‘Each year there is significant interest from our pupils in continuing their education outside of the UK with around 18% of the cohort heading in this direction. The liberal education they gain at Westminster puts them in an ideal position to take advantage of the huge range of opportunities available around the world. The most popular destination for our pupils is the US but we also have Old Westminsters currently studying across Europe, Asia, Oceania and Canada.
With over 4000 universities in the US alone, each with their own distinct identity and strengths, there is such a wealth of opportunity to choose from and this is a big draw for a lot of our pupils. Moreover, the academic flexibility offered means that pupils can graduate with multiple majors and in some cases even design their own course. With world class professors, active alumni networks, high-tech labs, sports recruitment opportunities and incredible extra-curricular offerings to highlight just a few specific areas there are many reasons that pupils end up going down this route.
To give pupils the chance to see firsthand what is available on campus in the US we offer a trip to some of the top east coast universities for pupils in the Sixth Form in the first half of each October half term. Last year we visited nine universities over six days through seven states and managed to find time to squeeze in some activities including going to an ice hockey game, sightseeing in New York and ample time to shop for university stash. We are also in a fortunate position to be able to meet up with Old Westminsters at each of the universities which gives the Sixth Formers a unique insight into university life from their perspective.
Throughout the Sixth Form and Remove, pupils who are interested in applying to the US are given a tailored package of workshops, weekly one-to-one meetings with a personal advisor, talks from visiting admissions officers, the opportunity to take an SAT preparation course, as well as connecting pupils with Old Westminsters who are currently studying universities they are interested in. This helps them to navigate the complexities of the application process and gives them a structured approach to being able to balance multiple applications and deadlines.
We also support pupils through the application process for a range of competitive merit and leadership scholarship awards; recent successes include the James and Hilda Warwick Scholarship, Robertson Scholarship and the Jefferson Scholarship.
In addition to the support we offer our pupils at school we also welcome parents and guardians to information events throughout the year, including the Introduction to US University Applications at the beginning of the Sixth Form as well as opportunities to hear from admissions officers from a range of US universities at evening events.’
