Academics Abroad

"The application is a really time-consuming art," says Alex Murchie, Head of Sixth Form at Harrow International School Beijing. He has guided the last four years of Harrow graduates to universities in the UK, but his words of advice can be applied to any college* or university application.

 

"It’s never too early to start," adds Mitch Gordon, co-founder of US-based Admission Treks. American college applicants should start at the beginning of junior year, or even sophomore year. If applying to a UK university, students should consider taking the General Certificate in Secondary Education (GSCE), which commences in Year 10, as well as A-Levels in the following two years. Furthermore, international students should be aware of each country’s general education requirements and make sure they fulfill these in the years prior to applying. beijingkids spoke with Mitch Gordon of Admission Treks and Alex Murchie of Harrowto find out the finer points of applying to colleges and universities abroad.

 

The American College Application
Students submit separate application forms to each college. Each school has an applicationprocessing fee (usually upwards of USD 50). You can save time by using the Common Application (a standardized form accepted by hundreds of colleges), but students should first check whether their target colleges accept it and if any supplements are required.

 

Deadlines for American colleges vary. Though application deadlines tend generallyto fall in December, students can apply as early as October (if they opt for Early Action or Early Decision). With Early Decision, applicants are obligated to attend the college should they be accepted. Early Action merely gives students the option of applying early, with no contractual obligation to accept an offer of admission.

*In the US, college is a term commonlyused to encompass post-secondary education (both colleges and universities). In British terminology, it denotes a high school, training institute, or a constituentschool within a university.

Basic Components (US)

SAT Reasoning Test: Required by the majority of colleges (the ACT can also be taken in addition or as a comparable test). Run by The College Board, a not-for-profit organization, the SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized college admission exam divided into three sections: Critical Reading, Math and Writing. It should be taken no sooner than Grade 11 and no later than December of Grade 12. The average SAT score of accepted students varies widely by college. See the SAT Score Percentile Chart below for the range of scores. To look up the average SAT score of a college’s entering class (and other quantitative factors), visit the U.S. News & World Report website.

SAT Score Percentile Chart

SAT Subject Tests: Required by most colleges. Typically, exam scores from at least two subjects are requested. Subjects range from physics to Chinese language. Should be taken no sooner than Grade 11 and no later than December of Grade 12. Students can also send supplemental academic achievements, such as Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) scores. Students should check beforehand if their score can qualify for college credit.
GPA: A student’s cumulative high school grade point average.
Extracurricular Activities: A student’s non-curricular achievements and volunteer and work experience.
Personal statement: An essay written by the student on the general topic of personal history and academic goals or on designated topics.
Recommendations: Generally, one or two letters of recommendationare required; they are usually written by a teacher or college advisor.TOEFL: Non-native English speakers must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. A common alternative to the TOEFL testing system is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

 

Creating a Strong Application (US)
Good grades and solid SAT scores aside, students should make the most of the creative control they have over their extracurricular activitiesand personal statement – and indirectly through their letters of recommendation. Extracurricular activities should display "consistency, dedication and taking on a leadership role," advises Gordon. Colleges want to see an individual, a "difference maker."

 

After reading hundreds of applications as an Admission Treks mentor, Gordon finds most mistakes relate to the personal statement. Students should avoid a common generic essay and opt for a more creative piece about who they are. "I think it’s okay to take a risk in your personal statement." Gordon added, "The idea is to give the reader more of an idea of who you are, not a list of your achievements, which is listed elsewhere on the application."

The British University Application
UCAS, short for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is the central application process for the UK. Students choose up to five universities and send one electronic application via UCAS. The cost is GBP 21. Applications may be submitted as early as September; the final deadline is in early December.
   
Basic Components (UK)
Qualifications: A student’s achievements, including Advanced Level General Certificate of Education (A-Level) scores, and if applicable, IB, SAT and TOEFL scores.
Predicted A-Levels: Typically predicted by teachers based on the student’s Advanced Subsidiary (AS) grades, homework and class work. A discrepancy between predicted and actual grades can affect the student’s chances of attending their chosen university.
Personal statement: A maximum of 4,000 characters
References: Typically written by a form tutor, teacher or university counselor.

UK University Application Timeline
Years 10 and 11 (ages 14-16): A two-year course of GCSE, which is an academic qualification in a specific subject. On average, students take around eight subjects, including math, English and a foreign language. Students are required to perform well in GCSEs before advancing to A-Levels in Years 12 and 13. International students are expected to fulfill the equivalent subjects; for example, TOEFL can be an English subject equivalent.
Year 12: Students begin subject-specific A-Levels (one A-Level is composed of an AS Level and an A2 Level). In Year 12, students take four AS (Advanced Subsidiary) Levels, at least three of which will be continued through Year 13.
Year 13: Complete at least three A2 Levels. Generally, students finish Year 13 with three A Levels and one AS Level. Most universities require three A-Levels, but students are advised to check each university and course for specific entrance requirements.
Both GCSEs and A-Levels are written and graded by external examination boards.

Creating a Strong Application (UK)
Grades for A-Levels range from A* (A star), A, B, C, D to E. The minimum(predicted) A-Levels required for admission to each university, such as ABB or AAB, are listed on the UCAS website. Students should not apply for courses whose entry requirements exceed their predicted A-Levels.

When applying to UK universities, students should already have a field of study, which can be made clear in their personal statement. This statement is sent to all of their selected universities, so the content should focus on their intended field of study rather than the merits of any individual university. Murchie notes, "It’s an opportunity for the student to show their passion for what they want to study. And to show what’s special and unique about them." The personal statement may also cover extracurricular activities and past work experience. Students are encouraged to check the UCAS website to browse the universities that offer their chosen area of study.

 

The Right Fit
Applicants to American colleges should have a healthy mix of "safety," "reach" and "target" schools; experts generally advise applying to no more than ten. For a ten-school model, Gordon suggests applying to four or five target schools (where a student’s GPA and exam scores fall within the average range) and one to three safety schools (where the student’s academic scores exceeds the average).

 

In the US, the eight Ivy League colleges (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania),are among the most sought-after – and selective – institutions of higher learning; in the UK, Oxford and Cambridge are the universities with the most prestigious reputation. While many students dream of attending one of the best schools in the nation, they should be realistic and aim for the best school within their academic range based on their GPA and exam scores. Gordon says, "Kids want to get into the best schools, but it’s about being successful in life, not just about getting into an Ivy League. If you get into an Ivy League, be proud. If you don’t, whatever career you have, whatever passions you have, you can still do the same things at another school and be just as successful." Remember, there are more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the US to choose from.

 

Instead of focusing on college rankings, students should evaluate a school based on its profile and location. More often than not, it is the average class size, course offerings and the surrounding area that best determine the right fit for a student. "It’s four years of your life and you want to make sure you feel comfortable," reminds Gordon. In the US, it might be the difference between choosing a small liberal arts college or a large university with an engineering school. Prospective American college students may either declare a major when they apply or start out undecided, whereas prospective British university students are expected to have narrowed down their course preferences before applying.In both circumstances, students should investigate which schools have their intended course of study. "The key thing is encouragingthe students to talk to their parents about the whole thing, because they’re a really important part of the process," adds Murchie.

 

While it may not affect your chances of acceptance, visiting a college or university is a good way to get a feel for a campus. Inquire at your school if there any organized field trips abroad or if there are any upcoming talks from visiting university representatives. Many of Beijing’s international schools host regular guest speakers from American, British, Australian and Canadian universities. Harrow has a North American college advisor who visits twice a week; they also run a trip to the UK twice a year.
 
Admission Treks
Admission Treks offers "treks" to colleges in the US (both East and West Coast) as well as mentoring services. Each trek involves 15-20 students, which are each assigned a mentor – a carefully selected student or graduate with a solid academic background. A maximum of four students will share one mentor; one-on-one mentoring can be arranged at an extra cost. Activities include meeting special guests such as lawyers and MBA graduates, attending lectures given by professors at either Harvard or UCLA, workshops on writing a personal statement and preparing the extracurricular section, as well as a fun excursion to either a Broadway show or Disneyland. Post-trek, mentors will continue to assist students with the application process. "If someone does the trek and the mentoring, there is no question that they will put their best foot forward," notes Gordon.

Strong Personal Ties
"If someone made a difference in your life as a teacher, keep them as a mentor," advises Gordon. "Even if you got an A in their class, they’re not going to be as impressed as if you checked in with them every now and then."

 

In Years 12 and 13, Harrow students have a personal tutor (or form tutor), whom they meet with at the start and end of every school day. This tutor advises students and subsequently writes their letter of recommendation. Murchie is also involved in the application process, proofreading applications before they’re sent out. Throughout the school year, he welcomes questions from students. "My door is never shut. It’s an open-door policy."

 

For further assistance regarding applications, consult your teacher, school’s guidance counselor or college advisor.

Resources

Harrow International School Beijing 北京哈罗英国学校
5 Anzhen Xili, Block 4, Chaoyang District (6444 8900, enquiries@harrowbeijing.cn) www.harrowbeijing.cn
朝阳区安贞西里四区5号

Admission Treks
West Coast trek RMB 35,000, East Coast Trek RMB 40,000, combined trek (both East and West Coasts) RMB 65,000. Mentoring program package RMB 15,000 for 6 months, RMB 30,000 for a year.
21 Everett Road Ext, Albany, NY 12205, USA (+001 518 469 9959, info@AdmissionTreks.com)

Common Application
www.commonapp.org

The College Board
www.collegeboard.com

The ACT Exam
www.actstudent.org

U.S. News & World Report
www.usnews.com

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
(enquiries@ucas.ac.uk) www.ucas.com

Tips from Past Applicants:

"Apply early. Do the time – don’t let the time do you."
– Zhang Shizhuo, Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) graduateNew York University, Tisch School of Arts, Class of 2013

"Get more than one person to review your personal statement."- Li Fen Foh, Beijing BISS International School graduate
Newcastle University, Class of 2013

"Demonstrate that you have the potential to contribute and enrich the college society. Being an international student is not enough; you need to present yourself as a unique individual."
– Yeiyoung Choo, BWYA graduate
University of California at Berkeley, Class of 2014

"An institution is providing you [with]an opportunity, which comes at the cost of denying someone else the same chance. So let them know how badly you want that opportunity."
– Frank Tarimo, BWYA graduate
Boston University (College of Engineering), Class of 2014

"Universities are looking for influential people – future leaders."- Michal Csonga, BWYA graduate
University of Manchester, Class of 2011