T housands of colleges and universities offer undergraduate degree programs in the United States. This vast choice
means there are programs available to meet everyone’s needs, but how can you find the best program for you?
Choosing the best schools for you and preparing successful applications will require commitment and careful
planning on your part. To avoid unnecessary mistakes you can Contact us today.
Degree-granting institutions in the United States can be called by any of these terms, and colleges and institutes are in no way inferior to universities. As a general rule, colleges tend to be smaller and usually offer only undergraduate degrees, while universities also offer graduate degrees. An institute usually specializes in degree programs in a group of closely related subject areas, so you will likely come across degree programs offered at institutes of technology, institutes of fashion, and institutes of art and design, among others. Within each college or university you will find schools, such as the school of arts and sciences or the school of business. Each school is responsible for the degree programs offered by the college or university in that area of study…
Choosing universities from thousands of miles away presents some challenges — especially when there are so many great colleges to choose from in the United States. But if you plan ahead and do your research carefully, you will come up with a manageable list of colleges that match your needs. Every student is different, and when making your choices you should consider carefully the factors that are important to you. This chapter discusses what academic, lifestyle, and other factors to consider when putting together a list of 10 to 20 colleges, and it offers guidelines on where to get further help and information. You should begin this process of reflection and research 12 to 18 months before you want to start studying in the United States…
The bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. The associate degree usually takes two years to complete. Associate degree programs may be “terminal” programs, which lead to specific careers upon graduation, or “transfer” programs, which correspond to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. Under the latter option students may transfer into the third year of a four-year bachelor’s degree program. Associate degree programs are offered at two-year colleges known as junior or community colleges (see below). Four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degree
programs, with a small number also offering associate degree programs…
U.S. community colleges, sometimes called junior or technical colleges, provide the first two years of a university education. There are nearly 1,200 two-year, associate-degree granting institutions in the United States. Some community colleges are large, with many campuses in an urban/ suburban setting, while others are small and in rural settings. Most community colleges are public institutions and thus financially supported by their state or local government. A small percentage of community colleges are privately controlled, with little or no government assistance. Because of their close ties with local businesses, many community college campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art technology in fields such as biomedical engineering, biotechnology, renewable energy technologies, robotics, laser optics, and geographic information systems…
To be eligible for admission to a U.S. university, you must meet certain minimum entry requirements. These include a secondary school diploma or examination results, a score from one of the U.S. university admissions tests (in most cases), and English language ability. How to put together successful applications? Most U.S. universities expect international students to have a secondary school diploma or secondary school examination results that would enable them to attend a university in their home country. This is particularly true of the most competitive universities. However, remember that there are a wide range of admission standards and acceptance rates among U.S. universities and colleges…
An attractive feature of the U.S. higher education system is that you can transfer from one college to another midway through a degree. The flexibility of the credit system at U.S. universities allows credits earned at one institution to be recognized by another as long as certain criteria are met. Each September more than 1 million students transfer to a new college and additional students transfer mid-year at the start of the spring semester. Many of these students transfer from community colleges to four-year colleges to complete a bachelor’s degree. Others start at a four-year institution, but for personal, academic, or financial reasons decide to transfer to a different four-year college. A small number transfer from an institution outside the United States to one within the United States.
Education in the United States may appear expensive, but you have probably already realized that it offers excellent value for the money invested. It is important to understand and plan the cost and financing of your education before you prepare and submit your applications to colleges. Universities and colleges will usually require a financial statement and guarantees as part of their application procedure. In addition, to apply for your student visa you will need to prove you are able to meet all the costs of your studies. If you are married and/or have children, you will also need to prove in advance that you have sufficient funds to support both you and your family. It is important to start your financial planning at least 12 months before you intend to study in the United States. …
SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains data on foreign students and exchange visitors before and during their stay in the United States. It is part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The college you plan to attend will begin the SEVIS process for you by entering basic information about you, your program, how you plan to finance your studies, and when the program begins and ends. They will then send you an I-20 form, a DS 2019 form, or an I-20M-N form, depending on the type of visa you need. You must pay a SEVIS I-901 fee and complete this form before your visa interview…
Once you have a shortlist of colleges that match your needs, interests, and abilities and are confident that you have met the minimum entrance requirements and can afford the costs of a U.S. undergraduate education, you are ready to start putting together your applications. The entire application process, from obtaining initial information to applying for your student visa, should begin 12 to 18 months in advance of when you want to go the United States. It is possible to complete the process in less than 12 months, but late applicants usually find they have a much more limited choice of colleges and less success in securing financial aid. Because of the work and the costs involved in putting together a good application, most students limit their applications to between four and seven colleges. However, you can request information from as many universities as you like. If you have a clear idea of exactly which schools you will be applying to, you may request information only from those few. Or you may prefer to request information from between 10 and 20 schools that you believe meet your needs, and then narrow down your list once you have read through the catalogs, application forms, and other information you receive…
International student athletes have competed for U.S. colleges and universities for more than 100 years, and the number of international student athletes on U.S. campuses has steadily increased in recent years, with many coaches actively recruiting them. If you are a student athlete, you must become familiar with the requirements for individuals who wish to participate in collegiate level sporting opportunities at schools that belong to one of the three collegiate athletic associations. While going through the usual process of researching, selecting, and applying to colleges and universities that meet your needs, you will also have to complete additional steps to become eligible to participate in and represent an institution in the competitions organized by these associations…
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