When do I start writing essays to get admission offers with funding?
Answer:
It depends on where you are in your journey and your grade.
In grade 8, you will have the first opportunity to apply to America to study at a boarding school as a 9th grader. Start writing your essays at least 12 months before the deadline.
In grades 9-10, you can apply to study at an American boarding school as a 10 or 11th grader. Start writing your essays at least 12 months before the deadline.
In grade 11, you can apply to study at American universities or boarding schools. Start writing your essays at least 9 months before the deadline.
The optimal time to start is right now to optimize your path to admission offers with funding.
Question:
How do I get scholarships?
Answer:
Great question! The first step is to get admitted. Your primary source of funding will most likely be the program you get admitted to. Be sure to ask the school for all the resources and every type of funding available. You can also apply for additional external funding either in your home country or in the U.S.
Question:
Which university do I apply to if I am interested in…
Answer:
Depending on where you are in your journey, your academic area of interest should be solidified by grade 11. I recommend researching which universities would be best suited to your interest. For example, Google “top universities USA [your interest] bachelors degree”. Look up each program’s website and do in-depth research. Collect all programs best suited to your academic results in a spreadsheet.
Question:
Do I need 4.0+ GPA and international achievements to study in America?
Answer:
No, many students get into top schools with funding without extraordinary achievements. When I got into Andover and Exeter with $245,000 of funding, my biggest achievement was the all-Ukrainian Olympiad in English, and I wasn’t a straight-A student. For those without international achievements, unique essays help stand out among thousands of applicants.
Question:
When do I apply for an American visa?
Answer:
After you receive the acceptance letter and enroll in your program, you will receive a form I-20. You will apply for an F-1 student visa through your local U.S. consulate.
Question:
How many essays will I have to write?
Answer:
Depending on where you apply, you will write 25-30 essays. To some schools like Middlebury, you will submit only one essay. Most schools with a lot of funding resources require at least one supplemental essay, and there are schools with more than one essay requirement. For example, to apply to Stanford University, you will have to write 5 short answers and 3 short essays.