US College Guide Part #1: The Application Process

Naturally, academic achievement is the bedrock of any university application. However, US Colleges are not purely grades focused. In the UK, almost 70% of your application can be determined by final grades. In Singapore, that percentage can rise to almost 100.

American universities, on the other hand, look at grades slightly differently.

First, they do not consider your final or predicted scores only. They will look at your transcripts from the last 4 years of your schooling to see the trend. Have you been improving? Are there inconsistencies in your performance, and have they occurred often? All these aspects will be taken into consideration.

What do universities consider good grades? We can look at top, mid and third tier universities:

• US GPA: 3.8-4.0 (top tier) | 3.3-3.6 (mid-tier) | 2.9 – 3.5 (third tier)
• IB: 40+ (top tier) | 35-39 (mid-tier) | 30-35 (third tier)
• A Levels: AAAA (top tier) | AAB-ABB (mid-tier) | ABB-BBB (third tier)

Standardized testing is also a crucial component of your application. While there are some colleges that made SAT or ACT option (especially during COVID), it is always beneficial to submit a good score to improve your standing.

What are good test scores?

• SAT: 1500-1550 (Ivy League and top tier) | 1350-1450 (mid-tier) | 1200-1350 (third tier)
• ACT: 33-36 (top tier) | 30-33 (mid tier) | 27-29 (third tier)

Academics, typically, paint only a third of the picture. If you are an engineering or science student, universities might prioritize academic achievement over other things. For arts, humanities students, profile might be more important.

The most important thing to remember is: there are no minimum scores required. At the same time, even perfect scorers can get rejected from top universities if their application and profile are weak.

A student’s great profile can make or break their application. We frequently see average test scorers get into top universities like UC Berkeley because of their outstanding national or international achievements in sports, art, or other activities.

Students can improve their profile by adding more co-curricular activities in and outside school, participating in sports, volunteering, and engaging in professional opportunities such as internships. Some academic opportunities can come under profile, such as summer schools, extra classwork, research and Olympiads.

You may think: are some activities better than others? The answer is a confident no. Universities do not want all students to be the same, and thus they do not hold some activities like debate to higher standard than others like band.

So how do universities determine that I have a good profile? They look at depth, breadth, and X factor.

• Breadth: Universities like to see whether you are interested in many different things, rather than you focusing on just one activity. People with multiple interests or talents are preferred. Do you do sport, MUN, and art? That will make you stand out. Are you a science student? Dance or journalism could add a lot to your profile.
• Depth: Universities want students who are active participants, not passive members. If you are part of a club or CCA, make sure you pitch ideas, organize events, and even run for leadership positions. Achievements can be important here.
• X factor: What is the X factor? No one knows! It is not one thing for any specific students. Universities are looking for students who stand out and have something that is unique and memorable about them. Perhaps you were a student activist? Or maybe you have an interesting family background? Those could make you more memorable to the admissions committee.

Compared to other regions, US universities value profile almost as much as they do academics. This means that while you are in high school, you cannot simply lock yourself in a room and study. Grades 10-12 are there to accumulate interesting experiences and build your profile.

Things like profile and academics are activities students do naturally in high school. While it takes time to plan it, they are lot less deliberate than this last aspect of your admissions chances – the application itself.

The US is notorious for their challenging and time-consuming application. While in UK, Canada or Singapore students write around 1 essay and outline their activities in a few sentences, the US wants you to do more.

The main application deadlines vary by university, but most have the final deadlines for submission in the first half of January. Students who want to apply to a college early can do so by November 1^st, and they will receive decisions in December.

Firstly, remember that you will need recommendations. At a minimum, we advise students to think of getting 3: 1 school college counsellor recommendation, and 2 academic teacher recommendations. Ideally, these teachers taught you an advanced class in a subject you indicated interest in (if you have at all).

As such, remember to tell your school early!

The most important part of your application, however, will be the essays. If you are applying to 10 universities, the number of essays you’d have to produce can be quite a lot. Here are some examples:

• The Common App Essay: This essay is part of the Common App application, used by more than 80% of American colleges. The essay is 650 words minimum, and it can be on almost any topic – from a challenge you’ve overcome to an idea you debated. This essay will be seen by ALL your universities on the Common App system.
• The Supplement: The College Supplement is specific to any university. When you decide which college you want to apply to and put in your list, they will ask you to fill in an application specific to that university only. Some universities like Stanford ask you to write more than 3 long essays, while others, like New York University (NYU), only have one.Topics can range from very creative (What can actually be divided by zero? – University of Chicago) to specific and argumentative (Why do you want to study your major at X university).
• Independent Applications: Some universities have their own applications that are not linked to the Common App. They will likely require more essays. These universities include University of California or MIT.

So, if you apply to at least 5 universities, you might end up having to write 12-18 essays at the very least. A lot of the essay material students use come from their life experiences and profile, but it is also important to showcase creativity, uniqueness, and a strong ability to write well. Most Prep Zone students start crafting their essays at least in June or July before their last year in high school, so they can be ready by the January deadlines.

Finally, there are a few more things that can be a part of your application that depend on universities. Some universities conduct interviews. Do not worry! There, you tell the interviewer – usually an alumnus of a college – about your personality, hopes, aspirations. It is semi-formal, and usually not very scary.

Some universities with a more professional outlook may allow you to submit a CV or resume. Others, especially if you apply to design, architecture or art programmes, will ask you to submit a portfolio of your past works.

Remember: if you are an engineering, art, or business applicant, you may have to write even more essays. While students can choose their major in Year 2, these specific specialties often require a pre-application to be eligible to choose them later on.