The US Student
Achievers Programme

USAP candidates revise for the SAT exam at:


UK USAP Candidates 2007-8

The Fulbright Commission is pleased to announce the following candidates:

Samantha Oji
Samantha Oji is a hard-working and articulate individual who balances her time between sport, education and leadership. At a very young age Samantha demonstrated diligence and determination by winning several sporting events where most of her competitors were several years older. She is now a member of the netball and basketball squad and has received a Sportsmanship Trophy. Through her charity fundraising work, Samantha has promoted and contributed to the issues she feels passionate about. In her religious activities Samantha is noted as being a skilled mentor to fourteen and fifteen year old youths with whom she both relates to and guides. Samantha’s hope is to obtain an undergraduate degree in the United States. Following the realization of this dream, Samantha plans to one day become a doctor specialising in women’s health.

Joel Semakula
Joel is a dynamic student who dedicates himself fully to his varied commitments. He has been described as ‘an educator’s dream’ and has consistently achieved the highest marks for his academic pursuits. In Year 9 he received Head of Year Award and became a school prefect in Year 11. Joel is also the founding member of his school’s Peer Mentoring Scheme where he used his skills in mediation to mentor younger students. Outside of school, he has been an army cadet for four years and has made his way to the top of his training. Joel is an active member of the debating society and has represented his school at national and international competitions. He has traveled extensively for the promotion of human rights, with a special emphasis on the rights of children. Joel aspires to attain an education that will enable him to contribute to human rights issues in the UK and beyond.

About the Programme

The United States and Britain possess an historically solid relationship of knowledge exchange that has contributed greatly to the strength and progress of both nations. To greater encourage this process at all levels of society, the Fulbright Commission has initiated the US Students Achievers Programme (USAP), offering assistance to Britain’s highly talented, economically disadvantaged students in their pursuit for academic excellence in the United States.

USAP is a programme which is based entirely upon the ethic that high-achieving, British students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds should be offered equal access to the admissions process for colleges and universities in the United States. As students from traditionally ‘disadvantaged’ backgrounds are often deterred or limited by the greater challenges they face in pursing higher education, the Fulbright Commission and EAS are offering the opportunity for these students to obtain assistance towards the ultimate goal of fully-funded undergraduate admission to colleges and universities in the United States. 

Programme Background and Structure

USAP ran a pilot programme in 2003, based upon the success of the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP) in Zimbabwe, where approximately 30 successful applicants are offered assistance annually. In keeping with the model set by USAP in Zimbabwe, the Fulbright Commission works closely with successful candidates and their schools in their final year of school education to assist them with every step of the university selection, application and orientation process. The academic and social needs of USAP students will be strongly considered by Fulbright Commission advisers in matching individuals with US universities which offer the best programmes and opportunities to meet their future goals. In addition to providing these students with access to extensive information and advising, the Fulbright Commission will finance and provide tutoring for any entrance exams required for admission, as well as international postage and fax costs.

USAP Update

The Fulbright Commission would like to thank MBA Center in London for providing a free SAT preparation course for the current USAP candidates. SAT tuition is crucial in preparing USAP candidates for the US university admissions process, and without MBA Center's wonderful contribution this programme would not be as great a success. For more information on the MBA Center in London and the services provided there, please see: london.mba-center.net

There are currently six USAP students from the UK studying at US universities, including the University of North Carolina, Mount Holyoke College, the University of Evansville, Skidmore College, Kenyon College and Princeton.

Worldwide 14 countries now participate and we project approximately 150 USAP students will enrol for study in 2008.

During 2008, the Fulbright Commission will temporarily suspend USAP in order to evaluate and enhance the programme, as well as to facilitate other special programmes.

Who Should Apply?

USAP candidates will reflect the best of Britain’s youth, both academically and in terms of involvement in leadership roles, community service and extracurricular activities. The Fulbright Commission will be looking for students who aspire to broaden their horizons and share ideas with a diversity of people, returning to Britain to apply their education and experiences to their lives and careers. Successful USAP candidates will be students who demonstrate the greatest potential of significantly contributing to society if given the educational opportunity to further develop their knowledge and talents.

Though we will not discriminate based upon geography, applicants should be aware that programme participants will be required to attend many sessions in our London office and that we cannot guarantee financial support for transportation to/from these sessions. The 2009 programme will be open to students who will be completing their A levels, AVCEs or BTEC National Diplomas and are planning to begin their undergraduate education in the autumn of 2010. Please note that USAP will not run in 2008-9 but the scheme will be reinstated in early 2009.