A TEENAGE student is hoping to win a place at a top American university.

Emma Humphries, 18, of Gloucester Road, Widnes, fought off stiff competition from 3,700 applicants to be selected for the Sutton Trust US scheme.

She was one of 150 sixth form students invited to the Ivy League Yale University for a week in the summer.

Emma, a student at Cronton Sixth Form, said, “When I first heard I had been accepted on the programme I was shocked because I knew how many people had applied.

“I know how lucky I am to have this opportunity and the trip was an amazing experience.”

She spent a few days at Yale and visited Harvard, Princeton and Columbia to gain an insight into the American university system.

Emma added: “I know I want to study in the US.

“I now have a mentor to help me during the application process.

“It is very different to the UK system and now I have a great head start.”