Rebecca Piercey ‘24
Are you interested in going to college in the United Kingdom? Here are are some things I wish I knew before I applied.
When it comes to the college admissions process, the United Kingdom does things a little differently than here in the United States. The U.S. has Common App, while the UK has UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Ireland has a central system as well, CAO (Central Applications Office), but U.S. nationals are not allowed to use it and usually have to apply to schools in Ireland through direct application.
UCAS is a difficult website that often crashes, is down for technical upkeep, and does not have any straightforward way to contact representatives when there are issues with applications. Unfortunately, it’s the central way to apply to U.K. universities.
Some schools, such as St. Andrew’s University, do allow applications through Common App. However, applying to colleges in the U.K. using the Common App often restricts what other U.K. schools one is able to apply to.
Because the educational system in the US is structured differently than it is in the U.K., we do not have A-Levels or GSCEs, and in order to gain admittance to UK institutions, students must achieve the U.S. equivalent for the entry requirements for their specific program. The U.S. equivalent depends on the university, but APs, the ACT, and the SAT are commonly accepted tests.
Each program has different requirements, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to start planning earlier if you want to go to the UK for college. Standardized tests are even more important for admittance than just getting good grades, and entry requirements are much more specific.
Beyond test scores, the personal statement on UCAS is vastly different from the college essay for US schools. It is an explanation of what specifically you want to study and why, not a narrative about a goal you accomplished or your childhood best friend. While it is possible to weave it into a narrative, the goal is to demonstrate your understanding of the subject so far and how you intend to achieve mastery in it through further education and post-graduate programs. Some colleges, depending on the program, will ask you to write a supplemental essay – for example, Manchester has film studies applicants write about a film or tv scene and analyze it.
Acceptance offers are split into two types: unconditional and conditional. A conditional offer means that you have not yet met the full requirements for your chosen program, and, while you can accept your offer, if you do not have the required test scores before the year starts, you will not be accepted.
UCAS’ system allows you to both accept a conditional offer and place an unconditional offer as your backup, just in case you do not get the test scores required to fulfill your conditional offer. Think before you accept a conditional offer – it can be stressful to spend months waiting for test results to see if you have gotten into the school you accepted a conditional offer from.
As different as the system may be, it is not the only thing you should take into consideration while deciding whether you would like to go to the UK for college. Going across the pond means that you are, quite literally, an ocean away from your immediate family. It is not easy to go someplace you have never been before and start anew, but sometimes it is worth the adjustment period to explore your options in life.
I personally chose University College Dublin because it offers me resources and
opportunities that I would not find elsewhere (and the fact it has a lake on campus doesn’t hurt). Nonetheless, even though I fell in love with UCD when I visited, I am not blind to the fact that it will not always be easy to be so far away from the people I love. In the end, my decision to go overseas was not easy, but hopefully over the next four years it will prove its worth.