How to Apply to Universities in the USA
There are many different choices when it comes to going to college in the United States. Your chance of getting into a good school depends on factors such as your overall high school grade point average, your standardized test scores and other factors like your letters of recommendations.
Instructions
-
-
1
Begin your search early. It takes time and effort to find a handful of schools that you think will be a good fit to apply to. Websites like collegeboard.com can help you narrow down schools by such factors like location and interests. Set up frequent meetings with your school counselor to help you through this process.
-
2
Check all the requirements that are needed for your applications. If you are a student that is applying from another country, read the requirements for international students carefully. Prepare all the additional papers that are needed, like an application to get an F-1 Visa (student visa).
-
-
3
Check what type of standardized test is needed for your schools. Most schools require the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) but some also request the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for international students to test their English proficiency.
-
4
Find teachers, coaches, employers and counselors who know you well and can write solid letters of recommendation. Have at least one teacher who can write a good letter on your behalf about your abilities as a student.
-
5
Write a strong personal statement. This is one of the ways that you can let schools see another side of you that does not have to do with academics. Make sure to have someone double-check your work for grammar and spelling errors.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you apply to a school that is hard to get into, also apply to some safety schools that you can fall back on if you are not accepted to your first choice. It is recommended that you apply to at least three different schools. Most schools accept the Common Application (available at commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx), which allows you to fill out only one application and send it to multiple schools.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit college campus image by Nick Alexander from Fotolia.com
