EDUCATION
A parent’s perspective: applying to US universities from the UK
Is your child considering going to the US for university? If so, they are not alone. According to the Fulbright Commission (the official source of information on ap- plying to US universities), there are cur- rently around 11,600 students from the UK enrolled in American universities and the number is growing each year – particu- larly since the UK’s introduction of top-up fees more than a decade ago. Combine that with the potential for international students to fund their studies through scholarships and financial aid, US tuition fees begin to look like an attractive relative value. Add the greater interdisciplinary flexibility provided by a liberal arts cur- riculum, the vibrant campus life and the many extracurricular activities on offer, it has become the perfect storm to lure UK students across the pond. If your child is deciding to take the
plunge, contrary to the beliefs of some, particularly those involved in the 2019 US college admissions scandal, bribery is not the way to influence undergraduate admis- sions decisions at top American universi-
ties. After witnessing both of my daughters navigate the labyrinth that is the US col- lege admissions process, I have discovered that from a parent’s perspective there are some key actions to highlight which can really help your child stand out to those admissions officers.
Will a US university be right for my child?
Tere are 1,400 universities and colleges ranked by US News in its latest Best Colleges Rankings. So if an experience abroad is part of your child’s university plans, there is likely to be at least one that would be right for them. Te US can offer a high-quality degree from many different campus settings, both large and small, from a wide variety of geographies and climates.
Think liberal arts
If your child is one who doesn’t want to limit herself to one subject as the English system stipulates, then the broad US lib- eral arts curriculum could be for them. It allows students to keep their options open
20 FOCUS The Magazine November/December 2019
until it is time to specialise during their third year, thus providing the opportunity to explore many options before commit- ting. With this in mind, when it comes to
making A-level or International Baccalaureate class choices, rather than showing commitment to a specific area as you would do for a UK university, a US applicant may stand out by thinking more on the lines of the liberal arts philosophy by choosing an array of subjects, thus more closely matching the liberal arts pro- gramme.
What are US universities looking for?
Holistic approach
As the US admissions process is very dif- ferent from the UK’s UCAS system, it is important for students to understand what US universities are looking for well before completing their application during that summer in the middle of Sixth Form. When determining to whom university places should be offered, the UCAS system
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