Applying to U.S. Universities

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Applying to U.S. Universities

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About this course: “It depends.” That is what you’ll hear when asking about the U.S. university admission process. With over 4,000 universities in the United States and no standard application system, the U.S. admission process can be confusing for everyone, but especially for students applying from other countries. This course will help international students (non-U.S. citizens) and non-native English speakers navigate the U.S. university admission process by offering practical information about the documents and pieces that make up a U.S. university application. More importantly, admission officers will discuss how they use those pieces to decide who is accepted and who is denied, so …

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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan

  • Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
  • Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.

About this course: “It depends.” That is what you’ll hear when asking about the U.S. university admission process. With over 4,000 universities in the United States and no standard application system, the U.S. admission process can be confusing for everyone, but especially for students applying from other countries. This course will help international students (non-U.S. citizens) and non-native English speakers navigate the U.S. university admission process by offering practical information about the documents and pieces that make up a U.S. university application. More importantly, admission officers will discuss how they use those pieces to decide who is accepted and who is denied, so that you can understand the process beyond the pieces. By the end of this course, you will understand application basics that include researching schools, creating a school list, and establishing an application plan. This course will not answer all of your application questions, but it will teach you to ask the right questions of yourself and the universities. Ultimately, you will have all the information you need to start your process the right way, putting you on the path to acceptance. * Please note, while the English Language Programs are part of the University of Pennsylvania, this is not a course about applying to Penn. Furthermore, this course is intended for international students educated in the national curriculum of their country. While other students are welcome to enroll, the course is not intended for American students or students studying in an American, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced Placement curriculum. The course is also intended for students who do not have access to university counseling – if you attend a school that offers university counseling, your counselor is the best source of information on applying to university. Finally, this course is for undergraduate (Bachelors degree) freshmen (students who have not attended any university) applicants. Undergraduate transfer applicants, students who have attended a university, will find some of the information helpful, but graduate (Masters and Doctoral) applicants will not.

Created by:  University of Pennsylvania
  • Taught by:  Erick Hyde, University Connection Counseling Specialist

    English Language Programs
Level Beginner Commitment 14 hours of videos Language English, Subtitles: Spanish How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. 课程作业

每门课程都像是一本互动的教科书,具有预先录制的视频、测验和项目。

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University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


The U.S. Admissions Process



The first step to studying in the USA is to understand the application and admissions process in the U.S. How to apply to colleges and universities in the U.S. is probably very different than the university admissions process in your home country. One big difference is the importance of “fit,” and how fit plays a different role among the 4,000+ U.S. colleges and universities. In this module, you will begin to learn about the U.S. admissions process, including how schools evaluate international applications, U.S. college admission requirements, and how schools decide who to accept (it is not all about SAT or ACT scores like many students think). You will also begin to explore yourself so that you can look beyond the "top" colleges and universities to identify schools based on “fit,” a big step toward being accepted into U.S. colleges and universities.


13 videos, 7 readings, 1 practice quiz expand


  1. Video: Introduction to the Course
  2. 阅读: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
  3. Video: The Realities of Admission: Understanding Options
  4. Video: The Realities of Admission: Understanding Timing
  5. Video: The Admissions Process and the Course
  6. Video: Eight Pieces & Two Questions
  7. Video: Being the "Best"
  8. 阅读: Thoughts on College Rankings
  9. Video: The Second Question
  10. Video: Different Universities Evaluate Differently
  11. 阅读: "What It Takes” by Ivan Maisel
  12. 阅读: The Selection Process: Online Resources
  13. Video: Purdue University
  14. Video: Montgomery County Community College
  15. Video: Rhodes College
  16. Video: Santa Clara University
  17. Video: University of Pennsylvania
  18. 阅读: Connect with Our Partner Schools
  19. 阅读: Suggested Readings
  20. 阅读: Instructions for Self-Assessment Quiz 1: Personal Qualities
  21. 练习测验: Assessment Quiz: Personal Qualities


WEEK 2


Self-Assessment



The most important part of your college application is you. Before you apply to any U.S. universities, you have to know yourself – likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. Once you know yourself, you can look at your application the way a U.S. admissions counselor will look at your application. In this module you will learn how to use self-assessment to examine your application, identifying strengths and weaknesses in both your academic and non-academic qualifications. You will also learn about EducationUSA, a college admissions assistance resource located in your home country.


12 videos, 7 readings, 1 practice quiz expand


  1. Video: Importance of Self-Assessment
  2. Video: Personal Strengths
  3. 阅读: "5I's" by Eric Furda
  4. Video: Study Preferences
  5. 阅读: "4C's" by Eric Furda
  6. Video: Academic Qualifications Part 1
  7. Video: Academic Qualifications: Testing
  8. 阅读: Notes on Practice Materials and the New SAT
  9. Video: Non-Academic Qualifications
  10. Video: Connecting You with Universities
  11. 阅读: "5 College Admission Mistakes International Students Can Avoid" by Amy Rader Kice
  12. Video: EducationUSA: A U.S. State Department Supported Network
  13. Video: EducationUSA Interview Part 1
  14. Video: EducationUSA Interview Part 2
  15. Video: EducationUSA Interview Part 3
  16. Video: EducationUSA Interview Part 4
  17. 阅读: EducationUSA Resource
  18. 阅读: Additional Resources
  19. 阅读: Instructions for Self-Assessment Quiz 2: Academic Preferences
  20. 练习测验: Assessment Quiz: Academic Preferences


WEEK 3


Research & Planning



It is time to use what you learned about yourself to start the college search and find the schools where you will apply. With 4,000+ colleges and universities in the U.S., picking the right schools for you takes time and strategy. This module will focus on three areas: (1) conducting your research, (2) building your school list, and (3) creating your college application plan. To accomplish these goals you will learn everything from application deadlines to where you can research schools to what the information means and how to use that information to better ensure your success.


18 videos, 8 readings expand


  1. Video: Beginning Your Research
  2. Video: Building Your School List
  3. 阅读: "Aligning Your Interests With Your College List" by Eric Furda
  4. Video: Level 1 Research: What You Want
  5. Video: Level 1 Research: What is Realistic
  6. Video: Level 1 Research: Understanding Your Findings
  7. 阅读: Digging Deeper Into Acceptance Rates
  8. Video: Level 1 Research: Additional Options
  9. 阅读: Additional Research Resources
  10. Video: Level 2 Research
  11. Video: Level 3 Research
  12. Video: Demonstrated Interest
  13. Video: Identifying Reach, Target, and Safety
  14. 阅读: Articles About the School List
  15. Video: Understanding Deadlines
  16. 阅读: Early Admission/Decision Statistics
  17. Video: Creating a Plan
  18. 阅读: Suggested Reading
  19. Video: Financial Aid, Part 1: Cost of a U.S. Education
  20. Video: Financial Aid, Part 2: Need-Based Aid
  21. Video: Financial Aid, Part 3: Merit-Based Aid
  22. Video: Financial Aid, Part 4: Other Types of Funding
  23. Video: Financial Aid, Part 5: The Realities of Available Funding
  24. Video: Financial Aid, Part 6: Need Blind vs. Need Aware
  25. 阅读: Financial Aid Resources
  26. 阅读: Exchange Programs and Scholarships


WEEK 4


The Pieces of Your Application



Your college “application” is made up of eight individual pieces, including essays, letter(s) of recommendation, test/exam scores (SAT, ACT, TOEFL, & IELTS), and more. In this module you will understand how each piece is viewed individually along with how that piece fulfills admission requirements and contributes to your application as a whole. We will also discuss how to submit the pieces of your application, as well as the timing related to each piece. Understanding the pieces of your application, along with the admission requirements, will help you assemble a stronger application overall.


12 videos, 14 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand


  1. Video: The Application Piece-by-Piece
  2. Video: The First Piece: The Application Form
  3. 阅读: Application Tips & Notes
  4. Video: Academic Documents Part 1
  5. 阅读: Understanding Document Requirements
  6. Video: Academic Documents Part 2
  7. Video: Test Scores: ACT & SAT
  8. 阅读: Testing Data and Information Resources
  9. Video: English Language Proficiency Tests: TOEFL & IELTS
  10. 阅读: "That Time I Took the TOEFL" by Meghan McHale
  11. Video: Essays
  12. 阅读: "Writing the Essay: Sound Advice from an Expert" by Parke Muth
  13. 阅读: An Essay Should...
  14. Video: Letters of Recommendation
  15. 阅读: "Writing Recommendations" by MIT Admissions
  16. Video: School Forms
  17. Video: Activity List & Résumé
  18. Video: Other Requirements
  19. 阅读: "Interviews" by The College Board
  20. Video: Connecting Themes
  21. 阅读: Essay Resources
  22. 阅读: Letter of Recommendation Resources
  23. 阅读: School Forms Resources
  24. 阅读: Activity List Resources
  25. 阅读: Suggested Reading
  26. 阅读: Instructions for Self-Assessment Quiz: Application Planning
  27. 练习测验: Assessment Quiz: Application Planning
  28. 练习测验: Final Examination


WEEK 5


Admission Officials Interview Series



While these interviews might be long, this information is some of the most valuable in the course. Throughout the course you have learned that U.S. colleges and universities are all different – different environments, different personalities, and different admission processes. In this module you will hear directly from admission counselors at five schools so that you can see the similarities and differences for yourself. These five schools are from across the U.S. and range from small to large, highly selective to open admission, research focused to liberal arts, and more. The previous parts of the course taught you the theories of U.S. admission, in these interviews you will learn the actual practice from the people who make the admission decisions.


24 videos, 5 readings expand


  1. Video: Part 1: Getting to Know You
  2. Video: Part 2: The Application & Evaluation Processes
  3. Video: Part 3: Piece-by-Piece Evaluation
  4. Video: Part 4: Additional Information & Advice
  5. 阅读: Connect with Montgomery County Community College
  6. Video: Part 1: Getting to Know You
  7. Video: Part 2: The Application Process
  8. Video: Part 3: The Evaluation Processes
  9. Video: Part 4: Piece-by-Piece Evaluation
  10. Video: Part 5: Additional Information & Advice
  11. 阅读: Connect with Purdue University
  12. Video: Part 1: Getting to Know You
  13. Video: Part 2: The Application Process
  14. Video: Part 3: The Evaluation Processes
  15. Video: Part 4: Piece-by-Piece Evaluation
  16. Video: Part 5: Additional Information & Advice
  17. 阅读: Connect with Rhodes College
  18. Video: Part 1: Getting to Know You
  19. Video: Part 2: The Application Process
  20. Video: Part 3: The Evaluation Processes
  21. Video: Part 4: Piece-by-Piece Evaluation
  22. Video: Part 5: Additional Information & Advice
  23. 阅读: Connect with Santa Clara University
  24. Video: Part 1: Getting to Know You
  25. Video: Part 2: The Application Process
  26. Video: Part 3: The Evaluation Processes
  27. Video: Part 4: Piece-by-Piece Evaluation
  28. Video: Part 5: Additional Information & Advice
  29. 阅读: Connect with University of Pennsylvania
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