52nd issue
December 2017
Two current Harvard College students talk about their applications
Much of the information about the application process to American universities you read in our newsletters is written by Harvard alumni who graduated some time ago. But what about UK students who are at Harvard now? Have they got any tips about the application process that brought them to Harvard, and what have they been doing since they arrived?
We have just released a short video where two 2nd year students, Danu Mudannayake and Connor Rice, both of whom went to UK state schools, talk about why they applied to Harvard and the various stages of the application process including:
- standardized tests
- financial aid
- application essays
- extracurricular activities
- teacher references
- interviews
- what Harvard is actually like after you arrive
Click here or the photo above to view the video.
Early Action admits to the Harvard Class of 2022
Notifications were sent on 11 December to the 964 successful applicants out of the 6,630 who applied from around the world for admission to Harvard College under the Early Action program. Several successful candidates were from the UK, much to the delight of all of us involved in Harvard UK Outreach, so congratulations to all of you!
Many more UK students will be applying to Harvard by the Regular Action deadline of 1st January. If you are one of them, remember that most offers of admission are made at that time so your chances of getting in are just as good as for Early Action applicants. If you are keen to apply to US colleges, here is what you should be doing now and in the coming weeks, depending on your school year:
Year 13 – submit your US college applications by 1st January
You should now be in the final stages of gathering together the various components of your application, ready to send off before the deadline. Check your Common App. online to make sure that your nominated referees have submitted their reports. If not, chase them up urgently. In case there are technical glitches it’s always a good idea to submit your applications early – preferably before Christmas so you can enjoy the holidays in the knowledge that the applications are all safely with the relevant admissions offices. If you are a high achieving student from a state funded school, or from a family where no one has been to university before, we very much hope that you have included Harvard as one of your choices, as we particularly welcome applications from these groups.
Year 12 – apply for the Sutton Trust US Programme 2018
If you fulfil the criteria for the Sutton Trust US Programme (see November newsletter), submit your application without delay. To be eligible you must:
- Be in Year 12 or equivalent (e.g. S5 in Scotland or Year 13 in Northern Ireland)
- Attend a state school or college
- Not hold US citizenship
- Be from a low income family (generally, this will mean a household earning £45,000 per year or less)
You should also meet all (or most) of these criteria:
- England and Northern Ireland: Have achieved at least 8 GCSEs at Grade A or Grade 7 or above
- Wales: Have achieved at least 8 GCSEs at Grade A or above
- Scotland: Have achieved at least 6 B passes at National 5 or above
- Show commitment to the programme and interest in US culture and higher education
- Have a strong school reference
It is a fantastic opportunity that includes a one week summer school in the US and four residential weekends in the UK. For the past five years, the programme had been very successful in enabling students to gain admission to a wide range of excellent US colleges, and also to access the necessary financial aid so that they will graduate with little or no debt.
Applications: Students should apply online at: https://us.suttontrust.com/apply/
Student Application Deadline: 11.59pm, Sunday 14 January 2018
School Reference Deadline: 11.59pm, Tuesday 16 January 2018
Other than that, remember to keep up your practice schedule for the SAT or ACT over the next few months and aim to take the tests in the Spring of 2018.
Year 11 – work hard at your GCSEs and develop your extracurricular profile
Top priority this year is to work hard so that you get excellent results in your GCSEs next summer, as these will act as a gateway to whatever comes afterwards. You should also spend time developing your extracurricular activities and pursuits (in any field), as US colleges are just as interested in your extracurricular achievements as in your academic ability.
Also, it’s not too early to start thinking about doing some kind of work experience and/or community service next summer before you start your A Levels. This will stand you in good stead for both UK and US university applications, as it will show your dedication and initiative.
School visits
We are now well advanced in organising our programme of school visits for the Spring and Summer Terms. If your school would like a visit from one of the Harvard Outreach Team to hear our presentation entitled Study in the USA – the Application Process Demystified, then please email the school visits co-ordinator, Stuart Gordon: s.gordon@post.harvard.edu
Our target schools are state-funded schools and colleges that regularly send their students to Russell Group universities in the UK, but do not have a tradition of sending students to US colleges and would like to know more about the process. Most of our visits this term have been to schools in London and SE England, so we will particularly welcome requests from other regions of the UK.
Merry Christmas!
We wish all of our subscribers a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. See you all in 2018 !
