We all know that applying to USA for further abroad studies can be really challenging specially the difficult steps that you have to follow.
But if you narrow it down, it is not that difficult if you understand the process of visa selection and steps for applying abroad study in The US. So here are some of the major steps that you need to know before you consider to apply.
1. Select your major and university:
Before applying for a college or university, you need to know where and what are you applying for. If you want to apply for computer science let’s say, then you have to find the college according to that major. After you are sure for your major then you can try to search for colleges and universities.
Selecting colleges and
universities are not hard at all, but you need to know how you are going to
filter the list. There are lots of websites like: niche, College board, US news
that can help you find the right college. You can select multiple desired
things like the: acceptance rates, tuition fees, boarding, location and many
more. By selecting these, you can narrow down the lists of colleges and be more
specific.
Try to make lists of the universities that you are applying
for, so that you can remember it.
2.
COLLECT IMPORTANT DETAILS AND RESOURCES:
Now, that you have searched your desired
colleges/universities visit their website individually and try to collect
important details like: application deadline, G.P.A requirements, Minimum test
requirements and documents. If you find the college websites harder, you can
directly search for “application deadlines for XYZ college” and note it down.
But I highly recommend to seek for official college sites since they are formal
and if any problem occurs you can consult the FAQ section. It is very difficult
to remember every detail of every college that is why you should add it in the
universities list that I talked before.
These details are very important so make sure
you are consulting them. If you miss the application deadline then you have to
wait another year for the admission.
3.
FINANCIAL AID:
Budget is a very big thing to consider before
applying to colleges. Most of the US universities costs arm and a leg, so you
must calculate the tuition, boarding and other fees. If the total fee is
reasonable for you and your family then you can apply for those colleges.
Note: some colleges and universities offer
very low fees on their websites but they are only for the US residential
students. So, be sure the fees you are checking are for international students.
Many US colleges offer scholarships and
financial aid to lots of international students. But it is hard to find the
information about those scholarships, that is why you need to research about
colleges. Almost all of the universities in USA offer different financial aid
and for that you need to be qualified. There are lots of requirements if you
want to apply for financial aid.
Applying for financial aid and
scholarships is a broad topic which I will cover soon in another blog.
4.
THE COMMON/COALITION APP:
Almost
all universities in USA accepts common app but some of them also accept
coalition app. So, what are they?
Basically,
if you want to apply for universities or colleges you have to submit your
application through them. This is a very easy method where you have to fulfill
lots of details about your academic and your families too, so be sure you have
completed all of the requirements like: personal details, application essay and
others.
There
are so many things you need to know about common app that is why, I highly
recommend you to see some videos that guide you about common app like
extracurriculars, application essay prompts, fee waiver and also some details
which are very important.
5.
PREPARE FOR TESTS AND ESSAY:
If you follow and
understand all the steps then it is time to prepare for the tests. For
international students, you have to give 2 tests which is SAT and IELTS or
TOEFL or DUOLINGO. SAT (scholastic
assessment test) is required to lots of colleges and it is also quite hard. It
consists of 3 sections: reading, writing and math. The reading section is
really crucial where you have to practice on the passage (Science, literature,
history and social science). Even the writing section is hard for most of the
students. Overall, you have to prepare extra hard for the SAT’S since it
determines your capability of English learning. Luckily, for most of the
international students Math is easy which consists of 800 marks.
Reading= 5 Passages ,52 Questions
Writing= 4 passages
MATH=
No calculator= 15 questions
With calculator=30 questions
6.APPLICATION ESSAY:
If
you have given your tests and got your high school transcript and other documents
then you have to start for the application essay. This essay is a very long essay
that you have to write for the colleges. In most of the universities, you have
to write two application essays:
1.
Common app essay:
Common app essay is the section of the
common app, where there are 7 prompts/topics given and from that you have to do
one of them. Remember, this is a very important essay, so you must give your
best at it. In this essay, the 7 topics are very broad and there are lots of
videos on the internet that can guide you for the prompts. So, be sure you check
those out before beginning to write the common application essay because there
are lots of casual mistakes you can avoid and can write the best essay.
You can choose any one of the topics
given in the essay and submit it through the same platform which is the common
app.
Never ever copy the essay through the internet or even by someone,
it is a very illegal thing which has lots of negative impacts but you can
however see for some guides, tips or strategies through the internet.
2.
COLLEGE ESSAY (WHY US?):
Many colleges also ask for the separate essay
where you have to define why did you choose that college in particular. This is
also a very important essay where you have to be specific. By specific I mean
we have to include what and how did that college impress us? Why only that
college? Similar, to common app essay you can find lots of guide through the
internet, so be sure to check that out.
Some of the colleges also ask for other essays
to get to know you.
I haven’t talked about the visa selection
process in here since it is a big step after you have admitted to the college. For
now, I think you have to only focus on the steps of applying to The US and then
when you understand everything, you can go for the visa information.
LISTS:
Try to take this blog lightly because even
though the information is correct there might be some problems which may occur.
I highly recommend everyone to see the guidance counselor if you have any doubt
because they understand us and can give right information.
