Welcome and congratulations on your decision to pursue higher education in the United States of America (USA)! The information provided here is primarily intended for international students seeking higher education in the United States (US).
We hope the following steps will help you in your application process to colleges and universities in the US.
A. For Undergraduate/bachelor’s degree application
A.1 Prerequisite
To continue your undergraduate/bachelor’s degree at US educational institutions, one must have 10 years of prior schooling/education. Remember 10+2/O and A levels are considered high school in the US. Depending on the majors you want to pursue, Colleges/universities might require minimum Grade Point Average GPA) to apply. Please check their website for GPA requirement.
Once you have the prerequisite education and you have met the minimum GPA requirement, you can start applying to colleges/universities to pursue your undergraduate/bachelor’s degree in the US. In general, most Colleges/universities require the following:
B. For Graduate/master’s degree application
B.1 Prerequisite
To pursue a master/Graduate degree in the US, you must have four years of prior undergraduate/bachelor studies. Graduate schools also have minimum GPA requirement. Check their website for GPA requirement.
Finding the right school for your education and career goals is very important. Depending on the State and the school you want to pursue your higher education in, it is important that you find colleges and universities that matches your interests, education, and career goals.
In general, most colleges and universities require the following:
C. When to apply? Application Timeline
After finding the right schools that matches your education goals and interests, it is important to apply for admissions as soon as possible. You will have to devote a lot of time and effort to prepare your application packet for competitive schools. Competitive schools have also earlier application deadlines. In general, start working on the application process for the selected colleges or universities at least a year in advance. Do not rush to complete your application package at the last moment.
Writing personal statements and requesting recommendation letters from teachers or others who know you well takes a lot of time. Colleges and Universities also require Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) test scores depending on the schools you have selected and majors you want to study. Similarly, Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are required of international students trying to pursue higher education in the USA.
Standardized Tests
Most U.S. colleges and universities require that you take one or more standardized admissions tests to apply for their programs. SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, TOEFL, IELTS are some of the required tests. Please check the admission page of universities or colleges for more information on what tests they require for admittance.
To make appointment and for more information click on TOEFL, GRE and IELTS.
D. Sources of Financial Aid
D.1 International Student Loans
International students can apply for loans to finance their study in the USA. However, to qualify for loans from US financial institutions, the application must be cosigned by a US Citizen or permanent resident. Those applicants with families or relatives in the US who are either US citizens or permanent residents should find financial institutions and explore methods of financing their studies.
D.2 International scholarships
There are many scholarships websites available online. However, not all websites are legitimate. Be careful when you search for scholarships online. Many sites will try to scam you.
One of the best ways to find out about scholarships for international students is to ask the admission office of the respective universities and colleges that you are applying.
For graduate schools and depending on majors you are planning to pursue, several world financial institutions offer scholarships. For more information, click on few financial institutions below for details.
Applying to colleges and universities can be confusing especially if you do not know how the application process and the education system work in the USA. For further help finding the right schools or on the application process, please do not hesitate to contact Gyanendra Chaudhary at gyanchau@gmail.com or Tharus and Friends Association at tharusandfriends@gmail.com.
