The United States has over 250 universities and colleges listed in the latest higher education rankings created by Times Higher Education, US News, and TopUniversities.
Whether it's the attraction of living the American dream, or simply the irresistible idea of finding success in "the land of the free and home of the brave", around 1 million international students choose to enrol at a university or college in the USA.
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But, how can you make sure that you will be accepted at one? Below I will run through some of the steps and approaches to selecting a university, and making sure that you have what it takes to be admitted.
1. US universities to consider for your studies
Here are some top US universities you should consider for your study abroad adventure:
- University of California, Berkeley
- Northeastern University
- Kansas State University
- Wichita State University
- University of San Francisco
- Boston University
- Bay Path University
- Columbia University
You can also choose an online Master's degree from universities based in the US. Here are just a couple of examples:
- Walden University
- Kettering University Online
4. Required university application documents
Different universities and programmes will require different documents. However, these are the items you are most likely to need if you apply to a university in the US:
- Transcripts or records of grades (high school and/or university)
- Résumé/CV
- Test scores (SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT)
- Proof of English-language proficiency
- Motivation letter or statement of purpose
- Application fee
- Writing sample
- Passport photo
5. University application deadlines in the US
If you are applying for an undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree in the US, universities will typically offer two application deadlines - early admission and regular admission.
- If you're applying for the fall (autumn) admission, early deadlines will be between October and November, the previous year.
- If you're applying for the fall (autumn) admission, regular admission deadlines will be between February and March, the same year.
If you are applying for a post-graduate (Master's or PhD) degree, your American university application deadline will depend on the semester in which you are enrolling (spring intake or fall intake).
- If you are applying for the fall admission, your deadline can be anywhere from January to March.
If you are applying for the spring admission, your deadline is probably anywhere between July and September, the previous year.
These deadlines can vary drastically depending on which programme you are applying for or which university you wish to attend. Be sure to contact the programme itself if you're not sure about the correct deadline.
6. Final steps after receiving the university acceptance letter
Congratulations on getting your acceptance letter!
- If you aren't a US citizen, you will need to use your acceptance letter to apply for the F-1 student visa.
- Be sure to take some time to apply for funding and scholarships. You can also check out the Studyportals Scholarship to get some help on financing your studies abroad.
- Check whether the university you applied to requires an enrolment fee to secure your spot there.
- Celebrate your victory of being admitted at the university of your dreams!
Once you have finalized which US university to pick, the next plausible step is to arrange your student housing on time. And for that purpose, you can either opt for on-campus accommodation or go for a more popular option, off-campus accommodation. Whether you shift into student housing in Chicago or student accommodation in D252840as, you will find a safe and cozy place to live; moreover, freedom and independence to relish your student life to the fullest, which tends to be somewhat restricted in university dormitories.