IB Application to USA Universities (IB students)

Transcription

1 I pplication to US Universities (I students) (May 2014)

2 Introduction major problem with researching US universities is dealing with the vast quantity of information available. Enquires to a few universities can results in many kilogrammes of material being delivered to you, much of which can be accessed on the internet. Help with research Fiske Guide to Getting Into the Right ollege - contains general information on most aspects of researching and applying to US schools. Fiske Guide to olleges - provides a 2-3 page overview of each of 300 selective US institutions and includes some major anadian and UK universities. It provides invaluable information on most aspects of researching and applying to US schools. Linden is a US organization specializing in tours and college fairs around the world. It has a useful webpage about US education at The Linden Tour usually visits Hong Kong in October each year and it might be worth attending if you want to meet with schools that don't usually visit WIS. The Institute of International Education (IIE) holds its annual US higher education fair in Hong Kong in late September/early October at the onrad Hotel. More information can be found at: Services/Higher-Education-Fairs 1

3 redit and advanced placement High scores in your HL courses might get you some credit at some colleges, allowing you to skip the corresponding first-year courses. Some college will reduce your total credit requirements (i.e. you complete your degree with fewer courses) while others will not change your total credit requirement (i.e. same number or courses but at least no repetition of equivalent first-year courses). Terminology University versus ollege While most other countries just use the name university for institutions offering the undergraduate achelor degree programme, US schools are typically classified as universities (usually offer research and both fouryear undergraduate as well as post-graduate study) or colleges (only offer the four-year undergraduate degree programmes - although there is no post-graduate research, some colleges do offer excellent research opportunities). lso institutes offer achelor degrees - e.g. MIT, altech. Some universities offer their undergraduate programmes within colleges - e.g. ornell University has seven undergraduate colleges (rt, Sciences, Engineering, etc). Liberal rt and Pre-Professional Most colleges offer a liberal arts programme, which includes compulsory breadth with a focus on your chosen major. This is similar to the I Diploma programme. Some professions require specialized training at the undergraduate level to prepare for a graduate programme. These pre-professional programmes are not available at all colleges. 2

4 Need-blind Most universities have separate offices for admissions and for financial aid, each deal with relevant applications. When a university states that it is need-blind, it means each of these 2 offices makes its own decisions without consulting the other -i.e. a student might get an offer of admission but no offer of financial aid. One rationale for this is that a student may be able to use the admission offer to raise funds or sponsorship for the university costs. Many universities state that they are need-blind but unless it states it specifically for international students you should probably assume they are only need-blind for domestic students and 'need-aware' for others. If the university is not need-blind then it will usually make an admission offer if it is also prepared to offer financial aid. One effect of this is that many students receive rejections because the universities could not afford them and not because the universities did not want them. You should be aware that if you apply for financial aid to universities which are not need-blind when you do no need it, you risk a rejection on financial grounds. pplications There are different deadlines for universities but the most common ones are 1st November, mid December and early January. There are also rolling applications, but our advice for application is - the earlier, the better. You can get application forms by: Requesting from the university - Undergraduate dmissions Office addresses are available on the university websites and in their prospectuses. Downloading from the university websites - many universities provide this option. ompleting the form online at the university website Using the ommon pplication form if the university is a member of this system. 3

5 ommon pplication ( The ommon pplication is a single application accepted by more than 00 US universities and colleges. The major advantage of using the ommon pplication is the time saved by completing the form to send to the various universities you wish to apply to, on the same form. lthough you only need to write one application essay, you might want to alter it slightly or even write a completely different essay for some universities. Some universities have extra forms - supplements - which you can get from the common application website. Non-ommon pplication ertain universities and colleges are not listed under ommon pplication, e.g. University of alifornia, University of Texas. Students will need to apply directly to the university. Early Decision, Early ction and Regular Decision Some US colleges offer Early Decision or Early ction applications. If you apply for Early Decision you commit to attend that college if it offers you a place - i.e. you can only apply to Early Decision to one college and you must be certain that college is your first choice. If you apply for Early ction, you are not bind to attend that college if it offers you a place. Some US colleges only have Early ction or Early Decision. Many US colleges have Early Decision/ction application deadlines in October and November and will give you a decision several weeks later, often before the hristmas break. Some advantages of successful Early Decision application You will know where you are going by the beginning of Term 2 You will save time by not applying to other universities You might have a small advantage over Regular Decision applicants. You avoid the uncertainty of waiting until March/pril for decisions. 4

6 US Regular pplication deadlines are generally in late December and early January. ll students with plans for Early Decision application should be discussed with the areers Department, Head of Upper School and Form Tutor for early references well in advance. Request for Mid-term report Unless a university or college specially requests for a mid-term report WIS would not normally provide one and sends a letter explaining this to universities. However, where there has been a substantial decline or improvement in a student s academic performance, the university will be informed at WIS s discretion. Responding to offers For US colleges and universities there is a 1 st May deadline to respond to offers. t this time, colleges will request non-refundable deposits to secure a place.

7 STs Overview STs are administered by the ollegeboard ( which has an informative website. There are ST Reasoning Tests (previously ST I) and ST Subject Tests (previously ST II). Most US universities require that you take ST Reasoning Tests. Some universities do not require ST Subject Tests for I students, but many do require them, so check prospectuses or university websites. It is always useful to check with the university what ST score students coming from Hong Kong achieved in recent years. bout 800 US colleges do not require ST I from I students for entry; these can be found at: WIS offers the opportunity for students in Year 11 to take the PST in order to gain experience of this type of testing. Students who did take PST will already have an account with ollegeboard which offers access to practice tests and questions online. NOTE: Most universities accept the T in place of the ST I test. More information can be found at: Information on the differences between the T test and the ST tests can be at: and Testing dates (during Y13 - Term 1) There are three ST testing dates in mid October, early November and early December. The December date is the latest you can use the test for most regular decision US applications. If you want to sit the January test, ask individual universities that you are applying to see if it is possible. Many students find it useful to sit the ST Reasoning a second time because the test format is initially unfamiliar - the results of the October ST will not be available before the deadline for registering for the November ST so most of these students do ST Reasoning Test in October and ST Subject Tests in November and then register for a second ST Reasoning Test in December if they wish. If you sit ST Reasoning Test more than once, universities will use your highest math score, highest critical reading score and highest writing score.

8 However, some universities are now asking how many times you have taken the test and may want you to declare all your scores for every test. Test dates Early May Early June Early October Early November Early December Late January' ST I: Reasoning Test is designed to measure the verbal and mathematical reasoning and writing abilities that are important for success at university. It lasts 3 hours and 4 minutes and is mostly multiple choice for the ritical Reading and Math sections and essay writing for the Writing section. ST II: Subject Test is designed to measure a student's knowledge and skills in a particular subject area. Each test last one hour and you can take up to three Subject Tests on the same dates. It is not possible to sit both the Reasoning Test and Subject Tests on the same day. TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language The TOEFL has four sections: Listening, Structure, Reading and Writing. While TOEFL is not the only test of your ability to communicate in English available in Hong Kong, it is the most widely available. The TOEFL website has information on the test, how to register, practice tests etc. lthough WIS provides a letter in the transcript documents that the medium of instruction is English at WIS, some universities still prefer students to have the TOEFL. You should research whether the universities that you are applying to will require you to take the TOEFL. No preparation instruction for the test is given at WIS. TOEFL website:

9 Making Smart hoices We wish to encourage appropriate and well-matched applications in partnership with parents, which will facilitate successful outcomes. onsequently, we urge both parents and students to bear in mind the intense competition currently experienced by applicants to the Ivy League olleges and the most competitive US universities. The most competitive universities such as the Ivy Leagues and Stanford will accept nothing less than /* grade in all subjects at I/GSE. Please also bear in mind that the acceptance rate will also include students with a legacy (those whose parents may have attended the university) - so in reality, the rate of acceptance is usually a few percent lower than published. The universities will also be expecting an extremely high I points score with top levels in individual Higher Level subjects along with high ST results. Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and Yale would require an applicant to have an outstanding extra-curricular profile such as participation in a sport, debating or music beyond national level. The personal statement must be exceptional and reflect the experiences of an independent and mature student who shows initiative, leadership and commitment to school-based activities, extra-curricular activities as well as S. Summer school programmes provide a good opportunity to experience campus life at some of the US colleges. The summer schools on offer in the US (and also in the UK and in HK) are an excellent way to broaden a student s academic experience and it is an expectation that students who wish to apply for elite US colleges seriously consider participating in such programmes. It is also an expectation that students attend additional public lectures such as those at the local universities or other prestigious bodies such as the Royal Geographical Society to further enhance their knowledge of their chosen subject. Examples of past ESF students and entry into elite US colleges Swimming for Hong Kong - Stanford Writing a chess column for local HK newspaper Stanford Sailing for Hong Kong - rown Golf for Hong Kong - Harvard Judo for Hong Kong UPenn reating a blog site for professional computer scientists - MIT uilding a water system for an Indian village UPenn Teaching soccer to street children in India, olumbia 8

10 Useful websites General areer website ollege admission test ST: T: Proficiency TOEFL: Scholarship websites 9

11 omparing University osts (approximate cost 2013) Source: US anada UK HK ustralia University Many private as Public Public Public Public Funding well as public osts Highest (From HK$18,00 upward). Lower for Medium (HK$143,00). Lower for anadian citizens Medium HK$143,00. Lower for EU residents Low HK$98,000. Lower for HK residents High- HK$188,000. Lower for ustralian residents US citizens Financial aid for Many Many small, several Few scholarships Few Few international full scholarships Nearly all < 30% of students total cost Undergraduate 4 years 4 years 3 years, 4 years in 4 years 3-4 years degrees Scotland depending on honours programme When to choose Usually by end of Usually by end of t time of t time of ombination - major 2nd year 2 nd year application pplication (except HKUST) some at time of application, some choose later road or Liberal arts at many Usually have Only specialized Only specialized Tends to be some specialized universities distribution programmes (no programmes (no but depends on requirements distribution distribution university requirements) requirements) pplication costs US$10 upward (fee N$I0 upward Pay a single US pprox. HK$40 pprox.ud$100 waiver available) (generally no fee waiver) fee 12 (single) 23 (multiple). No fee waiver pplication system pply individually Generally apply Maximum Individual Individual to each university individually through US Predicted grades Emphasis on Emphasis on Most emphases on Most emphases on Grades achieved predicted grades predicted grades predicted grades predicted grades at time of application Type of offer Unconditional Usually onditional on I onditional on I Grades already unconditional results results achieved STs Most require STs STs only for US Not required but can an support None students support application application 10

12 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2011) Subject GSE/HK/MYP cademic Profile and Predicted University grade ST SORES If available University offers/rejections iomedical /biochemistry rt usiness Studies hinese D&T Science Double ward * * * * * ** iology HL hemistry HL English HL hinese Lang SL SL Psychology SL Extended Essay Reading Writing 0 olumbia rejected Georgetown waitlisted Michigan deferred hicago rejected NYU offer erkeley rejected UL offer San Diego - offer Performing rts Drama French Media Studies Religious Studies Science Double ward * * English HL Psychology HL Theatre rts HL iology SL French Lang SL SL Reading 20 0 Writing 00 North arolina hapel Hill offer Florida rejected Washington offer Virginia waitlisted ollege of William & Mary - waitlisted Physics usiness Studies hinese Media Studies PE Religious Studies Science Double ward * * * * * ** English HL HL Physics HL hemistry SL Philosophy SL Spanish b Initio SL Extended Essay altech rejected Dartmouth rejected Harvard rejected MIT - rejected 11

13 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2011) Subject GSE/HK/MYP cademic Profile and Predicted University grade ST SORES If available University offers/rejections hinese D&T Drama First Lang hinese Science Double ward * * * English HL HL Philosophy HL iology SL hinese Lang SL SL Reading 10 0 Writing 00 Wellesley ollege waitlisted erkeley offer UL offer olumbia rejected Georgetown offer Princeton - rejected usiness Studies hinese D&T Science Double ward * * * * * ** DT HL HL HL Physics HL hinese Lang SL English SL Reading Writing 10 hicago offer UPenn rejected Harvard rejected Princeton rejected MIT rejected Social Sciences hinese First Lang hinese Music Science Double ward * * * * ** hemistry HL hinese Lang HL HL HL English SL SL Reading 40 0 Writing 0 NYU rejected Michigan nn rbor deferred erkeley offer UL rejected ornell rejected San Diego - offer 12

14 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2011) Subject GSE/HK/MYP cademic Profile and Predicted University grade ST SORES If available University offers/rejections rt & Design rt & Design hinese Science Double ward * * * ** HL HL Visual rts HL iology SL hinese Lang SL English SL Rhode Island School of Design offer Pratt Institute offer SI rt Inst hicago offer SD offer School of Visual rts - offer Engineering usiness Studies hinese D&T IT Science Double ward * usiness & Management HL DT HL Visual rts HL hinese Lang SL English SL Studies Rochester Inst of Tech offer Florida Inst of Tech - offer Undeclared hinese Drama Science Double ward * * ** English HL HL HL usiness Management SL hemistry SL hinese Lang SL Smith ollege offer hicago - waitlisted 13

15 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2011) Subject GSE/HK/MYP cademic Profile and Predicted University grade ST SORES If available University offers/rejections iomedical / iochemistry usiness Studies hinese First Lang hinese Media Studies Science Double ward * * * * * ** hemistry HL HL Physics HL usiness Management SL hinese Lang SL English SL Stanford waitlisted erkeley rejected UL offer Duke offer San Diego offer hinese IT Science Double ward * * * ** HL HL Physics HL hemistry SL English SL Spanish b Initio SL Reading Writing 90 UPenn Early Decision offer hicago Early ction offer Media rt & Design hinese Media Studies Science Double ward * * English HL HL Visual rts HL iology SL hinese Lang SL Studies Reading Writing 10 Northeastern offer inghamton waitlisted Syracuse offer hapman offer Richmond - offer 14

16 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2011) Subject GSE/HK/MYP cademic Profile and Predicted University grade ST SORES If available University offers/rejections usiness / Management First Lang hinese Music Science Double ward * * ** hinese Lang HL HL Physics HL SL English SL Music SL erkeley offer UL offer ornell rejected San Diego offer NYU Stern - rejected Political Science usiness Studies First Lang hinese French Geography Science Double ward * * * * * ** hemistry HL English HL HL iology SL French Lang SL Geography SL erkeley rejected rown rejected Dartmouth rejected Tufts offer UL offer 1

17 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2012) Subject GSE/HK/MYP cademic Profile and Predicted University grade ST SORES If available University offers/rejections iomedical /iochemistry Physical Education Science Double ward * * * * * ** iology HL hemistry HL Psychology HL hinese Lang SL SL English SL hemistry30 Level 2 90 Reading Writing 0 Michigan - offer erkeley - offer UL - offer U San Dieqo - offer John Hopkins rejected Stanford rejected rown rejected Engineering dditional hinese 1 st Language Music Science Double ward * * * * hemistry H HL Physics HL hinese Lang S SL English SL Reading Writing 30 hemistry 90 Physics 0 UL - offer UPenn - offer Harvard - rejected Stanford - rejected Princeton - rejected MIT altech - rejected Film Media Studies Religious Studies Science Double ward Spanish Technology (Food) * * * English HL Film HL Philosophy HL hemistry SL Studies SL Spanish Language SL 4 Reading 30 0 Writing 00 US - offer Marist - offer Northeastern - offer oston - offer U San Diego - rejected 1

18 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2012) Subject GSE/HK/MYP cademic Profile and Predicted University grade ST SORES If available University offers/rejections rt/nimation rt hinese First Language Drama Science Double ward * DT HL HL Visual rts HL hinese Lang SL Studies SL English SL Reading 40 0 Writing 30 cademy of rt University - offer alifornia ollege of the rts - offer Ringling - offer Parsons - offer alifornia Institute of the rt - rejected Journalism/ ommunications Drama Religious Studies Science Double ward * * * English HL Philosophy HL Theatre HL hinese Lang SL iology SL SL Reading 0 40 Writing 00 olumbia ollege hicago - offer Indiana University loomington - offer Miami - offer usiness Marketing hinese 1 st Language English 2 nd Language Science Double ward * iology HL hinese 2 HL Visual rts HL SL Studies SL English 1 SL 4 Reading Writing 0 Level 2 30 hinese 800 Maryland - offer Goucher ollege - offer entley - offer U San Diego, Irvine - offer 1

19 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2012) Subject GSE/HK/MYP cademic Profile and Predicted University grade ST SORES If available University offers/rejections Social Sciences usiness Studies Religious Studies Science Double ward Spanish Technology (Food) * iology HL Philosophy HL Visual rts HL English 1 SL SL Spanish SL Reading Writing 80 Purdue - offer Northeastern - offer rizona - offer San Francisco - offer Michigan rejected US rejected oston rejected U - rejecteds Undeclared usiness Studies IT Science Double ward D * English HL HL Visual rts HL hinese Lang SL Environmental Systems & Soc SL Studies SL 4 Reading 20 0 Writing 00 Illinois Wesleyan - offer Lawrence - offer Northeastern - offer North arolina State rejected George Washington rejected ates rejected Gonzaga - rejected Undeclared dditional usiness Studies hinese 1st Language IT Media Studies Science Double ward * * * * * HL HL HL hinese 2 SL English SL Physics SL Level hinese 800 World 10 Literature 0 UL, San Diego, Davis - offer hicago - offer Northwestern - offer rown rejected Duke rejected ornell - rejected Princeton - waitlisted 18

20 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2012) Subject GSE/HK/MYP cademic Profile and Predicted University grade ST SORES If available University offers/rejections rt and Design rt hinese 1 st Language Religious Studies Science Double ward * * * Design Technology HL Psychology HL Visual rts HL English 1 SL Studies SL hinese 2 SL Reading Writing 30 Level Rhode Island Early Decision rchitecture Music Science Double ward * * * ** English HL hemistry HL Physics HL hinese Lang SL SL SL Reading 0 80 Writing 10 oston - offer New York University - offer UL - offer U San Diego - offer rown rejected Harvard rejected olumbia rejected U erkeley - rejected Undeclared dditional rt IT Science Double ward * * * * ** HL English 1 HL HL Physics HL hinese SL Visual rts SL Reading Writing 0 Physics 90 Level 2 0 Literature 0 UL, San Diego offer erkeley, Santa arbara - offer hicago - offer NYU - offer Pittsburgh - offer Princeton rejected rown rejected Dartmouth rejected Yale - rejected 19

21 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2013) Subject I/GSE Predicted University Grades ST / T University offers/rejections Engineering dditional Mathematics usiness Studies Geography Mathematics Science Double ward * * * * * * * * * Geography HL Mathematics HL Physics HL hemistry SL hinese Language SL English 1 SL ST 1 : 2280 Physics: 0 L2: 0 hinese: 40 hemistry: 30 ornell, UL, U erkeley Rejections: Stanford, Princeton, olumbia Letters and Science ommunications dditional Mathematics usiness Studies Mathematics Music Science Double ward Spanish usiness Studies hinese 1 st Language Drama Geography Mathematics Science Double ward Drama Mandarin Foreign Lang. Mathematics Religious Studies Science Double ward Technology (Food) * * ** * * * DD usiness and Mgt HL hemistry HL Mathematics HL English 1 SL Film Studies SL Spanish Language SL usiness and Mgt HL hemistry HL hinese Language HL English 1 HL Mathematics SL Music SL English 1 HL Philosophy HL Theater HL Environmental Systems SL Mathematics Studies SL Spanish b Initio SL ST 1: 2210 L2: 800 hemistry: 30 ST 1: 1920 hemistry: 0 L2: 0 ST 1: 180 Illinois at Urbana hampaign, UL, U erkeley, U Irvine, Michigan Rejections: Duke, hicago, UPenn, arnegie Mellon NYU, Northeastern Rejections: UL, U erkeley, abson ollege, arnegie Mellon, oston ollege Southern Methodist, Loyola Marymount, South Western, Portland State, Furman Rejections: Washington, Texas ustin 20

22 Examples of I applicant profiles (university entry 2013) Subject I/GSE Predicted University Grades ST / T University offers/rejections Engineering dditional Mathematics usiness Studies Mathematics Science Double ward * * * * hemistry HL HL Mathematics HL Physics HL English 1 SL Spanish b Initio SL ST 1 : 220 L2: 800 Physics: 80 UL, Michigan, Georgia Tech, arnegie Mellon usiness Management rt hinese 1 st Language Geography Mathematics Science Double ward * * ** * HL English 1 HL Visual rts HL iology SL hinese Language SL Mathematics SL ST 1: 2120 hinese: 0 UL, U erkeley, Virginia, NYU Stern Rejections: rown Finance omputer Science hinese 1 st Language Drama Mathematics Science Double ward dditional Mathematics rt Mandarin Foreign Lang. Mathematics Science Double ward * * * * * ** * * ** HL English 1 HL HL hinese Language SL Mathematics SL Physics SL omputer Studies HL HL Mathematics HL hinese Language SL English 1 SL Physics SL ST 1: 2020 hinese: 800 ST 1: 2300 hemistry: 30 Physics: 80 L2: 800 UL, U erkeley, Virginia, oston Rejections: rown, Georgetown UL, U San Diego, U Irvine, Illinois at Urbana hampaign, Michigan Rejections: arnegie Mellon, altech, ornell 21