Application Materials

Application Materials to Prepare

The supporting information that you'll need to include in your applications will vary by country and by university, but here's a summary of some of the most common materials:

Transcripts

A transcript is a summary of the courses you've completed in high school and the grades that you have received.  It is generally one or two pages long, and does not include comments.

Essay or Personal Statement

For applications in many countries, you'll need to include a personal statement or essay.  Give yourself plenty of time to write and revise!  In the US, you'll use the same essay for all universities using the Common App; take a look at the resources on Khan Academy or the College Essay Guy website for helpful tips.  In the UK, the UCAS website offers great support for preparing a strong personal statement.

Supplemental Essays

In addition to your primary essay or personal statement, some applications will require supplemental essays or paragraphs.  These are often on topics unique to (or important to) the specific university.  For US universities, these will show up under the specific colleges in the Common App.

Activity List or CV

Most university applications will ask you to share activities that you've taken part in outside of your classes.  You may also be able to attach a copy of your CV or resume.  Learn more about Common App activity lists here; these tips are also helpful for preparing activity lists for applications outside of the US.

Standardized Test Scores

SAT, ACT, Duolingo - oh my!  See more about many of the most common standardized tests here.  

Teacher Recommendations/Reference Letters

Some universities - including most in the US - will require at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher; many universities will require at least two letters from teachers.  You'll ask for these before the end of D1, and your teachers will load them in Maia Learning to be sent with your application materials.  You will not be able to see your recommendation letters.

Counselor Recommendation/Reference Letter

If you're applying in the UK, your university counselor will prepare your reference letter; this letter will incorporate feedback and comments from your teachers, as well as general information about you as a student.  For the US and anywhere else that accepts a counselor letter of recommendation, your university counselor will write a letter incorporating information about your academic progress, extracurricular involvement, and any important information about your life outside of UWCEA.  These letters will often include quotes from your report card comments or anecdotes from your classmates or teachers about what makes you a strong university candidate.

Portfolio

As you research universities and courses/majors, be sure to pay attention to any that require portfolios; you may, for example, want to submit a portfolio of your art as part of your application.  Give yourself plenty of time to pull together a portfolio that represents your best work.

Organizing your University Search and Applications