University Counseling

Applying to American Universities and Colleges

Applying to American universities is a very time-consuming task. If you intend to apply to a highly competitive American university, expect to invest at least 40 to 80 hours in the application process and this work will all fall during the first term of Grade 12. There are thousands of universities in the United States and each has its own admissions requirements.

Generally, the more competitive the university is the more demanding the application requirements are. Expect to have to fill out lengthy forms, write essays, and have two or three teachers write letters of reference on your behalf. Also, you will need to write the SAT I and SAT II or an ACT. Application deadlines vary - they begin in November; most are January - March.

SAT and ACT Assessment Tests

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) has two versions and these may not be written on the same day. These standardized tests are mandatory at all American Universities and most American Colleges. Students are permitted to write as many SATs as they require to obtain a desired score, however these tests are costly.

The SAT Reasoning is a test of verbal, writing and mathematical skills. The exam is almost 4 hours long consisting of three sections, writing, critical reading and math. Each section is measured on a scale of 200-800 - a perfect score is a combined total of 2400. Highly competitive schools in the US are most interested in a score over 2200.

The SAT Subject tests are subject specific. These tests are 1 hour long and a student can write up to 3 tests on one test date. The number of SAT Subject tests required is established by the individual university and will range from none to three depending upon the competitive nature of the university in question. Highly competitive US Universities would expect students to write three tests. There are 5 SAT testing opportunities on our campus. For more information on the SATs, go to the website www.collegeboard.com.

The ACT (American College Test) is an alternative to the SAT Reasoning test that is becoming more and more accepted at American Universities and Colleges. The ACT is scored on a slightly different scale. The ACT is compiled of a verbal and math component as well but there is also a science component, unlike the SAT. For more information on ACT's, go to the website www.act.org.

Canadian universities DO NOT require that applicants submit SAT scores.