Why Choose a US University?

As an American who trained in US holistic admissions, I am surely biased toward US universities. I think there are many benefits to studying in America. Perhaps its most distinctive advantage is the liberal arts culture and holistic admissions processes. When I worked in admissions, we were fond of students who were undecided about their major, but bursting with intellectual curiosity across the disciplines – everything from the sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Compared to other country systems (Canada, UK, Europe), US universities are a great fit for students who want to explore their interests as they mature into their own during their studies. In my own experience, I switched my major many times - from Biology to Political Science to Computer Science then to History and Art History. I graduated within four years and took courses from more than 10 departments in the process of honing in on my interests. With a degree in the humanities, I then worked as a research assistant at a university, admissions officer at a highly selective institution, and then as a business analyst at a Fortune 500 company (the latter was completely unrelated to my major in Art History). Flexibility and exploration are the key advantages of the US. At the same time, if you’re keen on not flipping through as many majors as I did, you can focus on a single or double major for the majority of your 4-year course. In the US, you have the choice of both breadth and depth.

Furthermore, US holistic admissions is a considered evaluation process that looks at soft factors in addition to grades and standardized test scores. As an admissions officer, I would try to suss out not only the academic rigor of the student’s transcript but also the story behind a student’s passion. Admissions offices are trying to evaluate how you will contribute to the current student body at their institutions. Also, personal, not academic essays, help reveal your background, depth of thought, and personality; letters of recommendation are the eyes on the ground – a student may be smart, but is he cutthroat and divisive or curious and inspiring? Extra-curricular activities speak to your ability to demonstrate your leadership in academic organizations and beyond. In the US, grades and test scores matter, but they alone will not be viewed as sufficient by US officers.

I hope this gives you a basic understanding of the distinctive qualities of attending and applying to a US university. Please feel free to reach out to you Ivy Options counselor if you have any questions and best of luck with wrapping up your exams ahead of the winter holidays!