The following are steps and the general timelines in the application process. We’ll address these steps in more detail later on.
This page will have sample dates for the timeline. We’ll assume that you sat for your KCSE in Dec 2022, and are looking to join a US university in Sept 2024.
Note that folks joining American universities Sept 2023 have already taken any required testing, and have completed the applications for their schools of choice.
Taking the National Exams (KCSE) ¶
The application process usually begins after completing high school, which is marked by taking the KCSE.
The main challenges to submitting US college applications while still in high school are lack of time (schedules tend to be packed with KCSE prep) and lack of access to the internet (you’ll need to research your options).
International schools have a calendar that is more accommodating to US college applications. The authors of this website went through the 8-4-4 system, so our advice on the college application timeline is based on what we had.
Although the KCSE is not a requirement to your US college application, ensure that you do well on it. Many Kenyan students apply to US colleges and get rejected. Others gain admission, but they cannot afford to pay. It’s crucial that you do well on the KCSE to secure yourself a seat in one of the Kenyan universities.
School Search ¶
Many applicants find themselves having “dream schools”, which is not a bad thing, but you need to widen your net to a few safety schools. As much as you may really want to go to a certain school simply because you have heard about it, it’s not always guaranteed that it is your best match. It is important to embark on an intensive school search process.
There is more to the US than Harvard. Don’t be fooled by the term “safety schools”. Safety schools that still offer financial aid to international students accept around 10% of applicants, so they’re still competitive.
See 09. Examples of US universities that Kenyans have attended on scholarships and 10. When Considering a University, What Should You Look For? for a more detailed breakdown of how to go about the school search.
Furthermore, schools may have different testing requirements. The earlier you decide on the set of schools that you’ll be applying to, the more focused your preparation will be.
This can start as early as Jan 2023. Have a rough guess on the schools that you aspire to join. The application process is demanding, and having a concrete goal, e.g., “I want to go to Princeton”, will help you draw motivation when the well is running low. We recommend applying to 6-8 schools. By Nov/Dec, you should be able to list the schools that you’ll be sending applications to.
Taking Standardized Tests (SAT, ACT, English-Proficiency) ¶
You may think of standardized tests as the equivalent of the KCSE in the US. The major difference is that the tests are offered multiple times during the year, and you may retake them.
The test content does not completely overlap with what we learn in the Kenyan system. You’ll need time to get used to the test and do lots of practice .
You should take your standardized tests early enough to meet application deadlines. Most applications deadlines are in late December, so you’ll need to take the required tests by November.
For your top-choice school, the application deadline will be 1st Nov, 2023. You’ll want to get all testing done in time for the applications. We recommend doing the test in June 2023, so that if necessary, you may retake the test in Aug or Oct 2023. Standardized tests heavily favor practice, so start studying early – Feb 2023 is a good start.
See 07. Tests That You Need to Take and 08. Test Preparation Resources for more info.
Completing the College Applications ¶
See 12. High School Transcript, School Report and Letters of Recommendation for items that you’ll need from your high school.
Don’t underestimate the time needed for this. Your teachers will be busy preparing the seniors for the KCSE. Start early.
Most schools accept the Common Application. This is the platform where you fill in your application details, respond to school-specific essay prompts, and submit your applications. See 14. Common Application Essays and Writing Supplements for more information.
Used to be that accounts get wiped every year, but that’s no longer so. Feel free to create an account, and get a feel of the application requirements. The essay prompts may change from year to year, but everything else is mostly constant. [Thanks Ahmed for pointing this out!]
There are two deadlines for college applications. The first one is in October/ November for your top choice, while the other one is in December/January for additional schools. See 13. Early Action (EA)/ Single Choice Early Action (SCEA)/ Early Decision (ED) & Regular Decision (RD) .
Some schools schedule an interview between you and an alumni after receiving your application.
Applying for Financial Aid ¶
Applying for financial aid (e.g. a scholarship) is separate from your college application. For early applications, the deadline is in November, while for regular applications, the deadline is in January/February. Schools may have their separate application process for financial aid. See 15. Financial Aid Applications
Scholarships are typically called “grants” because you don’t pay for them. Another form of financial aid are student loans. These need to be paid back, like Kenya’s HELB Loans .
Admission Notification ¶
The moment you’ve been waiting for! If you applied early, you’ll get the school’s decision in December. Otherwise, you’ll get in March/April. Godspeed! See 16. Receiving Admissions Decisions
Get Your Kenyan Passport Ready ¶
Passport processing time may vary. If you don’t have a passport, get one ASAP. Don’t wait till you hear back from the universities. Spare yourself the trouble of anxiously camping outside the passport application office for days on end.
At the very least, you want to get one by April so that when you can start the visa application process as soon as possible.
Get Your Student Visa Stamp ¶
After committing to attend a university, they’ll send you a form that you’ll present to the US Embassy in Kenya to get a student visa. Visa interview slots may run out so book yours early. See 17. The I-20 Form, SEVIS Fee and Visa Interview
Additionally, getting your visa early allows you to book the flight early enough to get cheaper tickets. See 18. Coming to the US - Travel Arrangements > Booking Flights .
Travel Prep and Departure ¶
There are a couple things to take care of: vaccinations, booking a flight, shopping, etc. See 18. Coming to the US - Travel Arrangements
September is now here. It’s time to leave for your new home. Your school may send someone to pick you up from the airport. Another option is to use Uber/Lyft. While there is public transit, you don’t want to miss a stop or get confused if you need to make several switches.
In Kenya, a college is different from a university. In the US, “college” corresponds to “university” in Kenyan terms. This website uses “college” and “university” interchangeably.