US Universities: Necessary documentation
The thought of attending an American University can be exciting, but the application process can be stressful. It begins 18 months prior to your date of entry into the university - ideally you should begin the process at the beginning of Year 12. Here is a list of documents that will be required in order to apply to an American university:
Common Application
The Common Application is accepted by over 700 schools, including some located outside the U.S. It helps to streamline one part of the admissions process for students. It allows first-time, international, and transfer applicants to apply to multiple colleges at one time.
University Application
Some Universities will require a separate application in conjunction with the common application. These separate applications will be very specific to each University and outline all requirements needed to complete it.
Teacher Recommendations
Aside from a good academic record and impressive extracurricular activities, a good letter of recommendation is an important part of a successful U.S. college application. International students need to have their accomplishments acknowledged by their teachers. When asking your instructors for a recommendation letter, it is crucial to do the following things:
Show your teachers an example of a recommendation by a U.S. high school teacher.
Make sure the letter is clear and informative.
Ask for two letters.
If language is a barrier, ask your teacher to write in your native language and get it translated.
Head of Year Recommendation
The Head of Year recommendation gives the Admissions Committee a sense of your place in the larger school community. Your HOY can provide insight into the rigour of your academic program, highlight leadership positions, share information on your background, and help your application come to life. If your HOY does not know you well, he or she can still provide helpful contextual information about your school and its academic programs.
Student Visa
Once your application has been submitted and you’ve received an offer, you will need to apply for your Student Visa and forward the approval to the University you accepted. Without a Student Visa you will not be able to study in the US even if the school has offered you a place.
UK GCSE, AS, and A-Level Grade Evaluations
Course by Course Grade Evaluation
The course by course grade evaluation report identifies and describes each diploma/certificate and provides an equivalency for each document. It indicates a description of periods of education, courses, credit hours, grades and degrees, as well as overall academic performance in terms of the educational system in the United States (or your host country). The United States typically uses semester credits and a grade point average, or GPA, on a 4.0 scale. This type of report is generally required for college admissions, determining transfer credits or when applying for an advanced degree, as well as for professional licensing and certification matters. Documents required in this case include, but are not limited to, originals or certified copies of school transcripts (mark sheets) showing subjects studied, grades and credit hours earned for each course of study.
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