US universities: winning a holistic review
US admissions are holistic: the transcript is table stakes, while essays, the activities list, recommendations and interviews tell the story. The Common App essay plus per-school supplements demand far more writing than Canadian applications.
Application rounds
Binding ED, non-binding EA / REA, regular RD — round choice is itself strategy, moving both odds and aid.
Where testing stands
Test-optional is now the norm, yet strong scores still help: confirm each school’s policy, submit when in range.
The essay stack
The main essay shows the person; supplements show the fit (why us, why this major). Material gathering starts in Grade 11.
Common questions
Do Canadian students have an angle?
The curriculum reads familiarly and geographic diversity can help; international aid pools are tighter, so budget early.
How does GPA convert?
Most schools read the native transcript without forced conversion; the trend in core courses beats any single converted number.
When does preparation start?
Testing plan by end of Grade 10, scores and activities closed out in Grade 11, essays from the summer before Grade 12 — a full year ahead of the Canadian cycle.
More planning topics
One consultation, one clear route
An advisor turns this topic into your family’s own timeline — grade, grades and goals included.