Colleges and SYA
SYA students are proven risk-takers who can thrive in a challenging academic environment.
SYA alumni depart for college with the enormous advantage of the increased adaptability, self-knowledge, confidence and independence necessary to have a successful college experience. Over 85% of surveyed SYA alumni felt well-prepared for college or vocational school after graduating SYA. College counselors and college admissions officers at top universities can attest to the value of SYA. They know that SYA students can thrive in a challenging academic environment and in a new culture.
Students graduate from SYA as global citizens who are ready to tackle academic challenges at college. In the past five years, SYA alumni matriculated at approximately 185 colleges and universities. Read the entire college profile here.
Where do SYA Students go to College?
Since 2020, SYA alumni matriculated at more than 200 colleges and universities, including some overseas. The following list is not exhaustive, but includes the colleges which enrolled the most SYA students:
How do SYA students prepare for college from abroad?
SYA high school juniors and seniors stay engaged in the college process while abroad. Students receive all of the support that they need to prepare for, and apply to, college. SYAers also master the important skills like critical thinking, independence and adaptability, that colleges and employers are looking for.
At SYA, students can:
- Take standardized tests like the PSATs (fall), SATs (fall and spring) and AP tests (spring)
- Take online SAT prep courses
- Meet regularly with the SYA College Counseling Liaison
- Continue their relationship with their college counselor from their sending school
- Complete and submit college applications
The majority of SYAers write their college essay on their abroad experience and request a letter of recommendation from an SYA faculty member.
Student Testimonials
SYA was totally defining of my college process and decision. I knew going into my senior year that I was looking for schools that had a global focus and great study abroad opportunities. I wrote about a story from my year abroad for my personal statement." - Lucy S., ES'23, UCLA
“SYA prepared me to tackle interdisciplinary classes and integrate a wide range of perspectives into my learning. Thanks to my time abroad at SYA, I was able to place into Advanced Italian at Bowdoin and achieve a double major, which has been a lot of fun to complete!” -Katie K., IT'19, Bowdoin College
Being at SYA has helped me develop the responsibility and integrity that is essential for being in college as well as inspired me to double major in French and Dance. Although being a Dance major is not one of the more common majors, the SYA experience has inspired my artistry within my creative process and opened myself to international connections by dancing at Le Conservatoire de Rennes. -Dani S., FR ’22, Temple University
“The SYA program really was essential to my college process. I probably would not be at NYU if it weren’t for the experience that I had abroad. Thanks to SYA, I applied to the top institutions that held an international/global philosophy program and was lucky enough to be accepted to nearly all of them." -August L., IT'19, New York University