Applying to College Abroad? What US Students Need to Know about International Applications
Increasingly, we hear from US students curious about applying to colleges in other countries. While study abroad opportunities for a semester or year of international experience are widely available through US colleges, applying directly to enroll in a degree program at an international school is an option that requires a different admission process entirely. The admissions process and degree programs in international universities can vary widely from US admissions, so for those considering the process, there are key pieces to understanding your options.
Read on for what to know if you are thinking about exploring the international admissions process as an American applicant –
1. All degrees are not the same –
Country by country, the undergraduate experience can be quite different from the American model. In Canada and the UK, students will typically find that degrees will be more focused in a specific discipline, with coursework dedicated to that area of study and limited opportunities to take coursework outside of your degree area. While some students may thrive on the opportunity to focus on a discipline of interest early, others will miss the chance to take a range of subjects and explore a variety of interests. Because of this focused path of study UK degrees are often completed in three years, rather than four. Note that this specialization means undergraduate students can pursue study in fields such as medicine and law; however, additional credits and requirements will be needed to practice in these fields in the US. Universities in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and the liberal arts and sciences programs in the Netherlands will offer opportunities for more flexibility in their four year degree programs.
2. Your field of study is a central part of the application process –
Different from US colleges and universities, international admissions for US students will almost always require you to apply directly to the degree or program of study you are selecting. In many cases there is little flexibility to change your path, so often international universities are a good fit for a student who is already very clear on their academic focus at the time of application. With this specialization, admissions requirements can vary by degree and program, so US students should carefully review the requirements for coursework and testing before applying, as it is possible that Canadian or UK programs may require specific coursework that does not match up with the curriculum you’ve taken in high school.
3. Know the Application Requirements –
Admissions processes in international universities tend to have more structured requirements than many US colleges. For example, students may find that not only are specific courses required for admission to a particular program, but admissions may be dependent upon having earned certain scores on standardized tests such as AP exams and SAT exams. Some admissions processes, such as those for Canadian schools, will require much less writing than students have come to expect on American applications, and may not place much emphasis on a student’s extracurricular activities. While some international colleges have begun to offer application through the Common App, students are generally best served by completing the applications specific to that country or university. In the UK this means completing the UCAS application, a universal application system that limits an applicant to selecting just five universities.
4. Consider whether an American university’s international campus or program is a fit for you–
In addition to applying directly to an international university, more US colleges and universities are offering admission, for the full degree, or a year of study, on their international campuses. This may be a ‘best of both worlds’ option for some students to consider. Examples of this include Marist College’s Florence campus, NYU’s Abu Dhabi campus, Northwestern University in Qatar, and Temple University’s Japan campus. Beyond these, a growing number of US universities are offering special semester or year-long international programs for first year students. These include Northeastern’s http://N.U.in Program, UNC Chapel Hill’s Carolina Global Launch, Syracuse’s Discovery program, Wake Forest’s Global AWAKEnings program, Florida State University’s First Year Abroad, and Skidmore’s First Year Experience in London, among others. Notably, these programs solve a campus housing and enrollment challenge for US colleges that are facing overcrowding. Applicants who are open to exploring these programs, may find that their likelihood of acceptance is slightly improved by their willingness to spend a portion of their first year away from the US campus.
TBU Advisors are experienced in supporting students to navigate their college choices and personal best fit, and TBU Essay & Application specialists are experts at supporting students to craft their most compelling, authentic work. If you’d like to explore working with a TBU Advisor, now is the time. Get in touch here and we will look forward to connecting with you.
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