According to a survey by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the US enrolls more of the world’s 4.5 million international students than any other country. However with over 2,000 four-year colleges and universities to choose from, the prospect of applying to colleges in the US can feel daunting; especially for international students who may not have first-hand knowledge of the US or its applications process. As most university counselors will stress, only once students have narrowed their scope can in-depth research begin – the intensive, time-encompassing quest for colleges that are the much hyped “right fit.”
“It’s been estimated that solid research takes approximately 10 hours per school. Understanding the culture of a school, the type of students who typically attend, and all the other factors takes time,” says Hamilton Gregg, a college advisor at Harrow International School Beijing (HISB), and the founder of Beijing-based International Educational Consulting. Gregg has worked in education since 1985 and helps students and their families understand their personal and educational needs and find the right school to meet their requirements. School lists should generally be broken down into three categories: reach, match, and safety schools.
With the start of another academic year upon us this month, we speak with Gregg as well as three recent graduates from Dulwich College Beijing (DCB), the Schlueter triplets. We met with the American-born sisters twice as Year 13 students: once after they applied to universities last winter and again after they received their acceptances. The girls provide an inside look at applying to US colleges and their experiences finding the right school.
Yvette Ferrari 