<p>calling all internationals especially if you are from the UK
just wanna start a thread discussing how you approached the US application
EC's
SAT prep?
gcse's a levels stats
what schools you wanna go to etc etc
also is your school familiar with us applications or are you mainly doing it yourself and only informing the school about areas of necessity. </p>
<p>cool
discuss</p>
<p>A lot of us are familiar with both the US and UK educational systems. Feel free to ask us any specific questions you might have.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>nice so i would like some cold hard truths if possible.
<p>2) what are the admissions thoughts on A Levels? respected? acknowledged? not really taken into account?</p>
<p>I would suggest you apply for financial aid. This will NOT affect your chances for admission, it is completely separate. An American college or uni would never say “Well, we would have admitted this person, if they hadn’t applied for financial aid . . .” That NEVER happens.</p>
<p>If you get admitted, but denied financial aid, THEN your parents can look at taking out a loan.</p>
<p>American colleges and unis each have an admissions department that has experts in foreign educational qualifications. So they will know exactly what A-levels are and how to evaluate them.</p>
<p>It is known by these admissions experts that the material you are studying at A-level is the sort of material that American students don’t study until their first year of college. (This is part of the reason why American Bachelor’s degree programs take FOUR years instead of three like in England). So if you have A-levels they will realize that you have a larger knowledge base than a typical American applicant, and this will impress them. They will probably allow you to skip some of the first year classes.</p>
<p>In your communications with American universities and colleges, remember that much of the material assumes it is an American applying. So if someone says “We require X, Y, and Z for admissions” always ask “Does this also apply to foreign applicants?”</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>Hi, I’m from the UK and my family are talking about moving to the US after I have finished my A levels. After doing LOADS of research, I have actually become quite excited. I think that the system would really suit me. It’s a bit daunting to know where to start though. Where are you applying to? How did you decide?</p>
<p>Also, there is no way that I’m going to be able to afford going without financial aid. I’ve noticed that some universities only offer merit based aid to international students (which I’m assuming I would still be, even with family in America), is it worth not even applying to those on the likelihood that I wouldn’t receive merit based aid?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>The question of “how do you decide” where to apply does not have an easy answer!! There are something like 3000 colleges and unis in the U.S., it can be overwhelming to try to choose.</p>
<p>Each one has its own character. There are the state universities and the private colleges and universities. There are the older ones and the newer ones. The bigger ones and the smaller ones. The ones in big cities, the ones in smaller communities. There are the prestigious and difficult to get into “Ivy League” schools. There are the community colleges that usually offer two year degrees, which often appeal to folks who need to “catch up” before going to a more difficult university. There are the small colleges who emphasize the so-called “liberal arts”. There are schools that are completely devoted to the visual and/or performing arts. There are those universities which seem to be mostly known for their sports teams. There are schools mostly known for “partying”. Some schools value being prestigious and elite, others value diversity. There are schools affiliated with specific religions. There are schools where the faculty and students are traditionally liberal politically, and others where they are traditionally conservative, and others that attract all political views. And then there are also serious differences between the different geographical regions of the U.S. You should start by thinking about what kind of experience you are hoping to have in the years you will be a college student. In the U.S. what happens outside the classroom is often considered just as important or more important than the actual education you receive.</p>
<p>Many Americans applying to college group their applications into three categories. They compare their own qualifications to the qualifications of the students admitted to each school. They they apply to at least one school where the typical admit has much LOWER qualifications. This is the “safety” school, the school where you KNOW you will be admitted, so you don’t have to stress about not being admitted anywhere. Then they apply to a few schools where they seem to be about equal to the typical admit. These are the “match” schools where there is a good chance of admission, but not automatic. Then they apply to one or more “reach” schools where they are not quite at the level of the “average” admit.</p>
<p>I was trying to explain something to salewa earlier, but may not have done a good job. You are taking A-levels now, but most college-bound Americans your age would be too “stupid” to pass A-levels. (It’s not about stupid, of course, but I am trying to explain this in simple terms). So if you can pass your A-levels, you would probably be considered for merit aid at many American colleges and unis.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t automatically assume that you would be an international student, every college and uni would have its own criteria, and if your family lives in the U.S. you may qualify as a resident. But do remember that in the U.S. there is often a higher tuition for “out of state” students, so it may be cheaper for you to go to college/uni in the same U.S. state where your parents live.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>What @TheRealKEVP said about financial aid is slightly incorrect… </p>
<p>It depends on the university you’re applying to. Most universities are NOT need blind for international students, ie. they take the amount of aid you may need into account when deciding.</p>
<p>I applied to three colleges this year (Yale, UChicago and UPenn and was admitted UChicago and wait listed at Yale.) and only Yale was need blind for international students. Other need blind colleges include Harvard, Dartmouth and a couple of the other Ivies. </p>
<p>HOWEVER… Seeing as you wouldn’t need much aid I would apply for it! It definitely wouldn’t have an effect on your application. Saying that, if the college really wants you then aid shouldn’t be a factor!</p>
<p>Any other questions that I might be able to answer, just ask 
good luck!</p>
<p>@Paigemily95 there are loads of colleges that provide need based financial aid for international students. All the Ivies plus UChicago and Stanford provide need based aid. As I said about, I was accepted to UChicago with a significant amount of need based aid and without it I wouldn’t be able to attend! </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>