Ed wins place at American college

Former Spalding Grammar School student Ed Tranter (18) has won a place and a financial aid package to study at a college in the USA.

Ed, who has recently completed his A-levels, will attend Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania after participating in the Sutton Trust US Programme, run in partnership with the US-UK Fulbright Commission.

He was one of 150 students selected for the programme, which brings together some of the brightest and most talented UK state school pupils for an 18-month-long programme exploring US higher education and which supports students to apply to US universities.

The programme includes a week-long trip to the United States to visit a number of universities and meet admissions officers from colleges across the US.

The students benefited from residential activities and received an intensive programme of support, delivered by the US-UK Fulbright Commission, covering admission tests, college choices and the application process. More than 1,000 people applied for the 150 places on the programme.

The aim of the Sutton Trust US Programme is to encourage academically talented, low and middle income British students to consider studying at American universities. Edward is one of 72 teenagers from the 2017-2018 cohort to have won a place at a top US university.

Ed said: “The last 15 months have been exceptional! I always wanted to study in the US because of the increased academic freedom. Without the guidance I received from the US-UK Fulbright Commission my dream would have never been actualised - I owe the Commission hugely.”

His achievement was celebrated at a reception for the 72 students at the US Embassy in London last month.

Applications for next year’s programme will open in November. Students can register their interest now at us.suttontrust.com