Applying to U.S. Colleges and Universities

The terms “college,” “university,” and “school” are used interchangeably when we refer to degree-granting institutions offering higher education in the United States. For simplicity, we’ll use the term “college.”

To apply to colleges in the United States, you should start 12-18 months in advance of when you plan to begin your studies. If you are an undergraduate applicant (applying for a bachelor’s degree), starting you application process by the beginning of Class 12 (High School) will help ensure that you do not have a gap year between Class 12 and the beginning of your undergraduate program in the U.S. Similarly, graduate applicants, those applying for a master’s or a PhD, should also start their application process 12-18 months in advance.

 There are two semesters for which you can apply for admission, the Fall semester (classes start in August or September) and the Spring semester (classes start in January). All colleges offer admission in fall, as it is the beginning of the academic year. Not all colleges offer admissions in spring. If you are searching for a scholarship, the best semester to apply for is fall (generally, not much scholarship is available in spring). The application deadline date depends on which semester you apply for, and which college you are choosing.

As an International Student, To apply to U.S. colleges, here’s what you should do:

1. Choose between 5 and 10 colleges to apply to.  Carefully research criteria such as your field of study, cost, scholarship opportunities, location, competitiveness, and admissions requirements. Applying to 5-10 well chosen colleges will give you a higher chance of admission than just applying to one or two.  
2. Download the colleges’ application forms from their websites. It’s free and easy to download application forms.
3. Register for and take the standardized exams. To obtain information about a standardized test such as TOEFL, SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT, refer to the test’s official website (www.ets.org/toefl for TOEFL,www.collegeboard.com for SAT, www.actstudent.org for ACT, www.ets.org/gre for GRE, and www.mba.comfor GMAT). It is recommended that you register at least two months before your preferred test date. Many students spend a lot of time preparing for these exams: make sure you allocate enough time for preparation. 
4. Send your applications to the colleges. Colleges must receive your complete application by the deadline date. 
5. If you are accepted, you will receive an I-20 from the college. An I-20 contains information about you, the college, and the amount you are expected to pay each year. An I-20 is required to apply for a student visa to the U.S.
6. Choose the best I-20 and apply for a student visa.You will need to identify one I-20 to use when you apply for a student visa at the U.S. Embassy.                                                                                      

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