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 will meet your needs?
- Will you need financial assistance?
- Find out application and financial aid 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 standardized tests if required by the
universities to which you are applying.
- Begin narrowing down your choices of schools to
approximately 10 to 20 institutions.
12 MONTHS PRIOR to enrollment, complete the following (months
indicated are estimates, based on fall enrollment):
AUGUST
- Contact universities for application and financial aid forms
and catalogs.
- Obtain test registration forms or register on the web to
take the TOEFL, the ACT, and SAT I and SAT II, if 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 an official transcript from your school.
- Request letters of recommendation from your teachers.
- 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 – APRIL
- University application deadlines must be met; note that
these are for regular admission — early admission deadlines will
be sooner.
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.
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").
- Make travel arrangements.
- 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, accommodation, health
insurance, banking, how to study, and other "pre-departure"
information. See 'Predeparture Information' for further information.
Most EducationUSA information and advising centers conduct
pre-departure 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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