Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges and Community Colleges - An Explainer

The preferred end result of any college application is admission into an institution of higher learning and eventually, a degree to show for your efforts. While this is a common, seemingly straightforward goal, there are several nuances when it comes to different types of degree-granting institutions.

First, there are different types of postsecondary degree-granting institutions. They fall into three main categories: universities, community colleges and liberal arts colleges. Liberal arts colleges are colleges with only one school or a specialised institution within them – they focus on the study of liberal arts and sciences, and provide a four-year Bachelor’s degree.

Community colleges provide two year degrees. They focus on vocational and technical education, they provide certificates, diplomas and associate degrees. After a two year degree at a community college, many students opt to transfer to a liberal arts college or a university to complete their Bachelor’s degree.

Universities, unlike liberal arts colleges, have several schools (Engineering, Business, Arts and Science, and more!). One applies to a school/college within the university, not the university itself. Universities are often the most recognisable type of post-secondary institution – and, accordingly, often the most selective. For example, Harvard University, which is ranked very highly both nationally and globally, has an acceptance rate of only 5%.

Given these differences, there are several reasons why you might choose to study at a university rather than a community college or a liberal arts college. While these have their own merits, universities often have a larger variety of disciplines that you can choose from, as well as a wider scope for research. Due to this diversity of subjects, as a student at a university, you’re often allowed to cross-register for electives, which means that you can take courses from other departments, colleges or universities, which allows you to explore interests outside of your major.

Liberal arts colleges come with their own pros! Due to their smaller sizes, they could offer students the opportunity to form deeper connections and relationships with their faculty members, cohort, and campus community. Liberal arts colleges give students the opportunity to broaden their bases of knowledge and explore multiple subjects in an interdisciplinary fashion, and often have departments that are more flexible with original student initiatives and projects due to their tight-knit nature.

In the end - picking between a university and a liberal arts college is entirely about your own preferences. They each come with their own special traits, advantages, traditions, and opportunities - it’s up to you, to make it your own!

What is the AP Test and Why Should You Take it?

The advanced placement program (AP) allows high-school students to pursue university level courses. These courses are assessed through the AP Test, a series of examinations administered  across 34 specialised subjects every year. These tests can be taken independently of the courses, and testing centres are available across the country, you can register easily online and the tests cost approximately USD 200 to take. Sign-ups for the AP Test are open from November to March, while the tests are conducted between May and June each year.  

The AP Test is a popular choice for university applicants and valuable addition to any college application. Why? Simply put, a good AP score awards you real college credits and demonstrates you as a motivated and academically rigorous student. Additionally, many AP students begin college with a few credits under their belt already, and have the advantage of flexibility to explore more courses and make the most of their university experience. 

The wide range of tests offered by AP, from Music Theory, to European History, to Japanese Language and Culture, means that no matter what your intended major, there’s likely going to be AP courses that fit your interests and make you a stand-out candidate in admissions offices. 

We are happy to share our recipe for success when it comes to taking AP tests. Here are our recommendations for which tests you should take depending on your intended major or area of interest:

For Non-CS Engineering:

AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C 

For CS Engineering 

AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science 

For Business: 

AP Calculus BC, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics 

For Economics: 

AP Calculus BC, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics

For Psychology:

AP Psychology, AP Statistics

You can register for AP tests by creating an account with College Board, the organisation that runs the Advanced Placement courses and tests. The link to create your account is here. You can select your nearest available test centre, and pay the registration fee directly to the centre, as per their dates and requirements. The College Board website provides a comprehensive guide for each of the examinations, including topics that will be covered, at what percentage that topic will be assessed in the exam, and the length and paper type of each test. 

AP is a great option for academically driven students who know what they want, and want to get a headstart on their college career. College credits are an immense value-add, and getting to cover college level concepts before you begin your major gives you a strong foundation, and starts you off on the right foot as you move toward your future!

How We Report Our Results at Essai

All of Essai’s undergraduate results are based on US News and World Report’s ‘Best National University Rankings’, ‘Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs Rankings’, ‘Best Undergraduate Business Programs Rankings’, and lastly, the ‘National Liberal Arts College Rankings’. The rankings have been collated in accordance with the latest, that is, 2022 reports offered within these various categories by the 1948-launched American media company.  

When releasing an annual list of universities our students have been admitted to, we do not expand upon every university that each Essai student has received admission to. Instead, we report the best ranked university per student. For instance, if a student has been admitted into Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and Cornell University – for a non-engineering and non-business degree – we report only Stanford University in our final list of results, which according to the ‘Best National University Rankings’ is ranked 6.

In the 2021-22 admissions cycle – for entry in September 2022 – more than 44% of Essai’s students were admitted to a top-20 ranked university or college, and more than 86% of our students received admission to a top-30 ranked university or college. Needless to say, we are proud of each and every result of ours.

Top Universities Offering Drama Majors

If you’re an aspiring director or actor then you have to start building your profile if you want to make it to a competitive drama major being offered by US universities. 

Here are some activities you should ideally undertake in school to increase your chances of getting into a competitive drama major:

• Drama: Drama classes will develop your theatre skills by teaching you the specifics of what goes into putting up a theatrical production. Learning how to analyse a play, developing a set, memorising lines and designing costumes will communicate to your prospective program that you have grounded experience in the field of theatre.

• Humanities: Plays aren’t just about acting. It’s about taking the written word and making it come alive on the stage. Humanities courses will help you become a better reader, develop your communication skills and help you become more comprehensive in your understanding of plays. They will also enhance your creative and creative skills while giving you great insights into contemporary culture and augmenting your overall cultural awareness. So, do take subjects such as history, English, philosophy, language, law, and so on.  

While good grades and the right courses will strengthen the core of your application, most competitive programs look for extracurricular activities to identify those who have shown exceptional dedication to developing their skills in the field of theatre. Here’s a list of activities you can do outside of the class to develop your theatrical aptitude:

• Enrol in a summer program for young actors or take part in community theatre. It’ll not just be a great learning opportunity but will give you hands-on experience on how to put up a full-fledged theatrical production. You’ll also enhance your confidence by working in the field with people who are part of the theatre community.

• You can also find a professional coach to mentor you in the field of theatre. Rigorous training will help you learn professional skills like voice modulation, breathing exercises and much more.

• Enrolling in clubs, competitions and other similar initiatives will highlight your achievements and distinguish you from other applicants.

Once you have your profile set up, here’s a list of top US universities offering a BA in theatre (which is different than a BFA in Acting!) that you can take a look at:

Boost Your Applications With Summer Courses You Can Complete in Under 24 Hours!

You don’t need to wait till university to get started on studying your intended major. There are hundreds of online courses available from world-renowned universities, from all your favourite subjects. Online summer courses are a valuable tool not only to learn more about your subject of interest,  but also to add enormous value to your profile as a college applicant. Universities are always looking for candidates who are driven, passionate, and self-motivated, which is exemplified in an application that features keen academic interest and a pursuit of their intended major outside of the classroom. Online courses can range from semester-long modules to shorter crash courses you can easily complete within 24 hours. The great thing about short courses is that you can learn really valuable skills, concepts, and avenues for practical application and you can do multiple such modules over your summer break, which will let you explore a wide range of exciting topics and get started on your academic journey.

Here is a short list of some of our favourite courses available on Coursera from topics in Business Studies, Computer Science, and Psychology offered by top colleges including Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.