How to choose your university
There are 4,000-plus American universities available, ranging from public, to private, to Ivy League, to liberal arts colleges. The variety can be confusing (see fulbright.org.uk for full descriptions). “Just because you haven’t heard of a university, doesn’t mean it’s no good,” says Montgomery. She suggests prospective students consider geography, the size of the student body and what they want from a university – whether they prefer smaller, intimate environments or the buzz of the city.
For others, the extra-curricular activities or the school’s specialities will be a big draw. George Burgess, 20, a former student at St Paul’s School in south west London, is studying at Stanford: “I knew that it has a history of entrepreneurship – it’s at the heart of Silicon Valley. I run a small app company (educationapps.co.uk) and there are a lot of societies and classes to cater for that. I also get units [credits] towards my grades for running the company, which wouldn’t happen at other universities.” With top-grade A-levels in geography, art, RS and economics, he turned down a place at Cambridge (reading geography) for the Stanford experience.
For the majority who are not as clear in their minds as Burgess, Montgomery recommends visiting the university, suggesting October half-term as ideal. “Everything’s in full swing then – the campuses are buzzy and full of people. You can get a chance to see whether it feels like the kind of place you’d be happy.” If you are unsure she recommends contacting the admissions tutors through the university websites for more information. “Their job is to make sure people have a complete picture. Send an email. Be bold.”
The application
The American system is less streamlined than Ucas. While about 400 universities are part of the Common Application (commonapp.org), most have supplementary applications which set essay-style questions. Burgess, for instance, was asked: “What is your favourite moment in history?”
“It felt like they wanted to really get to know me,” he says. Kamat recalls: “I’ve since been told by that they look at people’s applications and ask themselves, 'is this someone I’d want to teach, or even go to lunch with?’ They want to know that you will be an interesting addition to the school.”
Anyone who gets through the application process and makes the move will find differences: students must be prepared for continual assessment and should not be surprised to find their peers are evangelical about college sports and wear clothes emblazoned with the institution’s logo. “If you find the idea of 'school spirit’ silly then it’s probably not for you,” says Montgomery. And pub-loving students will need to adapt to the over-21 drinking laws.
For Kamat, all this is part of the fun: “Going to an American university will take you outside your comfort zone. It’s daunting, but it is the most incredible, rewarding experience.”
What it costs
US universities’ charge tuition fees of between £9,800-£19,000 per year for an undergraduate degree and living costs must be factored in (room and board, books and supplies, transport, visas and personal expenses). Costs can vary significantly depending on location so research this when deciding where to apply. Universities also charge an application fee (around £30-£60 per institution).
Financial aid is available. Merit based scholarships are usually given for strong academic achievement and needs-based financial aid is assessed on your familiy’s income and ability to support your costs.Collegeboard.org allows you to search for institutions that offer this funding for international students.
Some universities offer scholarships covering the entire cost. The Harvard Financial Aid initiative, for example, will provide full funding without loans to a student whose family income is below $60,000 (£37,000), though it is very competitive.
Sports scholarships follow their own timeline. See fulbright.org.uk for details.
Entrance exams
All students who wish to study in the US are expected to sit an entrance exam. Most institutions require students to take either the SAT or the alternative ACT exam.
The most competitive institutions ask for the main SAT aptitude paper – a standard reasoning test – plus two or three subject-specific exams. Some 28 test centres in Britain – typically situated in private schools or colleges – run the SAT.
