Hi! I have recently been accepted to an Ivy League Institution from Wales and I really want other people from the UK to apply to the US!
When you go into Year 12, I STRONGLY consider you to research and apply to the
Sutton Trust US Programme!!! Honestly this programme is absolutely amazing and will help you so much in getting into any amazing US institution. If you are eligible to apply for the programme, PLEASE DO SO! Don't just take my word for it, research it a bit and you will see how great the programme is and what you are able to achieve through it. This time last year I'd laugh at you if you told me I'd be going to a US university this autumn! Visit us.suttontrust.com to learn more about it!
It's great you are already showing interest in studying in the US, that's great!! Dedication and lots of research are definitely required for applications to the US.
I agree mostly with
@artful_lounger with what he said above! Although there are merit-based scholarships!!! You will learn much more about these through the Sutton Trust US Programme and what they entail is full tuition for certain institutions that have such scholarships and access to a great alumni network - it's definitely worth a look! Some unis that do have merit-based scholarships are UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, UVA, and more! The Sutton trust is honestly a great resource for all this info.
There are also around 100 US universities that meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for International Students. This means that, after filling in the CSS profile which is your gateway to financial aid, 100 universities in the US will ensure that if they accept you, they will give you all the need you require based on your financial income! It's honestly awesome as it turns out cheaper than UK university most of the time! Again, the Sutton Trust Programme will talk about this much more in-depth. These aren't just the ivy leagues as well, these universities are great institutions you may not have heard of such as Amherst, Vanderbilt, Claremont McKenna, Northwestern, UChicago, Bowdoin, Tufts, just to name a few!! Honestly, US universities are so so affordable if you pick the ones who meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. A bit of research and you'd know all the ones that have this! Some universities are also need-blind so your financial need is NOT taken into consideration when accepting you to their college - it's great! In many of these Universities, 100% of students can graduate debt free and do so! Some big name unis like the UCs, for example, don't provide this so it's best to stay away from them if you know you won't be able to afford $70k a year..
Also, SAT Subject Test requirements have changed and they are basically no longer required by all but 4 universities if it puts you in financial hardship! They are recommended, but if you feel like you may struggle to pay to do them, you don't need to pay to do them! I did not do Subject Tests and I got into Harvard so there is no need to do them any more.
If you do get into the Sutton Trust US Programme, they actually pay for your ACT test so you get to do the test without having to pay for it!
If you have any other questions, please do ask! I really hope you get the chance to study in the states, it's one of the best experiences you can get!