[Mr Dangermouse]

Was just wondering what the typical requirements are?


Pure curiosity by the way, I'm studying in Scotland and then heading off(hopefully) to the Yankee nation to live my life.

[082349]

(Original post by Mr Dangermouse)
Was just wondering what the typical requirements are?


Pure curiosity by the way, I'm studying in Scotland and then heading off(hopefully) to the Yankee nation to live my life.

The application system is different in that you don't apply for a specific course in the US (unlike UK universities) hence there are no entry requirements per se.

However, you will generally be asked to take the SAT/ACT and maybe SAT Subject Tests.

What colleges are you looking at?

[Mr Dangermouse]

(Original post by 082349)
The application system is different in that you don't apply for a specific course in the US (unlike UK universities) hence there are no entry requirements per se.

However, you will generally be asked to take the SAT/ACT and maybe SAT Subject Tests.

What colleges are you looking at?

I'm not. I just want to know what ones I could get into out of curiosity.

[lifeisgood.]

Hey. American here.

There are no "entry requirements".

As a rule of the thumb though, If you're getting Straight As in both GCSE and A-Levels(or whatever the scottish equiv is) your grades will no longer be a limiting factor at any college(including ivy league). Instead, your extracurriculars and SATs will be.

If you want, post your stats(grades, SATs and extracurriculars), your setting of preference(big city, suburbs etc) and I'll set you up with a small list off the top of my head.

[Mr Dangermouse]

Grades

Mostly A's, just the two B's in Chemistry and English. Other 5 subjects Maths, economics, computing, modern studies and accounting.

Haven't done the SAT's. Although I'm guessing I'd get around 75%.

Extracurriculars I work, I volunteer and I'm a blackbelt in taekwondo

Preferences a big college in a big city.

[lifeisgood.]

Idk who would neg you over that..but:

SATs aren't graded on percents. A score out of 2400. Colleges might look at percentile scores, but the number out of 2400 is important. Extracurriculars are average; if you want a good shot at some good schools, get involved in student gvt or leadership. But taekwondo black belt is impressive.

For city schools, be ready to accept the costs. Few schools give need-based aid to internationals, and only the really top tier unis do. Some schools will give you merit-based scholarships, but only if you apply to a relatively school, so that your stats are very impressive compared to the rest of the student body.

Assuming you do relatively well on the SATs(1900-2000+?), you have a shot at a few big urban schools off the top of my head:

(in order of approximate difficulty)
New York University
University of Washington (in Seattle)
Boston University
American University (in Washington DC)
Fordham University (in New York)
Syracuse University (in New York)

[justanotherperson]

US universities don't have entry requirements in the same way that UK uni's do. Basically you submit things like your GPA, SAT I, SAT II (subject tests), ACT's, AP's, etc. A big part is extracurricular, you can't expect to get into top schools without a pretty solid background with extracurricular. Good luck!

[alexs2602]

Out of curiosity; what do Americans think of this. application system? Ie; the requirements as listed above in order to gain a place at a college/uni

[Eddyward]

Pretty much all american universities focus mainly on SATs, grades and extracurricular. Ivies especially focus on the latter, and not just work experience or a few sports. Ivies look for the highest achievers in their extracurricular s, whether it be sports or volunteering. They want captains from sports teams and volunteers from the most prestigious institutions or charities.

Scale that down a few notches and you have the requirements for the gist of american colleges.

[ifstatement]

Also remember you lose points if you answer a question wrong in the SAT, which is why the SAT is pretty tricky because you have to be really accurate.