Financial statement

Most universities will require you to complete a financial statement. Do this carefully as it will be used to determine your eligibility for financial assistance.

In most cases, it won’t affect the decision to accept you. At undergraduate level, the decision to offer a place is usually completely separate from an offer of financial aid – based on merit, not ability to pay.

However, you need to look carefully to see whether the school is “need-blind” or “need-aware”. If the former, your ability to pay (and need for help with financial aid) won’t affect their admissions decision.

If a college is “need-aware”, that may indeed affect their admissions decisions, because they may reserve a percentage of places for students of a particular income level.

Now, that might mean they reserve a percentage of places for the most needy, or for middle class students whom they worry are falling between the income/financial aid cracks, or the wealthiest students who can afford to pay the full cost of attendance (COA).

Recommendations (references)

Most universities will ask you for at least one reference, written by a careers advisor, headteacher, housemaster, etc. This reference is similar to UCAS, although it should not focus on a particular course, but rather suitability in general for higher education. It is ‘all about’ you and should address academic performance, extra-curricular activities and personal qualities.
Deadlines & early decision

You must meet your deadlines! US universities will not accept late applications unless they have ‘rolling admissions’, meaning they accept students on a first-come, first-served basis.
Interviews

Although interviews are rarely mandatory for admission into any American university, they are often recommended and are an excellent way of finding out about the place in which you are planning to spend the next four years. Interviews for international students can function in two ways...
Help!

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Other options for US universities

Work exchange & internships and Gap year and study abroad programs

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