What do UK high school students need to do/prepare to go to an Ivy League university in USA?

Apparently a lot of people saw your question who are totally ignorant of how American universities operate. Here are some tips: the Ivy League universities are arguably the best universities in the world. Easily equal to Oxbridge in quality of students and quality of professors, and significantly better in resources, e.g. labs, technology, etc. There are eight Ivies, each a private university with an endowment in the $billions that they can use to subsidize the campus activities. Entry to these schools is extremely competitive. Harvard, for instance, had over 22,000 applications this year from the best students not only in the US, but from around the world. They enroll only about 1200. To be a competitive candidate for admission you would need to be in the top 1- 2% of the students in your country, have scored a high score in the SAT exams that are given to well over 1 million 17 -18 year old college-prep students in the USA and around the world, and then have accomplished some other significant achievement such as a high honor in a national or international math, science, art or humanities competition. In most American universities students in their first two years take general studies courses that are roughly equivalent to the IB studies that some international students take. By the end of the second year nearly all students have picked a 'major' that they will concentrate on. However, the four year BS or BA curriculum is less focused than in Britain because in the USA virtually all professional areas such as engineering, science, or business will lead immediately to an additional 2 -4 years of study for an MA or MS degree. Professional degrees such as dentistry, medicine or pharmacy are not offered to undergraduates but are limited to post graduate programs. The USA is about six times larger than England in population and there are over 4000 college campuses. Although the Ivies and a very few other schools (Duke, Stanford, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, MIT) are at the highest level compared to any colleges in the world, there are thousands of schools which are at much lower levels. The US News magazine publishes an annual ranking of colleges. Any school which is in the top 100 rank in that listing is a highly respected school which can provide you a fine education. Many ofthese schools would be delighted to have an ambitious, well prepared Brit! You can do a lot more research about American colleges at a website called princetonreview.com. Good luck.

you mean secondary or comprehensive school, not high school. also why go to uni in the u.s. when there are better places here in the U.K.

What a bunch of asssholes answering your question. Just make the best grades in the core classes you can, volunteer and do leadership activities, and do well on the SATs. Check out the website for more info. And try not to listen to advice from a pack of loser morons who couldn't get into a third rate community college.

If you are in the UK or almost any other country, you are probably better educated with their high school diploma than you would be if you got one in the US. In the US, they require exams called SAT's. They are based on Maths and English, general comprehension. I don't think you would have a problem gaining acceptance but the costs might be prohibitive, particularly if you desire to enter an Ivy League college. I believe the British exams are more difficult than the SAT's. Maintain the dates and results of all your exams. They will probably request that your school provide the official transcript for their review before accepting you. In addition to that, it would not hurt if you could familiarize yourself with the SAT exams, in the unlikely event that your prospective college requests that you be tested. Bear in mind that most of the better colleges/universities also place priority on not just scholastics, but also on extra-curricular activities. For example, your involvement in at least one sport, community volunteering, mentoring young children, any work you have done while in school, foreign languages spoken, internships you have done, civic organizations that you have joined, etc. Good luck.

Find a sozzled tramp, exchange brains, claim an interest in world peace ( beware the spelling there, after all we know what old winos are like) and go create mayhem on the gmat.

Never mind the grades - its your money that talks! I checked this out to go for my second year of Uni and couldn't as it was just ridiculously overpriced. Unless you get a scholarship which is pretty unlikely as they will only want you if there are no Americans to fill the spot! If money is no barrier then you would have to have consistently high grades with no fails/resits in your exams, good attendance and references from your teachers too I would think.

not much you probably get a much better education there thatn kids do over here

Matt is absolutely right. To directly answer your question, all of the schools you mention have a website and there will be a link on the site for international students. The info on the link will either walk you through the process of applying or provide a contact person/office to help you. That will include info on any necessary exams (like the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT) and how to prepare for the test. Once you narrow your choices to two or three, try very hard to visit the schools before you decide. The admissions staff(s) may even want to interview you in person during your visit You will need a student visa to attend the school, but UK citizens don't need a visa to visit the USA as a tourist. Visting universities you may attend (even for an interview) counts as tourism. Also know that you don't HAVE to attend the same school for all four years of a Bachelor's degree program. Many students attend one school for their first year or two of college and then complete their degree at a university. Just check with the university to make sure ALL of the course work from the first year or two will transfer. Good luck!

It'll be harder to get into an American university studying in the UK. Your best bet is to use the US education system as the British one is beyond a joke. GCSE's and A levels arent considered to be challenging enough so you'll be better prepared with the US system. I'm not sure if you've got your grade and year system right as in the UK starting in Year 11 is almost impossible as the courses start in Year 10 and most coursework is done in this year. You cannot start the GCSE, do coursework and learn and revisie for the GCSE effectivley. You best check out if your school offers Economics at GCSE as you've said year 11 and not many schools offer it at GCSE but at A level instead. To get into an ivy league college you'll need these qualities (they are extracted from how to get into Oxbridge but I'm sure the same rules apply). Get GCSE grades to be at least half of them A's, the rest B's and the odd C. Doesnt sound a lot but considering yor school will probably enter you fo 11 GCSE's (I'm sitting 12 and a half right now). A levels must be three A's. Interviews also play a part as dons like to see the personality behind the qualifications. Bear in mind as well there are other universities as well and just because theyre ivy doesnt mean they have the best department for your course. Also, avoid the following courses no matter what level they are (GCSE or A level) Media Studies, Film Studies, P.E, Communications, Drama, IT (only at A level), Religious Studies (not bad for last resort), Design, Leisure Studies and Travel and Tourism.