ICON+

Singapore boasts high quality universities that students seek from all over the world. Why then, do so many students visit our office seeking aid in applying to American colleges and universities?

Worldwide recognition and improved career prospects are the answers that we most commonly hear. It’s true that Harvard, Stanford, MIT are names spoken with a touch of awe, even reverence, throughout the globe. It’s fact that a good US degree opens doors. However, there are many more benefits to studying in one of the 4000 plus institutions of higher education in the US.

Diversity of Institutions: It is an Individualistic Country After All!

Some would argue that all US college application essay questions essentially ask the same question, that is, “Who are you?” Be assured that whatever your answer, there will be a university in the US for you. Do you want to study at a large, urban research university? Check out New York University or the University of Chicago. Would you prefer to attend a smaller school dedicated to undergraduate teaching where broadening the mind and integrating diverse subjects is the focus? Visit a liberal arts college such as Amherst, Williams, or Middlebury. Have you ever considered the benefits of studying at a women’s college like Smith, Bryn Mawr, or Mount Holyoke? Ever heard of historically black (African American) colleges or Hispanic-serving institutions? From variations in size and location to those in academic focus, student population, and mission statement, the diversity in US universities is, depending on who you ask, either exciting or overwhelming.

Flexible Curriculum: From Bel Canto to Burmese History

Students jet to the US to study anything and everything. Interested in fluid visualization? What about those rare Amazonian insects that, with a single sting, can immobilize an elephant? Welcome to the US!

In addition to flexibility in your major, US institutions offer comparative freedom in designing your entire degree. Consider that an undergraduate degree is about 120 credits. In most cases, your major will require you to take courses totaling to 30-40 credits. You’ll also be required to take about 30 credits of general education courses in a hodgepodge of fields including science, math, humanities, social science, and communication. “Wait, what about the other 50-60 credits?” you say? Deem them your ticket to intellectual freedom. Many students choose to take up another major or minor, obtain credit for hands-on opportunities such as internships, study abroad for a semester or year, or use the extra credits to explore subjects they’ve always been curious about. Just remember that with freedom comes responsibility!

Hippocrates Got it Right: The Holistic Education Experience

When asked why they decided to go to college, the vast majority of students reply, “To get a degree and a better job.” Although this is an undeniably worthy goal, there is so much more to a university education than in the pretty diploma scroll awarded at the end of it all. Long-term career success and happiness necessitate that you develop skills such as leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, relationship-building, and vision. No doubt you will cultivate some of these skills in the classroom, but engaging in extracurricular activities will hasten your growth by leaps and bounds.

Historically, US universities are grounded in the idea of holistic education, or the education of the mind, body, and spirit. After all, Harvard and Yale were modeled off Oxford and Cambridge, which have a collegiate system whereby students study and live in smaller communities. Although the majority of UK institutions have now moved away from the collegiate system, many US institutions remain steeped in this tradition. Take advantage of the countless opportunities universities in the US offer to develop yourself all around. Study abroad in sun-kissed Tuscany (Italy), found an interfaith student organization, lead a public health volunteer trip to Lesotho (Africa), or find a women’s rights internship in Washington D.C.; you will add greater value to yourself as both a job candidate and a person.

Conclusion: The Admissions Process

As you might expect, the unique characteristics of US’ higher education system are reflected in its admissions process.

The diverse array of universities translates to a diverse array of applications. Unlike UK universities, to which you can conveniently apply in one go via the UCAS system, US universities more often than not each have their unique applications. The obvious con is of this system, or lack thereof, is that applications to US universities can be time consuming. The pro, however, is that you can tailor your presentation to each school, thereby demonstrating perfect fit.

In contrast to the UK, the US application process is more holistic. That is, there is more emphasis placed on the extra-school resume, essays, recommendation letters, and interviews. However, the degree of emphasis is dependent on institutional type. Large, public universities such as Indiana University or the University of Texas tend to require less supplementary materials and rely more on test-scores and grade point averages to make admissions decisions. In general, the smaller and more selective an institution is, the more seriously it will value essays and recommendation letters.

Authoring information:

Natsuko Tohyama is a University Admissions Counselor for ICON+. She had a fantastic college experience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and went on to receive her master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Her work experiences span international student services, exchange programs, career and academic counseling, residence life, student programming, and of course, admissions.