US University Summer Courses, are they worth the effort?
There is an urban myth abounding: if I do the summer course run by WORLD FAMOUS UNIVERSITY, then I’m much more likely to get in when I apply in the future. So many students are taken in by this idea, when the reality is that just doing a course like this has no impact on […]
Creating a US College Shortlist
Starting to choose US colleges can be daunting. Where do I start? How do I narrow things down? For students, schools and families used to being able to match subject with predicted grades to provide a quick and easy UK university shortlist, the much more opaque US system looks incredibly hard to navigate. I firmly […]
SAT or ACT?
It’s important for students considering applications to the United States to do their research into the tests needed (or if a test is needed at all). The first thing to consider is whether you would prefer to apply under a ‘test optional’ or ‘test flexible’ plan. An increasing number of US colleges now […]
Navigating US University Rankings
Each year in the US, about 2 million people apply to university. That’s a significant number which needs to stick in the mind of anyone who wants to apply to a US university, because there are other numbers which interact with it which should guide how you approach your college choice. Often when […]
University fairs, compare & contrast
Last week I attended the UCAS London fair, the biggest university fair held in the UK each year. It brought me back to my days of organising three buses to take the entire Taunton School Lower Sixth down to Exeter Westpoint, though this time I was pleased to only be attending with one colleague and […]
Study Abroad and the UK Student Loan
Last week I was on the road again, touring South Wales and South West England with colleagues from four Dutch Research Universities, visiting 10 schools to meet students interested in studying abroad. Working in this field, I can forget sometimes the misconceptions students have about international opportunities. To me it is obvious that you can […]
What’s in a word? Colleges or Universities in the US context
For families looking to study in the United States, the rankings pages are a helpful place to start. World rankings such as QS and Times Higher can give a sense of how things compare, and to link institutions that they may be unfamiliar with to those whose quality they already know. As a result, many […]