Advantages of a US Education

The US educational experience is the best globally. Many US colleges and universities are known worldwide for the quality of their academic programs. Private institutions such as Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Cornell, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and public institutions such as University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of California at Berkeley, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are familiar to students, educators, and business leaders everywhere. Additionally, to the more well-known institutions, the US has hundreds of other high quality public and private colleges and universities. The depth and breadth of options is amazing.

You will find that a US higher education adds considerable value to your professional development. A US education can enhance your career and prepare you for leadership in your country. It widens your horizons and gives you a variety of perspectives, the latest technology, and state-of-the-art research and training. A degree from a US college or university is a stamp of excellence that marks you for life.

If you are a graduate student, a US education can help you make contacts with colleagues in the US. This may lead to collaborations with leading international researchers after you return to your home country. Even undergraduate students will find a solid network of support because the US is a "melting pot" of diverse cultures and there are more international students in the US than anywhere else. So you will get help not just from the foreign student advisor, but also from people in the local community

With the large number and variety of colleges and universities in the US, you are certain to find one that matches your specific needs.

On the other hand, a US education is extremely expensive. Financial aid is very limited. You may be able to obtain similar training in your own country at a much lesser rate. You will have to balance the cost against the prestige and quality of a US education.

Calendar and Checklist

The following calendar and checklist will help you with your college admissions planning. It begins 24 months (2 years) before your planned enrollment date.

When	What
September (24 months)	Begin your search for colleges. Visit the nearest educational advising center and the library. Explore college sites on the web. Talk with family, friends, and acquaintances who have studied in the US. Write to 10-15 schools for information
October-November (22-23 months)	Start preparing for the TOEFL exam and other admissions tests (e.g., GRE, GMAT, or SAT).
December - May (16-21 months)	Register for the TOEFL exam and other admissions tests.
January (20 months)	Choose the schools to which you will apply. Request application materials if you have not already.
March - June (15-18 months)	Take the TOEFL and other admissions tests. You must take the tests before November, or you will miss the deadlines at most universities. Taking the tests now gives you a chance to improve your scores by taking them again in October.
May (16 months)	Select the teachers you will ask for letters of recommendation.
July (14 months)	Read the college applications and backtrack the deadlines to allow enough time to complete them. Remember to allow for delays in the mail. Narrow your list of schools to 10.
August (13 months)	Write a draft of your application essays and statement of purpose. Get feedback on it from friends and an English teacher.
September (12 months)	If you want to try improving your scores on the TOEFL and other exams, register for a second set of tests.
September (12 months)	Ask your teachers to write letters of recommendation for you. Given them the necessary forms and a stamped, addressed envelope.
October (11 months)	Complete your essays and application forms, including the financial aid application forms. Airmail them. Ask your schools to send certified copies of your academic transcripts.
October (11 months)	Take the TOEFL and other exams again, if required.
November (10 months)	Check with your teachers and the school to make sure your recommendations and transcripts have been posted.
December (9 months)	Respond promptly to any requests for additional data.
April-May (4-5 months)	You will start hearing from colleges. Contact the admissions office if you do not receive anything from them. Accept one school's offer, and notify them and the others of your choice. Ask the school to send you the I-20 or IAP-64 form. Make permanent accommodation arrangements if you will be staying on-campus, temporary housing arrangements if you will be living off-campus. Apply for a passport if you do not already possess one.
June (3 months)	Apply for a visa. Attend pre-departure orientation programs in your country. Make travel arrangements. Plan to arrive at least 15 days before orientation (2 months if you have to take an English course).
July-August(1-2 months)	Have a nice trip!

Academic Entrance Examinations

All schools require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). See the English as a Second Language section for more information about TOEFL.

Schools may also require tests of general academic preparation, such as the SAT or ACT, and field-specific tests such as the Achievement Tests.

All of these tests are standardized, multiple choice tests, written in English. If you do not have a high level of English proficiency, you will not do well on these tests, no matter how strong your academic background.

About one month after the examination, your scores will be sent to the institutions you mentioned on the application form. It will take an additional 2 to 4 weeks for you to receive your copy of the score report, so it is best to not wait to see the scores before sending them to the schools to which you have applied.

For more information about the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and other standardized exams, please see below.

Admissions Testing

Geebee Education can assist you with this.

ACT

ACT produces and administers the ACT Assessment test. For more information, call 1-319-337-1448 or write to American College Test, PO Box 414, Iowa City, IA 52243 USA.

Educational Testing Service (ETS)

ETS produces and administers several standardized assessments of educational preparation, including the SAT, Achievement Tests, GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL exams. These sites include tutorials and practice questions. For more information about the TOEFL, visit www.toefl.org, call 1-609-771-7100, fax 1-609-771-7500, write to ETS, PO Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155, or send email to toefl@ets.org. For more information about ETS, call 1-609-921-9000, fax 1-609-734-5410, write to ETS, Rosedale Road, Princeton, NJ 08541, or send email to etsinfo@ets.org.