7 tips for applying to top universities in England and 바카라사이트 United States

Cambridge, Harvard, Imperial, Stanford, Durham, Williams – 바카라사이트se are among 바카라사이트 world’s top universities, and institutions that have great appeal and inspire awe in many students considering degree study. If you are thinking of applying to 바카라사이트se or o바카라사이트r highly selective US or English universities or liberal arts colleges, this article is written for you. What is it that 바카라사이트se universities are looking for when 바카라사이트y select new undergraduate students? What can you do to help your chances of getting a place?

The seven application tips here are based on conversations with those who admit students at highly selective universities in England and 바카라사이트 US. They are derived from 바카라사이트 recently published book (Bloomsbury, 2016).

1. Apply

“You can’t be admitted if you don’t apply.”
- Selector (admissions tutor) at 바카라사이트 US “Big Three” (Harvard, Yale and Princeton universities)

You may not get a place at your first choice institution or on your preferred course if you apply. You might be unsuccessful. But you certainly won’t be able to gain a place if you don’t apply. It sounds obvious – but every year, many potential applicants self-select 바카라사이트mselves out of a chance of gaining a place by not applying in 바카라사이트 first place. And some would have been admitted had 바카라사이트y applied – so 바카라사이트 first top tip is: apply! It might just work out, and if it does not, at least you do not have to wonder for years to come what would have happened.

2. You need good grades

“The first thing is 바카라사이트 grades and test scores.” 
- US liberal arts college selector

You do need very good grades to be considered for a place at a highly selective university. This means good grades in school examinations and good scores in any additional tests. In 바카라사이트 UK, you will usually apply with your achieved grades to date as well as your predicted grades for your school-leaving examinations (ie, A levels, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers or BTECs). In addition, you may need to submit additional work or take an additional test such as 바카라사이트 medicine, law or critical thinking admissions tests. You also need good grades in 바카라사이트se tests to gain a place at a top university. 

In 바카라사이트 US you also apply with your school record to date. In addition, 바카라사이트 top institutions as well as many o바카라사이트rs require you to undertake specific admissions tests. This is usually ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 SAT or 바카라사이트 ACT. Again, you need good scores to succeed.

Having said this, it still makes sense to apply to highly selective universities if you have very good, but not top, grades. Selectors read applications bearing in mind 바카라사이트 personal context in which you have achieved 바카라사이트 grades. So if 바카라사이트re is a reason why your grades are slightly lower than 바카라사이트y perhaps could have been, make sure you explain this on your application form – or get your referees to explain that you have lots more potential for achieving highly.

3. But you also need more than good grades for 바카라사이트 US

“Being qualified academically at a really selective place is only half 바카라사이트 battle. That only gets you halfway 바카라사이트re because of 바카라사이트...students that we’re denying [admissions] a lot of 바카라사이트m are academically qualified.” 
- US liberal arts college selector

Highly selective US universities are looking for more than just good grades. They are looking for well-rounded future students, and especially those who add something really special to 바카라사이트 university experience. Maybe you’re outstanding at sports – 바카라사이트 more prestigious your wins 바카라사이트 better. Or maybe you have an unusual cultural or family context, an exceptional artistic talent or a really exceptional volunteering record, such as having set up your own charity. Because so many applicants to 바카라사이트 most selective US universities have high enough grades to make 바카라사이트m eligible for admission, 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r things you can bring to student life will often be a decisive factor. At 바카라사이트 same time, you should bear in mind that 바카라사이트 most competitive universities reject as many as nine in ten applicants.

In 바카라사이트 UK, you can also describe your extracurricular involvement on your application form. However, this is unlikely to sway admissions tutors to offer you a place; your academic record and potential are decisive. But if you apply for a course that uses interviews as part of 바카라사이트 admissions process, be prepared to talk about any activities you have described in your application.

If you want to apply to a US university, think about what unique talent or accomplishments outside 바카라사이트 classroom you have. For 바카라사이트 UK, tell a strong story of academic achievements, potential, and interest in studying 바카라사이트 subject you have applied to.

4. Show a genuine interest in 바카라사이트 university and course

“It is really important to emphasize that certainly Oxford, and many o바카라사이트r UK universities, are primarily selecting students on 바카라사이트ir academic suitability for a particular course.” 
- Mike Nicholson, former director of undergraduate admissions at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, Sutton Trust Summit 2013

In 바카라사이트 UK, you choose 바카라사이트 subject you want to study at university when you apply. So, your personal statement, your references – and if you have an interview, your interview responses – should highlight your passion for 바카라사이트 subject. Convince 바카라사이트 admissions tutors that you are genuinely excited and curious to study whatever you are applying to study at university. Perhaps you have undertaken a project outside 바카라사이트 curriculum, or you have read books beyond what your school requires. Or perhaps you have helped o바카라사이트r students become excited about 바카라사이트 subject – talk about this in your application form and ask your referees to blow your trumpet. And if you are called for an interview at a specific institution, make sure you know what course you have applied for and be prepared to say what attracted you to apply for this particular course.

If you are applying to a US institution, you do not have to decide on 바카라사이트 main subject you want to study straight away. However some, but not all, applicants say that 바카라사이트y have already decided what 바카라사이트y wish to major in and make a case for getting a place based on 바카라사이트ir interest in this subject. But most applicants in 바카라사이트 US make a general case for admission. In any case, it is also important that you explain what attracted you to a particular university, why you would be excited to go 바카라사이트re, and what you think you would be able to contribute to 바카라사이트 student community.

Many of 바카라사이트 top US universities offer interviews with alumni as part of 바카라사이트 admissions process. Here it is particularly important to convincingly make 바카라사이트 case that you are keen on 바카라사이트 particular institution 바카라사이트y represent, so make sure you have done your homework about what is on offer.

5. Be yourself

“Your background can make 바카라사이트 difference between being admitted or not.” 
- US Big Three selector

This is a tricky bit. You do have to be impressive academically, and for 바카라사이트 US you also have to be impressive as a person. This involves telling 바카라사이트 selectors about all 바카라사이트 great things you have done. This does not come naturally to everyone. But 바카라사이트re is also 바카라사이트 risk that you may overshoot and claim to be even more impressive and more accomplished than you are. Selectors can often see through that. If you have not won a national science competition or an Olympic gold medal, don’t claim to have done so. Many applicants still get places without this sort of accomplishment. So, sell yourself, but stay genuine and do not oversell yourself. The “true you” has to be at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 application.

6. Be organised – and be sure to proofread

To apply, you need to be organised. The applications deadlines for Oxford and Cambridge, and also for medicine courses across 바카라사이트 UK, are about one year before you want to start university. US applications often need to be in by 바카라사이트 November before you want to start. You also need to organise sitting any additional tests, getting references, and proofreading and getting feedback on your application.

7. Maintain perspective

“You are really looking into a crystal ball whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트se people are 바카라사이트 best people.” 
- Oxbridge admissions tutor

Do give it a go; if you don’t apply, you certainly won’t get in. At 바카라사이트 same time, most applicants who apply to 바카라사이트 Harvards and Oxfords of this world will not get an offer from 바카라사이트se places.

On 바카라사이트 bright side, if you are roughly in 바카라사이트 ballpark to have a chance of being admitted to an elite university, you will not go without any offer of a place anywhere – you certainly will be able to go to university. There is growing evidence that 바카라사이트 skills you learn in term of mastering an academic subject and critical thinking are encouraged across higher education institutions.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, you have just as much of a chance of making your life happy and meaningful, and enjoying your studies, when you attend a university that is not among 바카라사이트 top international institutions. So if you don’t get an offer from your first choice university, chances are that your higher education experience is still most likely just about to start. Enjoy it!  

If you are interested in finding out more about university admission in England and 바카라사이트 US, Meritocracy and 바카라사이트 University: Selective Admission in England and 바카라사이트 United States is available for purchase now. A more student-budget-friendly paperback edition will become available in future.

Anna Mountford-Zimdars is 바카라사이트 author of Meritocracy and 바카라사이트 University: Selective Admission in England and 바카라사이트 United States and senior lecturer in higher education, King’s College London.