Want to study in one of the many world’s leading universities in the US? Well, the application process is pretty much the same for all, regardless of the academic level.
So, let’s go through the general plan college admissions. By studying it, you’ll be able to correctly formulate your own steps and to-dos to successfully enroll in a higher education course.
Step 1. Choose Universities
Quantity is important if you are hoping to get financial support. By choosing more universities, you will increase your chances of getting support. When selecting universities, consider the following criteria:
- availability of a curriculum at the appropriate level.
- the level of difficulty of admission and, accordingly, the level of prestige of the university.
- tuition fees and availability of financial support for students.
- the total number of students at the university.
- the geographical location (state, countryside, or city), etc.
Step 2. Send Emails to the Universities
Ask them to send you official application forms and more detailed information about the programs and the availability of financial aid for foreign students. In the letter, very briefly state information about yourself, including what education you have already received, what work experience you have, and what specialty you would like to study.
Step 3. Make a Final Selection of Universities
Based on the answers received from universities. You must decide to which universities you will send the full package of documents. You have the right to send your documents to an unlimited number of universities but paying for tests and paying for application fees will significantly reduce your opportunities.
Step 4. Complete the Standardized Tests
Remember that you will be able to get the results no earlier than 6-8 weeks after the date of the tests. So, plan ahead if the chosen university requires candidates to undergo specific examinations. Never leave too little time for this. Procrastinating can simply result in you not submitting the required documents on time.
Step 5. Prepare a Complete Package of Documents
The application package usually contains the following:
- neatly and accurately filled out application forms and for financial assistance.
- motivation letter and other works (essays) required by individual universities.
- academic transcript.
- recommendations from the teachers.
- confirmation of payment for the application fee.
Of course, all documents are extremely important and definitely shouldn’t be left out. However, your motivational letter is something you have immediate influence over, and it can impact whether the admissions officer decides to admit you or not. Many applicants even end up using academic editing services in order to craft the perfect essay for themselves.
Step 6. Wait for an Answer from Universities
If you get several positive answers, choose one university and reject the other opportunities immediately. Universities usually have a deadline to receive official confirmation or refusal to start studying.
Step 7. Apply for a Visa (If You Are an International Student)
The condition for obtaining a visa is the presence of the I-20 form, which is sent by the educational institution after the decision on your enrollment. To resolve questions regarding your arrival, accommodation, etc., contact the curator to work with international students at that institution.
The embassy allows you to apply for a visa 6 months before studying at a US university. We noticed that the earlier students apply for a visa, the better the chances of getting a positive result. Especially when you have a student visa in the United States in your pocket, you can fully dedicate yourself to the preparation and passing of final tests or an English language test.
At this stage we:
- We create a list of documents for the embassy
- We receive the necessary documents – an invitation letter from the university – Form I-20
- Fill in all the necessary questionnaires
- We set a date for submitting documents to the embassy
- We are preparing an interview
Additional Applicational Tips
We’ve gone over the major steps in applying to higher educational establishments. Start planning ahead and you’ll be completely fine. Remember to set strict deadlines for yourself and make your best effort to follow them precisely. This will help you stay on track.
However, keeping up with applicational deadlines does not ensure that you successfully enroll in a university. Here are two additional tips to cover important admissions success topics: preparing for standardized/entrance exams and writing the personal statement.
Use Modern Online Services in Preparation for Admission
Although we live in the 21st century, most people, including graduates, prefer to prepare in the old way. They write abstracts, memorize the material suggested by teachers, and try to understand the information that abounds in textbooks.
Of course, this is a proven way, but progress does not stand still. It is very strange to see modern youth with an iPhone and a synopsis in hand, given that education has become much easier thanks to modern resources, always ready to come to the rescue and help memorize the material.
Quizlet website helps to develop your own training program. It doesn’t matter what subject you want to focus on: make your choice and review all the modules offered to you. They will have different timing, degree of complexity, and scope.
These modules were made both by the students themselves, who were also going to enter the university and by the teachers who helped them in this. That is, it is not just a chaotic dump of information, but a proven system that has already helped many potential students learn what they could not do with the textbook.
Such sites also give you a chance to create your own module. Just download the information you need and specify how long it takes to study it.
Self-Control Is Important
The main advice in preparation is self-organization: even if you hire a lot of tutors, they will still give you tasks, and forcing yourself to do them honestly is not an easy task.
Modern resources help to clearly break down the volume of work at the level of the part. They will send you reminders, offer easier memorization options with visual images that are quicker to remember, and some may even encourage and persuade you.
In fact, you can absorb information better and faster through various sites dedicated to learning. They will help to organize yourself and turn the learning process into something more enjoyable than dry cramming from textbooks or printouts.
The main thing is not to give up these opportunities because you are not used to them. Millions of students around the world have repeatedly confirmed that learning with Internet services is more convenient and efficient.
Consider the Specifics of Each University
Each university is unique in its own way. Accordingly, each of them needs its own approach. Read all available information about your choice in advance. Somewhere you need to take internal exams, somewhere you appreciate participation in competitions, and in some, you need to write an additional work. The more you know about the admission process, the more chances you will have to prepare in advance.
For example, many students prefer to go to study abroad. The rules for admission to American universities, for example, can be extremely different from what you’re expecting if you’re not from the US. So, if you are hoping for a positive result, you need to understand that you need to calculate everything in advance.
In most cases, you will have to write an essay called a personal statement – in other words, a “personal statement”. Topics may be different, but this very “personal” aspect remains the same. You may be asked to write why you want to study at this university. It would seem to be an easy topic, but you need to write it so that your essay is remembered.
In such cases, you have two options. Start preparing in advance: write works, practice originality, improve your writing. Again, the main thing here is to think about everything in advance. Don’t delay, find out all about your future university. Believe me, if you manage to apply this knowledge and show genuine personal interest, the selection committee will appreciate it.
March on Forward
Do not be lazy, do not cling to old patterns, and calculate everything a few steps ahead. This is guaranteed to help you succeed in the applicational process. It’s completely up to you, so spend less time memorizing and looking for tools that will allow you to truly understand the topic under study. This approach will help you in the future after you become a fully-fledged student.