Recruitment to universities in the USA - information for the foreign students
For successful enrolment to prestigious university in the US the foreign student must pass one standard test – SAT or ACT, which play an important role in the applying process. Each American university establishes own academic requirements, so tests help to correctly assess student’s knowledge.
SAT and ACT have similar content and structure. SAT test aims at determining of mathematical abilities, ACT evaluates language abilities of students.
Both types of tests are developed by the private organizations, so the foreign students pay fee to pass them. The American high school programs are recognized by other countries. In some cases the graduates of the boarding school in the USA must obtain additional qualifications. If the foreign student enrols in leading European universities, it will be better to have International Baccalaureate certificate. Although, having standard high school certificate the student has opportunity to enrol in the university in Europe, as they accept AP and SAT scores.
Pre-university preparation for the international students – specifics of studying
The foreign students aged from 15 to 18 years old study in the high school in the USA from 9 to 12 grades. The system of secondary education in the best schools in the US always provides opportunity for the international students to independently choose additional disciplines, but at the age of 15-18, students get more freedom in this choice, since they know approximately what they want to devote their future life to. There is a certain list of subjects that children are compulsory to study, but they can choose all other disciplines on their own.
Studying in the high school, the international students pay much attention to the preparation for the final SAT test, which results influence the enrolment process in the prestigious college or the university in Europe.
All high schools in America have in-depth educational courses the Advanced Placement AP. The program of increased complexity consists of 34 subjects and corresponds to the initial courses at the university, therefore, it will be much easier for future students of the best universities in the world to adapt to their studies in the future. The more prestigious the school, the more subjects of increased complexity it can offer to the international students. The results of preparation on this educational program give the best students benefits for admission to universities in the USA, Canada and the UK. When passing the subjects for an excellent grade, everyone has a chance to win priority enrollment for admission to Princeton, Harvard and Yale Universities.
All graduates of American schools obtain High School Graduation Diploma. In order to graduate from school with a diploma, each student must earn from 20 to 23 credits for subjects from the compulsory program + for elective subjects during the entire learning process. One credit is the studying of one subject during the academic year. In addition, the student must devote 5 hours per semester to socially useful activities.
How to get into universities in USA?
There is a competition for up to 10 people per place: to enrol, applicants are required to fill out a competently completed questionnaire, a statement of progress for at least 2-3 previous years, written recommendations from teachers translated into English, as well as an interview (in person or via Skype) and testing (most often in mathematics and English).
In many cases it is necessary to pass SSAT, test, allowing to determine the level of English proficiency, the ability to apply it in practice. The exam is aimed at American applicants, foreign students can provide a certificate in return SLEP or TOEFL.
In case of insufficient language preparation for successful enrolment in the boarding school in the USA, the foreign student can attend academic courses in the language centres.
After reviewing the applicant's documents, the date and time of the interview are assigned to him. The interview is conducted by phone or online (by Skype). The interview allows to determine the level of English, motivation, purposefulness of the student, the coincidence of his profile interests with the specialization of the educational institution.
Below the list of documents is provided:
- The copy of passport
- School annual grades for the last 2 academic years + quarter/trimester grades for the current academic year
- International language certificate
- Recommendation letters from teachers of mathematics and English
- Motivation letter
- Registration and school forms.
In addition to the above list, children are also required to take internal tests in mathematics and English to determine whether the foreign student is sufficiently well prepared at the time of admission to a university in the USA.