Marjori Bergman
M*Power
24 February 2026
DO YOU KNOW?
HOW THE US UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS PROCESS REALLY WORKS?
Marjori Bergman
M*Power
24 February 2026
MARJORI BERGMAN
SUPPORTING YOUR UNIVERSITY JOURNEY
7 years IEC experience supporting Caribbean-based students
Member of IECA and NACAC
Visited over 100 US universities and met with Admissions staff
Bring more ease, peace and purpose into your university admissions process
Provide you with accurate and timely information to help YOU make the best decision
Many Caribbean-based students dream of studying abroad. But most families:
• Don’t understand the process and/or are operating with outdated information
• Start too late
• Miss important opportunities
Accurate information changes outcomes
FACT OR FICTION
FACT OR FICTION
YOU NEED PERFECT GRADES TO GET INTO UNIVERSITY IN THE US
FACT OR FICTION
YOU NEED PERFECT GRADES TO GET INTO UNIVERSITY IN THE US
There are universities that support students at all academic levels
FACT OR FICTION
YOU DON’T NEED TO DO CAPE TO GO TO UNIVERSITY IN THE US
FACT OR FICTION
YOU DON’T NEED TO DO CAPE TO GO TO UNIVERSITY IN THE US
The majority of universities in the US require 2 years of CAPE and marks of 3 or higher to attend.
However, you apply during the Upper 6 year
FACT OR FICTION
THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA FOR MY UNIVERSITY APPLICATION ARE MY CSEC & CAPE MARKS
FACT OR FICTION
THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA FOR MY UNIVERSITY APPLICATION ARE MY CSEC & CAPE MARKS
US admissions are holistic, meaning admission’s officers look at you as a whole person, not just grades.
However, the most important element in your application is your school transcript and the marks you get in your courses, more so than CSEC and CAPE grades (though they are considered as well)
FACT OR FICTION
I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL I GET CAPE LEVEL II RESULTS TO BEGIN MY APPLICATIONS /
I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL I FINISH CAPE TO TAKE SAT’s AND APPLY TO UNIVERSITY
FACT OR FICTION
I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL I GET CAPE LEVEL II RESULTS TO BEGIN MY APPLICATIONS /
I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL I FINISH UPPER 6 TO TAKE SAT’s AND APPLY TO UNIVERSITY
The optimal time to begin is February/March of Lower 6/Grade 11.
Admissions officers don’t always look favorably on a gap year unless you are doing something productive to further your education or experience
GOING TO UNIVERSITY ABROAD
• Innovative learning opportunities in and out of the classroom
• Exposure to people from across the globe
• Opportunity to learn from world-renown professors
• Independence
• Fun!
| USA | Canada | UK | Europe |
Application System | Common App or direct | OUAC (Ontario) or direct | UCAS | Direct to each university |
Application Materials | Grades, essays, activities, recommendations | Grades, transcript | Grades, personal statement, 1 reference | Grades, transcript, sometimes motivation letter |
Admissions Focus | Holistic (grades + activities + leadership) | Academic (grades most important) | Academic (grades + subject focus) | Academic (grades most important) |
Apply To | University (major often flexible) | Program / Major | Specific course / major | Specific course / major |
Main Application Deadline | November (Early) Jan (Regular Decision) | Jan–Feb | October (early) Jan 31 | Jan–April |
Decision Release | Mar–April | Mar–May | Feb–May | April–July |
Length of Degree | 4 years | 4 years | 3 years | 3 years |
Typical Cost per Year (USD) | $30,000–$70,000 (before scholarships) | $22,000–$40,000 | $20,000–$35,000 | $0–$10,000 |
Scholarship Availability | HIGH | Limited | Limited | Limited |
Flexibility to Change Major | HIGH | Limited | VERY limited | VERY limited |
University Application Process Comparison
HOW MANY 4 YEAR UNIVERSITIES ARE IN THE US?
HOW MANY 4 YEAR UNIVERSITIES ARE IN THE US?
>4000
WHAT IS THE BEST UNIVERSITY IN THE US?
THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU!
THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU!
Major
Academic Environment
THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU!
Admissions criteria
“The List”
Create a strong list of schools with diverse acceptance rates
THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU!
Location
THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU!
Financial Aid
Pre-university fees
Private Harvard | Private Howard | Public USF | Public U Mich |
59,000 | 38,000 | 19,000 | 64000 |
22,000 | 19,000 | 15,000 | 16000 |
Cost of Attendance (COA)
Per Year
Don’t look at sticker price
Scholarships & Grants
Gift that you don’t need to repay
Loans
Financial Aid
Work Study
Merit Aid
Based on academics or other unique skills/experience/talents
Financial Aid
Need-based Aid
Based on your family’s financial circumstances
If THE STUDENT is a US citizen (regardless of whether or not you have ever lived in the US or if parents are US citizens) you are eligible for need-based aid.
If you are not a dual US citizen and need significant financial aid, you need to make sure you apply to schools that provide NEED-BASED financial aid for international students
Setting Yourself Up For Success
How does an admissions officer differentiate one top student from the next spending an average of 7 minutes on each application?
What Makes You Unique?
Admissions officers want to understand:
At the center of this entire strategy is your personal brand/theme.
School Transcript
Test Scores
Application
Teacher Recommendations
Essay (s)
Application
Extra-Curricular
Activities
Demonstrated Interest
Portfolio
Building Your College List: Where Should You Apply?
Why this matters:
Your college list determines:
✔ Your chances of acceptance�✔ Your scholarship opportunities�✔ Your total cost
✔ Your happiness and level of success�✔ Your future opportunities
A Strong List Includes 3 Types of Schools:
🔴 Reach Schools�More competitive, but possible
🟡 Target Schools�You have a strong chance of acceptance
🟢 Safety Schools�You are very likely to be accepted�AND offered scholarships
Question: Are you applying strategically or guessing?
Balanced List = Best Results
The right list can get you $100,000+ in scholarships
Not all schools give financial aid to international students.
Strategy matters more than applying randomly.
My University Journey
Form 5/
Grade 10
Upper 6/
Grade 12
Summer
Before
Upper 6/
Grade 12
Lower 6/
Grade 11
List Building / University Match
Application Support
M*Power Services
Practical Tips
Start early!
Create an professional email address that you use only for the admissions process
Research each university’s application requirements carefully — they are not all the same
Make sure you’re getting timely, accurate and reliable information
Be open minded to (legit) universities that you haven’t heard of
Check scholarship deadlines — many are earlier than admissions deadlines
Don’t put all your hopes on one school
Prepare your personal statement early and revise it multiple times
Ask teachers for recommendation letters at least 6–8 weeks in advance
Confirm whether universities are Test-Optional and if you can “self-report” SAT scores or you need them sent from College Board
After you submit applications, check email regularly
Create log in for college portals and check regularly after submitting, universities often request additional information
Take care of yourself during the process. Manage stress!
NEXT STEPS
Get a copy of your school transcript
List your extra-curricular activities and honors and see where there may be opportunities for improvement
What are you doing that is “above & beyond” your peers
Start looking at universities online
Understand testing, timelines, and requirements� Identify scholarship and financial aid opportunities
Contact us, we offer a free introductory call to see if we’re a good fit
Review our website. www,Mpower.education to learn more about our services and see what former clients share about how we have helped them achieve their dreams
Students who start early and stay on the plan have the most options, the most scholarships, and the least stress
THANK YOU
Join us to make your university dreams come true!
Marjori@Mpower.education
www.MPower.education