This year 14 students received offers to study in the US. Here some of them discuss their application and why they wanted to attend university in America.
One reason I chose a US university was because I wanted a change in scenery. Moving from Thailand to the UK has allowed me to pick up new life skills, perspectives and traits, and I hope to do so again in the US.
I was very interested in Cornell’s architecture program. I would love to design spaces that improve the lives of communities, with minimal negative impact on the environment, and I felt that I could gain the skills and support to fulfil this vision at Cornell.
The course is longer than the UK equivalent, but this didn’t deter me because I have the opportunity to compliment architecture with other studies and leave with a well-rounded skill set. Moreover, I would love a campus life and a sense of community. Though it’s a competitive university, I felt that the environment was more collaborative and welcoming, rather than toxic and claustrophobic.
My advice for preparing for SATs and the Common App is to not do something just because it worked for someone else. For example, everyone I knew from home had done long and ridiculously priced courses. I tried SAT courses, but found that they hardly helped, especially when learning in a group. What really made me improve was working through SAT text and exercise books and practicing under exam conditions.
I was born in the USA and one of my brothers had gone to university in the USA. Hence, from a young age applying to the USA for university was always the goal for me. I remember going to Mrs Martin’s office after my third week in Lower Fifth to learn more about the process of applying to America and show my eagerness.
I am a person of many interests; I love to explore academics in an interdisciplinary manner. So, I knew the USA would provide the platform I wanted to explore my academics liberally. The beauty of the liberal education is that you are not confined to one sector, you become a master of many tricks. In addition, I always love to be busy and be involved in extra-curricular activities, this is a big part of who I am.
Moreover, I felt that I could express this side of myself more transparently with an American university application. Applying to America gave me the opportunity to get involved in a plethora of activities which allowed me to find my niche and passion. Applying to America teaches you that life is so much bigger than academics and the classroom, it has taught me to be driven, resilient and passionate.
The American university process is not easy. It requires a lot of hard work, consistency and thought. My top five pieces of advice would be to start early, get involved in as many activities as possible, find your niche (this is whatever makes you tick), work hard and follow your dreams. Remember to always chase your dreams and not let anyone get in your way, if you believe you can do it then you can.
I wanted to apply to the US mostly because of their liberal arts system. Most schools there are liberal arts so you can learn a bit of everything. You can specialise if you prefer but I wanted a well-rounded education that could be applied to various careers as I’m not sure what I want to do in the future. I’ve always wanted to start my own business and the entrepreneurship is much more supported in US universities than in the UK.
The colleges I researched had great job placement programmes, lots of internship opportunities in the summer and so many study abroad opportunities that I really wanted to take advantage of. At American universities they also pay a lot of attention to extracurriculars which I really appreciate.
One of the reasons I chose Yale because it’s one of the only top schools that have the specific course I was looking for – Politics, Ethics and Economics. I’m still not sure I want to end up with that degree but because of the liberal arts system, I’m able to decide after I’ve taken classes in the subjects.
Yale is one of the best universities in the world, so I was sure of their commitment to academic excellence and since they also have a uniquely collaborative atmosphere, I felt I would be able to receive the help necessary to succeed in whatever course I decided upon. I’m really looking forward to going there next year.