Author: Hoyin Cheung (STC Class of 2015)
“‘Why should I apply to the US?’ I hear you ask - as if the cry of a bald eagle and “back-to-back World War champs” didn’t sound enticing enough.”
Chances are that if you’re reading this, you’re at a crossroads in your life. Presented with a multitude of countries, you can’t decide where to continue your education. “Why should I apply to the US?” I hear you ask - as if the cry of a bald eagle and “back-to-back World War champs” didn’t sound enticing enough. Worry not, prospective applicant, and listen closely, because I’m about to give you some pretty compelling reasons as to why you should apply to the US.
1. Academic Flexibility
Personally, this was the biggest factor in my decision to apply to the US. If, like me, you are afraid of commitment and still considering a variety of majors and career paths, applying to the US might be a better fit for you. Unlike universities in the UK or Hong Kong, American colleges don’t require you to decide on your major before you apply. Instead, you get to shelve that decision for another two years, and declare your major after completing your sophomore year. This means you get try a whole bunch of different classes in your first two years, which in theory should let you sell yourself as a more “rounded” person once you’ve graduated, but also give you sufficient time to find what you’re really passionate about.
2. The Collegiate Experience
Personally, this was the biggest factor in my decision to apply to the US. If, like me, you are afraid of commitment and still considering a variety of majors and career paths, applying to the US might be a better fit for you. Unlike universities in the UK or Hong Kong, American colleges don’t require you to decide on your major before you apply. Instead, you get to shelve that decision for another two years, and declare your major after completing your sophomore year. This means you get try a whole bunch of different classes in your first two years, which in theory should let you sell yourself as a more “rounded” person once you’ve graduated, but also give you sufficient time to find what you’re really passionate about.
2. The Collegiate Experience
“While Jonah Hill’s antics aren’t a completely faithful depiction of life in college, going away to university is still an exciting time for many, and what better place to unleash your long-suppressed teen angst-y yearning for freedom than the US?”
If you were ready to write your Common App essay and pack your bags after seeing 22 Jump Street, I’m going to have to burst your bubble a little. However, while Jonah Hill’s antics aren’t a completely faithful depiction of life in college, going away to university is still an exciting time for many, and what better place to unleash your long-suppressed teen angst-y yearning for freedom than the US? Applying to university abroad means being away from your family for the first time (sorry bud, CAS week does not count) and facing the challenges of adult life (washing and drying and cleaning, oh my!), but embrace these obstacles and you will be rewarded with a four-year experience incomparable to that of university life elsewhere. Further adding to the collegiate experience, American universities have an undeniable penchant for school spirit, a trademark rah-rah that just can’t be replicated anywhere else in the world.
3. The Culture Shock
Many of us are quick to associate “culture shock” with an overwhelming sense of negativity, but in the case of university life, the sudden change in scenery can often bring about positive outcomes. As a seasoned IB veteran, you should know the importance of being “open-minded”, a “risk-taker”, and an “inquirer”, and there’s no better way to embody such admirable characteristics than being thrown in the deep end. Maybe your roommate will convince you that peanut butter and jelly is a legitimate food combination, or perhaps you’ll become dissatisfied with your views on theology and its role within society. Whatever the case, applying to the US may lead you to greater exposure to different lifestyles and broadened thinking found outside of Hong Kong or its abundance of international schools.
4. Location, location, location
I mean, who wouldn’t want to go to school half an hour away from New York, Boston, or San Francisco? Nearby cities offer American students a plethora of things to do and see during days-off or during the weekend, and can provide a pleasant distraction from the commotion of campus life. Another perk of location, especially when it comes to Californian schools, is climate. (Sorry Ivy Leaguers.) While it seems trivial and petty, four years of extraordinarily consistent sunshine does make for a pretty great reason to consider furthering your education in America.
5. Extensive Alumni Networks
This is one I picked up on pretty recently. As it turns out, the aforementioned school spirit often leads to a real sense of community between fellow alumni, which not only gets you invited to exclusive dinners and mixers if you come back to Hong Kong, but also may or may not give you an edge when it comes to applying to post-graduate positions and such. This probably shouldn’t be your biggest reason for applying to a particular school, let alone a country (hence why it’s last on this list), but it is a nice bonus. I’m just saying.
5. Extensive Alumni Networks
This is one I picked up on pretty recently. As it turns out, the aforementioned school spirit often leads to a real sense of community between fellow alumni, which not only gets you invited to exclusive dinners and mixers if you come back to Hong Kong, but also may or may not give you an edge when it comes to applying to post-graduate positions and such. This probably shouldn’t be your biggest reason for applying to a particular school, let alone a country (hence why it’s last on this list), but it is a nice bonus. I’m just saying.
“‘Geographical situation’ certainly doesn’t sound like the sexiest of qualities about a school, but it definitely is a major selling point.”
So, there you have it. A pretty comprehensive assortment of reasons to consider applying to university in the US. Hopefully you’ll have some idea of what you’re signing up for when it comes to submitting your applications the night before the deadline. Good luck!
Disclaimer - The opinions represented on this page are from the individual contributors only, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Save our Study or of any other organization. We do not make any guarantees about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information.
If you're ready to move on, check out our articles on how to choose your colleges!
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