Go west …Will there be a UK brain drain?

• You are intellectually curious but not ready to specialise yet, so are attracted by a liberal arts programme. Good reason: the interdisciplinary range of courses you can follow is exciting.
• You are discouraged by the competition to enter some of the most selective courses at top UK universities. Fair enough, but the USA is competitive too – for example, Brown’s overall acceptance rate last year was just over 13%.
• You like the value US Admissions attaches to your other interests. Good reason, and it’s worth checking out the sports scholarships you might be eligible to apply for.
• You are impressed by the jaw-dropping facilities (and mildly disturbed by reports in the press of some UK universities being in financial turmoil due to the fall in value of their investments). Good reason, although don’t forget that the USA has plenty of turmoil of its own, but the enlightened tradition of alumni philanthropy means that, over the years, the endowments for buildings, research and bursarial support have given the top US universities the economic power to attract the best brains. If you’re not sure what I mean about facilities, take a virtual campus tour of Obama’s alma mater, Columbia.

• You need to sit and do well in a SAT Reasoning Test comprising maths, writing and verbal reasoning. Sitting these at a four-and-a-half-hour stretch of time is a test of stamina for today’s youth, reared largely on a bite-size exam programme.
• You need to complete a Common Application Form and write an essay. The title might be something like ‘Evaluate a significant risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced, and its impact on you’.
• Then you need to apply individually to each college. Some operate ‘Early Decision and Early Action’ – make sure you understand how this works.
• They will want details of your school record, including your extra-curricular activities and wider experience.
• You will be asked to write more essays – some short, some long – on topics such as ‘The most meaningful piece of advice you have received and how you have used it in everyday life’, or to submit work marked by your school.
• Your teachers and your councillor need to endorse your application in detailed letters; the style of these is very different to that adopted in the UCAS reference.
• You will be invited to an interview with an alumnus of the university you have applied to. This may take place at your school or in a major town.

• Start planning early – ideally in Year 11 – to give yourself time to get the SATs out of the way by Year 13.
• Do the first set of SAT 1s without outside assistance; study hard and practise. If your scores are not good enough look into prep courses or tutoring.
• Make sure your summers are productive, and get immersed in your extra-curricular activities early on in your school career. Universities do not want an endless list of things you have dabbled in – they are looking for commitment and want to see your leadership and teamwork skills.
• Be realistic. Each application is hugely time-consuming and it’s important not to let your school work suffer, especially if you are also applying through UCAS, where any offer will be conditional on getting good grades. Limit yourself to five or six applications and, as with the UK, spread your offers between the highly selective and the realistic.
• Before an interview, prepare questions to ask the interviewer that are specific to the college, and know why it is you want to attend.
• Check out the cost, especially with the decline in the value of sterling. A year at somewhere like Harvard, taking account of tuition fees, accommodation and flights home, will cost in the region of an eye-watering $50,000, but there are financial aid programmes especially for the gifted mathematician or scientist.
• Be hopeful. If all this seems daunting, be encouraged by the track record of strong UK students. American admissions tutors like you. They like the fact that you can usually write well, think and study independently, and construct an argument.
• Expect to work hard once you are there. You will be learning alongside some of the brightest and most ambitious students from around the world – reports from our alumnae indicate they have more studying to do than most of their UK university counterparts in the first year and attendance is monitored. (And it’s prohibited to buy alcohol in the USA if you are under 21.)