Applying to University Booklet 2019 wcis_ATU_2019 | Page 14

US UNIVERSITIES
Most US universities are part of the
Common Application system, which means
that one online application can reach many
different universities. Applications need to
be accompanied by counsellor and teacher
recommendations, and pupils need to write one
500-word essay which will be almost entirely
personal in its nature.
However, in addition to these general
requirements, all US universities will set their
own college essay subjects and many will
require extra teacher recommendations, which
means that making multiple applications can
be very intensive and time-consuming. There
are advantages in applying early for US-based
courses: applying Early Action (EA) or Early
Decision (ED) guarantees that a decision and
response will be made before Christmas. Pupils
should bear in mind that ED applications can
only be made to one university and are legally
binding: pupils sign a contract to confirm that
they will attend that university if their application
is successful.
Although most American universities use the
Common App, some will use different systems.
For example, the state of California has its own
system which allows one application to access
all UC state universities. This does not require
essays or recommendations - pupils self-report
their performance, which Wellington College
supports through providing a transcript of their
academic grades.
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US UNIVERSITIES
RESEARCHING US
COLLEGES
Pupils often need help to research the
bewildering array of US higher education
options. One popular method is to sort them
by geographic region. California has a number
of excellent universities, while the North East
has the highest concentration of well-known
and established universities in the country, based
around Washington, D.C., New York
and Boston.
An alternative way to think about US universities
is by type: top-ranking US universities – such
as those in the Ivy League – tend to be
comprehensive private institutions that can
offer a full range of degree programmes. Some
pupils might be better suited to the smaller
and more specialised liberal arts colleges, such
as Swarthmore or Middlebury, while another
alternative is the state system which has colleges
that can match the quality of the private sector
(Virginia, Michigan) and tend to offer better
value for money.
The US is also home to many superb specialised
technical universities, such as MIT, CalTech
and the Georgia Institute of Technology,
which regularly feature at the top of the world
university rankings lists. A further option would
be the large number of women’s colleges,
including Smith and Wellesley.
CLASS RANK / GPA ASSESSMENT TESTS
When researching US universities, it is inevitable
that pupils and parents will come across the
terms GPA (Grade Point Average) and Class
Rank. Wellington College, along with most other
international schools, does not rank pupils in
the way typically done by US schools or provide
GPA. As our classes are small and made up
of high-achieving individuals, providing class
rankings becomes meaningless and against each
pupil’s interests. In addition, the IB programme
does not really fit with the concept of GPA.
US universities are very familiar with the IB
programme and will, if necessary, convert the
grades reported on the school transcript to a
GPA, allowing them to compare pupils across
different examination systems. A final factor to take into consideration
when choosing a US university is the role
that standardised tests such as SAT and ACT
play in the admissions process. Indeed, other
university systems, such as those in Korea,
Singapore, and Hong Kong, may also require
SAT scores. Careful research will enable pupils
to understand the requirements and typical
expectations of different universities allowing
them to target institutions accordingly. Pupils are
encouraged to prepare for these tests in a way
that does not detract from their main academic
programme. As stated above, the school utilises
the services of an external provider to help
year 12 pupils prepare for these tests in an
appropriate way during the school day. Further
information about this service is available on
request. Pupils typically plan to take tests in the
spring of year 12, whereas year 11 and year 12
pupils who are interested in applying to the US
may also take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) at
school in October.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF ‘FIT’
US colleges tend to stress the importance of
the ‘fit’ between pupil and university and it is
one of the key considerations when making an
application. One useful guide to what any given
college wants is its college essay. Required essays
will vary widely, from the highly academic to
the very personal, so pupils must carefully read
and understand exactly what is being asked of
them. Generally speaking, however, many US
universities will place greater value on extra-
curricular activities than their British equivalents.
They particularly prize evidence of a long-term
commitment to a particular activity, which
could be sporting, social, service-related or
academic. Most colleges prefer to see evidence
of qualities such as commitment, dedication and
perseverance, rather than short-term interest in
a broader variety of activities.
It is also worth noting that there are a number
of ‘Fair Test’ schools, that place less emphasis
on test results, and a growing number of
universities that do not require IB pupils to
undertake any extra assessment tests.
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