Narrow the whole field down to the part that is yours
Three questions gets you a list — and the thing that matters more: what each cut removed, and whether it was worth it.
Act one · What do you want to become?
IllustrativeScores come later. Pick a direction you actually want to move toward — or just write something, even "my mother told me to use this".
The layer that reasons from an ambition to majors and schools is not built. Choosing here only records it; it will not change the numbers on the right.
Narrowing by major is not built — we hold no programme-level data at all, so there is no invented number here.
Act two · What do these places actually mean?
MeasuredCity versus small town is the cut that genuinely changes four years. Each choice shows what it alone removed, and what that was.
The small number beside each option is how many campuses would be left if you chose it. An option showing 0 would empty the list, but it is still clickable, and will tell you why.
The eight federal regions, not eight moods — the Southeast holds both Miami and rural Alabama. This replaces a list of more than fifty states; what actually shapes four years is still the Setting control above.
Which states are in which region
- New England CT ME MA NH RI VT
- Mid-Atlantic DE DC MD NJ NY PA
- Southeast AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC SC TN VA WV
- Great Lakes IL IN MI OH WI
- Plains IA KS MN MO NE ND SD
- Southwest AZ NM OK TX
- Rocky Mountains CO ID MT UT WY
- Far West AK CA HI NV OR WA
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) regions, as listed in the IPEDS 2023 data dictionary.
The December–February average of daily lows (NOAA 1991–2020 normals), at the nearest weather station within 25 km — a median of about 5.5 km away. A mountain campus can differ by several degrees from a station in the valley below.
Straight-line distance to the nearest salt-water shoreline (Natural Earth 1:10m, public domain), including bays, sounds and tidal river mouths, and excluding the Great Lakes — Chicago and Detroit do not count. Note that river cities such as Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia also read as close, because their rivers are tidal; they are not on the open ocean. Accurate to a few km, so read the 10 km band as "close", not as a precise line.
How much the land rises and falls within 25 km of the campus (a hiking radius): the 95th minus the 5th percentile of land elevation (USGS 3DEP / SRTM / GMTED2010, public domain). It measures relief, not altitude — Boulder and Denver are at almost the same altitude (about 1,650 m) but Boulder's relief is about 1,240 m and Denver's about 400 m. 25 km is a close radius: a campus near a big range reads low if the range lies beyond it — the University of Washington in Seattle reads about 170 m, below the lowest band.
Act three · What you are working with
Scores do not filter markets, only feasibility within one, which is why they come last. Nationality is the opposite — it is the single largest cut.
The aid layer is currently a single-digit sample extracted by hand, school by school, which is not enough to filter on. See DESIGN.md §13.
Every line is taken from the university's own website, with the page it came from and the date it was read. Three kinds of number appear below and they are not the same thing: read them against the key.
Admissions cycle: 2027 entry, using each university’s currently published pages; not every one names the year. Pages read on 2026-10-04. Websites change and this does not update itself.
- Stated minimum
- Below this you cannot apply.
- Standard offer
- The offer the university normally makes; individual programmes may ask for more.
- Expected lower boundary
- Where the university says competitive applicants start.
- Range of admitted students
- What the middle half of last year’s admitted students actually scored.
- Context (no single figure)
- How this curriculum is treated, with no comparable number.
United Kingdom · UCAS
AP: 9 of 9 universities read. Of those, requirement stated: 8; page says nothing on it: 1.
UCAS says there is no list of accepted qualifications: each university sets its own entry criteria, so what counts differs by university and by course.
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There is no list of 'accepted qualifications' because each university will have different entry requirements for their courses
Source page · ucas.comOne UCAS application carries at most five choices in total.
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you can only have five choices in total
Source page · ucas.comImperial: most students apply in their final year of school on the grades their teachers predict; only applicants who accept an offer send final grades.
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The majority of students apply in their final year of high school, on the basis of grades they are predicted by their teachers to achieve
Only applicants who receive and accept an offer are required to send us their final grades
Source page · imperial.ac.ukLSE received about 34,000 applications for roughly 1,900 places in 2026, and says that meeting or being predicted to meet its standard offer does not guarantee an offer.
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In 2026, we received approximately 34,000 applications for roughly 1,900 places
predicted or actual grades which meet or exceed the standard offer do not guarantee an offer of admission
Source page · lse.ac.ukCambridge: offers are made in advance of final results, and the predicted grades in the school's UCAS reference are used to understand an applicant's potential; the academic requirements do not have to be met when you apply.
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offers are made in advance of applicants achieving their final grades.
These predicted grades are used during the admissions process to help the University understand each applicant’s potential.
Academic entry requirements do not need to be met at the point of application submission
Source page · undergraduate.study.cam.ac.ukOxford: applicants are assessed on a range of evidence (the UCAS form, personal statement and reference, prior achievement and predicted grades, plus admissions tests and interviews where they apply), and Oxford advises against using UCAS entry-grade data to predict the chance of admission.
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Oxford’s admissions processes use a range of evidence about applicant performance and potential, including information from UCAS forms, the personal statement and reference, prior achievement and predicted grades.
We would not advise that UCAS’s entry grades data is used to predict the likelihood of being admitted to Oxford.
Source page · ox.ac.uk
- 1 Sep 2026OpensUCAS: completed applications can be submitted63 days ago
- 15 Oct 2026DeadlineUCAS 18:00 UK time: Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses19 days ago
- 13 Jan 2027DeadlineUCAS 18:00 UK time: equal-consideration date for most courses71 days away
These dates belong to the 2027-entry round, which is today’s Grade 12. Whether that is your round depends on your grade — choose it above.
Imperial College London
At least five AP tests at grades 5, 5, 5, 4, 4; or at least three AP tests at 5, 5, 4 plus an accepted school-leaving qualification and SAT 1460 or ACT 31.
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Minimum of five AP tests with grades 5,5,5,4,4Alternatively, a minimum of three AP tests with grades 5,5,4 together with an acceptable school leaving qualification (such as the US High School Diploma) and either 1460 in SAT or 31 in ACTSource page · imperial.ac.ukLondon School of Economics (LSE)
For A*AA or AAA: five APs at grade 5 taken within three years and a high-school GPA of at least 3.7, or a GPA of at least 3.7 with ACT 32+ or SAT 1450+. For AAB: three APs at grade 5 and two at grade 4 with the same GPA, or ACT 30+ or SAT 1400+. The US high school diploma alone is not sufficient.
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A*AA, AAA Five APs at grade 5, taken over a maximum of three years and a minimum High School Diploma GPA 3.7Or a minimum High School Diploma GPA of 3.7, and an ACT score of 32+ or an SAT score of 1450+AAB Three APs at grade 5, and two APs at grade 4, taken over a maximum of three years, and a minimum High School Diploma GPA of 3.7an ACT score of 30+ or an SAT score of 1400+the US High School Diploma by itself isn't sufficient for entry to LSESource page · lse.ac.ukKing's College London
APs alone (five APs): 55554 for A*AA, 55544 for AAA, 55444 for AAB, 54444 for ABB, 44444 for BBB, down to 44333 for CCC. Alternatively three APs combined with the ACT or SAT, for example three APs at 5 with ACT 29 for A*AA or ACT 28 for AAA. Taking more than five APs makes an AP-only application more competitive.
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A*AA AP at 5 AP at 5 AP at 5 Act at 29 55554 in five APsAAA AP at 5 AP at 5 AP at 5 ACT at 28 55544 in five APsAAB AP at 5 AP at 5 AP at 4 ACT at 28 55444 in five APsABB AP at 5 AP at 4 AP at 4 ACT at 27 54444 in five APsBBB AP at 4 AP at 4 AP at 4 ACT at 26 44444 in five APsCCC AP at 3 AP at 3 AP at 3 ACT at 23 44333 in five APsthose who are studying/have studied more than the minimum required five will be considered more competitiveSource page · kcl.ac.ukUniversity of Manchester
AP translation of A-level offers: A*A*A* and A*A*A need 5, 5, 5, 5; A*AA and AAA need 5, 5, 5; AAB needs 5, 5, 4; ABB needs 5, 4, 4. The US high school diploma with a GPA of at least 3.0 is also required.
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A*A*A* 5,5,5,5 A*A*A 5,5,5,5 A*AA 5,5,5 AAA 5,5,5 AAB 5,5,4 ABB 5,4,4plus completion of the High School Diploma (for which we do require a specific GPA of 3.0)Source page · manchester.ac.ukUniversity of Edinburgh
Besides the US high school diploma, three test scores in different subjects: three APs at grade 4 or above; or ACT 27 plus two APs at 4 or above; or SAT 1290 (at least 650 in Reading and Writing and 620 in Math) plus two APs at 4 or above. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place.
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Three AP scores at grade 4+One ACT score of 27 and two AP scores at grade 4+One SAT score of 1290+ (650+ in Reading and Writing and 620+ in Math) and two AP scores at grade 4+Achieving the minimum grade requirements will not guarantee you a place at EdinburghSource page · ed.ac.ukUniversity of Cambridge
Alongside APs, the SAT needs a combined score of at least 1500 (Math 750+) for most science courses and Economics. The SAT needs at least 1460 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 730+) for all other courses. The ACT composite needs to be 33 for most science courses and Economics. The ACT composite needs to be 32 for all other courses. Science applicants should also have an ACT Science score of at least 33.
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you will need to have a minimum combined score of 1,500 (Mathematics 750+)you will need a minimum combined score of at least 1,460 with a score in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of at least 730you will need to have an ACT composite score of 33 out of 36you will need an ACT composite score of 32 out of 36Students applying for Science courses should also achieve an ACT Science Score of at least 33.Source page · undergraduate.study.cam.ac.ukFive AP scores at grade 5 in subjects related to the course, usually taken within two years of starting, plus a high SAT or ACT score and a high high-school GPA. A US high school diploma alone is not considered suitable preparation, and AP Capstone scores do not usually count toward the five.
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a minimum of 5 Advanced Placement (AP) Scores at grade 5 in subjects related to the course applied forCompletion of a US High School Diploma alone is not considered suitable preparation for entry.Standardised tests (AP, SAT, ACT) should have been achieved within 2 years of matriculation to the University of Cambridge.AP Capstone scores will not usually count towards the requirements for 5 or more scores of 5.Source page · undergraduate.study.cam.ac.ukUniversity College London (UCL)
Note: UCL's pages do not say which entry year they cover, and its guidance page for international applicants still gives 2026-entry deadlines. These figures are its currently published standard, but the page does not confirm which entry year they apply to.
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Our application deadline for most courses is 18:00 (UK time) on 14 January 2026.Source page · ucl.ac.ukUCL's university-wide pages state no AP requirement. They say AP requirements are given course by course in the prospectus, under the United States of America option on each course page, and those course pages were not read.
University of Oxford
Oxford gives AP equivalents for each A-level offer level. For a course with an A*A*A offer: four APs at grade 5, or three APs at grade 5 plus ACT 33+ or SAT 1480+. For an A*AA offer: four APs at grade 5, or three APs at grade 5 plus ACT 32+ or SAT 1470+. For an AAA offer: four APs at grade 5, or three APs at grade 5 plus ACT 31+ or SAT 1460+. The APs must include any subjects the course requires, and SAT or ACT scores must come from a single sitting (no superscoring).
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For courses requiring A*A*A:Either Four APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to)ORThree APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to) plus a score of 33 or above in the ACT or 1480 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT.For courses requiring A*AA:Either Four APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to)ORThree APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to) plus a score of 32 or above in the ACT or 1470 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT.For courses requiring AAA:Either Four APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to)ORThree APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to) plus a score of 31 or above in the ACT or 1460 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT.we will not consider scores from multiple sessions ('superscoring')Source page · ox.ac.ukUniversity of Warwick
Note: Warwick says on its USA page that its undergraduate entry requirements are under review for the 2027/28 admissions cycle, and that until the review is complete and the notice is removed the published requirements are a guide only.
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Our undergraduate entry requirements are currently under review for the 2027/28 admissions cycle. Until this review is complete and this notice is removed, you should use the published entry requirements as a guide only.Source page · warwick.ac.ukFor the English and Mathematics/Science minimum, students from the USA typically need an ACT composite of 28 or 29 (depending on the course), or an SAT-R of 1340 out of 1600 with no less than 540 in any subject.
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ACT Composite Score of 28 or 29 (depending on the course)SAT-R at a score of 1340/1600 with no less than 540 in any subjectSource page · warwick.ac.ukWarwick's A-level offers can typically be met with four or five AP tests in separate subjects (including any subjects the course requires) plus completion of the High School Diploma, for which no GPA is specified, and only APs taken within a maximum of three years count. For an A*A*A* offer the typical APs are 5, 5, 5, 5, 5. For an A*A*A offer they are 5, 5, 5, 5, 5. For an A*AA offer they are 5, 5, 5, 5. For an AAA offer they are 5, 5, 5, 4. For an AAB offer they are 5, 5, 4, 4. For an ABB offer they are 5, 4, 4, 4.
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4 or 5 AP Tests(depending on the individual course entry requirements) in separate subjects (including any subject requirements) plus completion of the High School Diploma (for which we do not require a specific GPA)Only APs taken over a maximum period of three years will be considered when APs are used to meet entry requirements.A*A*A* 5, 5, 5, 5, 5A*A*A 5, 5, 5, 5, 5A*AA 5, 5, 5, 5AAA 5, 5, 5, 4AAB 5, 5, 4, 4ABB 5, 4, 4, 4Source page · warwick.ac.ukHong Kong · direct application
AP: 4 of 4 universities read. Of those, requirement stated: 4; page says nothing on it: 0.
HKU: applicants must make sure predicted or actual results are entered in the application system for evaluation, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
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Students should ensure their predicted or actual results are inputted into the application system for evaluation
Satisfying the minimum requirements does not guarantee admissions
Source page · admissions.hku.hkCUHK: applications received by 12 November 2026 are considered for advance offers, which may be firm or conditional; the regular deadline is 7 January 2027.
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candidates who apply to CUHK on or before 12 November 2026 will be considered for advance offers
applicants may be considered for either a firm or conditional offer depending on individual merits
Regular Round Deadline 7 January 2027
Source page · cuhk.edu.hkHKUST: for A-level applicants, predicted grades from the school, IGCSE/GCSE results and AS results are useful for a preliminary assessment.
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GCEAL predicted grades from the school, IGCSE/GCSE/ GCEOL results, GCEAS Level results will be useful information for preliminary assessments
Source page · join.hkust.edu.hkCityU: entrance requirements are subject to ongoing review, individual majors may require specific subject backgrounds, and the published score ranges are for reference only and should not be used to predict the chance of admission.
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Entrance requirements are subject to ongoing review.
In addition to the General Entrance Requirements, individual majors may require specific subject backgrounds.
Source page · cityu.edu.hk
- 23 Sep 2026OpensHKU: applications open41 days ago
- 24 Sep 2026OpensCityU: applications open40 days ago
- 2 Oct 2026OpensHKUST: online application opens32 days ago
- 12 Nov 2026DeadlineCUHK: advance-offer round deadline9 days away
- 15 Nov 2026DeadlineCityU: early-round deadline12 days away
- 25 Nov 2026DeadlineHKU: first-round evaluation (noon, Hong Kong time)22 days away
- 25 Nov 2026DeadlineHKUST: priority-round deadline22 days away
- 1 Dec 2026DeadlineHKU: predicted or actual grades and supporting documents for the first round28 days away
- 7 Jan 2027DeadlineCUHK: regular-round deadline65 days away
- 15 Jan 2027DeadlineCityU: main-round deadline73 days away
- 30 Jun 2027DeadlineHKUST: applications close239 days away
These dates belong to the 2027-entry round, which is today’s Grade 12. Whether that is your round depends on your grade — choose it above.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
Expected lower boundary across 58 programmes: at the lowest, three AP subjects at grade 3 or above plus SAT 1380 or above (or two more AP subjects); at the highest, six AP subjects at grade 5 (Medicine), and a SAT of up to 1560 for other programmes.
Source page
Computed from HKU’s own programme-by-programme data, not a sentence on the page; the method is in DESIGN.md §19.
Source page · admissions.hku.hkThese AP subjects do not count: English Language and Composition, AP Seminar and AP Research (a longer list applies to some programmes).
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The following AP subjects are excluded: English Language and Composition, AP Seminar and AP ResearchSource page · admissions.hku.hkThe Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
A US high school diploma, SAT 1190 out of 1600 or ACT 24, and grade 3 in each of two AP tests.
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an overall total score of 1190 out of 1600 in SAT / a composite score of 24 in ACT; and grade 3 each in 2 Advanced Placement (AP) TestsSource page · admission.cuhk.edu.hkThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
High-school graduation, plus SAT 1190 or ACT 24 (one sitting, including the Science section) and two AP subjects at grade 3 or above; or five AP subjects each at grade 4 or above.
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ACT composite score of 24 or above (in one sitting and including Science section); or SAT total score of 1190 or aboveAmerican College Board Advanced Placement (AP) in two subjects, each with a score of 3 or aboveAmerican College Board Advanced Placement (AP) in five subjects, each with a score of 4 or aboveSource page · join.hkust.edu.hkThe middle 50% of the 2025 intake had a SAT total of 1480 to 1540.
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Mid 50% Score Range for 2025 Intake: SAT Total Score of 1480 - 1540Source page · join.hkust.edu.hkCity University of Hong Kong (CityU)
A US High School Diploma and an SAT of at least 1190 (out of 1600) or an ACT composite of at least 24 (one sitting), or grade 3 in two AP subjects, for first-year admission. For admission with Advanced Standing I: the diploma, SAT 1190 or ACT 24, and at least grade 4 in three AP subjects.
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US High School Diploma AND a minimum score of 1190 (out of 1600) in SAT or 24 composite in ACT (obtained in one sitting), or grade 3 in two subjects in the Advanced Placement (AP) Test for admission to first-year studies.US High School Diploma AND a minimum score of 1190 (out of 1600) in SAT or 24 composite in ACT (obtained in one sitting), AND a minimum of grade 4 in three subjects in the Advanced Placement (AP) Test for admission with Advanced Standing I.Source page · cityu.edu.hkThis block covers the UK and Hong Kong only. The US is not modelled here, so no US figure appears. We read part of each market, not all of it.
Act four · Major
MeasuredChoosing a subject removes no school. It does two things: it moves the schools that actually award it to the top, and it tells you when your location choice and your subject choice are in conflict.
Narrow: 48 of your current matches award this subject, against 48 nationally. Workable, but there is not much room.
An F-1 student who has studied full time for one academic year at a certified school can be authorized 12 months of OPT after graduating (the work must relate directly to the major; any major qualifies). If the degree is in a field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, the student can apply for a further 24 months. The list is a list of CIP codes, not of major names.
None of the 3 programme codes under this selection that anyone graduated from is on the list: the standard 12 months of OPT is still available, the 24-month extension is not.
What this marker does and does not tell you
- It is the code that counts, not the name of the major. A school maps each programme to one CIP code, and the school's designated school official (DSO) puts that code in the major field of the I-20. For example, Economics, General (45.0601) is not on the list; Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (45.0603) is. Similar-sounding majors can be filed under different codes, so what matters is the code on the I-20 for the programme you would actually attend. This page uses the codes each campus reported its 2023-24 degrees under, which approximates the I-20 code and is not the I-20 itself.
- The list is applied at the moment a DSO recommends the extension in SEVIS, not at enrolment (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(2)(iii)). DHS reviews nominations every year: 22 codes were added in 2022, 8 in 2023 and 1 in 2024, and none of those three notices removed any code; the rule itself allows removals.
- The extension has further conditions: the employer is enrolled in E-Verify, you and the employer complete a Form I-983 training plan, the work is directly related to the qualifying degree, and the degree is from an accredited U.S. institution (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)).
- A final rule published in July 2026 (91 FR 44976; the Federal Register gives an effective date of 2026-09-15, subject to congressional review, and we have not verified that it took effect on time) says an F-1 student below the graduate level may change major or transfer only after completing the first academic year, unless SEVP authorizes an exception, and a graduate student may not change educational objective at all. Changing major changes the CIP code on the I-20, and STEM OPT eligibility changes with it.
Source: DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List (updated 2024-07-22, ICE, CIP 2020 codes) · 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) · Federal Register 87 FR 3317, 88 FR 44381, 89 FR 59748, 91 FR 44976 · U.S. government works, public domain. Not legal advice: confirm with the school's DSO.
- William Woods UniversityMO · 2 programs1 / 36
- University of Arkansas at Little RockAR · Very few graduates in total, so this number says almost nothing either way.1 / 4
- Minot State UniversityND · Very few graduates in total, so this number says almost nothing either way.1 / 4
- Rochester Institute of TechnologyNY0 / 31
- Western Oregon UniversityOR · 2 programs0 / 28
- University of Northern ColoradoCO0 / 20
- Gallaudet UniversityDC · 2 programs0 / 20
- Kent State University at KentOH · 2 programs0 / 20
- Lamar UniversityTX0 / 20
- University of North FloridaFL · Very few graduates in total, so this number says almost nothing either way.0 / 19
- Eastern Kentucky UniversityKY · Very few graduates in total, so this number says almost nothing either way.0 / 16
- Troy UniversityAL · Very few graduates in total, so this number says almost nothing either way.0 / 14
※ A zero means only that no international student graduated from this programme in that one year. It does not mean the programme does not take international applicants — a small department graduates a handful of people a year and the number moves around. Conferral data also lags admission by about four years.
Source: IPEDS Completions C2024_A (degrees conferred 2023–24, provisional) · CIP 2020 · US Department of Education, public domain. "International" is the federal nonresident category; the file carries no nationality, so it does not mean Chinese students.
Official titles and definitions are in English (NCES CIP 2020). The Chinese field names are FREECC's own translation, not official; series and programmes keep their federal English names.
Schools in the essay library
In the libraryThe essay library covers only a small number of U.S. schools whose prompts have been checked one by one. Here is how they relate to your current filter: once on My list you can plan deadlines, and the reuse map shows which essays carry across.
The library covers 9 U.S. schools; 9 of them are inside your current filter.
- See promptsSign up to add →Brown UniversityRI
- See promptsSign up to add →Boston UniversityMA
- See promptsSign up to add →Cornell UniversityNY
- See promptsSign up to add →Duke UniversityNC
- See promptsSign up to add →Harvard UniversityMA
- See promptsSign up to add →Northwestern UniversityIL
- See promptsSign up to add →New York UniversityNY
- See promptsSign up to add →University of ChicagoIL
- See promptsSign up to add →University of Southern CaliforniaCA
The library also holds 3 Hong Kong universities. They are outside the U.S. federal data, so they take no part in this filter: add them from the library directly.
Adding a school does not change your filter, and which schools your filter returns does not depend on whether they are in the library.