Getting started: 5 Key Admissions Factors

Know When to Start

UK students need to start looking into the US process at the end of their GCSE year/beginning of Year 12, which in US equivalent is at the fall of the Junior Year. You will need to do plenty of research with your child and decide what schools to see. Once you have a target College list, you will then need to find out the desired score ranges and where your child stands in relation to these.

Standardized Test Scores

Your child will need to decide whether to take the ACT or SAT. Not everyone can get a perfect score on these standardized tests – not because it’s impossible, but because the tests are not designed that way. The overall score is NOT dependent on how well you do in relation to the actual questions, but rather how well your child does in relation to how well OTHER students do on the same test. The exam requires preparation and rewards those who are most prepared.

Jobs, Internships & Volunteer Work

US admissions officers look to see what kind of story a students application tells. The criteria (in a rough order of importance) is as follows: school grades, SAT/ACT test scores, extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations, application essays and the interview. Extra-curricular activities are important to demonstrate your time-management skills and financial responsibility, and show you have a desire to learn and grow. It is important that you go that one step ahead to make yourself stand out from your College application away from just the educational aspects.

UK students are quite often discouraged from pursuing extra-curricular activities (school clubs, charities, sports, internships etc) in order to focus on grades. While good grades are indeed the most important factor in your child’s application profile, they are only one piece of the picture.

Know The Competition Around You

Students will be evaluated in relation to their peers. At many colleges, international students make up about 10% of the incoming freshmen class. This means that there are only a small number of sports available to students from one country.

Know The Schools

There are many Colleges across America, each with its own unique characteristics. You will need to take into consideration a range of factors such as cost, location, and the quality of life. Please see the next tab for further guidance in selecting a school.

U.S. College Planning Center

Welcome to our U.S. College Planning Center. This is where you can find almost everything you need for your college success in the United States.

Start Your Journey

Test Information: Getting your child into the college of their choice starts with knowing your options, understanding the process and customizing a test preparation plan tailored to suit their strengths and weaknesses. Further Test Information: SAT Test Information and ACT Test Information.

Admissions Factors: Begin laying the foundation and consider the admissions factors as early on as possible to ensure your child does not get too stressed out and overworked closer to the SAT. Further Admissions Factors: Choosing a School and Further Planning.

Application Tips: A strong college application, which showcases your child’s strongest grades, extracurricular activities and personal essay is very important! Every college has different criteria for determining which students to admit. The best tip during this process is to stay organized and pay close attention to the many details. Further Application Tips: Interviews and Social Media.

Prep with Clever Academy & Kaplan

SAT Test Prep Courses: Classroom, Online & On-Demand Options

ACT Test Prep Courses: Classroom, Online & On-Demand Options

Test Scores

Test Scores for Key Colleges: To find out more about what score your child should be aiming for, download our list of the average test scores accepted by many top colleges.