Kaplan's Guide to Applying to US Colleges
How to Research US Colleges
Researching schools is a vital step to finding the one that best meets your needs, ideals, and academic goals. You may think you know where you want to go, but research anyway. Who knows? You could find the perfect school buried away in lists of colleges, piles of brochures, or whilst searching for colleges online. But where do you begin? Luckily, there are plenty of tools at your disposal.
The Internet
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All US colleges and universities will have a website. They're an invaluable resource for information on the institution. Many of them, obviously, are like online brochures. But you can often read between the lines to gain insight into what the school is really like. Look for pictures of the campus, school resources, the catalogue of courses, and data like demographics, graduation rates, etc. |
Professional guidance
Does your school/sixth form have a careers advisor who knows about the American system? Ask them! Together, you should go over your goals and the grades you have achieved so far. Discuss factors like your exam results, admissions test scores, etc. The more you can find out, the better.
Commercial sources
There are countless books, software packages, and commercial websites that offer information on US schools, financial aid, the admissions process, scholarships, and more. These are a great first step in finding out information on schools and programs, as well as the application process.
Students and alumni
For the real inside scoop, talk to students and alumni. They're the best source for a candid, unvarnished opinion of what the school is like and how it could serve your needs and goals. Many of the top US colleges have an alumni group in the UK, so you can ask their admissions department if they can put you in touch with some alums in your area.
Don't be shy about asking them the tough questions: Do you like it? ...What's it like to live there? ...Was the school helpful in finding a job? ...What are the classes like?