irvine
Syracuse
University of Southern California
Miami
Parsons
Rhode Island School of Design
Lynn
Loyola Marymount
Texas at Dallas
Tufts
Syracuse
Pace
Letters of Recommendation
• Tutor writes “counselor recommendation”
• Two or three subject teachers [must be
currently teaching the student]
 Evaluates how well students meet the
requirements
 Paints a picture that highlights the student as an
unique individual
• Choose recommenders who know your
abilities best
• Give recommenders plenty of time to write
your letters
Personal Essay
• A very important part of your application - helps in the Final
Decision
• It demonstrates your
– Writing skills
– Analytical ability
– Critical thinking
– Aims and aspirations
– Uniqueness
• There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers to a college essay
question
• Remember : be yourself and start early
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/tips-forwriting-an-effective-application-essay-college-admissions
• Lunchtime activity run by Ms Tang this term
The IB and ID Diplomas
IB Diploma• Is widely accepted in addition to the standardized admission
tests (ACT or SAT) where required.
• The rigorous nature is factored in the evaluation for admission
• University recognition directory
http://www.ibo.org/diploma/recognition/directory/index.cfm
• May qualify for Advanced Standing credit (receive a score of 5
or above on Higher Level examinations)
• Check with individual school to determine how credits may be
granted
• CAS is very important.
ID Students• ID Students will need to contact college directly to ask if their
“package” will be accepted.
• CAS is very important.
Advice to students
 It’s never too early to apply to schools, do research
 Be optimistic but realistic when applying to colleges
 Keep a copy of all your applications
 Check email regularly for any requests for
information from schools or updates on the
admission process
 Check out upcoming information seminars and fairs
Finance Your Studies
• Scholarships
– Merit Based
– Need Based
(Need Blind – US citizens with socioeconomic
background not considered
Need Based – international student socioeconomic
background is considered)
• Online Resources
– www.fundingusstudy.org
– www.finaid.org
– http://www.usscholarshipguide.org/
– EducationUSA Weekly Updates
www.fundingusstudy.org
EducationUSA Hong Kong
Destinations of
WIS Students 2013
Country
%
UK
39.74
HK
17.31
US
11.54
Australia
8.33
Canada
7.05
Others
3.2
Gap Year
9.62
Employment and Military
1.92