Studying in the United States
Universities and the Admission Process
Introduction
Libby Kokemoor
Educational Consultant at Hale Education Group
Pomona College – BA
About the Founder and Managing Director
Peter Y Davos
Founder & Managing Director of Hale Education Group
Johns Hopkins University - BA
London School of Economics - General Course
Oxford University - MStud
Harvard University - MDesS
UCLA - Certificate in College Counseling
Johns Hopkins Alumni Interviewer for Fourteen Years
Founder/ Co-President of the Johns Hopkins Society of the UAE
Johns Hopkins Alumni Council Member
Who We Are
Independent Educational Consultancy
•Experienced American consultants who studied at top US Universities such
as Harvard, Yale, and Pomona.
•Years of work experience in university admissions
•Our students have been accepted at universities such as:
Harvard University
Stanford University
Yale University
Princeton University
Columbia University
University of California-Berkeley
University of Virginia
University of Pennsylvania
What We’ll Talk About
•An overview of the US university admissions processes
•The variety of university options in US
•The importance of “fit”
•Application requirements
•Questions & Answers
Why the US?
Variety of Choice
Academic Flexibility
Holistic Education
Resources/Facilities
Scholarship Opportunities
What to Consider: FIT
1. Location – Urban, rural, suburb
2. Size – Small, Medium, Large
3. Selection of majors & programs
4. Cost – Public vs. Private
5. Reputation and Ranking
6. Campus Resources & Quality of Student Life
What Types of Institutions
In the US, there are two primary types of institutions: Public and Private.
The tuition at public universities is subsidized by state taxes, whereas
private schools rely heavily on tuition and private contributions.
Public University
• Typically less expensive
• Large student body (Ohio State University has 57,000 students)
• Wide selection of majors
• More in-state students
Private School
• Size of the school is smaller (Bates College has 1,800 students)
• Class sizes are smaller
• Easier access to professors
• Small range of majors, but a particular academic focus
• Greater geographical diversity amongst students
Selectivity
College selectivity is the "application-to-admit ratio," or the number of students
admitted compared to the number of students who applied.
Admission to top-tier universities can be competitive and highly selective, and as such,
every piece of your application matters.
University
Selectivity
University
Selectivity
Stanford University
5%
UCLA
18%
Harvard University
6%
New York University
34%
Brown University
9%
UMichigan – Ann Arbor
32%
Johns Hopkins
15%
Boston University
34%
Georgetown University
17%
American University
43%
Selective Does Not Mean Impossible
When faced with the daunting and somewhat perplexing task of applying to some of
the US's most prestigious universities, I reached out to Hale Education Group. Hale
supported me every step of the way beginning with the school search and ending
with the "submit your application" button. As a result, I was accepted to seven out of
the eight universities I applied to, including Stanford and three Ivy
League universities. In short, I am extremely thankful to Peter Davos and his team for
helping me make this dream come true.
-Hiba, admitted with a full scholarship to Harvard University
What Matters
Academic Record
• Curriculum / GPA
Standardized Test Scores
• SAT /ACT
• SAT Subject Tests
Extracurricular Activities
Personal Statement
Supplements
Recommendations
Interview
• TOEFL / IELTS
• AP / IB / A-Levels
Academic Record
Grade Point Average/Marks
•Only high school years count
•Get the highest grades possible
•Show improvement across the four
years of high school
•Supplementary coursework
Curriculum
•Rigor is KEY!
•Honors classes prove you can
handle college-level courses
•Earn college credit
TOEFL / IELTS
The TOEFL iBT and the IELTS tests measure your ability to use
and understand English at the university level; they evaluate your
Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing skills.
All American universities will require you demonstrate proficiency
in English prior to being accepted. TOEFL iBT range: 85 - 100+
IELTS range: 6.5 – 9.0
ACT vs. SAT
Understand your options! SAT is not
your only choice.
Some students prefer the ACT,
others prefer the SAT – colleges will
accept either exam!
Take a diagnostic test and find out
which exam is right for you!
The SAT I
The SAT is a globally recognized college admission exam that tests your
knowledge of reading, writing, and math. Currently, each section is scored
on a 200 to 800-point scale, making the "perfect" score 2400.
• Critical Reading - Math - Writing
Harvard
BU
UCLA
NYU
Critical Reading
700-800
600-750
570-720
640-750
Math
720-800
620-780
600-770
650-760
Writing
710-800
600-720
580-750
640-750
• Six international test dates per year (January, May, June, October,
November, December)
• Format is changing in May 2016
2016 SAT: What exactly is changing? - The Content
A Comparison
Current SAT
• 3 Critical Reading tests (20-25 minutes
each)
• 3 Math tests (10-25 minutes each)
2016 SAT
• 1 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test
65-minute Reading section
35-minute Language and Writing section
• 1 Essay test (25 minutes)
• 1 Math test
55-minute section with calculator
25-minute section without calculator
• 1 Experimental test
• 1 Essay test (optional) - 50 minutes
• 5 answer choices for multiple-choice
questions
• 4 answer choices for multiple choice
questions
• 3 Writing tests (10-25 minutes each)
2016 SAT: What exactly is changing? - The Scoring
A Comparison
Current SAT
2016 SAT
• 1/4 point penalty for wrong answers
• No wrong-answer penalty
• Score is out of 2400
800 for Math
800 for Critical Reading
800 for Writing
• Score is out of 1600
800 for Math
800 for Evidence-Based Reading and
Writing
• Essay is mandatory
• Subscores and insight scores available
• Optional Essay will be scored separately
The SAT II: Subject Tests
These are one-hour knowledge-based tests used for admission and often for course
placement. Requirements vary by university and sometimes by major. Foreign
language tests are also offered with listening options on specific dates.
Subject Tests
Literature
US History
World History
Mathematics Level 1
Mathematics Level 2
Biology E/M
(Ecology/Molecular)
Chemistry
Physics
French
German
Italian
Latin
Spanish
Chinese
Japanese
Korean
The ACT
The ACT has four sections. Currently, each section is scored on a
01 to 36-point scale. The composite score is an average of the
scores of all four sections, making the perfect composite score
36.
- English
- Reading
Harvard
Composite
- Math
BU
32-36 writing27-31
*optional
section
- Science
UCLA
NYU
25-33
28-33
Math
33-36
26-31
25-34
29-34
English
31-36
27-32
26-34
28-32
• Five international test dates per year (April, June,
September, October, November)
Extracurricular Activities
Demonstration of commitment
• Multiple years of involvement
• Demonstration of leadership,
initiative, and passion
Variety of Interests
• Academic
• Athletic
• Student Government
• Cultural / Creative
• Community Service
• Summer experiences - internships, camps,
courses.
Personal Statement
An Extremely Important Part of Your Application
• Shows why YOU, in particular, would be a good fit for the university
• Demonstrates analytical and writing abilities
• Common Application: 650 Words / 5 Prompts to choose from
Supplements
American University: Picture your journey in the American University
community from freshman year to graduation day. Describe the person
you hope to become on this journey.
Johns Hopkins University: Why Hopkins?
Letters of Recommendation
• Another opportunity to add qualitative evidence of your admissibility
• The number required can vary. The Common Application requires:
• One from a guidance counselor or school official
• One - two from teachers who know you well in related subject areas
to your desired major
• Letters compare you to your peers, comment on class participation,
discuss your potential, etc.
Interviews
Optional but strongly encouraged by admissions
Two opportunities:
• Face-to-face interview with university alumnus/a (if available)
• Admission officer of the university (either via Skype or in person)
DEADLINES!!
• Early Decision
• Any time between October 15 and January 1, depending on the university
• Binding
• Early Action
• Any time between release of application (July/August) and December 1,
depending on the university
• Non-binding
• Regular Decision (varies by university)
• November 30
• January 1 – 15
• February 1 – 15
• Rolling Admission
What It Costs
The average cost of
higher education in the
US has increased over
2.5 times the national
inflation rate over the
last 20 years.
How to Fund Your Education
Sticker Price vs. Real Price
•Colleges attract highly desired students by offering merit-based aid, which can
significantly reduce the cost over four years.
Merit vs. Need-Based Scholarships
•Nearly 25% of international students report universities as their primary funding.
•Private universities usually offer more in scholarships than public universities.
•Need-based aid is determined by forms such as College Board’s CSS Profile.
External Funding Bodies
•External funding bodies include professional, charitable or government organizations
with an interest in educating members of society.
•Searching for external funding will require time and dedication to sift through listings.
•You will then have to submit a separate application for each scholarship.
Finding Scholarships
•Hale students
received over
15,000,000 AED
in scholarships in
2014-2015.
How to Apply for your F1 Student Visa
Once you have been accepted to a college and confirmed
your attendance, you should:
•Secure your I-20 application from Admissions
•Register in SEVIS and pay SEVIS fee
•Complete the DS-160 online application form
•Schedule an appointment with the US Consulate and
pay the required fee
•Receive your F1 student visa
Practical Tips
•Try to apply 90 days before you intend to leave
•ALWAYS keep a soft copy of your I-20 application
•Keep a soft copy of your DS-160 application
•Prepare for your visa interview
•NEVER lie on the application/in the interview
How HEG Can Help
Mentoring
Proprietary Platform
College List Creation
Strategy
Essay Brainstorming & Composition
Putting it All Together
100% US University Placement Rate in
2014-2015
“Having applied to over 10 universities, most
of which were highly selective, the college
admissions process was definitely not an
easy one. The Hale team helped me
extensively with the college selection phase
of the application, providing me with huge
amounts of information on all the
universities in which I was interested. Most
importantly, however, their help in redrafting
and perfecting my essays was paramount in
helping me gain admission to the university
of my choice.”
-Zorez, admitted to Tufts University
Thank You
Questions?