Written by Edward James and A-List team
An application to a US university comprises numerous elements, each playing a crucial role in presenting a comprehensive picture of the applicant. Among these various components, there are five core elements that admissions officers specifically focus on to evaluate whether you would be an ideal match for their schools:
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Secondary school grades
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SAT or ACT results
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Your personal statement and supplemental essays
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Your extracurricular profile
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References from your teachers
In this guide, we will guide you on how to ensure all these core elements of your US application shine and advise you on the timing for focusing on each.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Choose your colleges wisely
Find ones that fit you
When researching your choice of destination, think carefully about where you want to spend the next three or more years. Obviously, you will need to choose a set of colleges where you can fulfil your academic ambitions and which will help you realise your career goals. Each college is a unique environment: factors such as location, size of student cohort and the atmosphere on campus will all inform your decision.
A-List offers expert advice on the schools that might best meet your needs and our university finder quiz is an excellent starting-point in helping you refine your choices.
Check admissions requirements
Research each university’s specific admission criteria, including academic thresholds, standardised test policies and extracurricular preferences. These can vary significantly so ensure that you know what each institution expects from you.
Consider financial aid & scholarships
Research the financial aid options available at each institution. Check deadlines for regular and early decision and devise your schedule accordingly.
Find out more in our guide on need-based aids and merit-based scholarships.
When to finalise your list of colleges
End of Year 12 when you have your predicted grades and final SAT/ACT score.
Year 10 to Year 11 is also a great time for you to take a US university summer programme or college tour.
2. Take relevant standardised tests
SAT/ ACT
Begin your preparation ideally as soon as you finish your GCSEs. Competitive SAT/ACT scores often take months of work to achieve. Furthermore, ensure you register early as test centres fill up quickly. Both the SAT and the ACT are challenging tests with very specific formats so sit plenty of practice-papers and allow time to learn from your mistakes. A-List has been helping students reach their dream scores for almost twenty years: we offer 1-1 tuition as well as five day and one day courses.
Some schools offer test-optional admissions. We do, however, recommend that you still opt to send your standardised test scores. For most universities, well over 60% (often 80-85%) of admitted students submit SAT/ACT scores: this is a strong indicator of how desired scores are by universities.
TOEFL/ IELTS
When to take the SAT/ ACT
From August before Year 12 to September/ October in Year 13.
3. Prepare your transcripts and academic records
Request transcripts early
Maintain a strong academic record
Keep track of the grades that you are scoring in your school assignments and ensure that they meet or – preferably – exceed the standards set by your target schools.
4. Prepare your letters of recommendation
Talk to the teachers who will be writing your letters of recommendation
As with the request of your transcripts, this is a conversation that needs to take place at the earliest possible point. Arrange meetings with the teachers (and / or other school staff) whom you wish to supply letters of recommendation. Discuss the specific academic and extracurricular achievements to which you would like them to refer. Ensure that you notify them well in advance of any deadlines.
When to ask for letters of recommendation
5. Complete the relevant essays and personal statements
Before writing anything, make sure that you know exactly what documents your chosen colleges require you to submit as these can vary significantly. Certain schools require supplemental essays which demand a significant investment of your time. Check out the essay requirements for the top 25 US universities here.
Build time for drafting and re-drafting your Common App essay into your schedule to ensure that it offers the best account of your character, skills and achievements.
When to write your personal statements and supplemental essays
Summer of Year 12 – October of Year 13.
6. Work on your extracurricular profile
As with the request of your transcripts, this is a conversation that needs to take place at the earliest possible point. Arrange meetings with the teachers (and / or other school staff) whom you wish to supply letters of recommendation. Discuss the specific academic and extracurricular achievements to which you would like them to refer. Ensure that you notify them well in advance of any deadlines.
When to start planning
You should plan your extracurricular activities in Year 11 – discuss with your advisor how to secure leadership roles, take part in clubs, perform charitable work, apply for internships, compete in sports, and so on.
7. Check if you qualify for financial aid
Although international students are not eligible for federal or state financial aid in the US, many colleges have their own financial aid programmes. If you think you might qualify, check with your chosen institution and, if you're eligible, complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS) profile.
Check out our guide on universities that offer need-based aid and merit-based scholarships.
8. Grow familiar with the relevant application platforms
9. Does your college charge an application fee?
10. Submit all documents well in advance of the deadlines
Applying to university in the US is an administrative challenge as well as an intellectual one. This potentially stressful time will prove more manageable if you maintain a written schedule that allows you to submit all necessary documents far in advance of the colleges' published deadlines.
We recommend that you sort out most of your Common Application before you return to school for Year 13. Complete your Early Decision applications by October of Year 13 and Regular Decision applications by December.
If you are applying to University of California schools, their application is due at the end of November.
11. Prepare for interviews
Check whether your chosen college interviews its applicants and, if so, research the format of the interview and the sort of questions that you might be asked. These interviews tend to be much less focused on academic matters than those conducted by universities in the UK, so be prepared to talk about your personal qualities, achievements and enthusiasms beyond the classroom.
Prepare answers to some commonly asked questions during an admissions interview, and practice with your parents and friends so you can speak confidently on the day.
Our advice
- Make sure that you know exactly what each of your chosen colleges expects of you in terms of entry requirements, documents, supplemental essays and so on.
- Talk to your teachers about your application at the earliest opportunity. Ensure that they know what information they need to supply and the various colleges' deadlines. This is especially important if you attend a school whose students rarely apply to US universities and whose staff may be unfamiliar with the process.
- Dedicate time to drafting and re-drafting any statements or essays that you are required to submit to ensure that they offer the best account of your qualities and achievements.
- Maintain a detailed schedule that incorporates plenty of practice-papers and allows you to submit all the necessary material well in advance of any deadline.
Need guidance?
We can help you to navigate every stage of this difficult process. A-List's University Advising service offers you personalised guidance to help you pick the colleges that are right for you and to develop a strategy that maximises your chances of acceptance.
We have successfully guided over 100,000 students since 2005. Each year, our students secure placements at 200 US universities, including all 8 Ivy League schools and other 50 top international institutions.
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Whether you are unsure about attending a US university, curious about your chances, or making a last-minute decision, our team are here to provide guidance and support.
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