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Fourteen Upper Sixth pupils have received early offers from top US universities so far, including from the Ivy League universities of Columbia, Dartmouth, Princeton and Yale. Wellington has an unparallelled support system in place for pupils navigating the US university application process which has allowed an increasing number to explore the possibility of further education on the other side of the Atlantic.
This year’s early offers include an athlete recruit place from Stanford for talented hockey player Noa A who joined Wellington in the Sixth Form and is studying A Levels in Geography, English and Business Studies. Ella D, who also joined Wellington in the Sixth Form and is studying the IB Diploma, has received an offer from Princeton. Having been on the school’s annual tour of US Colleges in both in fifth and sixth form, George B has received an offer from Yale and is hoping to major in Ethics, Politics and Economics. Luca J has received an offer from the University of Virginia, having benefited from the 1-2-1 support from his A-List counsellor Jenna.
Thanks to the new sixth form centre and sixth form house, we now have an increased capacity for Year 12 joiners many of whom are attracted by our track record of success in US university admissions
“The College helped me create a list of US colleges that they believed were the best fit for me and created a plan of action with help every step of the way to create a competitive application. They handled my written references, transcripts, and helped me write my college essays. Thanks to Wellington, I am attending my top choice college in Fall 2025.” Luca, Upper Sixth
At Wellington around 10% of leavers go on to attend a university in the US or Canada and, if offers are taken up, from autumn 2025 there will be Old Wellingtonians (OWs) in all eight Ivy League universities. The early application window closed in November but many other pupils and OWs have applied through the regular decision window which closed at the beginning of January. With 24 additional students waiting to hear on application outcomes, the number of students heading for further education in the US is likely to increase even further.
2025 Trip to Princeton University.
Wellington has a comprehensive support structure in place to guide pupils through the admissions process. To give pupils a true insight into life on a US university campus, an in-person visit is invaluable so each year, Wellington takes a school group to spend a week in the States. During an intense programme of college visits – alternating annually from New York and New England to New York, Washington and Philadelphia – pupils visit around six campuses to tour the facilities and meet students and staff.
“Although the application process seemed daunting at first, especially since it is so different to that of the UK, Wellington’s support made it simple and exciting. I particularly benefited from having access to one-to-one advisors, personal statement workshops, and both online and in-person talks with US college ambassadors, including from Yale and Princeton. Utilising this amazing support system removed all the stress from my application journey and allowed me to really look forward to the prospect of college in the US.” – Ella D, Upper Sixth
Reciprocally, US admissions directors are invited to visit Wellington to give talks and meet pupils over lunch and the College hosts regular workshops on key aspects of the application process such as how to write a standout personal statement. Our 1-2-1 advisory provision, run by A-List, has significantly grown and now consists of a team of expert counsellors who meet students individually on a regular basis to work through every aspect of their application. Families are strongly encouraged to participate as much as possible so that they are involved in the planning of this hugely exciting next step.
The College also offers a six-month long weekly SAT prep course that A-List runs online for Wellington students. Being a SAT test centre makes it all the more convenient for pupils when it comes to sitting the test.
“I was lucky enough to be able to meet a Director of Admissions from Yale at an organised lunch at Wellington – it was a very valuable opportunity to speak with someone so close to the admissions process. It was great to be able to ask questions in a relaxed and informal setting.” George B, Upper Sixth
Tim Rothwell, Director of Higher Education at Wellington College says “we help pupils find the best-fit US colleges through access to expert guidance, talks from visiting admissions officers, and the annual US colleges trip. Shifting from a weekly drop-in support model to providing bespoke 121 counselling to pupils has really accelerated our offering. For any pupil going through the admissions process, my advice is to start researching early and consider how you can build an application that goes beyond just strong academics, by having robust extra-curricular activities and well-crafted personal essays. Through this you will present the most authentic version of yourself and give yourself the best chance of success.”
“My advice for others preparing to apply to the US is to spend time researching potential colleges you are thinking of applying to. It is important to look deeper than a school’s reputation and ranking to find out if you are a right fit for the school, but also if the school is a right fit for you.” Luca J, Upper Sixth
With a growing appetite among pupils to explore further education in the US, Wellington has ambitious plans to host an even broader range of US university admissions departments this autumn, as well as connecting Wellington students with OWs who are studying in the US to provide invaluable insights into their college experiences.
Find out more about how Wellington supports Sixth Form pupils for Life Beyond Wellington
