Frequently Asked Questions

Am I too young or too old?#

The windows, roughly: ASSIST takes students about 14–18 (currently in grades 9–11). US boarding schools admit into grades 9–12, so about 13–18. UWC requires you to be 16–19 at enrolment. ALA publishes a birthdate cutoff each cycle (typically you should be 19 or younger at entry). ASA takes young women typically 16–19. If you are 15 and reading this, you are not early — you are exactly on time.

I already finished high school. Is it too late?#

Maybe not. UWC committees in some countries (Kenya, for example) accept students who have completed secondary school, as long as they are within the 16–19 age window — the IB Diploma becomes a powerful upgrade on top of your national certificate. ALA also takes post-secondary students within its age cutoff. If you are 20+, skip to my university courses instead: Study for FREE in the USA

Do my parents have to pay anything?#

It depends on the program. UWC's biggest scholarships are all-inclusive (even flights and pocket money), and your committee's needs assessment sets a family contribution that can be close to zero. Andover and Exeter meet full need with grants. ALA's aid covers most of the cost as a forgivable loan. ASSIST is the exception — even the full Sanderson Scholarship has a program fee (around $15,000 for direct applicants) unless you receive a reduction. Always ask about waivers and reductions; the worst they can say is no.

My grades are good but not perfect. Do I have a chance?#

Yes — especially at UWC and ALA, which select on potential and read your grades in context. A B+ student who works two jobs and started a community project beats an A+ student with nothing else. The US boarding schools are less forgiving academically: funded international admits typically have top grades and 90th-percentile SSAT scores.

How good does my English need to be?#

For UWC and ALA: good enough to interview and study in English — there is usually no formal test score requirement at the application stage. For US boarding schools: roughly TOEFL 100+/Duolingo 135+ to be competitive. For ASSIST: you take the Duolingo English Test as part of the application. If your English needs work, start now — daily YouTube, podcasts, and speaking practice move scores faster than any textbook.

Can I apply to several programs at once?#

Yes, and you should — UWC, ALA, boarding schools, and ASSIST can all run in the same year. The only forbidden combination is two UWC routes in the same cycle (two committees, or committee + GSP/IAP) — that cancels your UWC application.

What happens after I finish one of these programs?#

This is the best part. UWC graduates access the Davis UWC Scholars Program at 100+ US partner universities, including the entire Ivy League. ALA graduates have collected $230 million in university scholarships. Boarding school graduates apply to US universities as insiders, with teachers who know exactly how to write American recommendations. A funded high school is the single best setup for a funded degree — and my Bachelor's course picks up exactly where this one ends.

Is it safe to send my child across the world at 16?#

A parent's question, and a fair one. These schools are residential by design: students live on supervised campuses with house parents, counselors, health services, and decades of experience hosting minors from abroad. UWC has been doing this since 1962; over 85,000 alumni have come through. Video-call your child's school, ask about supervision, and talk to parents of current students — every program will connect you.

What if I apply and get rejected?#

Then you are in the majority — these programs reject most applicants, including many brilliant ones. You can usually re-apply the next cycle if you still meet age requirements, and a rejected UWC or ALA application is genuinely strong practice for university scholarship applications two years later. The only guaranteed rejection is the application you never send.