The world is a big place, and one of the most exciting ways to explore it and expand your horizons is to consider attending university abroad.
The US is home to literally thousands of colleges and universities of every conceivable size and shape; there is a school for everyone. This brief guide will walk you through the basics of launching a successful US college search.
The educational system in the US differs from that of Australia and the UK in many ways. After high school, college-bound US students typically ‘go away’ to four-year residential schools where they live and learn with their peers on campus.
The student population at top schools in the US ranges from 1,500 and 40,000. They are located everywhere across the country, from major metropolitan areas to small rural communities, and their areas of academic focus can differ from quite broad to quite narrow.
Liberal arts colleges focus on broad-based undergraduate education in liberal arts fields, such as the humanities, sciences and social sciences. Liberal arts colleges pride themselves on their focus on undergraduate teaching, where classes are taught exclusively by academic professors, resulting in close student-faculty relationships.
Comprehensive universities, also referred to as research universities, offer both undergraduate and graduate education. They typically include a liberal arts college, as well as focused schools for disciplines such as engineering, business, architecture and other specialised majors. As the name suggests, research universities prioritise original academic research, typically done by graduate students and professors. Opportunities for undergraduate research exist at both liberal arts colleges and research universities.
The student: faculty ratio in the US is typically much smaller than you would expect at universities in Australia and the UK. At liberal arts colleges you might find a ratio of less than 10:1; at larger universities you can still expect ratios as low as 15:1. This leads to more student and faculty interaction, both inside and outside of classes
Career advising is a hallmark of US colleges and universities. Every school has a fully staffed resource center with counsellors and advisers on hand to assist students with their postgraduation career planning beginning as early as your first semester on campus. These offices offer help with writing resumés and cover letters; interviewing skills; professional networking and much more, as well as hosting career expos and fairs on a regular basis.
Life outside of class and academics on college campuses in the US is lively and fun!
As fully residential programs, US colleges and universities invest tremendous resources in student living communities. Room and board - your living and dining arrangements - are essential parts of the US college experience.
Schools sponsor a dizzying array of clubs and organisations that help you connect with students and activities of all kinds. Your evenings and weekends can be as peaceful or as packed as you wish them to be.
Athletic facilities on college campuses are impressive and are open to all students as part of their cost of attendance. Most have a wide array of ‘club’ sports to enable students who want to play at an informal level to join a team for fun. Top athletes may have their own dedicated training facilities.
You might be interested in serving your community, playing board games, learning yoga or advocating for the environment; whatever your passion is, chances are there will be a club or organisation - often more than one - that you can join.
There is no shortage of extra-curricular activities with which to become involved on a US college campus. Just remember to save time for your academics, too!
The natural result of living and learning as a single community is tremendous school spirit among US college students that lasts far beyond their undergraduate years.
Alumni connections create personal contacts globally, facilitating lifelong learning, social bonding, and meaningful support systems that also enhance professional growth. They create avenues for employment, mentorship, internships, referrals, and establish trustworthy professional relationships grounded in shared college experiences.
See the Study in the USA section at the end of this guide to see a list of Pymble Alumni who have attended US Colleges.
There are some basic things you need to know as you consider the possibility of applying to colleges in the US.
Setting a path for a US university education is a big investment of time, in more ways than one. A well-planned search can take a year or longer between researching schools, studying for and taking US admissions tests, writing essays and completing applications, and waiting for results.
University in the US is four years, regardless of your area of study.
Courses such as medicine and law are not offered as undergraduate degrees, so further postgraduate studies (and time) are required.
A US university education is also a big financial investment. Colleges and universities in the US are fully residential communities where students live and learn together on beautiful campuses with enviable facilities. The full cost of tuition, room and board, and fees can run between US $45,000 and $90,000 per year. While there is some financial assistance and scholarship support available to international students, seeking it out and applying for it is an added layer to your admission process.
Evaluating your finances should be one of the first things you do. As with any investment, you need to evaluate what’s best for your educational and career goals and what you are willing to spend.
Most financial aid packages for US students are funded by federal loans that are only available to US citizens. Because of this many US colleges and universities have very limited ability to offer financial aid to international students.
Every US college and university has a well-staffed financial aid office, with personal contacts clearly listed on their website. If you cannot find the information you are seeking, do not hesitate to reach out to a financial aid or admissions officer to ask questions directly.
There are two types of assistance that can help offset the cost of a US education: need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. If financial assistance is required for you to attend school in the US, it is important you understand the basic types and application processes of aid offered.
Colleges and universities in the US offer means-tested financial assistance to students whose families cannot afford the full cost of attendance. This support typically takes the form of a combination of loans and grants (discounts that do not have to be paid back) that is termed a financial aid package. To apply for financial aid, families are required to fill out detailed forms reporting the details of their financial situation, including income and assets from all sources, to demonstrate how much they can afford. Most US college students apply for financial aid with over 85% of first-year, full-time undergraduate students receiving some form of assistance.
Many schools offer scholarships to incoming students in recognition of a high level skill or experience the student may bring to their community. This would include athletic scholarships, academic scholarships and scholarships designated for particular backgrounds. Merit scholarships tend to be partial scholarships offered as straight discounts off the cost of attendance and are available regardless of a family’s financial resources. A simple online search for schools with generous merit scholarships will help you identify schools in this category and if they have specific application requirements.
Colleges and universities wishing to attract top athletes may offer a scholarship to entice them to attend. There are three national athletic divisions in the US: Divisions I, II and III. Athletic scholarships are only available in Division I and Division II schools.. The eight Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships. While the reputation of athletes receiving a ‘full ride’ (full scholarship) to attend university is widespread, this represents a very small fraction of student athletes in US schools. Far more common is a partial scholarship that discounts the cost of attendance for a highly desirable athlete.
Student athletes considering this pathway should be aware of current National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility guidelines as it can affect academic subject selection from Year 9 onwards. (see Resources for links)
The Pymble Elite Sportswomen Program (PESP) is very experienced in assisting student athletes pursue US College athletic scholarships. They have close connections with many US athletic/sport programs and work closely with the Futures department to help with College applications. The PESP program runs information sessions for the broader school community throughout the year.
Colleges and universities in the US consider the whole person when evaluating applications. This includes a student’s academic credentials, extracurricular involvements, lived experience and, in many cases, their likelihood of enrolling.
An applicant’s academic record (transcript) is the foundation and most important aspect of an application. The transcript shows subjects taken and grades received from Years 9 to 12 to give admission officers a view of the applicant’s academic capabilities. The top applicants have challenged themselves in the highest-level courses appropriate to their abilities across the traditional liberal arts subjects (english, mathematics, science, history and foreign language) over the course of their four years of high school and earned strong grades throughout those years.
US schools often quote a grade point average (GPA) for their admitted applicants. A GPA is not expected or required, nor is it helpful for a student to try to create a US GPA from an Australian education.
Pymble Ladies’ College provides a school profile which is submitted with your application. This gives information about the school’s size co-curricular and other programs and emphasises its high academic standing.
The transcript is complemented by standardized test scores.
The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test widely used by colleges and universities in the United States to evaluate a student’s readiness for college-level coursework.
The ACT exam, or American College Test, is also a national standardised test that serves as a measurement of aptitude and critical thinking.
The SAT and ACT are both accepted interchangeably by US colleges and universities. It is not necessary for a student to take both tests; rather, a student should assess which test fits them best and study accordingly. The SAT and ACT may be taken multiple times, and colleges and universities will ‘superscore’ a student’s results over multiple sittings, ie. they will take the best maths score from any attempt and the best writing and reading score from any attempt to create the most favourable result overall. Please note, there is no way to superscore between the SAT and ACT as they are different test formats.
SATs and ACTs are optional at many US colleges and universities. Some top universities, including Harvard and Yale, have announced they are reinstating SAT/ACT as a requirement for the 2025/26 academic year. A small number of schools have gone ‘test free’, most notably the entire University of California system. Given the unfamiliarity of the Australian educational and grading system in the US, it would be to an applicant’s advantage to submit a standardised test score.
Test 1
Reading: 650
Maths: 750
Total: 1400
Test 2
Reading: 750
Maths: 650
Total: 1400
Superscore: Reading 750 + Maths 750 = 1500
Superscoring uses your best section scores from any test dates for your highest total.
Extra-curricular engagement and achievements
While the first hurdle is always academic, schools have more academically qualified applicants than they can admit. This is where other aspects of an applicant’s experience and background come into play. Students are asked to share their activities outside of the classroom in Years 9 to 12. Extracurriculars include sport, student government, leadership, performing arts, civic, cultural or religious community engagement, jobs/paid work and family responsibilities. Essentially, any setting in which you have an opportunity to learn and grow outside the classroom contributes to who you are and what you will bring to your college community.
Your lived experience also contributes to who you are and the perspectives and talents you will bring to your college community. Many colleges may ask for brief essays to convey how your experiences have influenced you. These can include opportunities available, hardships overcome, perspectives gained and shared and anything that contributes to your resilience, empathy and character.
Finally, some US schools consider your demonstrated interest in their school when evaluating your application. This measurement is an assessment of how likely you are to accept an offer if given one. In contrast to the Australian system, US admission programs aim to keep their offer numbers (known as admit rate) as low as possible. They are reluctant to make an offer to an applicant who has not demonstrated the sincerity of their interest in the school. Ways to demonstrate your interest include contact with the international admissions representative,attendance at in person or virtual events such as college fairs, admission panels and webinars. Attentiveness and responsiveness to email outreach from the institution, well-articulated application essays about the fit between the university and your hopes and aspirations and applying early decision to your first-choice school.
Every US college and university has a well-staffed admissions office, with personal contacts clearly listed on their website. If you cannot find the information you are seeking, do not hesitate to reach out to an admissions counsellor to ask questions directly.
Academic Year Colleges and universities in the US typically commence the academic year with a Fall /Autumn term beginning late August or early September.
Australian students graduating at the end of one calendar year (e.g. 2025) will be applying to start at a US college in September of the following year (2026).
Colleges and universities in the US have a variety of application deadlines and plans, and it is important to understand their policies in advance to conduct a strategic application plan.
Regular decision (RD) plans are the most commonly used application programs. Loosely, applications are due in early January and admission offers are made by 1 April. Applicants then have until 1 May to accept or decline an offer to start in September of that year.
Early action (EA) plans offer students the opportunity to apply a bit sooner, typically in November of the year prior, with offers made between January and February. Applicants then have until 1 May to accept or decline an offer to start in September. Applicants may apply to as many schools as they like under regular decision and early action plans.
Early decision (ED) plans allow students to signal to one school that it is their top choice. Under ED, students apply to a college early (November) and commit to attending if accepted (decisions made around December). If a student is accepted under an ED program, they are legally bound to attend that institution and must withdraw all other applications, even if they receive more favorable offers from other colleges.
Some schools have a second round of early decision (EDII), with a deadline in early January and admission offers in early February.
Early decision plans benefit the universities tremendously because applicants are promising to attend if admitted. This means, the university knows how many offers to make to fill their class, they can plan budgets, housing, dining and other programming. Most importantly, knowing they have a 1:1 conversion on offers to enrolments allows universities to keep their offer number (admit rate) as low as possible to maximise their selectivity.
It is not uncommon for schools to admit between 30 to 70 per cent of their total class in targeted ED rounds. This means that by the time colleges begin considering the much larger regular decision (RD) application pools competition for the remaining places is much higher.
It is important to understand the admit rate for the application deadline you are considering. Many schools have higher admit rates at early decision. If you only research their overall admit rate and plan to apply regular decision, you may have an inflated impression of your chances of admission. Regular decision is often the most competitive pool with the smallest admit rates.
You are statistically more likely to be admitted by EARLY DECISION to many top colleges and universities than you are in REGULAR DECISION. The Futures Department highly recommend all students apply for Early Decision rounds.
Creating your college list with a balance of selectivity is essential to a successful US admission process. This means taking the time to carefully and realistically assess your strengths and academic record and understand that you may not be qualified for some of the schools you love. US admissions can be difficult to understand. Having the right grades and scores does not guarantee you will receive a offer at a College. Applying to a list of schools that is too selective and aggressive risks spending a lot of time and energy in the wrong places and could result in no offers.
COUNSELLORS IN THE US TYPICALLY CATEGORISE STUDENT COLLEGE LISTS INTO FOUR CATEGORIES:
Likely a school where it is likely you will get an offer of admission. This is a school where your academic record and scores are well above their averages and has an admit rate of 50* per cent or higher.
Possible or target a school where your academic record and scores just about match their average and has an admit rate of 35 per cent or higher.
Reach a school where your academic record and scores are close to their averages and has an admit rate below 20 per cent.
Far reach any school that has an admit rate below 10 per cent, regardless of the applicant’s credentials, should be considered a far reach.
*Admit rate refers to the percentage of applicants who receive an offer of admission
Checklist for College Preferences
Determine if study in USA is your Plan A or B (or C).
Select 2-3 POSSIBLE and 2-3 LIKELY schools
Limit yourself to 3-4 REACH schools
Maximise chances by applying for Early Decision I or Early Decision II
“What if I would only consider study in the US if I was offered a place at a specific College?
The Common Application (www.commonapp.org) is the most widely used application platform in the US and is accepted by over 1,000 schools. It includes basic demographic information, an activities section to capture your extracurricular involvements, a personal statement and sometimes additional supplemental essays. The majority of students applying to US Colleges will set-up a Common App account.
The personal statement is a 650-word essay that shows the admission committee a bit about who you are as a person. Unlike applications in the UK and Australia, this is not intended to be academic in nature, nor must it articulate your interest in your intended area of study. Rather, this is an opportunity for you to highlight something about yourself, your experiences or your perspectives that you feel would enhance the university community you join.
Supplemental essays are additional essays of varying length (typically between 250 and 600 words) that colleges may also require as part of their requirements within the Common App. While not all schools ask for supplements, it is important to be aware of which do and how many you will have to write as you are planning your applications. These essays are often the best place to make the case for why you are applying to a particular school and should be customised and closely tailored to each institution. If you can read your essay and substitute one school name for another, your essay is not doing its job.
Letters of recommendation are typically required from one or two academic classroom teachers and a ‘counsellor’. Your academic reference letters should come from teachers who have taught you in a major academic subject within the past 12 months, typically in two different disciplines. Ideally, one of your recommendations should be from a maths or science teacher and one from a humanities teacher. In the US, the terms counsellor, college counsellor or guidance counsellor refer to your Futures Adviser at Pymble Ladies’ College. You will need to request references in Term 2 of Year 12 or no later than midTerm 3. Remember you will not be at school in Term 4 and teachers are busy marking exams and writing reports for you as well.
A transcript of your subjects and marks from Years 9 to 12 must be submitted with your applications.
School Profile - Pymble Ladies’ College provides information about the size, co-curricular and other programs in the school and emphasises its high academic standing. This is submitted with your academic transcript to give more context to US admissions staff.
A self-reported academic record (SRAR) is required by some colleges and universities. This is exactly what it sounds like: a process or a form through which you self-report your courses and grades. This can be in addition to or in lieu of a formal transcript from your school.
• Look for opportunities to represent the school in interstate or international contexts to get experience with travel (e.g. Exchange,
• Attend College Tours with your family whilst on holiday in the US
• Talk to family or friends who have lived, worked or studied in the US. • Start your Pymble Passport and start reflecting on your experiences.
• Explore US College websites just to explore what they offer and do an online tour
• Research different Colleges apart from Ivy League – do College Board ‘s College quiz.
• Attend a Masterclass or talk or workshop about overseas study
• Read a wide range of books, articles, and topics (fiction and non-fiction)
• Practice writing well-structured essays, creative pieces, or reflections
• Participate in writing competitions or reading challenges
• Remember your subject choices and results from Year 9 to 12 are submitted in US college applications. Student considering sports scholarships should be mindful of NCAA eligibility guidelines.
• Choose a broad range of co-curricular activities you enjoy to ensure a balanced and well-rounded application.
• Keep a record of your extra-curricular engagement and achievements in activities such as sport, student government, leadership, performing arts, civic, cultural or religious community engagement, jobs/paid work and family responsibilities.
• Activities undertaken at school are listed on your student record.
• Talk to your family about how realistic it is to fund studying abroad.
• Sign up for an on campus or online summer school program at a US College
• Attend information sessions and Masterclasses offered by the Futures department on studying in the US
• Watch online webinars offered by EdUSA or other external organisations
• Research and identify schools of interest and sign up to their mailing lists
• Attend virtual tours and information sessions
• Summer study programs may be an option to consider.
• First attempt SAT: October, November or December.
Term 1
Attend relevant information sessions and Masterclasses run by Futures
Book an appointment to see a Futures Advisor to discuss your options and register your interest in studying overseas
Complete the Overseas University Application Agreement
Sit or re-sit SAT in March
Term 2
Set-up a Common App account
Sit or re-sit SAT in May or June
Consider who your teacher recommenders will be and check they will be able to support your application.
Submit reference requests by the end of term
Start a list of colleges you are interested in and check their application requirements and key dates for submitting documents
Set-up your application list in Common App
Term 3
Refine your application list – reach, likely, safe
Start contacting colleges on your shortlist
Identify Early Decisions choices if applicable
Complete Common App essays and supplements
Make sure your teacher references are uploaded by the end of term
Term 4 HSC
HSC Results Submit your HSC and ATAR certificates to Futures for uploading into Common App
DecemberApril Keep track of your applications and offers over the summer break and through to April next year
Contact Futures once school is back if you have any questions.
Let Futures know if you accept offers overseas or in Australia! We are invested in your journey and love hearing about your decisions after all the deep discussions we have had with you.
Admit, admission, or acceptance: Offers of admission
Admit rate Refers to the percentage of applicants who receive an offer of admission
College, school or university Are interchangeable terms in the US; all refer to the next educational level after high school
CommonApp
Early Action (EA)
The Common Application is a college application platform used by most US colleges and universities
Early Action (EA) plans allow students to apply early, usually in November of the year prior, with offers made in January/ February
Early decision (ED) When students choose one College as their top choice via an early application in November and commits to enrol if offered a place in December.
Enrolment or matriculation:
The decision to attend, formalised by an enrolment contract and a deposit
Higher education or higher Both terms mean the same as tertiary education
Liberal arts college: Four-year institutions that focus on undergraduate education in the liberal arts, including the humanities, sciences and social sciences
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
NCAA governs intercollegiate sports in the United States. It regulates student athletes, organises athletic (sport) programs., and sets rules for competition and eligibility across its member institutions which are organised into three divisions (I, II and III). Up to date eligibility guidelines and information can be found via the EdUSA website.
Polytechnic institute An institution that focuses on applied learning in STEM fields such as engineering, math, and technology
Regular Decision (RD) The most common type of application. Submitted early January with offers by 1 April
Research university/ comprehensive university
SAT and ACT
Institutions that offer both undergraduate and graduate education, typically including a liberal arts college as well as specialised colleges in things such as engineering, business, architecture or other directed majors
Standardised admissions tests for US admissions; students can take one or the other, you do not need to take both.
https://futures.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/
The Futures Department supports students and families to navigate admissions processes to overseas universities. The website has links, guides, presentations and ideas, frequently asked questions and links to book an appointment to see a Futures Advisor.
https://au.usembassy.gov/education/educationusa/
EducationUSA is a service of the US Embassy and Consulate to assist Australian students considering university studies in the US. It has information to help research and apply for US Colleges, the student visa process and useful pre-departure information. It also has current National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility guidelines and information for athletes.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) governs intercollegiate sports in the United States. It regulates student athletes, organizes athletic (sport) programs, and sets rules for competition and eligibility across its member institutions which are organized into three divisions (I, II and III). Up to date eligibility guidelines and information can be found via the EdUSA website.
COLLEGE ESSAY GUY
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/
Credible application and essay support for US colleges and universities, and abundance of free information, tutorials and resources. Offers free and paid support and resources.
COLLEGE KICKSTART
www.collegekickstart.com/blog
Data and Trends Analysis, admit rates, tracking of deadlines and notification dates, scholarships, etc
COMMON APP
https://www.commonapp.org/apply/first-year-students
College application platform that also has helpful information and tutorials on every aspect of the Common Application.
Copies are available in the school library and the Futures office.
• The Official SAT Study Guide
• The Official ACT Prep Guide
• 800+ SAT Practice Exams
We celebrate the successes of our ex-students who have ventured beyond the Pymble gates in pursuit of broader pathways of study, sport or the Arts in the USA. We are proud and inspired by their achievements.
Watch them change the world.
= SPORT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
= ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
= ARTS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
2023
Jessica Colbran (2023)
Sports Scholarship (Rowing), University of Texas
Ashlee Narker (2023)
Sports Scholarship (Tennis), Exercise Science, Iowa State University
Aileen Hao (2023)
University of Southern California
Jacqueline Qin (2023)
Art/Animation, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Atlanta
Hanna Cheung (2023)
Brown University
Belinda Zhao (2023)
New York University
Manni Lin (2023)
Barnard College
Jessica Woo (2023)
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion and Apparel Design, Parsons School of Design – The New School, New York.
Isabel Dean (2022)
Bachelor of Arts/Sciences, Harvard University, Massachusetts
Mehreen Khan (2022)
Sports Scholarship (Rowing), University of Pennsylannia
Lilian Huntley (2022)
Sports Scholarship (Rowing), Rutgers University
2021 Georgina Ericsson (2021)
Sports Scholarship (Athletics), Washington State University
Sarah Wang (2021)
Classical Violin, The Julliard School. Philosophy and Economics, Georgetown University.
Pragya Mehta (2021)
Bachelor of Music, Songwriting, Berklee College of Music, Boston
2020
Imogen Gardiner (2020)
Sports Scholarship (Cross Country), Bachelor of Science, Symbolic Systems - Biomedical Applications (Major) and Human Biology (Minor), Stanford University
Katrina Woo (2019)
Global Cross School Minor, Business of Entertainment, Media, Technology, NYU Stern School of Business
Vivian Hu (2019)
Psychology and Economics, Barnard College, Arts, Columbia University
Jennifer Lee (2019)
Parsons School of Design, New York
Isabelle Riley (2019)
Bachelor of Arts – BA, Public Health, Berkeley, California
Rachel Lowe (2018)
Sports Scholarship (Soccer), Human Biology, UCLA
Eloise Riley (2018)
Sports Scholarship (Swimming and Diving), Global Studies, UC Berkeley
Annalise Hall (2018)
Musical Theatre, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University
Alicia Chang (2018)
Bachelor of Arts, Columbia University, New York
Juliette Di Bello (2018)
Bachelor, Voice and Opera, Juliard School, New York
