Is it hard for A british A Level Student to get into A American University
So i have given it a lot of thought and upon completing My A Levels i want to go to University in the united states and stay there afterwards particularly California how is the process different for UCAS what process do you use to apply to a Uni In the USA
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Original post by Anonymous
So i have given it a lot of thought and upon completing My A Levels i want to go to University in the united states and stay there afterwards particularly California how is the process different for UCAS what process do you use to apply to a Uni In the USA
To my knowledge, there is no central application system like UCAS, you just apply on a University by University basis (although they are normally called colleges). The individual colleges just consider you based on your application. Do you know much about their process? I would recommend doing alot of research, as it is a huge decision, particularly for the US. The best US colleges can cost over $50,000 a year, and I doubt it is that easy to get a student loan for so much. On top of this, you don't apply for a specific subject, so if you are sure what you want to do, it may not be the best pick for you.
Not to try and convince you not to go, there are certainly many benefits to US colleges, just do sufficient research.
Original post by Anonymous
So i have given it a lot of thought and upon completing My A Levels i want to go to University in the united states and stay there afterwards particularly California how is the process different for UCAS what process do you use to apply to a Uni In the USA
not this again lol
3Qs:
are you rich?
do you have extraordinary extracurriculars?
do you have the time to study for the SATs/ACTs and will you get a decent grade?
Original post by Mrepic Foulger
To my knowledge, there is no central application system like UCAS, you just apply on a University by University basis (although they are normally called colleges). The individual colleges just consider you based on your application. Do you know much about their process? I would recommend doing alot of research, as it is a huge decision, particularly for the US. The best US colleges can cost over $50,000 a year, and I doubt it is that easy to get a student loan for so much. On top of this, you don't apply for a specific subject, so if you are sure what you want to do, it may not be the best pick for you.
Not to try and convince you not to go, there are certainly many benefits to US colleges, just do sufficient research.
Not to try and convince you not to go, there are certainly many benefits to US colleges, just do sufficient research.
i will do my aim is to do media in New york or Los Angeles but i will deffo research
Original post by Anonymous
So i have given it a lot of thought and upon completing My A Levels i want to go to University in the united states and stay there afterwards particularly California how is the process different for UCAS what process do you use to apply to a Uni In the USA
As another previous post suggested, the US college system is very different to the UK one (I'm assuming you are from the UK). In the UK, it is almost purely based on academia, whereas the US like to see alot of other things such as extra-curriculars. You will also have to be good at Maths and English so you can do well in the SAT, even if it isn't relevant to your course.
Original post by Mrepic Foulger
As another previous post suggested, the US college system is very different to the UK one (I'm assuming you are from the UK). In the UK, it is almost purely based on academia, whereas the US like to see alot of other things such as extra-curriculars. You will also have to be good at Maths and English so you can do well in the SAT, even if it isn't relevant to your course.
im good at maths and english my gcse results were
Eng Lang 9
Eng Lit 7
Maths 8
so as long as i revised i feel i could do well in the SAT
SAT is GCSE material that is phrased at AS level standard. Not hard to get the concepts, but application is a bit tricky
Original post by Mrepic Foulger
To my knowledge, there is no central application system like UCAS, you just apply on a University by University basis (although they are normally called colleges). The individual colleges just consider you based on your application. Do you know much about their process? I would recommend doing alot of research, as it is a huge decision, particularly for the US. The best US colleges can cost over $50,000 a year, and I doubt it is that easy to get a student loan for so much. On top of this, you don't apply for a specific subject, so if you are sure what you want to do, it may not be the best pick for you.
Not to try and convince you not to go, there are certainly many benefits to US colleges, just do sufficient research.
Not to try and convince you not to go, there are certainly many benefits to US colleges, just do sufficient research.
There's the CommonApp which contains a huge portion of schools. Large state schools tend to not be on there (e.g. UCs), but smaller private and elite colleges generally are (Harvard etc). You send off nearly all the same stuff to every college, along with any supplemental essays where you're applying requires.
There IS financial aid. It's quite hard to find it, and OP should thoroughly consider the Sutton Trust US Programme if their parents earn under £45k as they'll help you find it. If your parents earn £100k+, good luck getting more than a few pennies though.
Original post by hoixw
There's the CommonApp which contains a huge portion of schools. Large state schools tend to not be on there (e.g. UCs), but smaller private and elite colleges generally are (Harvard etc). You send off nearly all the same stuff to every college, along with any supplemental essays where you're applying requires.
There IS financial aid. It's quite hard to find it, and OP should thoroughly consider the Sutton Trust US Programme if their parents earn under £45k as they'll help you find it. If your parents earn £100k+, good luck getting more than a few pennies though.
There IS financial aid. It's quite hard to find it, and OP should thoroughly consider the Sutton Trust US Programme if their parents earn under £45k as they'll help you find it. If your parents earn £100k+, good luck getting more than a few pennies though.
that is not always the case tho. That is for US students and not International ones. (I am referring to your statement about the 45k per year). Not all the universities in the US offer financial aid for internationals students and if they do they do give away only 25k per year. Don't forget that in the US your tuition fees, books, accommodation, living expenses etc come up to 90k per year. If they give you only 25k per year that means that you have to pay 65k by yourself. And that is for 3 years. So total you have to pay 195k.
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by Anonymous
So i have given it a lot of thought and upon completing My A Levels i want to go to University in the united states and stay there afterwards particularly California how is the process different for UCAS what process do you use to apply to a Uni In the USA
first of all, do you have 195k? or in the worst scenario possible 270k?
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by emily_000
that is not always the case tho. That is for US students and not International ones. (I am referring to your statement about the 45k per year). Not all the universities in the US offer financial aid for internationals students and if they do they do give away only 25k per year. Don't forget that in the US your tuition fees, books, accommodation, living expenses etc come up to 90k per year. If they give you only 25k per year that means that you have to pay 65k by yourself. And that is for 3 years. So total you have to pay 195k.
There's about 100 or so US universities that offer (up to) full rides through their need aware aid programmes. A lot of them are small LACs with big endowments, whereas others are the big, famous universities. I
n this wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission), all of the universities under "U.S. institutions that are need-blind and meet full demonstrated need for both U.S. and international students" AND "U.S. institutions that are need-blind for U.S. applicants and meet full demonstrated need" offer up to full-rides, and NEARLY ALL of the ones under "U.S. institutions that are not need-blind for U.S. applicants and meet full demonstrated need" offer up to full-rides for internationals.
Original post by hoixw
There's about 100 or so US universities that offer (up to) full rides through their need aware aid programmes. A lot of them are small LACs with big endowments, whereas others are the big, famous universities. I
n this wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission), all of the universities under "U.S. institutions that are need-blind and meet full demonstrated need for both U.S. and international students" AND "U.S. institutions that are need-blind for U.S. applicants and meet full demonstrated need" offer up to full-rides, and NEARLY ALL of the ones under "U.S. institutions that are not need-blind for U.S. applicants and meet full demonstrated need" offer up to full-rides for internationals.
n this wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission), all of the universities under "U.S. institutions that are need-blind and meet full demonstrated need for both U.S. and international students" AND "U.S. institutions that are need-blind for U.S. applicants and meet full demonstrated need" offer up to full-rides, and NEARLY ALL of the ones under "U.S. institutions that are not need-blind for U.S. applicants and meet full demonstrated need" offer up to full-rides for internationals.
In the website it says the follow names:
1. Harvard University ( a dream )
2.Princeton University (a dream)
3.Yale University (Ivy League)
4.Massachusetts Institute of Technology (a dream)
5. Amherst College (Realistic)
6.Curtis Institute of Music (Realistic)
7.Minerva Schools at KGI. (Realistic)
Do you understand that most universities that offer help to international students are hard to enter into right?! Harvard and Princeton are not like Cambridge or Oxford.
So the applicant (the person who made this thread) have low to no chance at all in the US if his parents cannot pay the tuition fees, books, health insurance, accommodation etc unless he wants to go to a non good college such as the Amherst College the Curtis Institute of Music or the Minerva Schools at KGI.
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by emily_000
In the website it says the follow names:
1. University of Harvard ( a dream )
2.Princeton University (a dream)
3.Yale University (Ivy League)
4.Massachusetts Institute of Technology (a dream)
5. Amherst College (Realistic)
6.Curtis Institute of Music (Realistic)
7.Minerva Schools at KGI.
Do you understand that most universities that offer help to international students are hard to enter into right?! Harvard and Princeton are not like Cambridge or Oxford.
So the applicant (the person who made this thread) have low to no chance at all in the US if his parents cannot pay the tuition fees, books, health insurance, accommodation etc
1. University of Harvard ( a dream )
2.Princeton University (a dream)
3.Yale University (Ivy League)
4.Massachusetts Institute of Technology (a dream)
5. Amherst College (Realistic)
6.Curtis Institute of Music (Realistic)
7.Minerva Schools at KGI.
Do you understand that most universities that offer help to international students are hard to enter into right?! Harvard and Princeton are not like Cambridge or Oxford.
So the applicant (the person who made this thread) have low to no chance at all in the US if his parents cannot pay the tuition fees, books, health insurance, accommodation etc
Yes. And to add to the above:
Even where a full ride is available you are competing with lots of very determined Indians, Nigerians etc
A lot of people get caught out on the financial criteria as they find that although their parents earn a low enough amount to be eligible they have large enough assets (house, pension etc) to leave a huge expected contribution.
Original post by Anonymous
So i have given it a lot of thought and upon completing My A Levels i want to go to University in the united states and stay there afterwards particularly California how is the process different for UCAS what process do you use to apply to a Uni In the USA
Look at the Sutton Trust US program! It is completely free to go to university from the UK, depending on your grades of course
Original post by Anonymous
So i have given it a lot of thought and upon completing My A Levels i want to go to University in the united states and stay there afterwards particularly California how is the process different for UCAS what process do you use to apply to a Uni In the USA
If you're a British student I highly recommend not going to an American University:
1. The standard of teaching is much lower to the point where you will quickly realise that in the first 2 years of you being there you will essentially be REPEATING your A-levels... So you'll easily be at the top of the class. So in lame terms you'll waste $100K
2. Too expensive do you have $50K laying around?
3. You'll have to share you dorm with a complete stranger!! no sir BIG RED FLAG
4. As others have said you will be studying subjects outside your chosen degree hmm I wonder why? Maybe it's because the American exams are as easy as hell
5. Might add more later
Original post by A Rolling Stone
not this again lol
3Qs:
are you rich?
do you have extraordinary extracurriculars?
do you have the time to study for the SATs/ACTs and will you get a decent grade?
3Qs:
are you rich?
do you have extraordinary extracurriculars?
do you have the time to study for the SATs/ACTs and will you get a decent grade?
Lmfao of course they will have the time to study for the SAT/ACT seen how easy the exam is? with just a bit of studying the average C grade UK student would easily be able to get an A* in an American Exams. ffs US students are dumber than us on average and have so much easier in comparison to us! 😭
Original post by 1st superstar
If you're a British student I highly recommend not going to an American University:
1. The standard of teaching is much lower to the point where you will quickly realise that in the first 2 years of you being there you will essentially be REPEATING your A-levels... So you'll easily be at the top of the class. So in lame terms you'll waste $100K
2. Too expensive do you have $50K laying around?
3. You'll have to share you dorm with a complete stranger!! no sir BIG RED FLAG
4. As others have said you will be studying subjects outside your chosen degree hmm I wonder why? Maybe it's because the American exams are as easy as hell
5. Might add more later
1. The standard of teaching is much lower to the point where you will quickly realise that in the first 2 years of you being there you will essentially be REPEATING your A-levels... So you'll easily be at the top of the class. So in lame terms you'll waste $100K
2. Too expensive do you have $50K laying around?
3. You'll have to share you dorm with a complete stranger!! no sir BIG RED FLAG
4. As others have said you will be studying subjects outside your chosen degree hmm I wonder why? Maybe it's because the American exams are as easy as hell
5. Might add more later
Well I have to say US unis are, in most cases, better than those in UK. Of course there are some exceptions due to the variety of unis / community colleges in the US . However if you compared the large state schools ( Georgia tech, UCLA , UC Berkeley , UMich and Purdue ) they would generally have the edge over all russel group unis in the U.K. ( with exception of Oxbridge ). US unis tend to have a much bigger endowments and funding available than those UK unis, they also have the edge in STEM fields etc. if you are deciding to apply to an Ivy League school, that def would be much better than even getting into Oxbridge ( with exception of Dartmouth and Brown). US unis tend to have a hollistic overview of your application , in U.K. They only look at your grades, however in US top unis they wanna ensure that you have the capabilities to do something meaningful and important to the whole world. However, US unis tend to cost much more than those in UK , they tend to be much much much more selective than unis in the UK. Moreover, salaries in the US are typically double or even triple that in the UK so that's also an advantage. And a major advantage is that if you graduate from a US uni, you can work in almost any of the 50 something states in America and, GUESS WHAT!!??!!- you may end up living in the economically strongest and most beautiful country in the world - THE USA!!!!
Original post by 1st superstar
Lmfao of course they will have the time to study for the SAT/ACT seen how easy the exam is? with just a bit of studying the average C grade UK student would easily be able to get an A* in an American Exams. ffs US students are dumber than us on average and have so much easier in comparison to us! 😭
as a self-proclaimed 'Answer Hero' you should perhaps learn about the inverse relationship between difficulty and grade boundaries.
Original post by 1st superstar
Lmfao of course they will have the time to study for the SAT/ACT seen how easy the exam is? with just a bit of studying the average C grade UK student would easily be able to get an A* in an American Exams. ffs US students are dumber than us on average and have so much easier in comparison to us! 😭
SAT English is so fvckin hard , I got an A* in both English Lang and lit but ended up with a 610/800 on the SAT English . Math is so fvckin easy tho , got an 800/800 without even studying for it
Original post by OMG354
SAT English is so fvckin hard , I got an A* in both English Lang and lit but ended up with a 610/800 on the SAT English . Math is so fvckin easy tho , got an 800/800 without even studying for it
whats so hard about the English, any examples? i thought the questions were basic "read this paragraph and tell us which of the 4 he really means"
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