The university options in the United States are numerous and extremely varied with more than 4,000 public and private institutions. Students need to research beyond name recognition to really get a sense of the university and whether it would be a good fit – academic, social and financial – for them.

US universities read applications holistically, meaning that grades and test scores alone will not guarantee entry. In addition to data (grades and standardized test scores), the US holistic review places a strong weight on the voice of the student which is demonstrated through their essays, teacher feedback and counsellor evaluation. As a result, the chances of acceptance aren’t as clearly determined.

After a student has finalised his/her university list, the first step is to locate the applications for each college/university. Almost all applications are completed and submitted online. The application can be found on the college/university website.

Approximately 500 universities accept the Common Application, which is a web-based application that allows students to send one application to multiple institutions. The Common Application, like other applications includes information about the applicant and family, educational history, extracurricular activities, one short answer question and one essay. Many universities using the Common Application also require a Supplemental Application that is also available on the Common App web site.

Students from Dyatmika considering applying to the US will need to be well organised in order to manage the varied, and often substantial, application demands from different institutions. They also need to start taking the additional standardized tests (SAT or ACT) before they start Class 12.

Further Resources
www.collegeboard.com – research university choices as well as financial aid information
www.edupass.org – guide to studying in the US. Includes information on admissions, financing, scholarship searches, visas, language testing, and cultural differences.

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