Ed Usa Undergraduate Gettingstarted

The United States offers an exciting variety of higher education
institutions and there is one that’s right for you.
There is no official ranking system for the 4,000+ colleges and

universities in the U.S. When choosing a school, it is important to
VALUE:
consider many factors, including size, location, price, academics,
QUALITY: A U.S. degree offers excellent value
financial aid, and international student services. There are useful U.S. colleges are known worldwide for the money. A wide range of
search engines below and professional EducationUSA advisers to for the quality of their facilities, tuition fees and living costs, plus
help you ‘find the right fit’. resources, and faculty. Accredita- some financial help from colleges,
tion systems ensure that institu- make study in the United States
tions continue to maintain these affordable for hundreds of thousands
COLLEGE SEARCH ENGINES: standards. Learn more about insti- of international students each year.
College Board tutional quality under resources or
FLEXIBILITY:
Peterson’s Find-a-School Website from EducationUSA.
U.S. universities and colleges offer
College Opportunities On-line (COOL) CHOICE: flexibility in choice of courses,
Princeton Review The U.S. education system fea- but more importantly there is also
College View tures many types of institutions, the option for students to move
academic and social environments, from one institution to another.
entry requirements, degree prog- Completing the first two years
rams, and subjects in which you of a degree at one institution,
can specialize. usually a community college, and
SEARCH BEYOND THE IVY LEAGUE – then moving to another, is very
FIND THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU common.
Don’t confine yourself to the “Ivies”. Investigate all options “ I’d recommend to other students to not just to go for the Ivy
carefully to make sure you give yourself the best chance League, because there’s so much more that other universities
to find institutions that suit your needs and interests. can offer. My school was not equipped with the information
and resources to assist me in applying and preparing to go
abroad. This was only made possible with the support I received
from EducationUSA/Fulbright.” – JOEL SEMAKULA ,
WHAT CAMPUS FEATURES AND OPPORTUNITIES EducationUSA UK student, University of North Carolina,
ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU? Chapel Hill (August, 2008 – present)
TIP: Keep an open mind when using

the search engines above to develop
your list of 10-20 institutions.
IIE FUNDING FOR US STUDY ONLINE

Links To External Financial Aid Resources
1
Financing your college education consists of four key TIP: Find out about any
elements, which are addressed under Lower Your Tuition Bill opportunities to meet U.S.
– Funding for U.S. study. They are: college representatives and
• Compiling Effective Applications have your questions answered,
• Assessing Personal Funds or use e-mail to correspond
- If students/families can pay $15,000 or more per year, with college staff
admission with partial aid is not difficult. and students.
KEEP IN MIND: Talk to an EducationUSA adviser about the
full range of opportunities that may be available to you.
• Identifying Sources of Financial Assistance
• Reducing Educational Costs
THE APPLICATION PROCESS: A TIMETABLE AND CHECKLIST
Planning ahead will give you sufficient time to make successful

applications to the colleges of your choice.
12 TO 18 MONTHS PRIOR to the academic year in which you

hope to enroll, begin to consider, research, and do the following:
• What are your reasons for wanting to study in the United States?
• Which universities will meet your needs?
• Will you need financial assistance?
• Find out application and financial aid deadlines. This will affect
when you take the standardized tests required for admission sin-
ce test results must reach admissions offices no later than these
deadlines. The tests should be taken in advance of submitting
university application forms.
• Register to take standardized tests if required by the universities
to which you are applying.
• Begin narrowing down your choices of schools to approximately
10 to 20 institutions.
12 MONTHS PRIOR to enrollment, complete the following
(months indicated are estimates, based on fall enrollment):
August
• Contact universities for application and financial aid forms
and catalogs.
• Obtain test registration forms or register on the web to take
the TOEFL, the ACT, and SAT I and SAT II, if necessary.
2
September–December
• Continue narrowing down your choice of schools. While some
students apply to more, 5 to 10 well-researched choices are
sufficient.
• Request official transcripts of your academic performance from
your school(s).
• Request letters of recommendation from your teachers/
professors.
• Submit completed application forms (for admission as well as
financial aid, if available).
• Double check that transcripts and references have been sent.
• Take the necessary admissions tests.
January–April
• University application deadlines must be met; note that these
are for regular admission – early admission deadlines will be
GETTING READY
sooner.
TO GO
April–June Once you know that you are
• Letters of acceptance or rejection arrive. Decide which going to study in the United States,
university to attend, notify the admissions office of your you will probably have many
decision, complete and return any forms they require. questions about visas,
• Send letters of regret to those universities you turn down. accommodation, health insurance,
• Organize finances: arrange to transfer funds to a U.S. bank; banking, how to study, and other
make sure you have funds for travel and expenses on arrival. "predeparture” information.
• Finalize arrangements for housing and medical insurance with See ’Predeparture Information’
your university. and contact your EducationUSA
June–August adviser.
• Use information from your Form I-20 or DS-2019 to fill out
the SEVIS Form I-901 and pay the $200 required SEVIS fee
(see SEVIS information for description of SEVIS form and fee). Most EducationUSA advising
• Upon receipt of your I-20 and SEVIS I-901 payment receipt, centers conduct predeparture
apply to your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a visa. This orientation presentations in
should be as far in advance of your departure date as possible the summer, and some may
(see Visas). also offer sessions mid-year.
• Make travel arrangements. Contact your nearest center
• Contact the international student office at your university for their schedule and to
with details of your arrival plans, and confirm details of any reserve space for these
orientation for new students held by the university. popular events.
EducationUSA advisers in 170 countries provide accurate, unbiased information about all accredited U.S. higher
education institutions. Find your EducationUSA center at: www.educationUSA.state.gov/centers.

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The United States offers an exciting variety of higher education

institutions and there is one that’s right for you.

There is no official ranking system for the 4,000+ colleges and

TIP: Keep an open mind when using

IIE FUNDING FOR US STUDY ONLINE

THE APPLICATION PROCESS: A TIMETABLE AND CHECKLIST

Planning ahead will give you sufficient time to make successful

12 TO 18 MONTHS PRIOR to the academic year in which you

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