This site is offering some basic information about one of your following steps. Higher education is something important to each of us. Make sure that you are making the right decision.

International Student Admissions: Admissions Info for International Students

Admission at US colleges and US universities can be very competitive for international students. US vocational, ESL and high school admissions are generally less competitive, but there are exceptions. Much depends on the school in question and the qualifications of the international student. In order to be accepted at a TOP US school, you must have attained good grades, completed challenging coursework, obtained sufficient financing, and developed a strong command of the English language.

International Student College Application Calendar


Application calendar

The following information will help you plan for the college application process by giving you dates by which each of the necessary steps should be completed. Following a schedule will help you make sure that everything is done on time and that no items or steps are forgotten. 18 months before beginning your studies in the US:

  • Begin your search of possible US colleges or universities that you would like to attend. Read through college reference guides and visit college websites. Also talk with your relatives and friends who have studied in the US. Request information from 10 to 20 different schools so that you can make a good decision on where to apply.
  • Register and start preparing for the TOEFL and other entrance tests (such as the SAT or GRE).
  • Continue to work hard at your subjects at school. Good grades in the courses you are taking now will count heavily in the admissions decisions.

15 months before:

  • Take the TOEFL and other entrance tests. Most universities require you to take the test before December, so taking it now gives you an opportunity to take it again in November and improve your score.

12 months before:

  • Send letters to colleges you have selected requesting applications and information, or obtain this information and necessary forms from their websites. You should choose: (a) one or two schools that you really like, but may be too difficult to get into; (b) two or three that you also like and which you think will accept you; (c) one or two which may not be your favorites, but you are quite sure will accept you.
  • Identify two or three teachers or other people whom know you well and ask them to write recommendation letters for you.
  • For undergraduate applicants the best references are teachers and your school principal. Family friends, religious counselors, and others should be used only if they know you very well and can speak specifically about your academic goals and potential.
  • Graduate students should obtain letters from their teachers or professionals in their field whom they have worked with and who can speak specifically about their academic potential and relevant accomplishments.
  • Ask the schools you have attended to start preparing your transcripts. These are official school documents that show the courses you have studied and the grades you have received in those courses.
  • If your previous TOEFL, SAT, or GRE scores were not satisfactory, register for the test again.

11 months before:

  • If you have not yet received the application forms you requested from the schools you wrote to, send another letter repeating your request.
  • Study the applications you have received. Note carefully the deadlines on each of them. Remember to allow time for delays in the mail.
  • Ask your schools to send certified copies of your academic transcripts to each of the schools where you are applying.
  • Ask your teachers to write their letters of recommendation for you. Give them the forms provided by the schools and a stamped, addressed envelope for each letter they will be mailing.
  • Undergraduate students should write their application essay. This essay is an important part of the application. It should reflect who you are and what you feel is important. Try not to repeat information you have provided in other parts of the application, but instead work to make the essay unique and personal. Get comments on it from an English teacher.
  • Graduate students should write their statement of purpose if the schools have indicated that they require one. This is an important part of the application. You should show in your statement how your education so far has created a foundation for your goals, and how your proposed coursework in the US will help you achieve those goals. You should be as specific as possible about your research interests and past accomplishments.
  • Make photocopies of the applications and begin to fill in the required information on the copies. You will later transfer the information to the originals. If any questions confuse you, seek help from your teachers, or from someone who has studied in the US.

10 months before:

  • Complete your essays and application forms, including the financial aid application forms, using the originals (not the copies). Type or write by hand very neatly and carefully. The finished applications will be your introduction to the schools, so you want to make them look good. Keep a copy of the completed applications for your records. Mail the originals by airmail in time to meet the deadlines.
  • Take the TOEFL and other exams again, if you need to improve your scores.
  • Check with your teachers and your school to make sure your recommendations and transcripts have been mailed in time to meet the deadlines.

9 months before:

  • It is not unusual for schools to request more information or resubmission of something you have already sent. Respond promptly to any requests you receive.

4-5 months before:

  • You will start hearing decisions from the schools. Contact the admissions office at any school that you do not hear from.
  • Accept only one school's offer, and let the other schools know of your decision. Ask the school you have chosen to attend to send you the I-20 form.

Make housing arrangements.

  • Apply for a passport if you do not already have one.

3 months before:

  • Make travel arrangements. Schedule your trip so you arrive at least 15 days prior to your school’s orientation.

Test Prep: SAT, TOEFL, ACT, GRE, and GMAT entrance tests

TOEFL, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT Test Prep

US colleges and universities require that all their applicants take one or more standardized tests. These tests include the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), ACT test, GRE (Graduate Record Examination), and GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). Additionally, applicants who are not Americans are required to also take the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language).
Most standardized tests are designed to measure a student’s skills, rather than a student’s amount of knowledge. The questions in these tests evaluate your ability to solve problems, not your knowledge of facts (such as important historical dates, or parts of the human anatomy).
The function of standardized tests is to give colleges a way to evaluate all their applicants on an equal level. Comparison of grades received in courses or on exams is not always enough because different schools have different academic standards. An admissions counselor at a university has no way of determining how challenging the calculus or economics course you took was. By comparing your score on a standardized test to the score of another student who took the same standardized test, the counselor has a better idea of how the two of you compare.
International students applying for an undergraduate program (bachelor’s degree) will be required to take the TOEFL and the SAT I tests. Some schools will also require the SAT II. There are also many schools that will accept the ACT in place of the SAT I. Graduate students applying to an arts or science program will be required to take the TOEFL and, usually, the GRE. Graduate students applying to a business program will be required to take the TOEFL and, usually, the GMAT. Find out directly from the schools to which you would like to apply what tests are required. A brief description of each of these standardized tests is given below.

TOEFL

In most parts of the world, the TOEFL is a computer-based test. In some areas, paper-based testing is also available. Paper-based tests are administered on predetermined dates; computer-based tests can be taken on an appointment basis. The test consists of mostly multiple-choice questions. An essay question is also required. The computer-based test contains four sections:

  • Listening – This section is designed to test your understanding of English as it is spoken in America. You will listen to dialogues, conversations and speeches using headphones. Then you will answer multiple-choice questions about the material.
  • Structure – This section is designed to test your ability to understand written English. It covers formal English, rather than casual, or conversational English.

The questions are multiple-choice.

  • Reading – This section is designed to test your understanding of written passages similar to what you will have to read in an American school. The questions cover reading comprehension as well as vocabulary. Again, these questions are multiple-choice.
  • Writing – This section asks you to write an essay in English. This section is designed to test your ability to write in English, as well as to develop, organize and support your arguments effectively.

To find out more about the TOEFL test, including how to register, where to take the test, and how to obtain preparation materials, visit www.toefl.org. We strongly recommend that you have some sort of experience with a TOEFL test prep program before you sit for the TOEFL exam.

SAT

There are two versions of the SAT test. The SAT I is the called the Reasoning Test and is designed to evaluate your mathematical and verbal skills. It consists mostly of multiple-choice questions. The questions in the math sections cover arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, as well as logical reasoning, probability and counting. The questions in the verbal sections fall into the following categories:

  • Analogies – These questions test your knowledge of the meanings of words and your ability to see relationships in pairs of words.
  • Sentence completions – These questions test you knowledge of the meanings of words and your ability to understand how different elements in a sentence fit together logically.
  • Critical reading – These questions measure your ability to read a passage and think about it.

The SAT II, on the other hand, contains 22 separate tests called Subject Tests. Each subject test covers a specific area such as world history, Spanish, or chemistry. These tests are designed to determine your level of knowledge in each area and your ability to apply that knowledge to answer questions. If the school you are applying to requires the SAT II, you will generally be able to choose which subject test(s) you would like to take. You can take up to three subject tests in one day. However, you cannot take the SAT I and the SAT II on the same day. For more information on the SAT tests, including registration and preparation information, visit www.collegeboard.com. Don't forget to complete a SAT test prep course before the actual SAT exam.

ACT

The ACT differs from the SAT I in that it is a subject-based test, rather than an ability, or aptitude, test. It consists of multiple-choice questions covering four areas: (1) English; (2) mathematics; (3) reading; (4) scientific reasoning. Although the SAT I is more popular, some students prefer to take the ACT instead because they feel more comfortable with its knowledge-based format. For more information on the ACT test, including registration and testing locations, visit www.act.org.

GRE

The GRE General Test is similar to the SAT I in that it evaluates your mathematical and verbal abilities. It is designed to measure your reasoning skills, rather than your knowledge of any specific subject matter. Subject matter testing is done with the GRE Subject Tests. These tests should be taken by students who have a bachelor’s degree (or very extensive training) in that subject. They cover eight different subject areas: (1) biochemistry, cell and molecular biology; (2) biology; (3) chemistry; (4) computer science; (5) literature in English; (6) mathematics; (7) physics; (8) psychology. The GRE also offers a Writing Assessment test that asks more challenging questions than the General Test. It measures your critical and analytical thinking skills. It is usually optional, so you should check with the schools to which you are applying to find out if it is required. The General Test and the Writing Assessment are both computer-based, while the Subject Tests are paper-based. To find out more about the GRE tests, including how to register, where to take the tests, and how to obtain preparation materials, visit www.gre.org.

GMAT

The GMAT is designed to assess your mathematical, verbal and analytical writing skills. Again, it measures your ability to apply knowledge, rather than the amount of knowledge you have. It is a computer-based test and contains both multiple-choice and essay questions. For more information on the GMAT, including how to register and prepare for the test, visit www.mba.com.

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