The US university application process is highly complex and can be quite stressful, especially during preparation for A Levels or the IB. FACT: More than 25% of successful Ivy League applicants in US high schools use the services of an independent college consultant. Why? The application process can add a lot of stress to a student’s already heavy academic and extracurricular load. There are registration deadlines for standardized tests and various requirements for financial aid packages and proof of finances. Application deadlines for universities will vary. There are also different types of admissions: Early Decision, Early Action, Regular and Rolling. A consultant’s support can make all the difference.
There are some 4,000 accredited 4-year institutions to choose from. None are alike. We aim to find you the best fit, that is narrowing the choice to a short list of schools tailored to match your academic profile, personality and ambitions. So many factors other than academic reputation and research output distinguish one institution from the next. These include the level of selectivity, but also the quality of student life on campus, location, climate, religious denomination and extracurricular offerings. The complexity of choice can be overwhelming, even to American students already familiar with the process.
It is essentially the same process. But keep in mind grades alone are not enough; leadership and extracurriculars matter a lot. The odds are stacked against applicants, both international and domestic. Yes, you should reach for the stars. Do apply to your dream school! But you should also apply to match and safety schools. Many elite colleges accept less than 10% of applicants. Remember that many top public and private schools - UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford and NYU- are not Ivy League schools. (The original eight members: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth and Cornell.) Fact: A qualified consultant, however strong our connections with admissions officials, cannot promise you admission to a particular school.
Most US institutions - the vast majority of top tier choices - require one of the two main standardized tests as an integral part of any application. Remember though that there are some very good test-optional schools, too. SAT Subject Tests – required by many elite schools- must be taken on separate dates from the main SAT. The SAT test was overhauled in 2016 to be more achievement oriented, now with a much heavier emphasis on algebra and word problem solving. The SAT is offered at more sites than the ACT in the UK. More alike than before, The SAT and ACT still differ in style and content. Umissions will assist students in their decision of which test best suits. A range of online test preparation as well as one-to-one services are available.
Your entire secondary school academic record will be submitted. Keep in mind your GCSE grades and work in the lower sixth are key. Keep a sharp focus on your studies in the lower sixth form as this year’s performance – now recorded through internal exams- is critical even though AS levels have been scrapped. All of this, along with your predicted grades or IB scores, will be taken into account. Your school will file your individual academic records along with the school’s official profile.
Very. For one thing they can shine a light on you as a person with passion, they will make you stand out. Remember, though, it’s not about breadth, it’s all about depth. Pick a few activities that you can excel at. Get active in a team or in your community service. Adding on a long list of clubs and activities in the last few months before you apply is unlikely to impress. Applicants to US universities are well advised to explore their interests early on and pursue a few activities with consistency and passion. This is also potentially a good way to also demonstrate leadership, a quality highly prized by US admissions officers.
The Common App is just that, a shared college application amongst over 600 member institutions. In this regard it is similar to UCAS - all schools see the same information. There is space for extracurricular activities, as the Common App takes a holistic approach to university admissions. Many colleges and universities will require supplementary essays. Some universities and colleges, such as the University of California, do not use the Common App and have an entirely separate application.
The Coalition Application (Coaltion for Access, Affordablity and Success or CAAS) was designed to increase access to higher education for lower income students. CAAS features a “locker” for CVs, projects and essays that can be stored for several years; it also has other college prep resources. CAAS - launched in September 2015- has to date enlisted some 90 schools who pledge to meet certain criteria. Among these: affordable tuition, the provision of financial aid and the achievment of a six-year graduation rate of at least 70%. Similar to the Common App, CAAS has its own essay prompts. There is also an option to submit an essay of your choice, not allowed with the Common App.
We provide comprehensive guidance to:
- Take the stress out of the admissions process.
- Match your profile with the appropriate university.
- Maintain the strict ethics upheld by consultants’ professional organsations in the US. An admissions officer will understand immediately if for example, your essay sounds like your parents or your English teacher wrote it.
- Work closely with each student to develop and adhere to a timeline.
- Brainstorm ideas for the main and supplementary essays; work on editing and rewrites.
- Ensure your voice is your own, authentic and compelling. (NB: US application essays are all about self-reflection, entirely different from the UCAS personal statement.)
- Assist with required letters of recommendation.
- Assist with best choice of standardized testing; recommend test prep options.
- Support you every step of the way, right through acceptance letters and final decisions.
Most importantly, we will commit the time and resources to each and every student and liaise regularly with parents.
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E: info@umissions.com
We offer a fully comprehensive package. Following the initial FREE 20 minute consultation we provide an assessment of how we can best assist your student.
The earlier the better, but generally soon after GCSE exams. To minimize stress on students during A level or IB studies, it’s best not to wait until just a few months before applications are due. There are many steps and many choices along the way that can enhance an applicant’s profile. The optimal start time: the lower sixth form. We can also work together during a gap year after A levels.