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How to apply for an American university

Many of us dream of studying at an Ivy League college. But being accepted is not so easy, especially if English is not your first language. Here is some advice to ease you through the application procedure.

Ivy League

This is an association of eight universities and colleges in the United States, made up of Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale. They are among the best colleges in the world, and probably the most difficult to get in to.

application procedure

This is the process of applying to study at a particular college, from writing to the institution to request information, to receiving a final letter of acceptance or rejection. The process varies among colleges, departments, and types of institution (e.g. law school, business school, medical school, graduate or undergraduate school), so don’t assume all applications will be the same.

deadline

This is the final date for applications to be submitted. Meeting the school’s deadline is one of the most simple yet vital parts of the application process, so make sure you check dates carefully and mail your application package well in advance.

Application Essay

This is an essay written by the applicant to describe themselves: their motivations, goals, greatest achievements, personality, and so on. It is also called a Personal Statement, Autobiographical Statement or a Letter of Intent. Whatever the name, if you are required to write one, do it well!

Academic transcript

This is an official copy of your permanent academic record (grades and academic performance), and is required by most schools as part of the application process. Foreign students need a certified translation of this document.

Application Fee

This is a payment that covers the cost of processing tyour application. Application fees range from around $30 to over $75, and are generally not refunded, whether you are accepted or rejected.

Test scores

These are your results on standardized tests like the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test). Foreign students usually also have to submit scores for TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Recommendation letter

This is a letter of support written by someone who knows you, like a former teacher. These letters can seriously influence your application and set you apart from other applicants.

Interviews

This is where the applicant meets representatives from the school face to face, to answer questions about themselves. You can improve your chances of making a good impression by practicing the interview with a friend beforehand.

Paperwork

Foreign students also have to submit other paperwork (documentation) when applying to study in the US, for example proof of immunization, health certificates, evidence of financial support, copies of passports, study visas and so on. The process may be time consuming and troublesome, but a qualification from a top international university could be your first step to a successful career!