Here are some helpful resources, books, links and consultants to supplement the wisdom we have imparted.
First, You'll Need the Experts: Who Are They?
EducationUSA, from the US Department of State. Much more straightforward in our opinion than the tortuous site for the US Department of Education, but click on the latter if you're a glutton for punishment. Here is a better option: www.educationusa.info/
US - UK Fulbright Commission: US Educational Advisory Service, www.fulbright.org/study-in-the-usa; tel 0207 498 4010.
The US-UK Fulbright Commission is a not-for-profit organisation, funded by both governments to foster mutual cultural understanding through educational exchange between the US and UK. It achieves this through postgraduate and postdoctoral scholarships and through its advisory service. The advisory service provides a wide range of information and events to support students, parents and advisors interested in US-UK exchange. As part of the EducationUSA advising network, Fulbright's team is the only official source of information on US study for the UK.
US Embassy - here's where you get your student visa: https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/study-exchange/ and travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/study-exchange
The Good Schools Guide: University Educational Consultants - One-to-one consulting on the entire uni application process, with selected, renowned consultants who have had years of experience with all kinds of students, and all kinds of colleges and universities. www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/advice
Application Essays
Several books on writing college essays are available through the Barron's website, www.barronseduc.com.
Best College Admission Essays, Petersons: www.petersons.com. Fifty sample essays plus tips and advice for writing your own.
Help, Need Money!
Financial Aid Assistance
Broad information on scholarships and loans:
www.jeffersonscholars.org: highly competitive University of Virginia scholarship programme, only a few awarded
The College Board site: www.collegeboard.com/student/pay
www.educationusa.info/financial-aid
www.fastweb.com/ib/edupass-21f
www.InternationalStudentLoan.com
www.unigo.com/scholarships#/fromscholarshipexperts
Fulbright Funding Page: www.fulbright.org.uk/study-in-the-usa/undergraduate-study/funding
Athletic scholarships
College Prospects of America - A sports scholarship placement service and one of the first ones we recommend. Contact Marva Hall, European Co-ordinator (and a former athlete herself): marva@cpoauk.com, 5 Manland Avenue, Harpenden, Herts AL5 4RE; Tel. 01582 Tel 01582 712 364; 364; Fax 01582 468 091. www.cpoauk.com/contact.htm
Sporting Chance USA - UK contact is Phil Selby, philselby@sportingchanceusa.com; 3 Forge Cottages, Main Street, South Maskham, Newark, Notts. NG23 6EF; Tel. 01636918474. www.sportingchanceusa.com
Pass4Soccer - UK contact is Daniel Gray: Daniel@pass4soccer.com. For over 15 years PASS4Soccer have been securing soccer scholarships in US universities for players from the UK, Europe and beyond. Tyne Met College, Embleton Ave, Wallsend, T&W NE28 9NJ; Tel. 07763749028. www.pass4soccer.com
InTuition Scholarships - UK contact is Norman Renshaw: info@student-scholarships.com; 4 Ravey St, London EC2A 4QP; Tel. 08456 034054. www.student-scholarships.com
Sporting Elite - enquiries@ sportingeliteusa.com, 020 8546 4855. Talent evaluation service based in the UK; guide student athletes through the US college recruiting process, helping with profile, video footage, guidance with US visa process. www.sportingeliteusa.com.
Fulbright Educational Advisory Service: www.fulbright.org/aboutfulbright/contact-usFinancial Aid for Student Athletes: www.finaid.org/otheraid/sports.phtml. Not a very jazzy website, but full of lots of useful information.
National Collegiate Athletic Association: www.ncaa.org
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics: www.naia.org
National Junior College Athletic Association: www.njcaa.org
Further Reading
US Scholarships for International Students, A Comprehensive Resource for Financial and Funding Opportunities at Americas's Top-rateed Institutions (2015, 2nd edition, by Stephen Fenoglio). Comprehensive guide for students seeking financial assistance for US universities. It outlines the key points and differences regarding available financial aid and scholarships, and details the specific financial offerings of 100 of the top American universities.
Foundation Grants to Individuals - foundationcenter.org/products/foundation-grants-to-individuals-online. An online subscription service with general information about applying for grants to individuals.
Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes 2016 (www.petersons.com) provides up-to-date information on a wide range of privately funded awards available to college students - based on ethnic heritage, talent, employment experience, military service, and other categories. Includes information on award amounts, eligibility, the application process.
How to Get Money for College (2017), also from www.petersons.com, offers information on need-based and non-need gift aid, loans, work-study, athletic awards, and more. The Colleges-at-a-Glance comparison chart lists the full costs that can be expected, aid packages, and more for each of more than 2,100 four-year colleges and universities, organized by state.
2017 Scholarship Handbook (from College Board). Available from collegeboard.org and Amazon UK. Covers scholarships, internships and loans.
Help Choosing a University
The College Board: www.collegeboard.com - simply the best uni search of any website we've seen. Filter for every possible combination of type, location, course, degree, size college and university in the entire US.
Peterson’s: www.petersons.com
Princeton Review: www.princetonreview.com. One of the most tried and true directories of selected colleges and universities, with reviews closest to the ones we do ourselves and hilarious but relevant “best” listings (e.g. Best Party School). Frequently mentioned in Uni in the USA. In print (‘The Best 367 Colleges’) and online.
Unigo: https://www.unigo.com/ Reviews written for students by students with lots of fun information that other websites and books don’t consider.
College Confidential: www.collegeconfidential.com/ The internet’s largest forum for the college-bound community.
College Times: https://collegetimes.co/reviews/ College Times claims it has the largest database of college on the web and is the most honest source of information – coming straight from the students, uncensored and straight from the source. Includes Universities from all over the world.
Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges 2017, Barron’s, 33rd edition (www.barronseduc.com/school-guides). In-depth profiles of more than 1,650 schools, although not as much fun as the Princeton Review, plus Barron’s exclusive rating system, with schools ranked from 'Most Competitive' to 'Non Competitive', a comprehensive index to college majors, and free access to Barron’s web site featuring a college search engine to help students match their academic plans and aptitudes with the admission requirements and programs of each school.
The College Board College Handbook 2017, The College Board (www.collegeboard.org). Over 3,900 four-year and two-year colleges. ‘The only guide to every accredited college in the US’. Indexes colleges by type, special characteristics (e.g. women only), undergraduate enrolment size, admission selectivity, admission/placement policies, college that offer ROTC, NCAA sports. Colleges are described by state.
The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences, (2016, 13th Edition), available on Amazon.co.uk. Profiles of 350 Schools with programs or services for students with ADHD or Learning Disabilities.
Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities or AD/HD (2017, 8th Edition, Peterson's). 700+ colleges offering programs specifically for students with learning disabilities, with detailed information about specific services offered.
Four Year Colleges, 2017, 47th edition, Peterson’s, www.petersons.com. Latest information on more than 2,500 four-year colleges and universities in the US and Canada, an at-a-glance application checklist, tips on surviving standardized tests, scholarships, etc. Newly updated advice for international students. Easy to use majors index and entrance difficulty index. Colleges and universities are organized by state/province.
Rankings Compilers
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (comprehensive site with links to all rankings compilers; this link goes specifically to those ranking undergraduate institutions): College and University Rankings
Princeton Review: www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/
US News and World Report: www.usnews.com/education
General Undergraduate Information About Schools in the US
www.studyoverseasglobal.com/USA
www.usjournal.com/en/students/info/fairs.html
Sites specifically for community colleges
American Association of Community Colleges: www.aacc.nche.edu
National Alliance of Community and Technological Colleges: www.nactc.org
Sites Specifically for Finding Art Schools
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-fine-arts-schools
http://artschools.com/programs/
http://www.incredibleart.org/artroom/colleges/colleges.html
http://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/art-schools/
http://www.findyourartschool.com
Entrance Exams
Taking the test
ACT Board: www.actstudent.org
SAT Board: www.collegeboard.org
The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest): www.fairtest.org. For a listing of colleges that may exempt from standard tests
Educational Testing Service: www.ets.org in Princeton and CITO Group SAT Program, PO Box 1109, 6801 BC Arnhem, Netherlands can also arrange registration
www.fulbright.org/study-in-the-usa in London for information on registration, fees and test centres.
Practising the test
The Official SAT Study Guide For the New SAT - Take practice tests created by the SAT test maker and calculate estimated scores. Includes detailed descriptions of math, critical reading, and writing sections of the SAT. Available at www.collegeboard.org (and from Amazon UK).
Cracking the SAT with 4 Practice Tests (2017 edition) – Princeton Review. There is also a Princeton Review series covering the subject tests. www.princetonreview.com
Cracking the ACT and Crash Course for the ACT (6th Edition): Both written by the Princeton Review and available through Amazon UK and the Princeton Review online bookstore.
Khan Academy: prepare for the new SAT with free online tutorials, offered in partnership with the test-maker (College Board). Take real, full-length practise tests, watch helpful videos to work through questions, and get personalised SAT practise advice. www.khanacademy.org
The Real SAT II: Subject Tests (The College Board) - Full-length tests for every SAT subject, tips and strategies. www.collegeboard.org
A-List Education - Expert support for every aspect of the US university application process, including one-on-one tutoring and bootcamps for SAT, ACT and SAT Subject Tests as well as private counselling for college selection, applications and essays; 167-169 Kensington High Street, 2nd Floor, London W8 6SH, Tel 020 3004 8101, www.alisteducation.co.uk.
CATES Tutoring - From one-to-one tuition to bespoke classes, CATES specializes in American test prep (SAT, ACT, GRE, etc), universitiy application and admissions support, education planning. They serve New York, London, and other international markets. Among other things, CATES are renowned for their work with the Sutton Trust US Programme. www.CATEStutoring.com
Kaplan Test Prep - 3-5 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H OHA, 0207 0207 930 3130, 3130, fax 0207 930 8009, London_Center@kaplan.com. More than 60 years experience and offering a wide range of courses, private tuition and courses, Monday-Sunday. Also www.kaptest.com/uk.
The Studyworks, Michele Collias BA (hons) JD (cum laude) - Courses on ACT and SAT with review of both the maths and verbal sections of each exam. Individual tuition for US entrance exams: ACT/SAT/GMAT/GRE/LSAT/SSAT/ISEE; long time test prep tutor and/or US university advisor for schools including Eton, Marlborough, Harrodian, TASIS and ACS Cobham & Egham among others. Available at 46 Queens Gardens, London W2 3AA; tel: 020 7402 9877, email: sw-mc@hotmail.com
Arbor Bridge - computer-based, individual instruction. www.arborbridge.com, contact Erica@arborbridge.com
English language tests
TOEFL: www.toefl.org
International English Language Testing System: www.ielts.org An alternative accepted by many universities.
Applying as a Transfer Student: Credential Evaluators
Educational Credential Evaluators: www.ece.org
Education International Inc.: www.educationinternational.org
Foundation for International Services: www.fis-web.com
Global Services Associates: www.globaleval.org
International Education Research Foundation, Inc: www.ierf.org
Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. International Education Consultants: www.jsilny.com
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services: www.naces.org
World Education Services, Inc.: www.wes.org
