Introduction
Welcome to Le Repaire des étudiants!
Congratulations on taking the first step toward your dream of studying in the United States! At Le Repaire Des Étudiants, we are dedicated to guiding international students through the complex and exciting process of U.S. college admissions. We know that applying to American Universities can be a very long and confusing process. We are here to ensure that your journey to a top-tier U.S. college is both successful and rewarding.
This document serves as a comprehensive guide to applying to U.S. universities as an international student. We recommend this document for students and their parents or guardians to learn about the holistic application process. It contains information related to identifying schools to apply to, preparing each application component, a detailed application timeline, applying for financial aid and scholarships, and more!
While this document contains strategies and deadlines for college applications, be sure to look into the admission requirements and academic offerings of the individual schools to which you will be applying, as application components and academic offerings are subject to change each year. Remember that you are not in this alone; each mentee will be paired with a trained mentor who is excited to advise you each step of the way.
We look forward to supporting you in your journey to studying in the United States!
Introduction to Applying to College in the U.S.
American undergraduate programs require students to submit a digital application to be considered for admission. Over 900 American colleges and universities accept applications submitted through the Common Application (the “Common App”). The Common App is a standardized online college application form that collects students’ general information—such as your address, GPA, and extracurriculars — and allows you to submit necessary application materials to individual schools. The application is the same for American and international students alike.
While the vast majority of U.S. schools use the Common App, several schools use their own application portals. These include the University of California system, Georgetown University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. You will need to create separate admission profiles if you wish to apply to these schools.
Whether you are submitting an application on the Common App or not, all U.S. colleges generally require the same core application requirements. These include:
- biographical information;
- 1-3 letters of recommendation;
- high school transcripts and cumulative GPA;
- standardized test scores (often optional for international students);
- language proficiency scores (IELTs);
- a personal statement;
- a 1-2 page résumé;
- a list of your extracurricular activities, work experience, and family responsibilities;
- a list of academic honors and achievements.
While all schools share core application components, each schools’ requirements are slightly different. Some will require only one letter of recommendation while others will accept up to three. Many require writing samples or supplemental essays such as “Why do you want to attend our school?”
Reading all that you need to do may seem daunting! You will soon notice that each application is very similar to the next. We generally recommend that you start writing the application components for your top-choice schools so that they can be ready as early as possible in the application cycle! Once you have completed one, you will quickly be able to tailor your application to another school! We’re here to help you stay organized and on task as you begin to hone your school list and strategize how to write your essays in a time-effective way