Applying to U.S. Universities - Newsletter
Note: This is meant as an informal introduction and should not be treated as a sole guide.
Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton—these names spark recognition among the general public and are considered “good schools.” While these prestigious colleges do educate some of the brightest students in America, the United States offers thousands of other colleges with quality education and professional development.
This attracts a highly competitive pool of applicants—and not only from the U.S. International students, or students from outside the U.S., make up a noticeable percentage of aspiring applicants. While it is generally more difficult for international applicants to be admitted into American universities, it is not impossible. This article can serve as a brief introduction to U.S. admissions.
Factors in Admissions
Perhaps the most striking difference between most countries in the U.S. in terms of education is the requirements for admission. While countries such as Vietnam require a college entrance exam in order to be admitted to high-ranking colleges, American universities use various factors in admission decisions. These include but are not limited to:
Grade-point average (GPA)
Course rigor (IB, AP, Honor courses, dual enrollment)
Ranking in high school
Personal statements (essays)
Extracurriculars (clubs, sports, leadership activities,community service, hobbies, etc.)
Standardized tests (SAT, ACT, TOEFL)
Teacher recommendations
State residence (for public schools)
The most competitive applicants will be strong in most (if not all) of these factors, although specific metrics differ between universities. However, it is possible to be competitive by being much stronger in one area. (For example, a low GPA can be made up by having a compelling personal statement or many hours devoted to extracurriculars.)
Creating a College List
Over the end of 11th grade or the summer after, high school students begin creating their college list. Often, factors in determining a good list include:
Location: Do you prefer cold weather? Warm weather? Urban or suburban settings? Near family?
Program: Does the college offer your intended major? Is the program highly ranked for this college? Do you want an Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree?
Outside Opportunities: Does the college provide opportunities for research/volunteer/internships?
Community: How much diversity does the college have? What type of students make up the student population?
Cost: How much in tuition and expenses will the college cost over 3-4 years? Does it offer a scholarship program?
In addition, it is important to gauge the rigor in the entire list. Generally, it is unwise to apply to only universities with low acceptance rates, especially for your demographic. Having a list of colleges with varying acceptance rates will increase (but not guarantee) the chance of being accepted into at least one college. This should be determined by your skills and confidence in yourself as an applicant (factors listed above). Applying to too many colleges (>20) or too little (<3) is also risky, but this depends on the applicant.
Another helpful tip is to apply to colleges that have rolling admissions (ex: University of Pittsburgh). This means that applications are reviewed as they are submitted, and applicants may receive decisions early in the school year. Often, those who submit earlier have a better chance of being accepted, as later applicants are competing for less and less seats, which progressively fill up throughout the season. Applying and getting accepted through rolling admissions ensures a seat at a college early on.
Similarly, some universities offer Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED). Unlike rolling admissions, EA and ED are not fluid—the deadline is usually in early November and decisions release in December. While both EA and ED lead to an earlier decision, getting accepted through ED means that you must attend that college in the coming fall, while getting accepted through EA does not.
Application Process
After compiling a list of colleges and your strongest application factors, you should start the actual application process.
American universities offer three application portals, but you may only choose one (note that some colleges offer applications on 1-3 of the following):
The university's own portal
Remember to check that all of your applicant information is correct, your essays are polished, and you described your extracurriculars thoroughly. Applicants should also have several people check over the application to make any last-minute changes. Then you may submit your application! This process typically lasts between August and January, depending on how large your college list is.
Most colleges (if they are not rolling, EA, or ED) will release your admission results around spring. There are three main types of decisions:
Acceptance – You are accepted into the university and may enroll for the next school term
Waitlist – You may either be accepted or rejected to the college at a later date when spots for the class open up throughout the summer.
Rejection – You were not selected to enroll in the university for the next year.
National College Decision Day, or the day accepted students choose their college, is May 1. After weighing their choices (including waitlists and acceptances), all students will select which college they will attend for the next fall term by this date.
Financial Aid
American universities are expensive, often costing tens of thousands of dollars each year. Thus, it’s a good idea to apply to scholarships throughout the application season and beyond.
Unfortunately, international applicants cannot apply to FAFSA (federal aid), but you may be eligible for scholarships, grants, or loans through your university, high school, the Internet, or other means.
Other Information
After getting accepted, students must apply for a student visa in order to study in the U.S.
For more detailed information on student aid or attending an American university, either consult a college counselor or click on this website: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/international-students.pdf.
In the future, we will cover admissions to universities in Vietnam.