12 TO 18 MONTHS PRIOR to the academic year in which
you hope to enroll, begin to consider, research, and do the
following:
- What are your reasons for wanting to study in the United
States?
- Which universities offer your subject and specialization?
- Will you need financial assistance?
- Begin narrowing down your choices of schools to
approximately 10 to 20 institutions, and make sure they meet
your academic, financial, lifestyle, and other needs.
- Find out application deadlines. This will affect when you
take the standardized tests required for admission since test
results must reach admissions offices
no later than these deadlines. The tests should be taken in
advance of submitting university application forms.
- Register to take paper-based GRE Subject Tests if required
by the universities to which you are applying.
12 MONTHS PRIOR to enrollment, start to complete
the following (months indicated are estimates):
August
- Continue narrowing down your choice of schools. While some
students apply to more, 5 to 10 well-researched choices are
sufficient.
- Contact universities for application and financial aid forms
and catalogs.
- Register to take the TOEFL and the GRE General Test, GRE
Writing Assessment, GMAT, or other admissions tests, as
necessary
September – December
- Continue narrowing down your choice of schools. While some
students apply to more, 5 to 10 well-researched choices are
sufficient.
- Request official transcripts from your undergraduate
institution.
- Brief your recommenders and request letters of reference
from them.
- Draft personal statements or statements of purpose and
research proposals, if requested.
- Submit completed application forms (for admission as well as
financial aid).
- Double check that transcripts and references have been sent.
- Take the necessary admissions tests.
January – March
- University application deadlines must be met.
April – June
- Letters of acceptance or rejection arrive. Decide which
university to attend, notify the admissions office of your
decision, complete and return any forms they require.
- Send letters of regret to those universities you turn down.
- Organize finances (arrange to transfer funds to a U.S. bank;
make sure you have funds for travel and expenses on arrival).
- Finalize arrangements for housing and medical insurance with
your university.
- Notify any sponsoring organizations of your plans.
June – August
- Use information from your Form I-20 or DS-2019 to fill out
the SEVIS Form I-901 and pay the $100 required SEVIS fee (see
SEVIS information for description of SEVIS form and fee).
- Upon receipt of your I-20 and SEVIS I-901 payment receipt,
apply to your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a visa. This
should be as far in advance of your departure date as possible
(see "Visas").
- Contact your nearest EducationUSA information and advising
center to let them know that you have been accepted to a U.S.
institution.
- Make travel arrangements, planning to arrive in time for the
university's orientation program.
- Contact the International Student Office at your university
with details of your arrival plans, and confirm details of any
orientation for new students held by the university.
Once you know that you are going to study in the United States, you
will probably have many questions about visas, accommodations,
health insurance, banking, how to study, and other "predeparture"
information. Most EducationUSA information and advising centers
conduct predeparture orientation presentations in the summer, and
some may also offer sessions midyear. Contact your nearest center
for their schedule and to reserve space for these popular events.
Some centers may charge a fee for this service. |
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