College Applications
Useful Tools
How to Apply
More information about applying for universities in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom
Useful Tools
Links
How to Apply
The ISB counselors strongly recommend that students apply online whenever possible. Once you have decided where to apply you can visit individual college websites to access their online application or download their paper version of the application.
Some of the following links allow students to apply to a number of colleges at one time. These are called “common applications”. There are several common applications for instance the University of California uses a common application as do the universities in the United Kingdom.
The Common Application (www.commonapp.org)
An online or downloadable application accepted by over 200 colleges and universities. Make certain you also complete the "supplement" that is required by many of the schools that use the Common Application.
Next Stop College
This site is provided by the College Board and contains applications for 500 schools. Using data from your SAT registration it automatically fills in some of the information.
Apply! (www.apply.com)
The grandfather of application software is now owned by The Princeton Review.
CollegeNet
This site contains over 300 applications.
XAP
Several state university systems use XAP to run their applications.
State or Country Specific Applications
University of California and Cal State common applications. More information about your California options is available from the California Postsecondary Education Commission.
Texas public universities
The Texas on-line application site.
Ontario, Canada
This site allows you to apply to all Ontario universities
UCAS Apply
Seniors applying to Oxford or Cambridge must file a separate paper application, aside from the UCAS application, to one of the universities. Students may apply to only one of these universities.
Australian Colleges
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Applying to Australian Universities
If you are an Australian citizen it is important that you consider completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma to gain admission to the university of your choice. Most Australian Universities will be looking for the IB Diploma in your application and be aware that universities will be comparing you with other Australians in the application process. Most universities will be converting your IB results to the University Access Center rank to determine if you are appropriate for the course of study you have chosen. There is very little flexibility if you do not meet the rank conversion of your IB results.
For Australian Citizens
Australian citizens and permanent residents applying for Australian university courses are required to apply through the tertiary admissions centre in the state in which they plan to study (for example, the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre). A good place to start if you are unsure of where you want to go or study is: http://www.TheGoodGuides.com.au
Tertiary Admissions Centres (Australian citizens and permanent residents only):
Education is big business "Down Under," particularly in attracting international students who pay full fees. It is possible to enter Australian universities with an American high school diploma, but it is not always easy. The first step is to contact the people at the International Development Program (IDP) Education Australia. IDP is a semiprivate company set up by Australian universities and their government and serves as a "one stop shop for Australian education." There is a local office in Beijing, but this information is in Chinese. If you want a direct link to information learn about Studying in Australia.
There are different types of universities in Australia: the “Group of 8” research universities, the technology universities, and the universities that focus on undergraduate teaching. Admission criteria will differ among these groups, and even from one university to another. However, as a general rule, Australian universities will seek students with very high SAT I or ACT scores. In addition, some will accept a student with three to five good AP scores and a strong GPA. Some universities will be more flexible and say, “Send us what you have and we’ll take a look at it." This will mean sending a transcript, letters of recommendation, and SAT I scores.
If your qualifications are not sufficient to gain you admission to a university, you may want to consider admission to a “Diploma” or “Advanced Diploma” course. After 12 to 18 months of study, these courses lead directly into the second year of a B.A. or B.S. degree program. Another option for non-Australians is entry to a six-month to year long “Foundation Course.” Many courses in Australia are three years long, so taking the Foundation Year will still give you the same four-year experience as you would have had in the U.S.
With its closer proximity to Beijing than Canada or the U.K, and lower costs than most American colleges, Australia might be worth considering. More information can be found at StudyLink or by looking at Yahoo's list of Australian universities.
Other useful links:
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Applying to Canadian Universities
Canada has become very competitive in the admission process now that they are looking for international students to fill seats in the classrooms. Indeed, the very cost of attending university in Canada is such that many students and their parents are interested in going North. Costs usually are about two thirds less than their American neighbors. By deciding to apply to post secondary education in Canada you must first understand there is a very real distinction between a university and a college and it is easy to get confused by the way these terms are used in the US. In Canada, institutions that grant bachelor’s degrees and beyond are called universities. Colleges are very different from universities and focus on vocational and technical training. A school within a Canadian university is called a college, similar to how it works in the U.S.
Canadian universities like their American counterparts like seeing the IB diploma but this is no way the only way of acceptance. In fact, all universities consider and will look at regular high school diplomas in the admission process. Canadian universities tend to let IB students know decisions earlier than say ISB diploma candidates which can be frustrating to regular ISB diploma students who have to let U.S. universities know their decisions by May 1. Generally, only the strongest applicants receive an earlier acceptance notification.
Each university in Canada has a general minimum admission standard based upon Canadian grading standards. These minimum GPA and course requirements vary from university to university. If you are interested in being admitted to an engineering program, you may read that you are required to earn an 80%. Since the Canadian scale of 80% is different than an ISB grade of 80%, your grades will be recalculated using their scale or they will use a special scale used for U.S. applicants. Despite the urban myth that SAT scores do not matter in Canada, you can count on being asked to submit your SAT-I scores. Some schools also require SAT-II. Universities put most of their emphasis on how you did during your junior and senior years.
Ontario is the home to 40 per cent of Canadian high-school and university students. The universities there use the Ontario Universities Application Centre, a centralized application center. Until 2003 Ontario had a 13 year high school system. The 13th grade was eliminated in 2003.
British Columbia also has a central application center. Use The Post-secondary Application Service of British Columbia (PASBC) to apply to universities like University of British Columbia.
The following are some helpful links:
- The Study in Canada site has a wide variety of information about higher education in Canada.
- Macleans conducts an annual ranking of Canadians universities.
- University Report Card - What 26,000 Canadian undergraduate students have to say about their school. From teaching assistants to technology services, profs to parking, athletics to extra-curriculars.
- A Directory of all Canadian Universities is available from the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada. They provide information for Canadian and international students, along with a search engine to identify universities with particular programs of study.
- A list of all Canadian universities and their homepages is also available from the University of Waterloo.
- The Association of Canadian Community Colleges provides information about 2-year colleges in Canada.
- Technical Colleges in Canada provide other options for students.
- ScholarshipsCanada.com is Canada's most comprehensive scholarship portal. Search through our extensive database to find scholarships, student awards, bursaries and grants. You'll also find information about student loans, applications and budget planning.
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Applying to universities in the U.K.
When applying to the U.K. you must first realize that you will be studying one specific course. The advantage of this is that in most cases you will be granted your degree in three years rather than four like in the U.S. Beyond that here are some other things you need to think about when considering applying for a seat in the U.K.
It is important to narrow your choices. There is a great difference between areas of the U.K and one must consider a variety of things before choosing the six universities on the application form.
- First, location: Do you want to be in a big city, small town, or campus environment? At a large city institution, you may have to commute in from your flat. At a campus university, all buildings will be grouped together, but you may be isolated from the city environment.
- Second, accommodation: Do you want to live in university residence halls, shared flats, or rent a private place? Some universities can guarantee accommodation in residence halls for the first year, or even longer. Others have very limited accommodation.
- Finally, fees and living costs: Bear in mind that certain areas of the country will be more expensive to live in while studying.
Once you’ve made some geographic decisions, focus on researching individual institutions and choosing the course of study. Another thing students must be aware of is that each general course of study has a number of specific courses at university. Students must select comparable courses on their application. Use the following sources:
Use the information about A-level scores of entrants to predict the selectivity of the course you are interested in.
- Prospectuses from the university – available in the counseling office or at the British Council.
- University websites
- Internet resources (see links below)
- If possible, visit the university during its open days this summer. This is the best way to check out an institution.
Admission Process
Students can apply to up to five universities or courses in the UK, and all ISB students apply for university-based courses using the web-based application form described below in the section “Apply On-Line.” In the UK, students are admitted to university on the basis of exam scores, such as A-levels or IB exams. Students coming from high schools such as ISB without either of these credentials must submit additional examination information, because an American high school diploma on its own is not considered a sufficient entry qualification for entrance to UK universities. Even with this added material, admission to U.K. universities without the IB Diploma is difficult. Minimum additional requirements include:
- At least a score of 550 in both verbal and mathematical sections of the SAT I and at least 550 on any relevant SAT II subject tests, OR
- Grades of 5 and above in at least two, and preferably three, IB HL exams.
Be aware that some universities, OXBRIDGE – Oxford and Cambridge specifically, will most likely not consider students who are not completing the full IB Diploma. High demand courses will often have more stringent requirements than the above, and students should contact the departmental admissions tutors to find out about specific additional requirements. In general, students will be expected to submit IB and SAT-II scores in the field of proposed study. For example, students interested in Biology should present IB and SAT-II scores in Biology, Chemistry, and Math. Since admission decisions are made by departmental admission tutors and not by the overall university, having exams in the appropriate subjects is critical. Without these exams, students would be unlikely to receive an offer.
Admission’s tutors not only review exam scores they also look to see whether the student has a demonstrated interest in the course of study to which they are applying. Taking classes during the academic year, doing independent reading, joining related extracurricular clubs, and participating in summer experiences related to the course of study are all suitable ways to demonstrate your interest.
The high school transcript is of less importance to admission tutors, but certainly they are interested in challenge of curriculum and “Predicted IB Scores”. Since the application has a different format, tutors are looking for evidence that the student can succeed in their course of study. One can add individual course grades to the application but it is important to talk with your counselor about how to handle transcript information in your particular situation.
One of the most important areas on the application aside from the letter of recommendation or “Reference” is the personal statement. This statements is far more specific than essays written for U.S. colleges, and should concentrate on reasons for choosing a specific degree, experience and skills related to that particular choice, career aspirations, and a short paragraph about contributions to school and community life.
A one-page reference written by a teacher or the student's counselor forms the final portion of the UCAS application. The reference primarily addresses the student's suitability and ability to be successful in the proposed course of study. It will also discuss the students' personal qualities and accomplishments and should make predictions about the students' scores on any Grade 12 IB exams. Finally, the reference will explain anything about our school or the students' particular situation that would help admissions tutors put the test results and academic background into context.
Students who have not taken IB courses, or who have taken only a small number, may be better off applying for a one-year foundation course prior to applying for a university degree course. Since many UK degrees can be completed in three years, taking a foundation course will not necessarily mean longer than four years of university study.
Application Deadlines
If you are applying to OXBRIDGE schools or Medicine your application has an early deadline. Applications must be completed before October 15th. This means that you must have it completed and sent to your counselor one month before the October 15th deadline. All other applications are due November 10th.
Apply On-Line
ISB uses UCAS’s secure, web based, online application system called Apply. Apply allows applicants to complete their UCAS application forms at their convenience and then forward the form to their counselor via the Internet. See ISB Guidance Secretary or Counselor for this year’s website address and our school’s “buzzword” that allows access to the site. Counselors add your reference, and then the entire package is sent to UCAS on-line. ISB only uses the online application process through UCAS for students applying to the U.K.
Links and Additional Information
- UCAS - The primary site for researching universities and courses throughout the UK.
- UK Financial Aid – From the Council of International Schools (CIS)
- BBC Education Site – Excellent general site about education in Britain. The “18+” link can help clarify the different qualifications (degrees, diplomas, foundation courses) available in the UK
- Quality Assurance Agency – Quality Review Reports at both the institutional level and for subject areas.
- Springboard - Bachelor’s Degree courses as well as many further education options are described. The site also includes a great page for planning a Gap Year.
- Careers Portal - Links to colleges and universities with programs in art, design, performing arts, and agriculture, arranged by geographic region.
- Foundation Degree Site - List of subjects in which foundation degrees exist, arranged by subject and by institution. Also describes what a foundation degree is.
- The Guardian Education News - Great section listing the tables in full. Also very good information on choosing a university & university performance indicators.
League Table (Ranking) Sites that Evaluate Universities by Course
Visit the British Council in Beijing:
The British Council
Cultural and Education Section
British Embassy
4/F Landmark Building Tower 1
8 Dongsanhuan Beilu
Beijing 100004
China
Telephone +86 (0) 10 65906903
Fax +86 (0) 10 65900977
E-mail: enquiry@britishcouncil.org.cn
Rest of the World: World Wide College Search
If you are not sure where in the world you wish to study, click on this link: (let’s call it World Colleges and Universities) http://www.globaled.us/wwcu/index.html
If you know the region you want to study in, and then follow the appropriate link below:
Students and parents should be aware that the entry requirements for some countries require that in addition to a student taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma a student may need to take either a university entrance examination or a national examination in order to qualify for university entrance. The IB does a significant job preparing students for these examinations.
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