US Undergraduate Admissions &  Sport Scholarship Information Sessions

2016 | April Information Sessions

EducationUSA
 U.S. Consulate General Sydney
 Level 10, MLC Centre, 19-29 Martin Place NSW 2000
 sydney@educationusa.info   9373-9230

Following are the details of the information sessions EducationUSA will be holding during the April 2016 school holidays. 
 
RSVP is essential at www.trybooking.com/89936 (copy + paste to your browser)
 
Session Dates
 
Wednesday, April 13, 2016                 RSVP: Monday, April 11, 2016 
Friday, April 22, 2016                        RSVP: Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Session Times
1:30 for 2:00-4:00pm
 
Location
EducationUSA
US Consulate General
Level 10, MLC Centre,
19-29 Martin Place, Sydney

These are free general information sessions on the U.S. undergraduate application process and sport scholarship information, with a focus on the NCAA eligibility process.

Intended Audience: High school students and parents interested in learning about the US undergraduate application process and/or aiming to compete in US college sport.
Each session covers the same information and is divided into two segments: 1) General Application Process; and 2) Sport Scholarship Information.  Those not interested in the sport scholarship component may choose to leave at the conclusion of the first segment.
For information on the particular sports played in each athletic association, please visit their individual websites:  NCAA - www.ncaa.org; NAIA - www.naia.org; NJCAA - www.njcaa.org 
RSVP through Trybooking is essential and available places may be filled prior to RSVP deadline.  www.trybooking.com/89936
 
Please note: original photo ID is required for entry to the Consulate. 

On Thursday, 18 Feb 2016, the Board of Studies noted the following Visits by American University representatives in March. Following a series of very popular visits by US universities and colleges in 2015, another group of US universities will be in Sydney in March talking to students, parents and careers advisers about the opportunities to study in America.
They are here to participate in the 4th US College Fair that will provide students and parents with information on US undergraduate degrees, scholarships and application details. The Fair is hosted by Redlands School and is open to all interested students and parents in NSW.
Date: Thursday 10 March
Venue: Redlands Hall, Redlands School, Cremorne (NB: no parking on site)
Time: 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/KJVA
The universities are:

• University of Colorado, Boulder
• University of South Carolina
• Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey
• Foothill and De Anza Colleges in California

Joining them at the Fair will be EducationUSA advisers from the US Consulate Generaland alumni representatives from:

• Georgetown University
• New York University
• University of Michigan
• University of Virginia
• Princeton University
• Yale University
• Emory University

The universities will also meet with BOSTES to build their understanding about the quality and standards of NSW schools and students.
For more information, contact:
Michael Charlton
Director, Media
michael.charlton@bostes.nsw.edu.au
(02) 9367 8248
​

1. How old do I have to be?
You will need to be turning 16 (or older) in the year in which you are taking the course.

2. Why is there an age limit?
Students at our Summer School sites are invested with a great deal of personal responsibility - they are treated just like University students. So, they need to be able to understand the rules, understand and compete in classes, and to have a high degree of self-care.  Secondly, there are insurance regulations which need to be obeyed. FInally, many school systems overseas are still sending students up to the age of 19, creating difficulties for younger students in terms of the level of scholarly engagement. Therefore, the requirement is as it is.

3. Where can I go?
In 2016 there are two major centres for UK Summer Schools, both the most ancient universities in their respective countries. The University of St Andrews was the first university, and remains the highest ranking university, in that great centre of enlightenment, philosophical and scientific learning, Scotland.  A beautiful university town, it is famed for the social and academic life of its students.  The University of Oxford is the third oldest university in Europe, and a global powerhouse in learning. Its 'dreaming spires' and colleges are the very materialisation of the learned life for many. What is the difference? It depends on preference. The St Andrews courses are the only summer school courses for school students in the UK to be actually run by the university itself. The teachers are university staff. While Oxford Royale Academy (ORA), on the other hand, is a separate agency, its courses are of high standard, often taught by university postgraduate students and teachers.

4. What choices are there?
St Andrews: St Andrews specializes in Creative Writing, Scottish Studies, and The Sciences.  These are courses which capture the very heart of this ancient but at the same time progressive university, set in one of the most spectacular natural environments in the world.  
Oxford: Among the most popular courses has been one called 'Broadening Horizons'. Courses fill very rapidly, however, and so within BH you are required to make more than one choice: you will be provided with one of your other options. In addition, there are courses such as SAT Preparation, Law School Preparation, UK University Preparation, Oxford Enterprise Programme, and the Global Leadership Programme.

5. How much will it cost?
This question depends on the rise and fall of exchange rates (when the Australian dollar falls relative to Sterling then relative costs rise). A guide for 2016 course costs (ie. not including flights) is as follows:
St Andrews: The university indicates c. £3300 for a three week course, inclusive of board, accommodation and transfers
Oxford: ORA indicates c.  £3,895 for a two week course, inclusive of board, accommodation and transfers.

The SAT examinations are a barrier test used by many universities to filter out the many thousands of applications which they receive every year.  It is important to understand that they are not a qualification examination, like the HSC. Success in the SATs is the beginning  of the application process, not the end. Please see the information in Question 4 in this FAQ.  For most American universities, SATs, or the equivalent ACTs,  are an essential first step. The value of one or the other test is hotly debated, and there are champions for both.  Read online advice carefully, and make some time to see an advisor at the United States Consulate EducationUSA office in the city. 

What do you need to do?
1. After taking advice, choose between the ACTs and the SATs.
2. The SATs  are run by an organisation called The College Board, while the ACTs are run by 'American College Testing'. Go to the relevant website and register for login and password access, 

• here: https://sat.collegeboard.org/home or 
  
• here: http://www.actstudent.org/?_ga=1.182012005.330353571.1440467388
  

The SAT Test is 3 hours and 45 minutes long and contains the following sections:

• Critical reading, which has sentence completion questions, short paragraphs and long excerpts.
• Writing, which has a short essay(25 minutes) and multiple-choice questions on grammar and writing.
• Mathematics, which has tricky questions in basic arithmetic operations, algebra, geometry, statistics and probability.
• New changes will be implemented in January 2016.  The SAT will still retain some features of the old SAT: details are on the College Board Website.

The ACT has been growing in popularity, and currently has more US-based students sitting its examinations.

3.  While hosting the SATs, The Scots College only acts as an examination site – it does not proctor or facilitate examinations or preparation. TSC also does not advise students what is the right choice for them, and you should take advice carefully before coming to your own decision. When you enrol with the College Board,  you are effectively a student of the College Board or the ACT. On the SAT site, for example you can: 

• Follow SAT on Twitter 
  
• Log in or sign up for an account 
  
• Get familiar with the redesigned SAT 
  
• Find colleges and scholarships 
  
• Learn more about College Application Fee Waivers 
• Practice SAT Examinations (Khan Academy offers a free practice set: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat)
• Learn about the various tests which are available.
• Register for a specific test site and date, and make changes to your registrations: https://sat.collegeboard.org/register/registration-changes

4. Look at the various institutions  with which you might wish to enroll,  and find out what the requirements are in terms of SAT testing. Some require only the general test, while others require the specific subject tests. 
5. Go to the information in Q4, and work out what your timetable needs to be to get the results back in time for application to your preferred institutions
6. Prepare for the test - many people spend a year or more preparing for the SATs, which are a particular type of learning parallel to, but often quite different from, the curriculum of the NSW Board of Studies. You may need tutorial assistance for this: the College does not offer this as such, but there are many people 'out there' who are able to help on a private basis.
7. Sit the test - See the SAT Test site for what you need to bring, and for a 'simulator' of a trial test day.
8. Look on the Admissions site of your preferred institutions, and follow their instructions in terms of submission of results.
9. Many people take the SATs more than once. Practice is essential.

[This is information of a general nature: the specific requirements for entry will vary depending on your personal situation and qualifications, and the institution to which you are applying]
 
The United States is the world's largest destination for international students. In the 2012-2013 school year alone, US institutions welcomed 819,644 undergraduate and graduate students. This number does not include the many, many applications which were not accepted. Universities, particularly those in high demand, use tests such as the SATs to filter out the excess number of applications they receive from American students, and from applicants all around the world. Most U.S. colleges and universities require a certain score in one or more standardized admission tests, which provide a common measure for comparing students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds. You will need to send the scores from these tests with your application packets, along with documents such as: 

• college applications, 
  
• essays, 
  
• references, 
  
• transcripts, 
  
• work experience 
• English Language skills, e.g. the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

and other information as required by the particular institution to which you may apply. Some schools may place more weight on students’ test scores than others: most require more than just academic results. The level of skills required for success in undergraduate or graduate studies varies by field or department. Institutions and the departments within them will therefore often look at the separate components of test scores, or demand additional test results. The needs of an English program will differ from those of a Physics program. 

Most undergraduate and graduate programs will require the TOEFL exam for all international students to ensure that they have adequate proficiency in English to succeed in U.S. colleges. All relevant standardized tests are given in English. 

For undergraduate admissions, required standardized tests usually include:

• Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
  
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  
• American College Testing (ACT)

Some schools may also require additional admissions tests not listed above, placement tests to determine where to place you in the program of study (introductory-level classes or advanced), or tests that they have developed locally for their institutions.

International Student Status: You are considered an 'international student' if you are neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident, regardless of where in the world you live. This will have an impact on the tuition fee charged, particularly in State-funded universities.  You will probably also require a student Visa, which will mean providing copies of your passport and the The F-1 student visa is ordinarily given to individuals qualified to pursue a full course of study at an academic institution which is authorized to admit international students. The J-1 visa is sometimes given to students who are supported substantially by funding from any source other than personal or family funds, for example the U.S. Government, the students home government or an international organization.Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019), usually issued by the institution to which you are applying. You can apply through the local American Consulate or Embassy.  

Application Due dates: Most American institutions require applications to be in by November of the preceding year. These differ from place to place, however.

Application forms: Some 500 American universities are members of a cooperative application process called the 'Universal' or "Common Application" portal (http://www.commonapp.org/).  Others, however, are not, and work specifically through their own websites and processes. Check carefully to see what is used at your institution(s) of choice. Bear in mind that approximately two thirds of universities belonging to the Common Application process ask for supplemental information and/or essays. An example is the University of Chicago which requires:

• Completion of the Universal Application or Common Application 
  
• A University of Chicago Supplement which involves one extended essay of your choice from a list of five, and one short essay on why you would like to attend the University of Chicago. 
  
• Secondary School Report, signed by the secondary school counsellor, attached to which is an official transcript of marks (including information about results or predicted results for any external examinations, such as the GCE A levels or the IB).  An optional extra step for secondary school counsellors and teachers is the submission of letters of recommendation and school forms online via the Universal Application or Common Application portal. 
  
• Teachers Evaluation forms
  
• Test Scores (ACT or SAT Reasoning score), which are sent to the University of Chicago from the testing agency. All American institutions have an SAT code: that for UChicago is 1832. Unlike some other colleges, UChicago does not require SAT Subject Tests (https://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat)
  
• An English Language Proficiency Test for NESB applicants, at a sufficient level of operation: e.g. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson Test of English (PTE). You will need to request the agency to send the results to the University admissions office. (Code # 1832). 
  
• Midyear Report with grades of a transcript for your first semester or first trimester by February 1 of the preceding year, or as soon as possible thereafter. The Universal and Common Applications provide a Midyear Grade Report form, or you may use your own school’s midyear report. University of Chicago allows you to make updates to your application by logging into your UChicago Account and clicking “Update Your Application.” Other institutions may not be as flexible - it is important to check this out before you finalize your application.
  
• a number of 'Non-Required Materials' such as Financial Aid Application, etc. 
• Some universities include personal interviews, some of which can be done by Skype, and others of which need to be attended in person. The University of Chicago, for instance, indicates that interviews are not required, but can be helpful to the applicant. 
• Some specific programs -- e.g. music, theatre, dance etc-- may require auditions or supporting materials, a portfolio or supporting references. Teacher Evaluation forms in the Universal or Common Applications for this purpose. The University of Chicago, for instance, indicates that these are optional, but helpful, and states that 'You may also submit a short creative writing sample or scientific research abstract.'

Many institutions will require foreign transcripts and documents to be certified by a registered certifying company, though others, such as UCDavis, note that: 

True copies, facsimiles, or photocopies of academic records will be accepted only if the photocopies themselves have been personally signed by an academic official who has certified that they are exact copies of original documents. Each attested copy must also bear the seal and title of the authorizing official. Uncertified photocopies are not acceptable. Official records in their original language must be submitted with the authorized, complete and exact English translations. (https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/prospective-students/international-applicants)

Universities in Britain can be divided into the ancient universities ('Oxbridge' and St Andrews), traditional collegiate universities (such as Durham), the 19th Century foundations (such as the University of London), and the post-War Universities. The ancient and collegiate institutions often have alternative or additional requirements to the general entry requirements laid down by the British equivalent of UAC, which is called "UCAS" (https://www.ucas.com/). It is important, therefore, when applying to an ancient or collegiate university to attend to both what is outlined on the UCAS site, and also to make inquiries of the particular university concerned.


Admissions Sites:
Ancient and Collegiate

1. University of Oxford (Admissions site: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions)
   
2. University of Cambridge (http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk)
3. University of St Andrews (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/ug/apply)
4. University of Durham (https://www.dur.ac.uk/ug.admissions)
5. University of Edinburgh (http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment)
6. University of Glasgow (http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/wideningparticipation/admissions)
7. University of Aberdeen (http://www.abdn.ac.uk/study)

Top Universities in England and Wales (by 2014 ranking) outside the A&C universities:

1. London School of Economics
   
2. Imperial College London
   
3. Warwick
   
4. Surrey
   
5. Lancaster
   
6. Exeter
   
7. Bath
   
8. Loughborough
   
9. University College London
   
10. Southampton
    
11. Bristol
    
12. East Anglia
    
13. York
    
14. Birmingham
    
15. Leeds
    
16. Sussex
    
17. Kent
    
18. King's College London
    
19. Leicester
    
20. Nottingham
    
21. Newcastle
    
22. Sheffield
    
23. Manchester
    
24. Reading
    
25. Cardiff
    
26. Aston
    
27. Queen Mary, University of London
    
28. Royal Holloway, University of London
    
29. Essex
    
30. Queen's, Belfast
    
31. Heriot-Watt
    
32. Strathclyde
    
33. Liverpool
    
34. City
    
35. SOAS, University of London
    
36. University of Dundee (http://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/ug)

Australia has a range of perfectly good universities, so: 

1. think about your opportunity cost as well as the opportunities which will arise by choosing to study abroad. If you want to come back and work in Australia, you need to be sure that your overseas qualification will provide you with a recognised pathway. 
   
2. think about the cost of living, as well as the total tuition cost in the intended country and the intended institution of study - is this supportable by you and/or your family?
3. think rationally about (a) how competitive you are in terms of your actual ability, and (b) how socially and emotionally ready you will be for living in a country where you might be separated from your normal support structures back in Australia. Many of the institutions you might be thinking about attract applications from the best students in the world. On the other hand, many very bright and capable people falter when they are isolated from the support which has underpinned their success through high school.
4. research thoroughly the range of institutions available, and the standing of their courses, accreditation, teaching, and research. 
5. take good advice from those at Scots who have some knowledge of university life overseas. As well as Mr Young and the pastoral care staff, there are numbers of staff who have been where you want to go (Cambridge, St Andrews, Harvard, and the other great universities). Ask around, and have a long chat over a cup of tea.

If you would like to talk through these issues, why not make a time to talk to your tutor, who will help you think through some of these issues.

If you are planning to study abroad, starting 2 years out from when you want to commence studying is a good idea. Here is a helpful timeline for some of the things you need to think about, and in what order, if you are considering studying in the USA.

Application Timeline

24 Months Before U.S. Study

• Identify the necessary barrier (e.g. SAT) and entrance examinations for the universities you might be interested in. 
• Gain some idea from your pastoral carers at School as to what level you might expect to hit in your HSC work.
• Register and prepare for required entrance exams
• Keep working hard in school

18 Months Before U.S. Study

• Research various colleges and universities programs - perhaps visit some if you are over that way.
• Continue to prepare for required entrance exams
• Keep working hard in school

12-14 Months Before U.S. Study

• Choose the schools to which you will apply
• Obtain all necessary information and forms for each school
• Take required entrance exams

10-12 Months Before U.S. Study

• Request any forms and information again, if necessary
• Identify your references and supply them with required reference forms
• Request transcripts from your school/s (remember, these will have to be certified by a registered certifying agency, which costs money and takes time.)
• Write your application essay (also called a “personal statement”)

10 Months Before U.S. Study

• Retake entrance exams if scores were unsatisfactory
• Line up all required financing
• Complete and mail applications
• Electronic Applications: An Additional Note

3 Months Before U.S. Study

• Apply for your student visa
• Research health insurance options for your time abroad
• Make travel arrangements for when you arrive in the U.S.