2019 Application Guide for Undergraduate Study Abroad in the United States How to Enter the United States to Study Undergraduate Studies

The number of people applying to study in the United States is increasing day by day, so how do they enter American universities? What are the necessary application conditions? Read on with me.

First, let’s take a look at the application methods.

1. Go to high school in the United States

Choosing this method requires parents to plan their children’s education for at least 10 years: 4 years of American high school, 4 years of American university, and 2 years of master’s degree . Once the goal of studying abroad is determined, it is best to start preparations in junior high school or even elementary school to cultivate children's self-care ability, learning ability, especially language ability.

The four years of American high school (grades 9 to 12) respectively correspond to the third year of junior high school, the first year of high school and the third year of high school in China. The best time to enter an American high school is after the second grade of junior high school in China, and you can directly enter the 9th grade in the United States.

Advantages: Cultivate children's self-care ability, learning ability, especially language ability from adolescence. Studying in high school in the United States makes it easier for children to adapt to undergraduate life, and is also helpful for applying to better undergraduate schools.

Disadvantages: Overall, the cost is higher.

2. Conditional admission (dual admission)

Some American universities provide conditional admission without SAT, TOEFL or IELTS for students without standardized test scores; the school issues two Admission notice: One is the admission letter from the school’s language center, and the other is the school’s undergraduate conditional admission letter, so it is also called “double admission.” The "conditional" here means that after students enroll, they must first enter the language center to study. After passing the language, they can directly enter the undergraduate program without additional application.

There are more than 600 universities across the United States that accept conditional admission, including many of the top 100 universities, such as Marquette University and Northeastern University. Students can choose to learn the language in the language center and enter the university if they pass it; they can also take the TOEFL test at any time. Once they meet the admission requirements, they can end the language study and enter the undergraduate program directly. Some universities have language centers themselves, such as Kansas State University, Montana State University, etc.

Advantages: It provides a way for children without standardized test scores to enter undergraduate programs in the United States. Children can integrate into the United States, experience American culture, and lay a solid foundation for subsequent study before entering the main courses.

Disadvantages: Studying in a language center is more expensive.

3. Community College

The annual tuition for public universities in the United States is around US$10,000-20,000, while for private universities it is as high as US$20,000-40,000, plus living expenses and insurance fees. Waiting fees. Compared with comprehensive universities whose annual tuition is tens of thousands of dollars, the tuition of community colleges in the United States is very low, with annual tuition of around US$6,000. If students choose to study at a community college for the first two years and then transfer to a comprehensive university for the last two years, they can save at least US$10,000 to US$70,000 compared to directly attending a comprehensive university for four years.

This method of "2-year community college + 2-year four-year university" means that when a certain community college admits you, based on your personal choice, the community college will also award you with the four-year degree. A conditional admission letter from a comprehensive university. The "conditional" here refers to: first completing the first two years of an undergraduate degree (associate degree) at a community college, and then transferring to a four-year university to complete the last two years. Years of study (bachelor's degree), undergraduate diploma awarded by the transferred four-year university. Since the four-year comprehensive universities you transfer to are often prestigious schools, this path is also known as the community college “direct train to prestigious schools.”

Advantages: Community colleges are easy to enroll in, cost less, are short in duration, and do not require standardized test scores. It is easier to get into a prestigious school after graduating from community college.

Disadvantages: If you only attend community college without subsequent undergraduate studies, you can only get an associate's degree.

4. Transfer

American universities accept transfer students, and a certain number of foreign transfer students are admitted every year. Therefore, current domestic college students can enter American universities through transfer and earn credits at the same time. It is also transferred accordingly. Students only need to complete other credits required by the transfer university to graduate, and they can obtain the degree transferred to the university when they graduate. This method is more suitable for students majoring in science and engineering. Due to the different education systems and curriculum settings between China and the United States, it is relatively difficult to transfer credits for humanities subjects, while science and engineering courses such as advanced mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, etc. are relatively easy to connect and transfer credits. When students transfer, they should also consider whether the major they are applying for matches their domestic professional background, so as to transfer as many credits as possible.

Advantages: The cost of undergraduate transfer is relatively low, and transfer to some prestigious schools is less difficult than direct application.

Disadvantages: Transferring credits may lead to a waste of time.

5. Apply directly

This is the conventional way to apply to American universities. Students must take various standardized tests, mainly including SAT, TOEFL or IELTS. All American universities accept this application method. The admission criteria for American universities include academic performance, extracurricular activities and personality cultivation.

Academic achievements include SAT and individual scores, AP scores, academic rankings, course average GPA, etc.; extracurricular activities include scientific research, literature and art, leadership, community service, competition awards, etc.; personality cultivation mainly includes personal statements, teachers/principals Recommendation letters, interviews, etc. will be examined.

Applications to prestigious American schools are usually made one year in advance. Therefore, students must take standardized tests in their sophomore year of high school and prepare various documents, including personal essays, letters of recommendation, etc., which must reflect the above three aspects. ability, and at the same time make sure you have a good GPA academically.

Advantages: Applying directly can reduce the waste of time and money.

Disadvantages: Applying directly for an undergraduate degree in the United States has relatively high requirements for children, and competition from prestigious schools is fierce.

Let’s take a look at the application requirements.

1. Standardized Tests

Before going to college in the United States, you need to take the ACT test. Special majors in some schools also require applicants to take the SAT II subject test. The number of subjects you choose to take should be determined based on the admission requirements of the university you are applying for. Some universities require students to take 2 or 3 subject exams. Therefore, it is very important to understand the admission requirements of the university.

2. Academic performance

When students apply for school, in addition to having a beautiful transcript, they must also have some other strengths, such as: some electives with a certain degree of difficulty courses and get good grades. When reviewing, admissions officers also look at the student's ranking in class or grade, and whether the school is a key school in the province or city.

3. Extracurricular activities

In addition to understanding your performance in class, American schools will also understand how you spend your extracurricular life and what you like privately. , how do you get along with others during activities, etc. Simply listing a bunch of activities is not the answer admissions officers are looking for. The key is some of the qualities you demonstrated when you participated in the activities. What the admissions officer is really interested in is what is unique about you in the activities.

4. Academic achievements

The United States also attaches great importance to China’s national competitions. If you are applying for an undergraduate degree in the United States and have experience in participating in natural science competitions, art and sports competitions, or have been selected for the national training team in international competitions (such as the Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry Olympics), it will be a plus for your application and prove that the applicant has superior abilities in this field. In addition, if you have published articles in academic journals, that is also a part worth describing in your personal statement to highlight your scientific research capabilities and academic achievements when applying for undergraduate applications to American universities.

5. Leadership

American schools focus on cultivating students’ abilities, especially hoping that their students will have certain leadership abilities. Especially most business schools, when admitting students, they will value the leadership potential reflected in the applicant's previous study and life experience. American University Admission Requirements If you have been a class or grade cadre, participated in organizing large-scale activities of the grade or school; served as a leader of a school club or student union; or led a project team during an extracurricular internship, all of these can highlight your Organizational and leadership skills will help admissions officers capture the potential they want to see in you and add points to your application.

6. University interview

In the final stage of school admission, it is the interview of the applicant. The interview can be an online video or telephone conversation, or an alumnus of the school in the applicant's country may be entrusted to host the interview. The interview for applying to a U.S. undergraduate program can be said to be an informal interview. If international students are unable to be interviewed, it usually does not have any adverse impact on them, but it is a time to hone your communication skills, ask questions, and learn from current teachers or graduates. Opportunities for students to get to know the school better. The purpose is to help you have a better understanding of the institution, and also to allow the admissions staff to get to know you better. Likewise, it’s crucial to remember to be your true self without being too humble or overbearing.

Finally, let’s take a look at the writing of paperwork.

1. Personal statement

The personal statement is what everyone often calls the PS for studying abroad. The personal statement is an extremely important part of the application documents for studying in the United States. You want the school to have a good impression of you. , the "first battle" of personal statement must be done well. Mainly do the following points:

① The beginning of the study abroad document should be distinctive and the end should be concise;

② The application document should not be too long;

③ It should be Cut to the point and go straight to the center of your topic;

④ To write a study abroad document with personal characteristics, remember not to add things that are not yours;

⑤ Application documents There should be no principled errors in the application: such as the wrong name of an American university, wrong personal information, or obvious mechanical application, etc.

2. Personal resume

As a medium for self-promotion and self-promotion, the role of personal resume is increasingly valued by applicants. If the applicant's resume simply lists personal information or randomly stuffs some content, it will be difficult for such a resume to attract the admissions committee.

Applicants who put effort into creating a comprehensive and focused resume will make a much better impression on the admissions committee. If your resume contains information about your participation in school scientific research projects and some practical experience in publishing papers, this resume will be outstanding and will provide a strong guarantee for successful university application. Of course, don’t make it up if you don’t have these experiences. Making it up will only ruin your American college dream.

3. Letter of Recommendation

When preparing a letter of recommendation, you should pay attention to the selection criteria of the recommender. You should choose recommenders who have more opportunities to contact you, such as your professional course teacher or If the head teacher can use the department head or other leaders as recommenders, the effect will be better.

4. Essay

For American undergraduate applicants, Essay is a very important application material. Many schools require students to submit 3-5 essays, of which 1-2 are main essays. During the writing process, you must not plagiarize other people's articles. You must be original and highlight your own distinctive personal characteristics.