EAS : Study in the US : Undergraduate Guide

Applications
9-12 months before beginning your study
Once you have selected the colleges, you are ready to begin the application process. Each institution has its own application, deadlines and procedures, so you should contact each one directly for forms. Many institutions offer online applications, but it is usually still necessary to send some information by post. Deadlines may be as early as November or as late as May or June, but most fall between January and March. Use a calendar to map the application deadlines and be sure to allow plenty of time to complete the process.

The Common Application:
Over 230 US colleges and universities use the Common Application to simplify the undergraduate admissions process. Applicants simply complete one form, photocopy it and send the form to any of the participating colleges. It can also be submitted electronically. Some colleges that use the Common Application do require supplements. For further information see www.commonapp.org

Early Decision and Early Action:
Early decision is a programme whereby students apply to one university by a deadline about two months prior to the regular deadline, finding out by mid-December whether they are admitted, rejected or deferred. An early decision programme is binding: if students are admitted to a university early, then they must study there. If students are deferred, their applications are reconsidered in the regular applicant pool and they will find out in the spring whether or not they are accepted.

Early action is similar to early decision, but is not binding. Students admitted to a university in December under the early action policy do not need to attend that university; they are allowed to apply to other schools under the regular deadlines as well. Students are permitted to apply before the fall deadline to multiple schools that offer early action.

US applications will usually require some or all of the following:

• The completed application form;
• School transcripts - Certified copies of GCSE/Standards and A level/Higher Certificates may be acceptable, otherwise a document created by schools detailing subjects taken and grades received will be required;
• Proof of funding - a form is usually provided by the university and must be signed by a bank manager or accompanied by bank statements as directed;
• SAT/ACT and TOEFL scores, which must be sent directly from the test administrators to the universities;
• Essays or personal statements, for which EAS offers a review service;
• Letters of recommendation;
• Application fee - usually must be in US dollars, ranging from $30 to $90 per university.

Click here to download a sample transcript
Click here to download advice on letters of recommendation
Click here to download personal statement advice
Click here to donwload a sample personal statement

The key to submitting a competitive application is to allow plenty of time to complete all the steps of the process, especially concentrating on essays and personal statements.