Fall 2008: The University Application Process (US, Canada, UK)

1. Fall 2008: The University Application Process (US, Canada, UK) Some essentials

2. Essential information Different university systems; advantages & disadvantages Different application processes Timelines What should you do?

3. US universities • Advantages • Not expected to know what you want to study; allows for self-discovery • Great flexibility: combine majors, study abroad • HUGE range of institutions nationwide—3,000--depending on many factors • Allows experimentation with different subjects before choosing • Full range of services, i.e. help with work experience, job application, resume writing, academic advising, personal counseling, health services • Modern facilities (usually!) • Highly qualified faculty • Real sense of community: can live on campus, join sports, many activities • Extensive financial aid for US citizens/PRs; sometimes aid for non-US • When you’re in, you’re in unless your grades drop drastically • No “weeding out” process • Disadvantages: expense compared to other countries; complicated admission process; difficult to choose

4. Credits: US, Canadian systems Some UK univ’s • Analogy: Accumulation of credits = Bricks to build a house • Terminology: • Course = one class (Beginning English Composition; Statistics 101; History of India) • One course = certain number of credits • i.e. 120 credits, 130 credits = BA/BS degree (4 years as full-time student)

5. Credits • Credits are YOURS • Once you earn them, they can’t be taken away: they are always on your school record • Earn credits = passing a course • You can take them to other universities • Credits sometimes given for Bacc scores, too • Certain number of credits in a certain group of subjects = your degree • Same in Canadian system • Similar in most UK universities: changing from exam-based progression

6. Degree hierarchy: US system Undergraduate: 4 years for first degree • Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science • Graduate: 2 or 3 years usually • Master’s degree: comes after bachelor’s • Master of Arts, Master of Science, MBA (Master of Business Administration), others • Law, medicine: 3 and 4 years AFTER Bachelor’s • Ph.D: 5 years or more. Terminal degrees in an academic subject, i.e. literature, biology, psychology • Graduate programs require a new application process • Grades from Bachelor’s degree; test scores; personal statement; interview

7. Colleges/universities • Same but different • At both, you can earn your 4-year Bachelor’s degree • Universities have colleges within them OR • Colleges can be free-standing • Equal education • Different setting • Colleges = usually undergraduate only; liberal arts • Universities = 4-year colleges but also have master’s, Ph.D. programs, law, medicine; undergraduate “professional” schools • Admission is mostly the same

8. Liberal arts education • Liberal arts education. This form of education gives you both breadth and depth in your studies. The breadth comes in the first two years of your university program, when you take courses in all areas of the curriculum – natural sciences and mathematics, social sciences, and arts and humanities. Your specialization occurs in the second two years, when you choose a major field of study and take most of your courses in that major. The combination of breadth and depth gives you a broad base of knowledge and skills that will be useful in whatever career you pursue, as well as an area of expertise. • In the American system of higher education, the bachelor’s degree is the primary university degree. It follows directly after completion of secondary school (high school), and is required before continuing on to a Master’s (graduate) degree. Programs that lead to a Bachelor’s degree are also called undergraduate degree programs.

9. Community colleges • Local; one per county i.e. Montgomery College • Vocational training AND • First two years of undergraduate degree; ESL also • Can transfer the credits earned to a 4-year college or university • Disadvantages: • Smaller range of academic course choices than at 4-year institution • Sometimes less of a sense of community than at residential, 4-year campus, BUT • Advantages: Cheapest option for first 2 years Easiest admission: no one is denied With strong grades, easy transfer to state 4-year institutions i.e. U.MD.

10. US Admission • Complex set of factors used • Grades: most important • Standardized tests (usually) • Teacher and counselor recommendations • Student essays • Extracurricular activities • Personal circumstances or talents • Early Decision/Early Action/Regular Decision • November 1, January 1, January 15; Feb 1

11. US Deadlines • November 1, January 1: Early Decision/Early Action • December: Finish SAT and SAT Subject tests • University of Maryland: DECEMBER 1st!! • January 1 or 15: Regular Decision

12. US Resources • Search sites • Petersons.com • Collegeboard.com (also SAT registration) • Finduru.com • Applications: commonapp.org (also search) Rankings: USE MORE THAN ONE! • washingtonmonthly.com • usnews.com • Princetonreview.com/colleges • Rugg’s recommendations: individual departments Books: Fiske Guide, College Board’s Book of Majors

13. UK system Vocational—2 – 3 years & can then transfer to university (HND, BTEC)—don’t need Bacc • Foundation programs: usually 1 year; often in Art & Design—don’t always need Bacc • Bachelor’s degrees: Need Bacc • 3 years –England, Wales, N.Ireland • 4 years –Scotland • Called 3FT Honors or 4FT Honors (Honors = typical; in-depth study) • Sandwich courses—4 or 5 years • Must apply to a specific course • This is the most difficult part! Course selection

14. Uk system • Advantages: • 3-year Bachelor’s degrees (except Scotland) • Good for those who know what they want to study; can begin law or medicine right away • Usually have student services similar to US, i.e. work placements, academic advising, health services, study abroad • Housing for 1st-year non-UK students, usually • Student culture more European • Easy access to Europe • Low tuition cost for EU citizens/residents • Scotland extremely low cost • Disadvantages • Expensive if not EU • Very little financial aid • Can be hard to switch courses; initial course selection is very important • Many universities are very large and student housing is less uniform than US • Often exam-based • Admission firmly tied to final Bacc scores

15. UK system cont’d • 5 choices on UCAS application • “Course” = “Major” • Can apply to DIFFERENT courses but personal statement must address all courses chosen • Usually 5 different universities • Oxford/Cambridge: can only choose 1 course at ONE of the two • Medicine/dentistry/veterinary: Can only choose 4 • Ox/Camb/Medicine: October 15! • Otherwise: Jan 15th of grade 12 • Earlier apps can have an advantage

16. Resources • www.ucas.com • Rankings: ALWAYS use more than one! • Guardian Education: for rankings; includes student satisfaction • Times Education: rankings; more based on research • www.unistats.com (used to be called tqi.ac.uk—Teaching Quality Index) • Can compare programs at many places • Push Guides www.push.co.uk

17. Compare UK universities

18. Push Guides—written by UK students

19. Other systems • Europe—many US-style, English-speaking programs in Europe—4 year programs • www.aco.eu.com Also: 3-year European programs taught in English • Netherlands: Utrecht, Maastricht, others especially for business & econ • Bocconi-Milan • Jacobs University-Bremen • Ireland: Trinity College, Univ College, Cork Can study in English many places • Australia/ New Zealand: 3 years; similar to UK; need Bacc • Canada: 4 years; similar to US but no SAT/ACT required www.studycanada.ca

20. Canada • Advantages: • 3 or 4-year bachelor’s degrees • Some flexibility allowed to sample and change • Huge range of majors/programs • Highly qualified faculty • Easier to work during university • Easy application process • No SAT required (sometimes TOEFL) • Usually no essay required • Later deadlines except for McGill (Jan 15th) • Relatively low cost • Quebec especially, for French and Francophone countries • US cit’s can sometimes use US financial aid

21. canada • Disadvantages: • Many universities very large • Except for Quebec, not much financial aid for non-Canadians, non-US • Weather—for some, a disadvantage • More information • www.aucc.ca www.considercanada.org

22. Canada • Application process: you send • Online application • Application fee • Send TOEFL if required • Choose faculty/faculties • Apply for housing when required • School sends your transcripts, bulletins if necessary—from Quatrieme • Decision comes by April • No early decision or early notification in Canada

23. Grades • Very important—for any university • US: • Grades from 4eme through end of 1ere • February: mid-year grades—from 1st trimester • UK: Predicted Bacc total by November (or earlier, if you do an early application in September or October) • Canada: Transcripts sent in December, January, or February (depending on deadline) • Get Bulletins from previous school(s) if you are new to Rochambeau: from Quatrieme

24. Standardised tests • SAT and ACT: Used for most US universities, some in Europe • Can take either test • Offered in Bethesda, DC, VA • Difference: ACT includes a science reasoning section; slightly shorter & fewer sections; ACT allows you to choose which scores you send • Take both & send both—univ’s will take the better scores • SAT subject tests/SAT IIs

25. Standardised tests • Some US universities do not require SAT/ACT • www.fairtest.org • List of univ’s not requiring SAT/ACT • But—if you think you’d like to apply to US, prepare • Prep course, books • Aim for 600 or better on each part • For most competitive univ’s, aim for 700 on each part • ACT: aim for 30 or 31 total points out of 36

26. Other tests • TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language • Short essay, listening, speaking, multiple-choice grammar questions; 4 hours • Usually required by US, Canada, Australia if you are not a native speaker and have been in US 3 years or less • UK doesn’t require it, usually • Given in Bethesda, other local area • Prep books, CDs • Will add favorably to your application • www.toefl.org

27. Other tests, etc • UK: BMAT for medical school • LNAT for some law schools • Be sure you apply early • All universities: • Art schools: portfolio for studio art/design; sometimes interview • Music schools: Live audition or audition CD • Drama: live audition or audition CD • Sometimes: interview of shortlisted candidates (UK), alumni interview (US)

28. Other requirements • Personal statement (UK, Europe, Canada sometimes) or • 1 – 3 essays (US) • UK: focus on why you want to study your intended course; also other important personal factors • Europe: “Motivational letter”—intended course & goals; why you want to study at X university • US: Common Application questions • References: 2 from teachers; 1 from univ counselor (US)

29. Personal statement • UK: 80% focused on the course you will study & why • US: To learn more about you as a person: how you think, your values, what’s important to you, what you’ve learned, what you want to learn

30. US Common application essay question • SHORT ANSWER Please briefly elaborate on one of your activities (extracurricular, personal activities, or work experience). Attach your response on a separate sheet [150 words or fewer] • PERSONAL ESSAY • Please write an essay (250 words minimum) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below. Please indicate your topic by checking the appropriate box. • ......Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. • ......Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. • ......Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. • ......Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence. • ........A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an • experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. • ......Topic of your choice.

31. What to do now! • Decide with family on most important factors: • Cost? Location? Language? Size? Course/major offered? • Search websites; read admission requirements • ASK!! • How many places for this course? How many applications? • Rankings: don’t use just one! Their methods can differ greatly • Visit universities in October break • Finish taking SAT or Subject Tests (by November for U.MD or Early Decision/Action • You will need to narrow your choices by the end of October! • 10 choices, approximately

32. Get my help! • I can: • Suggest where & how to look • Advise on the level of competition at many • Call or write the university IF they are not responding to your questions • I will: • Write the required “counselor recommendation” (US) • Assemble recommendations and send UCAS application online (UK) • Set up visits with university representatives • Communicate necessary deadlines to you • Be the student’s advocate: tell universities about French system, student’s strengths • Mme Bessaha will: • Assemble necessary materials • Bulletins, certificates, diploma • Translate Bulletins for US universities = transcripts • For October – January deadlines: Mail transcripts,counselor recommendation, teacher recommendations • February: will send mid-year grades to US • February, March: will send transcripts to Canada, others

33. What should you do? • Students • Decide on universities by end of October • Ask 2 teachers for recommendations by mid-October) • Get forms from me or Mme Bessaha • Pick up University List form from Mme Bessaha • Indicate your choices • Each university and its deadline • Show to parents; both sign • Pay Mme Bessaha for mailing app and preparing transcript • $20 per university • Send your SAT/ACT/TOEFL scores yourself: through the testing agency (we do not send) • Until you have done all these things, we cannot send your grades and recommendations!

34. How does the application work? • US, Canada, some others: Student does the application online or on paper • Follow university/college’s instructions • Submit application (including personal information, essays, SAT/ACT/TOEFL) • Pay application fee online (credit card) or by check • Receipt of app fee = meeting deadline • Tell us where you are applying • Contact the college/university to be sure they received everything—after 2 - 3 weeks

35. How does the application work?What comes next? • US Regular Decision: receive decisions by April 1 • Have 1 month to choose your university • Choose ONLY ONE!! Very important • May 1: Pay deposit to hold your place • Tell me or Mme Bessaha which one • Mme Bessaha sends final results in July • Canada: receive decision by April, usually • Choose your university: ONLY ONE!!! (between US and Canada) • Apply for housing: follow their instructions • Tell us which one • Mme Bessaha sends final results in July • Do NOT make a deposit at two places!!

36. How does the application work? • UK: go to www.ucas.com • Set up account • Apply through a school or college • Buzzword: lyceerochambeau • Student chooses courses, puts in French bacc curriculum, puts in personal statement • Student/parent pays 15 pounds by credit card • Tell me you have finished it • I add recommendations, predicted grade, and I SEND IT

37. UK: What comes next? • Unlike US, Canada: decisions are often made as soon as application is received • Earlier application = better chances in some programs • Admission is conditional on final Bacc score • May: choose 1 firm, 1 insurance • Tell Mme Bessaha your 2 choices • July: School sends final Bacc results to 2 • You attend your first choice if points are obtained

38. Deadlines, and parents • Parents: please help your son or daughter remember the deadlines! • How to do it: • Make a chart with univ’s, requirements, deadlines • Keep in a central place • Check off each when finished • Remember, you can’t wait until the last minute!! • I.e. for UK, US: there are parts of the application I must do in order for it to be sent • Allow me 2 weeks before the deadline to do this!! • UK: For best results, I’ll send by December 1 • University of Maryland: received by December 1 • All US, UK, McGill should be done BEFORE Christmas • Before Christmas holiday: You need to finish any application with a deadline from now – January 15.

39. Parents: what else? • Be supportive, but without adding pressure! • Offer your help: organizing the process, keeping deadlines, brainstorming ideas for essays • Financial aid/how to pay: this is your biggest responsibility, especially for US • Meet financial aid application deadlines • Usually February 1; maybe March 1

40. Summary • See me to discuss choices • Know your deadlines (i.e. Sept 26 to register for November SATs; Oct 15 Oxford/Camb; Nov 1st US early decision) • Recommendation forms to teachers • Mme Bessaha: University List, payment for transcripts & mailing • Finish applications before Christmas break (January 15 deadlines) • Orientation Americaine • Check it frequently!! • Deadline list • Universities visiting • Websites, books • Other programs outside school