The Sutton Trust and the US-UK Fulbright Commission are delighted to announce the fifth cohort for the Sutton Trust US Programme – the 150 state school students who will spend a week at a US university this summer. The Trust and Commission congratulate them on their success in an incredibly competitive applicant pool: over 1,200 students competed for a place on the programme. (See full list of participants.)

We were impressed by the applicants’ academic and extracurricular achievements, and their knowledge of US higher education as demonstrated in their application forms and video submissions. 175 finalists recently displayed their enthusiasm for US study and commitment to the programme at the April Introductory Residential. (View photos from the April Introductory Residential.)

The 150-strong cohort was chosen from the finalists as part of a holistic process, reflective of US university admissions.

The aim of the US programme is to encourage academically talented, low and middle income British students to consider studying at American universities. Selected students come from across the UK and many will be the first in their family to go to university.

Students participate in a summer school in the US at either the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or Yale University, with a university fair hosted at Harvard University. They will spend a week living on campus and will visit a number of other US universities in the area. Participants benefit from residential activities and receive an intensive programme of support, delivered by the US-UK Fulbright Commission – EducationUSA over a number of months. This covers admission tests, college choices and help with applications.

Important programme dates include: 

  • 10 – 12 June 2016 (London) –  ACT & Pre-Departure Residential
  • 26 July – 8 August 2016 (US) – Each student will participate in a week-long US Summer School at MIT and Yale University
  • 23 September 2016 – USA College Day
  • November 2016 (TBC) – SAT Subject Tests

We are excited about working with this cohort over the coming months and look forward to helping them learn more about the US and their options for higher education.

The programme is made possible through support from its founding corporate partner, Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Their investment is matched by Peter Baldwin and Lisbet Rausing who have generously supported the programme since its launch. The programme is also supported by Jerry del Missier, the London Stock Exchange Group Foundation, Big Change Charitable Trust and EducationUSA.

Notes to Editors:

  1. View a full list of participants in our 2016 cohort. You can also view the early admission success of last year’s cohort. Full admission results of the 2015 cohort will be announced in June.
  2. About the Sutton Trust:The Sutton Trust is a foundation set up in 1997, dedicated to improving social mobility through education. It has published over 170 research studies and funded and evaluated programmes that have helped hundreds of thousands of young people of all ages, from early years through to access to the professions. For more information visit suttontrust.com.
  3. About the US-UK Fulbright Commission:  The US-UK Fulbright Commission is a not-for-profit organisation funded by both governments to promote educational exchange between the US and the UK. The Commission offers prestigious awards for postgraduate study and research in the US, as well as an Advisory Service. The Fulbright Advisory Service is part of the Education USA network of over 450 advising centres worldwide. Fulbright advisors are the UK’s official source of information on educational opportunities in the US. For more information visit fulbright.org.uk.
  4. The Sutton Trust has run UK summer schools since 1997. They offer young people from low and middle income backgrounds in year 12 – mostly 17 year-olds – a chance to get a taste of student life at a research-led university. The programme balances busy academic days with social activities and has been successful in encouraging bright state school students from low and middle income families to study at the most selective universities in Britain. The UK summer schools are supported by Barclays’ 5 Million Young Futures project. The programme is also supported by The Wolfson Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation and Ian Hazelton.
  5. Results from the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 cohorts of students include 135 students enrolled at 53 different universities across 18 states and an American university abroad, accessing approximately $33 million in financial aid.
  6. Developing solutions for social and economic challenges is at the core ofBank of America Merrill Lynch’s responsibility platform. In more than 90 countries around the world, they partner with employees, clients and stakeholders to help make financial lives better. The company focuses on responsible business practices, environmental sustainability, advancing opportunity in local communities through education and employability programmes and investing in global leadership development. They realise the power of our people and value our differences, recognising that our diversity makes us a stronger firm and allows us to better service our stakeholders. By harnessing our intellectual resources, sharing knowledge and connecting capital with need, we are providing opportunities that effect positive change.

 

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