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General Information > Orientation Guide

Orientation Guide
For international students
Wishing to study
In the U.S.A.

Table of Contents

Meeting Deadlines
Levels of education
Secondary schools / high schools
Universities, colleges, English language programs, vocational schools
What is best for you
How to apply
Financial aid and employment
Immigration status
The I-20 form
Visas
After you are accepted
Grading and credits
Transferring schools
Staying in the United States after studies
Health Insurance
Housing
Definitions of academic terms
Academic year
Upon arrival to the United States
Arriving on Campus
Where to go for more help

Meeting Deadlines!

It is important to make your request for materials and your application early - several months beforeyou plan to begin your studies. Mail tends to take a long time, and time is needed for processing your application, and to get a response back to you. Find out the deadline for all applications in a college guide or from the application materials. Try to have all the information and documents at the institution at least a month before this deadline. Always send documents by air mail. A useful tip is to enclose a few mailing labels with your name and address clearly written.

GOOD LUCK

Going to school in the United States or Canada is an excellent investment in your future. The schools available are of good quality and many are easily affordable. You will have an opportunity to perfect your English language skills and to get to know the North American people. Americans are warm and friendly people. The greatness of the American nation is a result of its ability to bind in one purpose peoples from all parts of the world. Therefore, Americans recognize the importance of cultural and educational exchanges. This is why the doors of American schools, colleges and universities are open to you and other students from other countries. We hope that your stay will be educational and enjoyable; and that you will enrich both yourself and your host country through your efforts. Good luck.

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Levels of Education

Education in the United States and Canada is divided into the following levels at the indicated

Primary Education

Pre-school ages                   ages 2 - 6

Elementary School              ages 6 - 12

Secondary Education

Junior High School             ages 12 - 14

High School                         ages 14 - 18

 

Post Secondary Education

Junior College                      ages 18 - 20

4 Year College                      ages 18 - 22

Graduate School                  ages  (MA) 22 - 24

Graduate School                  ages  (PH.D.) 22 - 26/8

Post Graduate                      after PH.D.

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Secondary Schools / High Schools

This Chapter describes Secondary Education or the years of study generally between the ages of 12 and 18.

Secondary schools or high schools as they are often called are divided into two types:

1. Public
2. Private - Day, Boarding, Parochial, Specializing

Public Schools

Public high schools are government supported institutions which serve the majority of all students. These schools were designed to serve students from the surrounding community. This may still be the case in rural areas and smaller towns. In America's large cities, bussing of students from other communities is common. In some large cities, more than 70 per cent of students are bussed in from other neighborhoods. While every effort is made to maintain a high quality of education in the public high school system, inner city schools often suffer from a lack of proper funding. As a result, the physical and academic environment suffers as well.

Private Schools

Private high schools offer education to the same age group in every part of the country, but they are funded by private sources, mostly tuition and private contributions. In general, because of the more direct financial control of the institution by parents, private schools respond more directly to the desires of student's parents. Because private schools are better financed, they have more flexible hiring practices and are able to secure a better teaching staff. Because of individual ownership, private high schools are also able to design their own curriculum.

Types of Private schools

In the United States and Canada private high schools are often called "Academies" and sometimes "Colleges". These names are given to the schools by the owners of the schools and are restricted by state rules governing the use of these terms.

Day Schools allow students to come to school and remain in school until the middle of the afternoon. They provide special programs as do most private schools. However, students are picked up by their parents at the end of the school day, or a special bus delivers children to their home.

Boarding Schools (or Academies) are private schools which also have residential facilities for their students. There are many different kinds of boarding schools ranging from those offering a very general program to ones offering very specialized curricula. In most cases, students are able to enjoy not only a special curriculum, but also a variety of extracurricular activities which are arranged for them by the school's administration.

Parochial Schools are institutions which offer general education and religious education as well. They are designed to teach a student the values of a particular religious sect. Different parochial schools have different regulations as to the type of student they will accept. In most cases there are requirements which will ask that students participate in religious activities.

Schools offering specialized instruction are institutions that concentrate on a special area of learning, or a certain kind of discipline. For example military academies focus on developing a traditional martial discipline in their students. Some schools will instruct their students in a particular sport such as tennis or horsemanship.

Finding the appropriate high school can be a difficult task. This booklet contains advertisements of some of these schools. Detailed descriptions of their programs can be found in the Foreign Student's Guide to American Schools Colleges and Universities on the pages indicated. Should you need more general information you may request it free of charge from this institution.

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Universities, Colleges, English Language Programs, Vocational schools

Introduction

North American schools welcome and value students from all parts of the world. Foreign students are seen as providers of diversity and international representation. In any particular year, there are nearly half a million foreign students enrolled in several thousand colleges, universities, technical and vocational schools, and English language programs in the U. S. At some schools, foreign students constitute 20% to 40% of total enrollment. Foreign students come to study a wide range of subjects, including business, computer science, engineering, health sciences, and the liberal or fine arts.

There are more than 3,500 colleges and universities in the United States and American colleges and universities abroad. In addition there are several hundred vocational technical and private English language schools. There is a difference between all of these schools. A college, for example, is usually for undergraduates, whereas a university is a collection of one or more colleges, plus a graduate school and various professional schools. Colleges mainly teach but universities, with their large numbers of graduate students, also place emphasis on research. This chapter will help you understand the differences between the many types of schools in the United States.

Different Types of Schools

The American post secondary educational system can be divided into the following categories of schools:

1. Publicly supported:

2-year community college

4-year state college

Graduate university

Some vocational schools

2. Private:

    2-year college / 4-year college

Graduate University

Religiously Affiliated

All types

Proprietary

3. Technical and Vocational schools

4. English Language Schools:

5. Part of a College or Privately Owned

Publicly supported schools

Publicly supported schools are generally state or city schools, or community colleges. These colleges are funded by the state and the local government of the area in which they are located. Students who live in these cities may attend these schools at lesser costs than those for students coming from another state or from outside the U.S.A.

Community colleges (sometimes called junior colleges) grant associate degrees after two years of study. Public community colleges are part of, or closely affiliated with, the great state universities, depending upon the state in which they are located. These colleges offer two kinds of degree programs: career programs (Associate of Applied Science-A.A.S.) and transfer programs (Associate of Art-A.A. or Associate of Science-A.S.). Career programs prepare students to enter the work force directly from a two-year school in fields such as computer technology, nursing, medical technology, travel and tourism, or basic accounting. Students who plan to earn bachelor's degrees can attend certain A.A.S. programs which are designed to parallel the first two years of study in a four-year institution. When transferring from a community college in the same field of study, students with A. A. or A. S. degrees can expect to be accepted by state colleges and universities as third year students. Many career (A.A.S.) program courses are considered non-academic and will not be applied toward a four-year degree.

Community colleges offer an education widely recognized as excellent by public and private universities and four-year colleges and, due to their community based financing, allow many students to work toward bachelor's degree programs at an already-reduced cost. After completion of the bachelor's degree, many students choose to continue for a master's, Ph.D., or other doctoral program. Often, the graduate program is offered at the same school from which the bachelor's degree was earned, though many students decide to pursue graduate study at a different school or university because the four-year school does not offer graduate study, does not offer a graduate degree in the field the student wants, or because another school is less expensive, more prestigious, or offers a larger program with more choices of courses. Look for the phrases "state-supported," "state university, "public," or "community college" to identify publicly-supported schools.

Private Schools

Private (or independent) schools, colleges and universities are organized in the same manner as other colleges, but generally have fees much higher than those of the state schools. These schools are owned by private non-governmental individuals and boards of directors. Their funding is primarily from the tuition they charge and private contributions. Because of this their tuition is relatively high compared to the state or community schools. Some of these private institutions are "prestigious schools" having an excellent reputation. They have a very selective admission policy. Both the student body and the faculty are of high caliber. Graduates of these institutions are often favored in the job market. In this category are such well known universities as Columbia, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and others.

Religiously Affiliated Schools

Religiously affiliated colleges and universities are all privately owned and operated (though they may receive some state support for certain programs). They are predominantly Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestant), although there are some Jewish, Islamic and other faiths related institutions as well. These institutions offer general coursework, but they also offer and sometimes require participation in religion courses. Through their sponsoring churches they offer a strong religious life on campus. In general, one need not be a member of a particular church or religious group to attend a religiously affiliated colleges in the U.S., and enrollment in such an institution will not impinge on one's own religious practices. However, some colleges organized along fundamentalist or evangelical lines may require bible study or compulsory church attendance.

Proprietary Schools

Proprietary institutions are usually operated by an individual or a corporate owner. These schools generally concentrate on specific academic programs such as computer programming, or specialized fields such as aviation, fashion design and so on. These private schools offer short term "certificate programs" or longer programs which award Certificates of Completion. Some proprietary schools are licensed to issue associate degrees and may be accredited as well.

New technologies are creating a demand for a highly skilled work force. As a result there is a high value put on specialized skills. In general proprietary schools are not institutions which offer an academic education. Their interest is to provide training in a specific area in the shortest possible time. Students who need to acquire an expertise in a certain vocation may find these schools more appropriate than larger colleges or universities. In other cases proprietary schools offer subjects which are simply not available in a general college or university curriculum.

It is important to obtain specific information on the cost of the tuition and that of housing and other expenses since proprietary schools most often do not have their own dormitory space. There are accrediting agencies for proprietary schools. See the "Accreditation" section for further information.

English Language Schools

There are hundreds or perhaps thousands of English as a Second Language (ESL) programs offered by colleges in both U.S.A. and Canada. At the same time a large number of private English language schools operate to offer one-to-one lessons, intensive programs and TOEFL preparation classes.

Generally, a student on a student visa will have to attend an intensive English program of 20 – 25 hours a week.

Whether you choose a college ESL program or a private one depends upon your particular needs. For example, if you have been accepted to a college or a university, but you must or want to study English before starting your regular classes, it is usually better to attend the ESL program at the college that has already accepted you. College or university ESL programs will most often provide housing, counseling and other services. Some institutions will require you to attend their ESL program if they feel that your English is not good enough. If these institutions do not have an ESL program on their campus, they will direct you to the nearest available program.

If you wish to prepare yourself to enter an American college and you need to improve your TOEFL score, you may wish to enter a private ESL school. This will give you an opportunity to choose an appropriate college after you have studied English for some time, and after you have been to the United States for some time. If you wish to attend a college that requires you to have good English skills, but the school does not offer an ESL program, you may wish to attend a public or private ESL school within the same area and later apply for admission to your desired college.

Remember that attending an ESL program before you enter your regular classes will give you not only the opportunity to improve your English, but also the chance to get better used to your new home before you start your full-time general classes.

Studying ESL or meeting a school's minimum English proficiency requirements does not necessarily mean that your English studies have ended. Nearly all toward two and four-year colleges will test you in English reading and writing, and often in oral English as well. Regardless of your TOEFL score or previous ESL studies, the college will place you in further basic English courses depending upon your test scores. During this kind of English study, you will be extremely limited in the regular college courses you will be permitted to take, and will be barred by some schools from studying anything but--English until you can pass the college test. College level English courses are not intensive and actually obligate you to spend more time to reach the required level of proficiency than you would if you had remained longer in your intensive ESL program. This can be very frustrating and disappointing to students who expect to leave an ESL program and begin immediately to take full-credit college level courses in science, mathematics, or the liberal arts. You can avoid this frustration and disappointment by remaining in your intensive English program after you are ready to pass TOEFL or gain admission to college, until your English ability is better than the minimum requirement for college admission.

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What is best for you...

Introduction

Decide what kind of education is best for you. This is best done by analyzing your career goals. Find out which of the academic degrees are better recognized and/or demanded by your own government. Do some research to find out which fields of study will most likely lead to a good job after you graduate.

If you have visited the U.S.A. and seen the campus of the school you want to attend, making a decision will be easier for you. But if you have not been to the U.S.A., you must spend time writing to schools and universities to find out how best they can help you. Your local educational advisor can assist you in this task. You will find a large number of schools in the U.S. and abroad. For detailed descriptions of schools please ask your advisor for detailed information that can be got through the Internet.

Location of the institution you will choose is an important factor, but is not as important as knowing the kind of programs and the kind of faculty you will have at this institution. You must decide just how specific you want your field of study to be. If you choose a business administration school, for example, it should be one that specializes only in business, or would you prefer an institution that teaches a wider variety of subjects, so that you can learn other subjects at the same time?

Picking Your Field of Study

In the U.S. and Canada system, a term used to describe the subject you wish to study is "major". You may also study another subject of less importance to you and this will be known as your "minor". It is important that you decide on your "major" or your general area of study before you begin selecting schools. For example, if you wish to study some aspect of business administration, then you can narrow your search to schools that offer courses and degree programs in business administration.

Do not worry if after thorough research you are still undecided on which course of study to follow. Many colleges and universities (usually Liberal Arts schools) encourage students to take general education studies in different subjects for a year or two and later decide on a major. The American education system is flexible and supports the idea of an all-encompassing, well-rounded education.

If you are looking for a vocational or technical certificate, you may wish to learn more about the many accredited technical and career schools in the U.S. These schools may be able to train you in a particular field in the shortest period of time since they specialize in the subject you have chosen. Remember that vocational schools generally do not offer more than a certificate. They are non degree granting institutions.

Which Degree?

There are several types of awards for the completion of technical or academic studies. These are:

Certificates - requires varied length of time

Associate Degrees - usually 2 years

Bachelor's Degrees - usually 4 years

Master's Degrees - usually 2 years after Bachelor

Doctoral Degrees - up to 5 years after Master

If you are looking for an academic degree, decide which degree you will pursue in the U.S.A. Remember that 2-year community colleges grant an Associate degree (Associate of Science - A.S.; Associate of Arts - A.A. etc.) as their highest undergraduate degree.

NOTE: There are a relatively small number of institutions that are "Upper Division" 2-year colleges. These institutions offer the last two years of study required to complete the B.A. degree.

Four-year colleges award the bachelor's degree (B.S., B.A., etc.). Academic programs leading to the graduate degree, either the Master's alone (M.A., M.S.., M.B.A., etc.) or the Master's and doctorate (PH.D., M.D., etc.), may be available at these four-year schools, or you may have to transfer to another college or university to complete this level of higher education.

Make a list of those technical schools, colleges, university "departments" or special "graduate schools" that offer the program you want. Evaluate the research facilities and the faculty teaching there. Some schools or departments are known for their innovative methods of teaching. You may not have to evaluate the reputation of the entire university, just the department or school where you intend to study.

Finally, take into consideration the duration of each program along with the total cost of obtaining a particular degree. Don't forget to be realistic about the relatively high cost of living in the United States of America and Canada.

Applying Your Previous Education

With few exceptions, post secondary education in your own country will be applied toward your U. S. or Canadian degree program. It is very important for you to supply the school you choose with a complete record of your education and to write a special letter asking if courses from your home country will be counted toward your American degree. You may discover that only a few of your courses will be accepted, but credit for them can be very important in helping you complete your American program more quickly. Many students are pleasantly surprised when virtually all of their previous courses are accepted by an American school.

Because of the general studies requirements, in American higher education, even students who are making a great change in field of study (such as from medicine to computer science, or economics to engineering) will find that courses from home will satisfy many general studies requirements and can save as much as a year of time.

Foreign students often make serious errors when proceeding from one level, such as a bachelor's degree at home, to another level, such as a master's degree in the U.S. particularly when there is an important change in major. Graduate schools in the U. S. have two basic requirements for graduate admission: (1) You must have a bachelor's degree and (2) You must have an adequate undergraduate background in your major. A student with a bachelor's degree in economics from home does not need a bachelor's degree in computer science to enter a graduate computer science program in North America. Instead, the North American college will require completion of certain undergraduate courses prior to acceptance into a master's or Ph.D. program (but not a second bachelor's degree). Students who understand this and who ask many questions about academic rules, may save as much as two or three years of study in completing a graduate degree.

Not all bachelor's degrees from abroad are recognized in the U. S. and Canada. This leads many students to the false conclusion that the American institution is rejecting the entire bachelor's degree program. One of many examples is the student from India with a three-year Bachelor of Commerce who will usually find that American schools will not grant admission to a master's degree program in business. American undergraduate schools, however, will accept the Bachelor of Commerce courses toward a bachelor's degree in business and will often grant nearly three years of credit toward a four-year degree program.

Occasionally, you will find that American colleges will reject all technical courses when you are accepted into an academic program. For example, an engineering school will accept a physics course in mechanics but will reject an applied mechanics course covering manufacturing machinery. On occasion, students may find that higher education from home is not recognized at all by a U. S. institution, though this is not common. It is very important to ask about "transfer credits". Each North American school sets its own standards for granting credit for study at other schools, American or foreign. If one school will accept only half of your credits, apply to another school to see if they will accept more.

Always apply at the appropriate level of education. If you have completed two years of post-secondary education in your home country, you probably should not apply to a community or junior college and you certainly should ask the school's advice before applying. If you have completed a bachelor's degree program, write to graduate schools to see if you meet their requirements for admission before writing to undergraduate schools. Graduate and undergraduate admissions are often handled in separate offices. Always address your inquiries to the Director of Graduate Admissions when you have a bachelor's degree. If you need additional undergraduate study, the Director of Graduate Admissions will explain the requirements.

Self-Evaluation

Evaluate your own academic standards and those of the institution you might want to attend. If the standards are too high for you, chances are you will not be accepted for study; if too low, chances are you will be bored and not challenged as a student.

Keep in mind that most American colleges and universities base their admission decision on academic performance. Scores on standardized admissions tests are also important.

Ask your guidance counselor or teachers if they think you have a chance of being accepted at your first schools of choice.

Study the Foreign Student's Guide to American Schools Colleges and Universities and other school directories and catalogues to determine the type of programs they offer. Find out as many details about an institution as possible. You should try to obtain a catalogue or a brochure from an institution that interests you. You can request it directly from the school, or you may want to ask the International Education Service to obtain several catalogues for you at the same time. This service is free of charge.

Location and Climate

The U. S. and Canada are very large countries. Canada, in fact, is the second largest country in the world, after Russia. The U. S. is about the same size as the continent of Australia. Climate, topography, and population density are extremely varied. There are high mountains and vast, flat plains, deserts and rain forests, sparsely populated areas and huge cities. Both countries stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and feature several of the world's largest lakes and major rivers.

The population of most of the two countries lives in temperate regions with four distinct seasons. Parts of the southern and southwestern U. S., and Hawaii, are warm year round. A few areas of the northern U. S. and Canada have long, cold winters. Though a few students find it difficult to adjust to extremely cold or extremely hot climates, most schools are located in areas with weather between the two extremes. You should ask questions about climate at schools you are considering, if climate is important to you, and be sure to bring appropriate clothing. Looking at a map will not explain much. Southern Alaska, the Pacific Coast of Canada, and Seattle, in the extreme northwestern corner of the U. S., are all warmer in winter and cooler in summer than Denver or Northern Texas. Parts of California have harsh, snowy winters and parts have no cold weather at all.

For most students, other factors are more important than weather in choosing a school location. Do you prefer to be near mountains or the ocean, a large city, small community, or rural area? For students from many countries, it is important to know if there are settlements of people from their home country and whether or not it will be possible to find foods from home. Students may want to ask if there are other people of their religion near the school so they can find a mosque, a temple, or clergy of their faith.

Asking For Advice

Discuss your problems with your educational adviser working at an educational advising center in your city. Many advising centers are located at the U.S. consulate and are operated by the United States Information Service (USIS). Some advising centers are sponsored by your own government, often in conjunction with the U.S. government. Others are sponsored by such organizations as AMIDEAST (in Middle-Eastern countries) or the Institute of International Education (IIE). The International Education Service located in Los Angeles, (Santa Monica) California can also assist you free of charge. Do not hesitate to request assistance from this agency if you need help which can be given from the United States as opposed to your local advising centers.

Many advising centers sponsor meetings at which videotapes, which advise about studying in the U.S.A., are shown. Question and answer sessions follow.

Some advising centers will offer individual sessions at which a counselor will help you make up your mind where and what to study. The advising centers that the U.S. (and Canadian) government or your government operate do not customarily charge students for their advice. Some charge only for expenses such as postage or photocopying work. However, many private educational advisers do charge a fee for their services. Be careful which private agency helps you with your application process, and remember the I-20 form which a school issues you for admissions purposes and to obtain your student visa is never for sale.

Accreditation

American colleges and universities have formed associations that set the educational standards for themselves. The Department of Education maintains a list of recognized accrediting agencies, but there exist many others with an international or sectorial scope. The associations, called "accrediting agencies," evaluate each U.S. college and university. If the institution has achieved an acceptable rating, it is "accredited." Colleges and universities must meet minimum standards to remain accredited.

It is important to attend a school that is accredited, unless you are attending specializing institutions for which no accrediting agency exists. If you do not attend an accredited school, your own country may not recognize your degree, and you may not be able to transfer your credits to another American college or university.

Possibly, your government may insist that you earn a degree from a school with two types of accreditation. One type is regional. Regional accrediting agencies are identified geographically; for example, the "Southwest Association of Schools and Colleges." The other type is by professional accreditation: "Accrediting Commission of Career Schools/Colleges of Technology". Check the latest edition of a book published by The American Council on Education, called "Accredited Institutions of Post-secondary Education." It is available at your local school or educational advising center library.

Accreditation is not required for schools or programs which do not grant degrees, such as English language institutes. These are often legitimate and good schools.

If you have a question about the accreditation of a particular institution, ask your educational adviser, or you may write to the International Education Service.

Costs

Keep in mind that the cost of an American college education includes more than just tuition. Attention must be given to housing, food, books, supplies, health insurance, travel, and of course personal living expenses (vacation trips, entertainment, clothing, etc.) Find out how much it costs to live in the city or town where the university is located. Prices can differ greatly between living in a small town in the Mid-west or a large city on the east or west coast, for example.

The school catalogue or brochure should state the cost of studying there. The Foreign Student's Guide to American Schools Colleges and Universities lists the total cost of living per year or a designated period including tuition.

Costs vary, as you will see in the above mentioned Guide. Private colleges and universities usually have higher tuitions than State supported schools. It is important to remember that even State schools most often charge a higher rate to non-resident or foreign students. At some institutions the tuition for foreign students is two or more times the resident tuition. Room and board, books, supplies and lab fees, health insurance, expenses such as laundry, transportation, telephone, personal items, entertainment, all must be taken into consideration. A rough estimate of average span of costs would be:

State Schools from $9,000 - $20,000, including tuition. Private Schools from $12,000 - $30,000 and more, including tuition.  Rates are for average undergraduate tuition. Certain institutions, such as medical schools for example, will cost much more. Technical, Vocational and English language schools may charge anything from $400.00 per month or more for tuition only. Since these smaller schools may not have dormitory space for you, you must add to this your own cost of renting an apartment, buying your own food, and sometimes providing your own transportation. Some of these schools do not offer complete packages including tuition, room and board.

Larger colleges and universities will most often provide you with a residence and a meal plan for a set amount of money per quarter or semester or a year.

Other Important Considerations

Programs for Spouses

Is your spouse and/or family joining you? If so you might want to know what kind of programs or services are available for them. Many colleges offer special married student housing for couples. English language programs, or special courses may also be offered for spouses of children of students.

Other students

You should know how large the student population is at a possible choice of school. Do you like lots of people around you? Or do you prefer to study with fewer students and have less distractions? Smaller schools may be able to pay more individual attention to their students.

Take into consideration whether the school is all-men, all-women, or co-educational (mixed). Ask about the number of undergraduate and post-graduate students. How many other international students attend the school? Do most of the students belong to a particular religious or ethnic group?

Activities

If you are interested in certain sports, make sure the college offers you the chance to participate in these. What about choir singing, the theater, local politics? If you want to attend concerts or theatrical events, find out if this will be possible where you are studying.

It is worth taking the time to find out the availability of any of your hobbies or pastimes at either the school of your choice or the environs. Many of these questions are answered in the Foreign Student's Guide to American Schools Colleges and Universities. Check all sections including the "Remarks to Foreign Students" section. Your educational adviser will direct you to other sources of information.

Final Step

When you have narrowed your list of colleges or universities, to five or ten, write to these schools for more information. You may also use the request for Application/Information form provided by the International Education Service to request information and/or application materials. These forms are also available in the American Education Magazine and in the back of the Foreign Students Guide.

The schools will mail you brochures with descriptions of their academic programs and activities. If you need further information, visit your school or educational advising center's library to see if they have any catalogues on file. If not, you might want to order one from the school of your choice (there may be a charge for airmail postage and the catalogue).

If you have no specific choice of school, but you need to find an appropriate school, you can fill out the short Application/Information forms provided by IES on which you answer questions regarding preference in major, geographical location, limit on school fees, etc. You can e-mail this form to IES and the IES Placement Service computer will come up with suitable choices for you.

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How To Apply

International students, apart from the usual academic standards, must meet certain financial and legal requirements. Each university has its own particular policies, but as a general rule, the information they will want from you will relate to one of the following items:

Personal Application Form

Academic Records

Teacher Recommendations

TOEFL

Other Tests: SAT/AT, GRE, GMAT, MAT

Application Fee

Proof of Financial Ability

Personal Application Form

Apart from your name, address and citizenship, the Admission Officer will want to know something about your background, your character, your goals and academic ambitions. Their Application for Admission forms are designed to gain this information from you. After you have read the literature in guides or in catalogues sent to you by the institution, you will understand in some way, their philosophy on life and education and what kind of students they are looking for. While obviously you should never give any incorrect or false information, you will now have a good idea of what aspects of yourself you should emphasize in your application. Present yourself in a clearly-written (typewritten is best) manner, stating your background, awards, achievements, interests (academic as well as general), sports trophies, hobbies, and life objectives.

It is important to complete all the parts of the Application for Admission form. If you leave out certain answers, your application may be set aside or not considered at all. Most applications will ask you to enter your "social security number". If you do not have a nine digit social security number assigned to you by the U.S. or Canadian government, just write "none" in the blank space after this question.

Academic Records

All U. S. colleges and universities require official records of your previous study. Even English language programs often require proof of completion of secondary school. Each school has its own rules about the records you must send and most are very strict and allow few, or no, exceptions to their rules. It is very important to read the requirements sent to you with the school's application for admission and to supply exactly the documents required and in the form required.

The North American term "transcript" refers to the official record of courses and marks from your school. Virtually all colleges will require post secondary school transcripts when you have completed any study past high school. If you are a first year student, you will be required to supply your secondary school transcript and sometimes, your diploma as well. Many schools will require your secondary school records or diploma even if you have completed post secondary study. Also, many schools will require course descriptions, in English, for your post secondary courses.

Most North American colleges and universities will accept post-secondary school transcripts only when they are sent directly from university-to-university without passing through student hands.  Read the school's instructions carefully to see if there is such a requirement. Do not expect that any exceptions will be permitted. Work diligently to get your home university to send the transc