Study in USA

	Popular Destination		Educational System		Entry requirements
	Select a College		Select a Course		Admission Procedure
	Cost Fee and financial Aids		Student Visa		Accommodation
	Work while you Study		Our services		How to Apply to a school, college, or university in the U.S.A?

How to apply to a school, college, or university in the USA ?

It is a Confusing Process!

• There are over 3,000 colleges and universities in the USA
• Some are public (supported by tax dollars), some are private
• Some are small (a few hundred students), and some are huge (60,000 students)
• Every college and university has different missions, different programs, and different requirements for entry
• There are 2-year colleges, 4-year colleges, those that offer master's programs and those that offer PhD programs
• Some are research based, and some are more practical
• Some are very affordable, some very expensive, some have a lot of scholarship funds, and some have very little scholarship funds
• Some have unofficial rankings, and some do not

Questions to Help You in Your Search for a University

• What are your academic strengths and abilities?
• Do you want a research-oriented university or a more practical university?
• Do you have a location in mind?
• What can you afford to pay?
• Are you depending on scholarships?
• Do you want to go to a large, medium or small university?
• Do you want to be in a large US city or a small US city?
• Do you want to go to a university with a lot of student organizations and sports programs, or perhaps that is not important to you?

Find a University that has your Program

• Every university offers a different set of majors
• Some well known universities are not necessarily strong in your major, and some lesser-known universities can offer outstanding programs
• Some Advice:
  • Look to see how large your desired program is at that institution
  • Look at the qualifications of the professors
  • Look for program accreditation (if available in that major field)

Once You Identify a List of Universities that Have Your Program.

Find Out If Those Universities are Accredited

• The United States government does not accredit or provide official recognition of US colleges or universities. Instead, various regional associations and national associations do this.
• There are different types of accreditation:
  • Regional Accreditation
  • National Accreditation
  • Program Accreditation
• Your counselor can help advise you

How Selective Are The Universities?

• Universities can be:
  • Highly selective.accepting only top students
  • Moderately selective.accepting top and middle students
  • Open.accepting most students
• It is important to apply to several universities just in case you do not get your first choice.
• Most universities look at a variety of factors in making admission decisions.
  • Grade point averages
  • Test scores
  • Recommendation letters
  • Essays
  • Portfolios of your work or auditions
  • Interviews
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Diversity

What is the Size of the University?

• It can range from 100 students to over 60,000 students
• Smaller universities can offer more personalized service, but larger universities can offer more diversified opportunities
• Some large universities have some classes with several hundred students, which means less interaction with the professor
• Some universities allow teaching assistants (i.e. more senior students) to teach you rather than the professor

Can You Afford the Educational Costs?

• When calculating the costs, include the costs of housing, food, tuition, fees, travel, books and other expenses into your calculations over the period of your program
  • Note: Most universities increase tuition every year
  • It is not a good idea to plan on working to cover part of your costs
• If you need a scholarship, what kind of scholarships are offered and what is the likelihood that you will be awarded one?
• At the graduate level, are there teaching and/or research assistantship opportunities?
• Do the universities offer payment plans?

Is the University in a Location that You Want?

• City-based or rural-based
• Climate
• Will you need to buy a car or is there good public transportation?
• Are there opportunities to get relevant work experience?
• Do you have friends or relatives living close by?
• Is it a safe environment?

What is the College Environment Like?

• Is it a commuter campus or do a lot of students live on campus?
• Are there a lot of student jobs available or just a few?
• Are there many activities for students on campus?
• Are there a lot of student organizations?
• Are there a lot of international students?
• Are there sports facilities and teams that you can join?
• Does the university offer services such as a writing center, tutors, health center, and counselors?

What Are Your Housing Options?

• Is there on-campus housing?
  • If so, are you required to live there?
• Does it allow single occupancy?
• Can you have a say in the selection of your roommate?
• How many people live in one unit or room?
• Does the meal-plan offer the kind of food that you require?
  • Can you cook your own meals?
• If you have a spouse, is there married student housing?
• If you can live off-campus, is there apartment housing close by?
  • How much does it cost?
• Is there the option to live with an American family?

The Final List of Universities

• Establish a list of your top 5 universities.
• Find out the application deadlines.this ranges from 3 months to 12 months in advance of your planned starting date
• Obtain application forms from the college websites, if available, or email/phone the colleges for a hard copy
• Read the application CAREFULLY. Every university has different requirements!

Application Requirements

• Application Forms and Fee.fill out completely.do not leave anything blank, and remember to sign!
• Diplomas and Transcripts/Mark Sheets
• Sponsor's Affidavit of Support and Bank Statement
• Tests (if required)
  • English proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, ESL Program
  • Undergraduate majors: SAT, ACT
  • Graduate majors: GRE, GMAT, others
• Letter(s) of recommendation
• Essay
• Portfolio or auditions for some fine arts majors
• Interviews
• Work experience (e.g. for MBA majors)

The Application Process

Allow Time for the Process

• Allow 8 to 12 months at most universities
• Be sure to take any required tests far enough in advance so that the results come back in time to meet the university deadlines
• Be sure to send all the required documents.one mistake can eliminate you from consideration!

Send to the Correct Address

• Sometimes there are separate admissions offices for international students

Admission and Visa Process

• If you are admitted, you will be sent an official admission letter.
• As soon as you receive your admission letter you will need to submit the Intent to Register Form along with a Student Transfer Form to your new school. This will confirm that you are serious about transferring.
• You will need to see your student advisor at the "old" school to request a transfer of your existing I-20 form. Bring your transfer request to the "new" school who will then update your SEVIS status and have a new I-20 issued.