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Applying to US college as UK sixth form student

Hi, I'm a year 12 student doing A levels in biology, psychology and history predicted A*A*A*. I got all 9s at GCSEs (2 8s in food tech and maths) and considering studying abroad. I want to be a travel nurse which is mostly a US thing, and I missed the deadline for the Sutton trust US programme. Are my chances of studying in the US slim? and what do i have to do to get there. I don't have much work experience or super curriculars apart from a week's placement shadowing a nurse, future leaders programme and some volunteering in charity shops and mental health charities e.g. NCT, so I know I need to do more in that aspect. I know that I'm quite a weak applicant regarding extracurriculars so what can I do from now until applications? Any advice/tips?

Reply 1

marcus.0

The chances of any international applying to the US are inherently more slim. What universities do you want to go to?
US admissions officers like to see a narrative. If you want to be a travel nurse, you want your narrative/story to center around nursing. This means internships, your own initiatives, community outreach, etc. Accelerate any passion projects you have, start new ones if you don't. Noticed your community lacks X? Go address it. Volunteer where you can. Use any hobbies that you have too: maybe you like photography for example, go start a club in your school for aspiring photographers.
You also need competitions, awards, qualifications if possible. Not just participation either.

Overall, I wouldn't say it's worth it if I were in your position. If you are determined though, anything is possible.

Reply 2

daniellx.9

Original post

by marcus.0

The chances of any international applying to the US are inherently more slim. What universities do you want to go to?
US admissions officers like to see a narrative. If you want to be a travel nurse, you want your narrative/story to center around nursing. This means internships, your own initiatives, community outreach, etc. Accelerate any passion projects you have, start new ones if you don't. Noticed your community lacks X? Go address it. Volunteer where you can. Use any hobbies that you have too: maybe you like photography for example, go start a club in your school for aspiring photographers.
You also need competitions, awards, qualifications if possible. Not just participation either.
Overall, I wouldn't say it's worth it if I were in your position. If you are determined though, anything is possible.

thanks for your reply, what exactly makes it not worth it? is it that it’s too late to do these things now, as I’m doing a lot more volunteering now im care homes and I’m doing more competitions too, just completed biology Olympiad, but I feel like it’s not enough. how many should I have been doing for me to have a chance?

Reply 3

marcus.0

It sounds like you are aiming for top institutions. With the time investment you will need to put in to have a reasonable chance at the T20s, you could probably secure yourself an Oxbridge interview/offer. The additional fees you pay are high as well compared to the UK.

You ideally want 10 developed and well-rounded extracurriculars with 3-4 of them centering around your major, and 5 awards with 2+ being international level

Reply 4

daniellx.9

Original post

by marcus.0

It sounds like you are aiming for top institutions. With the time investment you will need to put in to have a reasonable chance at the T20s, you could probably secure yourself an Oxbridge interview/offer. The additional fees you pay are high as well compared to the UK.
You ideally want 10 developed and well-rounded extracurriculars with 3-4 of them centering around your major, and 5 awards with 2+ being international level

my only problem is I made horrible a level choices, if I wanted to go to Oxbridge I’d want to do medicine, and obviously I don’t do chemistry so that’s locked off. they don’t have many courses in general so not anything else that I’d be interested in. but yes I do understand where you’re coming from