Overview

Deciding where to apply to the United States is a highly individual decision and will take in-depth research on your part. Your choices will be influenced by what you want to study and your academic achievement, as well as your personal preference on many of the factors listed below. There are likely dozens of universities where you would be happy and successful. 

Admissions in the US is typically not based on strict entry requirements, but rather a holistic review of your application including academic achievements, personal characteristics, and how well you fit the institutional priorities in any given year. Thus, you want to ensure that the university is a good fit for your needs and goals, and that you are a good fit for the university. Please refer to the Starting University Research page for a list of factors to consider during your research.

A note about rankings: Ranking lists are a misleading way to assess colleges and universities. They are created by for-profit publishing companies; each publisher uses a different methodology, but all are highly subjective. They heavily weigh institutional endowment and the opinions of university professors and administrators, and typically do not take student satisfaction into consideration. The data that is considered (retention and graduation rates, selectivity, faculty resources, etc.) often says nothing of an institution's individual strengths or weaknesses, or its suitability to meet YOUR unique needs and goals. 

Preparation in Y12

Complete tasks in Maia Learning

• • Finish your profile section

  • Complete “Factors to Consider when Applying to US Universities” Survey

  • Add extracurricular activities

  • Add GCSE grades

  • Research universities and add them to your ‘long list’

Activities

• • Continue with extracurricular activities

  • Seek out leadership responsibilities

  • Pursue internships or volunteer opportunities

Testing

• • Review requirements for universities you are interested in. 

    • Many universities may remain test optional for Fall 2023 admissions.

    • Some universities may accept predicted grades as part of their test requirements

  • Register and prepare if you have decided to sit testing

  • See more details on US admissions tests here

Pre-College Programs

• • Many US universities offer summer courses and programs for high school students. Students are able to take university courses (online or in-person on campus). If in-person, students may have the opportunity to live in dorms on campus, participate in campus activities, and take either credit or non-credit courses. 

  • A quick google search for “pre-college programs” will give you lots of options, or you can browse this non-exhaustive list of summer programs for ideas.

Visit campuses over the summer if possible

Key Terms Defined

Applying

• Common Application—A single application accepted by over 800 colleges and universities. Some of the schools that accept the Common App also require a school-specific supplement. More information can be found at www.commonapp.org

• Early Action (EA)—Students who choose to apply EA will receive early notification of their decision. EA application deadlines are usually November 1 or November 15, and a decision is usually made prior to January 1. Students typically may apply to more than one university EA unless a university specifies Restrictive Early Action (see below). Decisions could be “Admit,” “Deny,” or “Defer/Postpone to Regular Decision.” The decision is non-binding.

• Early Decision (ED)—This is a binding early application.  A student may only apply to only one university ED and must be committed to attending if they are admitted. Deadlines are usually November 1, and a decision is usually made prior to January 1. Decisions could be “Admit,” “Deny,” or “Defer/Postpone to Regular Decision.” Students must withdraw all other applications worldwide after being admitted to a university under ED.

• Early Decision II (EDII)—This is a second round of ED offered by some institutions. The same policies apply above apply to EDII. Typically, EDII deadlines are January 1 or January 15. Students are typically notified mid-February. 

• Regular Decision (RD)—Applicants submit their applications by a specific deadline (usually beginning January 1) and are notified of decisions before April 1. Decisions could be “Admit,” “Deny,” or “Waitlist.” The decision is non-binding. 

• Restrictive Early Action (REA)—The same non-binding policy as early action, but university policy may dictate that students may not apply to any other universities EA or ED. Students should check the different policies and conditions for individual universities.

• Rolling Admission—Institutions review applications as they are received. Instead of one strict deadline there may be a longer period of time to submit applications. Spaces are often awarded to eligible students on a first come first served basis, so the earlier you apply, the better. Decisions could be “Admit,” “Deny,” or “Waitlist.” The decision is non-binding.

Decisions

• Admit—US universities typically offer non-conditional acceptances to their admitted students. In rare cases, if a student's final results are significantly lower than their predicted grades their offer may be rescinded.

• Defer enrollment—After a student has been admitted and enrolled in an institution, they may request to defer the start date of their enrollment. Universities may offer a 1 semester or 1-2 year deferment depending on their individual policies and the student’s plan.

• Defer/Postpone—If a student applies in an early round (EA, REA, ED), a university may choose to defer their application to the RD round in order to review the application again in the RD application pool. Students who are deferred to RD will receive a decision before April 1.

• Deny—A student has not been chosen for admission at the university for that cycle.

• Enroll—After a student has received all their offers, they will choose one university where they intend to matriculate and attend in the fall. This must be done by the reply date stipulated in their decision letter (January for ED, May 1 for EA, REA and RD). This typically requires submitting a form and a non-refundable deposit to confirm their attendance.

• Waitlist—US universities may have a target for the number of enrolled students each year. Maintaining a waitlist allows universities to fill open spaces if less students enroll than they anticipated. Students may hear updates about their waitlist status after May 1, so they should enroll in another institution before that deadline.

Studying

• College—This is often used interchangeably with university. However, a college is a higher education institute that offers only undergraduate programs (bachelor’s degrees), but no graduate degrees (masters, PhD, professional degrees). College may also refer to units within a larger university that comprise several similar academic departments (eg. “The College of Arts and Sciences”).

• Liberal Arts—The curriculum is intended to provide critical thinking and reasoning skills and general knowledge of the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

• Major—A student’s principal subject or course. Also called “course” or “programme” in some countries. In the US, many institutions admit students into the overall university or college rather than directly to a major. Oftentimes, students will have until the end of their 2nd year to declare their major. Students may be able to double or even triple major.

• Minor—A student’s secondary subject or course. There are typically fewer courses required in order to complete a minor as compared to a major. Minors are typically optional. Students may be able to double or even triple minor.

• National university—A university that draws students from across the United States and the world. As compared to a regional university that draws students the majority of its students from the local area or surrounding cities and states. 

• Research university—A university committed to generating and disseminating research and producing graduate students as a core part of its mission.

• University— A higher education institute that offers undergraduate programs, graduate studies, and often also has several professional schools, such as theology, law, medicine, and engineering.