Complete Your Application

Admissions requirements for U.S. universities differ from Canadian requirements. You need to go to the website of each individual university that you would like to apply to in order to learn which application to fill out and what requirements you need to meet. Most notably, U.S. universities will review a student’s full high school transcript (Grade 9-11, and any final grades from Grade 12. In Quebec, Sec 3 through CEGEP) in the admissions process. U.S. universities have a holistic review process, which means that beyond grades and test scores, students will report honors achieved and activities they have been involved in. 

Community Colleges usually have open admissions policies. This means that to enroll at a community college, you will only need to complete an application for your college of interest, submit transcripts, and complete a financial affidavit (a document that shows how you will pay for your studies).

There are more than 4,700 colleges and universities in the United States, which means that there are many different possible applications you might fill out. While some colleges and universities have their own applications, some use an application in common with other universities. The following websites are common applications you are likely to encounter.

Common Application – has 950+ member schools

Coalition Application – has 150+ member schools

University of California Application – for the 9 University of California campuses

ApplyTexas – for all 100+ public, Texas universities and colleges

Apply SUNY – for most of the 64 State University of New York campuses

There is no limit to the number of applications you can complete for U.S. universities. You can expect to pay a fee of around $30-90 USD for each institution you apply to. Some universities are free to apply to or will offer “fee waivers” to low-income students.

Your guidance counsellor is responsible for providing transcripts to each institution that you apply to. Transcripts should include all marks since Grade 9 (or secondary 3 in Quebec). If you have changed schools, you will need to ensure transcripts are submitted for each high school or college you have attended. If you have taken any courses outside of your school for credit (such as summer school or university courses), you will need to include transcripts for these programs.

Grade Point Average (GPA) – A student is never required to create a GPA in the admissions process. Because Canadian high schools typically do not have GPAs, you should leave this section blank on your application. If a university needs a GPA, they will usually make it themselves. If you would like to create an unofficial GPA for your own information, use this website.

AP and IB programs – If you have Advanced Placement (AP) courses or the International Baccalaureate (IB) program available at your high school, it is recommended that you take advantage of these programs as they are looked at favorably in the admissions process. However, if you do not have these programs at your school, you are not expected to seek them out elsewhere. If you are considering highly competitive U.S. universities and would like to find more ways to push yourself academically, you can do this through your extracurriculars, summer programs, or other independent opportunities.

Many U.S. universities will require students to submit an SAT or ACT score (your choice). You can register for and take these tests in Canada. Learn more about registration and studying for these exams at the test maker’s websites.

College Board – You can register for the SAT and learn more about other testing products like the PSAT and AP exams.

ACT – You can register for the ACT and learn more about preparing for this exam

Fairtest.org – This website lists all of the universities that do not require the SAT/ACT for admissions. They also track the universities that have temporary test-optional policies due to COVID-19.

Choosing the ACT or the SAT

At this point, all universities that ask for a standardized exam will accept either the SAT or ACT, so the choice is yours. Consider which exam suits your needs best and which format you prefer. We recommend you complete a sample SAT test and a sample ACT test. Then, compare your results from the sample tests using this conversion chart from the Princeton Review. To practice for the SAT specifically, EducationUSA Canada has a five-session bootcamp available for free on our YouTube channel, and Khan Academy also has free, individualized practice on its website.

If your first language is not English or if you attend(ed) a French-speaking high school, you will likely have to take an English language proficiency exam. Typically if you have been studying in English for less than 3 years, then you will need to take one of these tests. Your three main options are: 

TOEFL

IELTS

Duolingo English Test (not accepted by all universities/colleges)

Essay writing requirements may include short essays, personal statements, and/or statements of purpose. This is your opportunity to let your personality shine through. Essays are the time to highlight strengths about yourself that are not readily evident in the rest of your application. The most important part of your personal statement is to be yourself. Of course, you want to do so in a unique way, avoiding cliches while making sure you address the given prompts. 

Here are some resources to learn more about essay writing:

College Essay Guy

EducationUSA student sample essays

Johns Hopkins University essays that worked

Purdue online writing lab

Most universities request 1-3 letters of recommendation as part of your application. Typically, 1-2 letters from teachers and one letter from your guidance counsellor. Your recommenders must be able to write about your work and be able to assess your potential to do well pursuing a higher education degree. Be sure to choose someone who knows you well, and be sure to request these letters well in advance so your recommenders can take the time to write great letters for you!

Teacher letters – Your teacher letters need to be from teachers in core subjects – math, science, English (or French), or social sciences. The teacher should be someone who taught you recently (typically Grade 11 or 12) and who can write specific stories about who you are in the classroom.

Optional additional teacher letter – Some universities allow for an additional optional teacher letter. This letter can come from any teacher, including your electives. If you are in the performing or fine arts, it is a great idea to select one of your arts teachers to write this letter.

Guidance counsellor letter – Many institutions will require a School Report from your guidance counsellor which will also include a letter of recommendation. Your guidance counsellor’s responsibility is to speak to what kind of school citizen you are. They can reflect on your growth over your tenure at your school. If your guidance counsellor doesn’t have enough information about you to write a strong letter, they can collaborate with other administrators or teachers at your school.

Optional additional letters – Some universities allow for 1-3 more optional letters. The head or principal of your school, your personal tutor, coaches, clergy members, or supervisors from professional experiences are among those who may write these recommendation letters.