[jessica7022]

Hi,

Recently, i have found that there is some chance that I would be able to receive financial aid to study at a university in the US, and so my hopes of attending an Ivy league university (which had previously been slashed by a seriously negative higher education advisor at my college), have been rejuvenated.

I am currently studying History AS, Politics AS, Philosophy AS and English Literature AS, all of which i am expected to achieve an A grade in, and next year hope to take History, Politics and Philosophy through to A2. I also intend to study AS maths and Extended Project Qualification alongside my current commitments.

My worry is that as I have left it quite late to start studying for the SAT test, i will not perform well enough to get in. How hard are the tests in equivalent to A Levels?

I also have no idea of whether or not A Level qualifications are taken into account when allocating places: do they?

If anyone has any experience of applying to the US, or intends to apply for study in the academic year 2013-2014, advice would be really helpful.

[Ishamo]

Impossible to give you feedback when all we know about you as an applicant is that you might get 4A's at AS.

SATs are different in format to A-Levels, do some googling... there is a plethora of information available about them.

EC's?

[Lumos]

(Original post by jessica7022)
Hi,

Recently, i have found that there is some chance that I would be able to receive financial aid to study at a university in the US, and so my hopes of attending an Ivy league university (which had previously been slashed by a seriously negative higher education advisor at my college), have been rejuvenated.

I am currently studying History AS, Politics AS, Philosophy AS and English Literature AS, all of which i am expected to achieve an A grade in, and next year hope to take History, Politics and Philosophy through to A2. I also intend to study AS maths and Extended Project Qualification alongside my current commitments.

My worry is that as I have left it quite late to start studying for the SAT test, i will not perform well enough to get in. How hard are the tests in equivalent to A Levels?

I also have no idea of whether or not A Level qualifications are taken into account when allocating places: do they?

If anyone has any experience of applying to the US, or intends to apply for study in the academic year 2013-2014, advice would be really helpful.

your a levels, gcse's, sat scores, extra curriculars, application essay and a whole number of other factors will be taken into account, could you tell us about those?

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you (but taking a gap year to apply - entry 2013) SAT's aren't too bad- maths, critical reading/ general english grammar and a writing section, you can revise for the maths but the rest is more like an IQ test. the subject tests are a little different, but you need to take two for most colleges.

[jessica7022]

Well, my GCSE's were okay, but not fantastic, as I got 5 A*'s, 5A's and a B. What're your like?

In terms of Extracurricular activities, Im a bit... lacking. I recently set up my college newspaper, and am the editor for that, I have taken part in a number of Model United Nations conferences, I am a member of a debating society, I play netball for my county, and I am an involved member of my local conservative party (I did my work experience with my local MP). The problem is that I'm not one of those kids who plays 101 sports (netballs pretty much my limit), so I don't fit into the view of the typical applicant, who's captain of every team in the college...

I also have a job as a waitress, and have been in the position for over 2 1/2 years, but i don't know whether thats frowned upon, or looked positively upon.

The subject tests are really odd: English was okay, but I tried the world history one, and there were questions where I didn't even recognise the words they were using. I guess It'll take a bit of work learning broad historical time frames and things before I'd even think about sitting it. Which subject tests have you/do you plan to sit?

(Original post by Ishamo)
Impossible to give you feedback when all we know about you as an applicant is that you might get 4A's at AS.

SATs are different in format to A-Levels, do some googling... there is a plethora of information available about them.

EC's?

And you were right: I looked online and tried out a few practice SAT's. I did okay on most of them (above 700), but the maths one was seriously hard. Luckily, I'm taking up AS maths next year, so by the time I sit them in November, I'll be should reasonably good.

[0range]

(Original post by jessica7022)
Well, my GCSE's were okay, but not fantastic, as I got 5 A*'s, 5A's and a B. What're your like?

...

[jessica7022]

(Original post by 0range)
...

Is that a bad or good facepalm?

I cant decide whether youre saying that they were quite good, not just 'okay', in which case, at my school that was pretty average (I went to a comprehensive in the north-east, not a private school or anything, but our year was full of serious over achievers). I think i was 20th in the year...



If youre saying that they're not good enough to get into an ivy league, then oops, sorry.

[dragonkeeper999]

I'm looking into studying in America, not too sure if I've left it a bit too late I'm really rather confused about the SAT test - some universities make them sound sort of optional, but then it forms a part of their offer or something, same with the subject tests - can you chose which ones to do? I'm thinking of applying for a sciences degree (NatSci in UK), but I'm also rather confused about the course structures in America - you seem to be required to do modules from a whole range of subjects completely unrelated to science, and it's rather vague about combined degrees. So I'm rather confused - Help please?

[NYU2012]

You need to keep up with and stay very involved in extracurriculars. In the US what differentiates candidates applying to the top schools is not their grades -- it's what they've been doing in addition to receiving top marks at school.

Aim for a minimum 700+ on each section of the SAT. If you're planning on applying Early Decision anywhere, you'll need to sit the SATs prior to November.

The UCAS essays and the Common App essays are very different formats. Be sure you spend a lot of time on the essays for the Common App -- remember, each school you apply to will have its own set of supplementary essays.

Most schools in the US are not need blind to international students, the only exceptions being: Amherst, Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, Princeton and Yale.

Which means that of the Ivy League, only Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth and Yale are need-blind for international applicants -- all of which enjoy acceptance rates at or lower than 10%. Admission to these schools will be very competitive. The remaining schools of the Ivy League: Columbia, UPenn, Cornell and Brown are not need-blind (meaning they will consider how much money you will need) and will base part of your acceptance or rejection on how much money you can or cannot pay.

[Descartesz]

The remaining schools of the Ivy League: Columbia, UPenn, Cornell and Brown are not need-blind (meaning they will consider how much money you will need) and will base part of your acceptance or rejection on how much money you can or cannot pay.

It is more correct to say that they might base their decision on an international student's ability to pay given the level of financial aid they feel they can afford to extend.

I'm looking into studying in America, not too sure if I've left it a bit too late I'm really rather confused about the SAT test - some universities make them sound sort of optional, but then it forms a part of their offer or something, same with the subject tests - can you chose which ones to do? I'm thinking of applying for a sciences degree (NatSci in UK), but I'm also rather confused about the course structures in America - you seem to be required to do modules from a whole range of subjects completely unrelated to science, and it's rather vague about combined degrees. So I'm rather confused - Help please?

Almost all the very competitive schools (certainly all Ivies, Stanford, and MIT) require and accept either the SAT or ACT - it should be clear in their checklist of admissions requirements. Many will also require (or "prefer") SAT Subject tests, too, but this is a less regular requirement. Some schools will accept the ACT in lieu of both SAT and Subject tests. This list here is usually a reliable guide.

http://www.compassprep.com/admissions_req_subjects.aspx

With a few exceptions the choice of subject tests is left to the applicant. The science/tech schools sometime specify at least one science or math(s) test (e.g., MIT, which requires one of each). You can see more details about subject test requirements by expanding the links on the list provided above. I would recommend at least one subject test aligned with your interest (biology, for example, if that is what you think you might study).

There are a few somewhat less selective and many relatively unselective schools that have made these tests optional for admission. Here is a list:

http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional

In some of these cases you may be able to substitute UK test scores for SAT/ACT scores.

If you mean to apply for September, 2013 entry, using the Regular Decision option (in which applications typically are due on or about January 1), you will have to complete at least one SAT or ACT by December to be safe. (Sometimes January sittings are accepted.) You will also have to complete all of your Subject tests, which can be taken up to three at a time but never on the same day that you sit the SAT. Remaining SAT sittings for 2012 are in October, November, and December.

U.S. schools usually make almost unconditional offers -- if you are accepted, you are in, with the only proviso that you complete your remaining secondary school work at an indulgently acceptable level.

Rules for "combined degrees" are specific for each school and often complicated. There are ranges of options -- majors and minors, double majors, interdisciplinary majors, actual dual degrees (two bachelors degrees), and even integrated bachelor/masters combinations -- which are sometimes unique and certainly not available at all schools. Best to contact the admissions office of each school if you are (understandably) confused by the published degree requirements.

[gutenberg]

(Original post by jessica7022)
Is that a bad or good facepalm?

I cant decide whether youre saying that they were quite good, not just 'okay', in which case, at my school that was pretty average (I went to a comprehensive in the north-east, not a private school or anything, but our year was full of serious over achievers). I think i was 20th in the year...



If youre saying that they're not good enough to get into an ivy league, then oops, sorry.

This is kind of what is worrying me about your GCSE grades: they are brilliant by official standards (considering how many don't get 5 A-C grades at all!) but if you were only 20th in your year then I'd reconsider a bit. Remember that it is those 'overachievers' that you will be competing with for places in these Ivy League schools, and as others have said they will also have extra-curriculars etc. as well.

[BO'H]

you also need to be aware
(1) that the 'ivy league' is only a sports association - there are universities which are just as good or better (stanford, mit) which are not ivy league and
(2) that the ivies are VERY different - you would have a completely different experience at, say, dartmouth or cornell, than you would at, say, brown or columbia
until you can be convincing about why you want to go to particular school, not just 'an ivy', you are unlikely to be an attractive candidate

[Lumos]

(Original post by jessica7022)
Well, my GCSE's were okay, but not fantastic, as I got 5 A*'s, 5A's and a B. What're your like?

In terms of Extracurricular activities, Im a bit... lacking. I recently set up my college newspaper, and am the editor for that, I have taken part in a number of Model United Nations conferences, I am a member of a debating society, I play netball for my county, and I am an involved member of my local conservative party (I did my work experience with my local MP). The problem is that I'm not one of those kids who plays 101 sports (netballs pretty much my limit), so I don't fit into the view of the typical applicant, who's captain of every team in the college...

I also have a job as a waitress, and have been in the position for over 2 1/2 years, but i don't know whether thats frowned upon, or looked positively upon.

The subject tests are really odd: English was okay, but I tried the world history one, and there were questions where I didn't even recognise the words they were using. I guess It'll take a bit of work learning broad historical time frames and things before I'd even think about sitting it. Which subject tests have you/do you plan to sit?



And you were right: I looked online and tried out a few practice SAT's. I did okay on most of them (above 700), but the maths one was seriously hard. Luckily, I'm taking up AS maths next year, so by the time I sit them in November, I'll be should reasonably good.

To be honest your EC's actually sound really great- newspaper editor, competing at a national level, being in model UN- the kinds of EC'S that will also be recognised because those are the kinds of things US applicants will have, not just regular sport or music clubs like we usually have in the UK- you have developed them. Jobs and work experience is good- it shows independence and responsibility, and that you can manage working alongside your studies. Your GCSE's are certainly good enough- if you get good AS Levels and SAT's I'd say you were a strong candidate. One thing you must remember- and I can't stress this enough- is how important your essay is. I would start drafting these now (prepare about 3- one main one and others for supplementary essays) and make sure it is different from your personal statement for UCAS- us colleges want to her about YOU, not your subject. Good luck!


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