College and Careers Counseling

There are thousands of schools in the United States and finding the right fid can be a daunting task. HIS high school students have access to Bridge-U, where they can find colleges by filling out preferences as well as predicted and hopeful grades. Bridge-U will separate safety, match, and reach schools. Another great college search resource is the BigFuture, by College Board. IB also offers a guide for international students applying to schools in the US.

Applications

Common Application, University of California, State University of New York (SUNY) are the most common application platforms but certain universities may require a direct application on the school's website.

In the US there are three possible types of applications:

• Early Decision- Typical early decision deadline is November 1 or 15. Applying early decision is a formal commitment on behalf of the student and university. An early decision applicant agrees that if admitted s/he will attend that university and withdraw other applications.
• Early Action- Similar to early decision, early action deadlines are November 1 or 15. Applying early action will allows applicant to receive a non-binding offer before regular decision applicants.
• Regular Decision- Deadlines for regular decision varies from early January-February and offers of admission are sent out late March-April.

US universities take a holistic approach to admission. Applicant’s official transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, personal statements/supplemental questions, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and interviews are all weighed in the acceptance decision.

Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS) is one platform for applying to up to five universities out of over 100 in the United Kingdom. Application deadline can vary, but most courses will have a January 15 deadline. Students applying to Oxford, Cambridge, or most courses for medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry have a deadline of October 15.

Compared to the United States, universities in the UK have a much more structured approach to admissions with clear application grade/IB score requirements. Students must look up the requirements for each program they apply to. It is not advised to apply to a program when they do not meet the requirements.

Click here for the IB guide to applying to the UK for international students.

The Netherlands offer over 2000 international study courses in taught in English making it one of Europe's top destinations for higher education. Many universities in the Netherlands have a lower price tag than schools in the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia. Studyinholland.nl is a great resource for finding programs. IB also has a useful guide for international students applying to schools in the Netherlands.

Students apply to all schools in the Netherlands using Studielink. Applications open in September/October for the following fall but deadlines can extend all the May 1. It is advised to check the deadlines for each university because there can be exceptions. 

Australia is known for universities with strong global rankings that are friendly to international students. Australia university costs are also lower than in the USA. There are 43 universities in Australia, mostly located around coastal cities. A bachelor's degree from Australia will typically take three years with an optional fourth year 'honours year.'

Each Australian university has its own process and application forms which need to be filled out separately. Similarly, each university will have different requirements for applications and acceptance. 

Studyinaustralia.au offers a wide variety of information for students looking to study in Australia. IB also has information for international applicants which can he found here.

Hong Kong universities have been known for being welcoming to international students. Hong Kong also has some of the highest ranked universities in the world. The education system is modeled after a mix of US and UK programs. 

Admissions criteria differ greatly across the institutions and programs. It is important to contact admissions to know exactly what is expected. Each university in Hong Kong has its own institutional application and deadlines for each will be different.

Here is an IB guide for applying to universities in Hong Kong.

Canada is host to about 100 universities and is popular for international students due to low costs and high quality. One perk to attending university in Canada is the opportunity to stay and work after completing a degree. 

Every university in Canada has different requirements and will assess students on an individual basis. Students should make sure to look up the requirements for each school they want to attend before they apply. While SAT/ACTs are not typically required, they may be helpful when applying to certain schools or programs. Application deadlines also vary within Canada and deadlines for certain programs within a school can very as well. 

More information for IB international students can be found here. Educanada.ca is another great resource for information. 

Germany is a popular decision for university due to the low to free costs. While most universities and courses are taught in German, there are some English options that can be found using this search engine. Students wishing to apply to a German university will do so on uni-assist.de or a separate application directly to a university. 

The IB guide for international students looking to study in Germany is a great resource for information. 

China is becoming a better option for our students with the current uncertainties in international travel. There are some great English speaking programs in China that link with universities around the world. Below you will see many different schools, in no particular order, to take a look at!

The University of Nottingham Ningbo - offers 20+ majors including engineering, international studies, and business.

Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) - offers 30+ majors including design and marketing.

The Sino-British College, Shanghai - majors including engineering and management. This school also offers a foundation year.

Duke Kunshan University - offers 15+ majors including behavioral psychology, global health, and material science.

Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology University - offers 4 majors in engineering and computer science.

New York University Shanghai - offers 19 majors including data science, media arts, and social science.

Wenzhou Kean University - offers 50+ majors including athletic training, criminal justice, and graphic design.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen - 15+ majors including psychology, global business, and biomedical science. Applications differ for Chinese nationals and International students.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Zhejiang University - 4 engineering majors. Students would receive a dual degree. 

Tsinghua University - 80 major options that have English and Chinese classes.

Peking University - 10 major options in English.

The University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University - 10 engineering major options. 

Les Roches - hotel management major with study abroad in Switzerland.

Jinan University - offers select programs in English including pharmacy and international journalism

Fudan University - offers many English taught and double degree majors with foreign universities.