Your first and most important step is to identify institutions that
offer your subject area and any specializations you wish to pursue
within that subject area. Finding the right academic "match" between
you, the department, and its faculty by using the various human,
electronic, and printed resources below can be the key to a
successful graduate experience in the United States.
There are several general
directories that list institutions by degree program and include
helpful articles on graduate study (see the bibliography).
Professional associations for different subject areas also publish
directories of university departments in the United States,
including information on different specializations and faculty
research interests. University catalogs provide the most specific
information about the institutions and their programs. You will find
many of these directories and catalogs at EducationUSA information
and advising centers and in some university libraries.
Discuss your plans with faculty members
at your institution and with students who have studied in the United
States. They are likely to have their own contacts in the United
States and suggestions of universities to consider. Also, do not be
afraid to contact universities in the United States directly with
questions about their programs or to communicate with other
international students in the department you're interested in.
"Talk to someone who has gone through the process. They can provide
you with information you won't find in any school brochure."
— Medical student from Ghana
The United States
leads the world in using the World Wide Web. Almost every U.S.
university and college has a website that offers information about
degree programs, application procedures, academic departments,
faculty members, facilities on campus, and other topics. In many
cases, you will also find a copy of the college catalog that you can
study online or download to read later. Don't forget that many sites
also give e-mail addresses for current students, including
international students, who often are happy to answer your questions
about applying to the school and about campus life. Once you have
narrowed down the colleges and universities you are interested in,
you may wish to e-mail professors and admissions personnel to have
specific questions answered before you finally decide where to
apply.
Some websites are
independent of colleges and universities and allow you to search for
institutions by the subject you are interested in studying, by
geographic preference, or by a range of other criteria that you can
specify. See 'Related Links' for websites offering university
searches. Staff at U.S. educational information and advising centers
can assist you in the use of search sites on the Internet and offer
suggestions for locating information on specific programs.
"Contact universities so that you can be sure the program you are
considering is exactly what you wish it to be."
— Logistics student from Portugal
Three additional sources of information are:
Representatives
of U.S. universities may come to visit your country. Your
information or advising center can tell you about upcoming U.S.
university fairs or other types of visits where you can talk to
admissions officers or faculty members face-to-face. Since many
fairs and tours will take place in the spring or the fall of the
year before you intend to start your studies, it is important to
start your research early.
If you are able to take a
vacation to the United States, this could be a great opportunity to
visit campuses that interest you. Many universities organize campus
tours that are led by current students; check with the admissions
office for further information. Visit the academic and housing
facilities, the student union, and the library to get a good sense
of the campus. Americans are famous for being friendly, so talk to
the students to find out what U.S. university life is really like.
In
many parts of the world, private agents or agencies work to recruit
international students into U.S. colleges. There are also private
educational consultants who charge a fee for assisting you with the
process of choosing U.S. universities and putting together your
applications. Often these educational consultants and private agents
are graduates of U.S. colleges or people who are dedicated to
promoting the benefits and advantages of the U.S. education system.
However, sometimes they are not, so it is important to check the
credentials and past performance of educational consultants or
agents before using their services.
If you have found a recruiting agent or a consultant who is helpful,
well informed, and dependable, she or he may be very useful in
helping you to select and apply to a university in the United
States. Be careful, however, to look for verifiable signs of the
agent or consultant's past success stories with students from your
country. Ask the agent or consultant for a list of names and
addresses of students presently studying in the United States who
are there because of his or her help. Write, e-mail, or telephone
some of these students to get their firsthand opinion of the college
where they study and the services they received from the agent or
consultant. Such precautions are especially important if the agent
or consultant is asking for expensive fees for his or her services.
Lastly, always check with an unbiased source (such as an
EducationUSA information and advising center) to ensure the
legitimacy and accreditation status of the university being
represented to you.
"The Web is a vital tool as the USA is moving more and more across
to this as their primary communication method."
— MBA student from Great Britain
One of the major indicators of the quality of any U.S. college or
university is its accreditation status. It is important to check
that all institutions you are considering are appropriately
accredited. Unlike many other countries, the United States does not
have a central governmental body that approves educational
institutions. Instead, it relies on a system of voluntary
accreditation carried out by nongovernmental accrediting bodies to
ensure that schools meet standards.
While almost all U.S. universities hold widely recognized forms of
accreditation, it must be noted that accreditation in the United
States is a complex area; there are different types of accreditation
(institutional and programmatic) and a large number of accrediting
bodies. There is also no legal requirement that degree-offering
institutions be accredited or hold a particular form of
accreditation. Because of this complexity, you should check
carefully whether a degree from the institutions you are applying to
will be recognized by your homecountry government and by any
relevant professional associations, ministries, and employers. Also
talk to graduates who have returned to your country to see if they
have been successful in applying degrees earned from such
institutions to their chosen professions.
EducationUSA information and advising centers can advise you
regarding recognition of U.S. degrees in your country and tell you
whether a particular U.S. degreeoffering institution is
appropriately accredited. For more detailed information on the topic
of accreditation see Short-term Study.
There is no official list of the top 10,
20, 50, or even 100 universities in the United States. The U.S.
government does not rank universities. Rankings that you may come
across are usually produced by journalists and are likely to be
subjective. They generally are based on a wide range of criteria
that do not necessarily include academic standards or general
reputation as a primary factor. Be particularly wary of rankings
that do not explain the criteria on which the ranking is based. The
more established rankings may give you a starting point for your
decision; however, the "best" college is the one that is right for
you based on factors such as those suggested in this chapter.
Many U.S.
universities have incorporated into their curriculum internship
(voluntary or paid work placements) or overseas study ("study
abroad") programs that may be of interest to you, particularly if
you are undertaking a professional master's degree program.
Some institutions are small and offer degrees
in one or two fields of study; some are very large and offer degrees
in many fields. When choosing where to apply, you should consider
the size of the institution, as well as the size of the department
and degree program. A large institution may offer better academic
facilities, while a small institution may offer more personal
services. The same is true of the size of the degree program. A
large program that has many students may not provide the individual
attention you need; however, there may be more diversity within the
faculty and student body, and more assistance may be available from
other students. A small degree program may not expose you to as wide
a range of views in your chosen field.
Student populations on U.S. campuses can range in size from 200 to
60,000 students. Some universities resemble small cities with their
own post offices, grocery stores, and shopping centers. Other
institutions may be in large, densely populated urban areas but have
a very small enrollment. Determine what opportunities are important
to you, and read the university catalogs closely with these in mind.
Universities are located in all parts of
the United States, from major cities where many institutions may
exist, to rural areas where one institution serves a large area.
Urban campuses offer a variety of eating, entertainment, cultural,
and shopping facilities. Cities are usually more diverse in their
populations than rural areas and may have a significant number of
residents from particular countries. However, cities may also be
more expensive. A rural university may mean a quieter, more
college-centered environment. Climate is another possible
consideration. From the four seasons in the Northeast to the desert
in Arizona and a sub-tropical climate in Florida, the variety is
almost endless.
U.S. universities offer students
a variety of services such as international student advisers, campus
orientation programs, counseling services, legal aid services,
housing offices, day care facilities for students with families,
varied meal plans, health centers, tutoring facilities, English as a
Second Language programs, writing laboratories, career counseling,
and more. Prospective students can compare facilities among
universities to find services tailored to their specific needs.
If you
have special needs, make sure that the university you choose can
accommodate you. Allow plenty of time to correspond with colleges.
It is advisable to begin your inquiries at least two years before
you plan to leave for the United States. When you write for
information from universities, give brief details of your disability
and request information about assistance they offer to students like
yourself. You may also want to contact the office on campus that
deals with the special needs of students with disabilities to find
out more about the services they provide. This may be a specific
office, such as the Office of Disabled Student Services or the
Office of Disability Services, or services may be housed within a
general student services office on campus.
Some universities offer comprehensive programs for students with
disabilities, while others make a number of special services
available to such students. You should look at the services offered
and compare them to your needs. Find out which services are provided
automatically and free of charge and which services need to be
prearranged and incur a charge. When you apply you will need to
supply evidence to support the existence of your disability. A
campus visit is recommended. If possible, try to contact a student
at the college who has a similar disability to yours so you can gain
a more personal perspective. Students with disabilities can, with
proper documentation, request special facilities or extended time to
take the graduate school admissions tests and any examinations
during the academic year. |
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