Im thinking of going to University in America or Australia?

Question

How do I apply? And when?

Answer 1

Good on you for wanting to try something different, and now (at 16) is a great time to start looking!

I don't know about Australia, but here's what I do know about America:

Most college (a.k.a. uni) students apply when they're 17; that is, they apply at the beginning of their last year of secondary school. They often have to submit SAT ( http://www.collegeboard.com/student/test... ) or ACT ( http://www.act.org/aap/ ) scores, transcripts from their secondary school(s), and one or more essays. The application process can vary greatly from school to school, so it's best to decide where you want to go first!

For example, the University of Washington in Seattle requires that international students have studied, in secondary school, four years of composition/literature, three years of maths, three years of social sciences (history, etc), two years of a language other than English, two years of science (biology, etc), and half a year of arts (drawing, drama, etc) - but international students don't have to take the SAT or ACT. Grades wise, "applicants should rank in the top fifteen percent of students successfully completing secondary school in your country. Students educated in the British system, in which grades are based on comprehensive national exams, must submit the official O-level, HKCEE, or GCSE Certificate by the application deadline of January 15, 2008. Students receiving official exam certificates in the spring of 2008 will not be eligible for admission consideration until 2009. Students who are completing an advanced level exam certificate (GCE A-levels, Abitur, IB Diploma, HKALE, STMP, etc) may be given admission priority over candidates who meet only minimum qualifications. Students submitting official advanced level exam certificates may also receive college-level credit upon admission to the University." Most universities have websites, where you can look up the requirements for international students, or e-mail an academic adviser about them.

A great place to search out American universities is http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/se... - it tells you if a school is accredited, estimates costs, lists programs of study (majors) and campus statistics (what percentage of the student population received a 3.0/4.0 Grade Point Average, or all B's), and even tells you some of their sports. You probably want a four-year college; then just answer the questions and it'll give you matches. You might also keep in mind that currently, one UK pound is roughly the equivalent of two US dollars.

Do you want to use your uni degree back in the UK, or do you want to move to the US for a few years? Unless you get a degree from MIT, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, or one of the other big-name universities in the US, American degrees are often considered inferior because they're less strenuous and in-depth. You should also consider what program you want to study; although the University of Washington, mentioned above, is not well-noted for its mechanical engineering program, its medical program has a very good reputation.

It's easiest if you have all the money you need before you go abroad :S I know, but you need certain papers if you want to get a job in the US, and sometimes it can be difficult to find employment. If you're determined to work while studying a four-year degree in the US, then you should contact your local government office to see what hoops you need to jump through in order to obtain those papers.

Housing is another thing best settled before your plane takes off. Do you want to live on the campus of the university where you're staying, or try to find an apartment (flat)? Many students live on campus in their first year or two, but often move away by their final year. Additionally, campus housing often closes down during the holidays, so you might need to find a friend to stay with! In the summer, most Americans don't go to school - would you fly home during the summer, or stay in the US?

If all this sounds too intimidating, you might consider going to a university in the UK and trying to do just a year or two of study abroad through your home university.

Just some things to think about; good luck! Contact me if there's any way in which I can help :)

Answer 2

Hey Amanda, hope this answers your question.

I'm an American and went to college here in the US, but i went to Graduate school in the UK, so I can relate to your situation. In terms of education between America and Australia, the answer for a far better education would invariably be America. The colleges and universities here are ranked and rated the best in the world and US institutions have so much as far as goods, technology etc.  If you choose to come to the US for college, accommodations are plentiful. You would live in a dorm with a roommate and that fee is included in your tuition, you won't have to find an apartment or anything of the sort.

As i mentioned, i went to Grad school in the UK, London to be specific and i got homesick as well like you said.  I loved the experience of a different country, people, lifestyle and then-some, but as they say, home is where the heart is. I replied to someone else who wants to live abroad and since your still quite young, i wouldn't go to college overseas because you will be there for 4 years and overseas is TOTALLY different. Wait till your older, in my opinion.