The U.S. University and College Application Process
Tertiary Education in the U.S.
The U.S. is a consistently popular destination for international students regarding their tertiary education. According to the data, in the 2023/2024 academic year, the number of international students in U.S. higher education reached a record high of 1,126,690. Of this number, 342,875 were undergraduates.
The popularity of the U.S. among international students often lies in the wealth of options for prospective undergraduates. Indeed, there are thousands of institutions that offer a plethora of degree options throughout the U.S. Moreover, soon-to-be high school graduates recognise the opportunities for networking and internships that present themselves within U.S. universities and colleges, making them that bit more appealing.
What’s the Difference between University or College?
The words university and college are often used interchangeably. Yet, there is a difference between them. Universities are four-year educational institutions that offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Typically, universities have higher enrolment figures but this is not always the case. Colleges, on the other hand, are often smaller and focus solely on undergraduate education. Additionally, college degrees often range from two to four years. In some cases, large U.S. universities have colleges within them. These colleges typically specialise in a particular field of study, such as business or law.
The SAT and the ACT
The SAT and ACT are the two standardised, multiple choice tests used for U.S. university and college admissions. While many U.S. educational institutions switched to test-optional during the COVID-19 pandemic, this is often no longer the case. So, for those wishing to attend university or college in the U.S., it is important to gain an SAT or ACT score. Ultimately, it does not matter which one of the two exams a student sits, as both are equally valid. What prospective undergraduates should consider, however, is which exam suits them best.
The SAT consists of two sections. These are reading and writing, and mathematics. Candidates have 64 minutes to complete 54 questions across the reading and writing section of the paper. The mathematics section is composed of 44 questions and allotted 70 minutes. Students sitting the SAT exam have, therefore, a total of 2 hours and 14 minutes to respond to 98 questions.
The ACT is split into three core sections—English, maths, and reading. In addition, there are two optional sections, being science and writing. Across the three core sections, candidates are presented with a total of 131 questions and are given two hours and five minutes to complete them.
When deciding on which standardised test to sit, students should examine the test papers carefully and pick which one best suits their particular skills. It is often beneficial to do this under the guidance of an experienced SAT/ACT tutor.
The Common App Essay
The Common App is the admissions portal used by most U.S. universities and colleges. When applying for U.S. tertiary education via the Common App, candidates submit an essay that will be shared with the institutions they have selected.
The Common App essay is a continuous piece of writing of no more than 650 words, based on one of seven prompts. This essay requires applicants to consider their skills and experiences, and identify anecdotes that will best demonstrate how these have shaped them into a strong candidate for U.S. university or college entry. U.S. university and college admissions officers are looking for a compelling narrative that is expressed in well-chosen language. So, considerable time should be devoted to the craft of this essay. It is an essential part of the application process and must be given careful thought.
Common App Alternatives
Although it is the most used platform, certain U.S. institutions forgo the use of the Common App and utilise their own portal. For example, the University of California (UC), which is composed of ten campuses spread across the state, makes use of its own unique application portal. Students applying for any one of the ten UC schools will, therefore, make use of this system rather than the Common App. In doing so, they will need to complete 4 out of the 8 ‘personal insight’ questions, writing no more than 350 words for each.
Another alternative to the Common App is Scoir. While Scoir is generally described as an educational and career planning tool, U.S. university and college applications can be processed via Scoir’s Coalition App. Part of the Coalition App’s process is the requirement that students complete a 500 to 650 word essay based on one of six prompts.
Supplemental Essays
Whether applying via the Common App or the Coalition App, U.S. university and college admissions hopefully will likely have to complete supplemental essays. These are unique essays required by individual institutions and unrelated to any prior work completed. Unlike the Common App or Coalition App essays, supplemental essays can vary wildly in word count, from 50 words up to 700, and can cover a range of topics. Moreover, there is no fixed number of supplemental essays that a school can set. In some cases, a university or college may ask for one supplemental essay, in other cases this number could be as high as four. Broadly speaking these essays ask applicants to detail what interests them about the school in questions as well as what they will bring to the community. Although not all universities and colleges in the U.S. require supplemental essays, the majority of them do. Therefore, students should devote a significant amount of time to complete them.
BartyED U.S. Admissions Consultancy
The U.S. university and college application process can be daunting. For many students, the decision as to where they should attend university or college is one of the most important of their young lives. Consequently, it can be a great benefit to candidates to avail of the experience and guidance of a U.S. admissions consultant.
At BartyED, our team of expert U.S. admissions consultants have worked with students of all academic profiles, from school selection, SAT and ACT preparation, and essay composition. Our admissions consultants understand the application process and what it is that U.S. university and college admissions officers are looking for in prospective students. Over the years, BartyED admissions consultants have assisted students in successful applicants to such esteemed institutions as Dartmouth, Stanford, Duke, and Brown.
If you think that you or your child could benefit from the expert guidance of a BartyED admissions consultant, reach out to us today via email (enquiries@bartyed.com), or phone (+852 2882 1017), or through our contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, the SAT is still important. While most schools became test-optional during the pandemic, this is being rolled back. Additionally, a high SAT score is a good way to make a candidate out for admission.
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As far as U.S. admissions are concerned, both exams are equal. What it comes down to is which one is the right fit for the student.
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The Common App is a widely used digital platform used to apply to U.S. universities and colleges. Part of the application process is completing the Common App essay, a 650 word piece of reflective writing.
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No, not every U.S. university and college requires supplemental essays. However, the majority of them do require applicants to complete some form of writing on top of their Common App essay.