Studying in US: How to apply to a College/University Program/Degree
**1. Deadlines:**
- Applications Accepted: Year-round or specific intervals wrt semester?
- Fall Matriculation Deadline: March 15 est
- Spring Matriculation Deadline: August 15 est
- Summer Admission Deadline:
- Ensure Timely Submission of ALL Required Materials
**2. Application Requirements:**
**A. Personal Information:**
- Full Name
- Date and Place of Birth
- Permanent and Current Addresses
- Names and Email Addresses of Recommenders
- Criminal and Academic Misconduct History
- Citizenship Proof
- State residency history proof
**B. Academic History:**
- List of Schools, Colleges and Universities Attended
- Official or Unofficial Transcripts from ALL Institutions
- Transcripts Must Display Degrees Earned with Date of Conferral
**C. For International Applicants:**
- TOEFL or IELTS Score
- SAT or GRE Score
**D. Other Information:**
- Ethnicity
- Residency
- U.S. Military Affiliation
- Awards, Recognitions, Fellowships, Scholarships
- Other Universities to you may be Applying to
**3. Application Review Process:**
- Decisions Commence Approximately 2-12 Weeks After Deadline
- Decisions Released 2-24 Weeks After Deadline
- Avoid Inquiring About Decision Status, as It May Delay Review Process
- Follow-up Email with Specific Timetable Sent to All Applicants After Deadline
**4. Recommendations:**
- Select Recommenders Familiar with Your Scholarly Characteristics
- Preferably Current or Former Teachers and Supervisors
Note: Ensure Compliance with All Application Requirements to Avoid Rejection or Indefinite
**Documentation and Application Details:**
- Include transcripts from ALL schools/colleges/universities attended for academic credit.
- Answer all questions succinctly and directly.
- Upload supporting documents into the application.
- Submit a résumé, as it's required for evaluation.
- Ensure truthful responses to the "Yes/No" questions in the application.
**Referrals and References:**
| Type of Reference | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Academic References | Professors who taught you relevant courses |
| Work References | Supervisors with direct knowledge of your skills |
| Excluded References | Peers, family, friends, or irrelevant individuals |
| Required Credentials | Credentials related to the field to demonstrate competence |
**Exclusion of Irrelevant Information:**
- Avoid discussing motivations or experiences predating school for bachelors applications or predating college for graduate applications.
- Refrain from listing coursework already detailed in transcripts unless necessary to illustrate relevant concepts.
- For graduate school; exclude hobbies, personal interests, or non-related aspects of life from your application.
- Omit non-graded, non-academic-credit coursework.
- For graduate school; exclude pre-undergraduate background as it's irrelevant to graduate school.
**Common Application Problems and Solutions:**
- Avoid submitting out-of-date transcripts for in-progress school/degrees.
- Ensure transcripts are concise (less than 10 pages) and display the conferral date for completed degrees.
- Provide explanations for poor school, undergraduate and/or graduate GPAs if applicable.
**General Advice for Graduate School Applications:**
- Start early and organize all necessary documents well in advance of the application deadline.
- Research the program thoroughly to tailor your application to the specific requirements and expectations.
- Highlight any relevant experiences, achievements, or skills that demonstrate your readiness for graduate-level coursework.
- Seek feedback from mentors, advisors, or professionals in the field to strengthen your application materials.
- Double-check all application components for accuracy and completeness before submission.
- Follow any additional instructions or guidelines provided by the university or program.
**Additional Tips:**
- Attend information sessions or webinars hosted by the university to gain insights into the application process and program offerings.
- Connect with current students or alumni of the program to learn about their experiences and gain valuable insights.
- Consider reaching out to faculty members or potential advisors to express your interest in their research areas or academic interests.
- Be proactive in addressing any potential weaknesses in your application, such as low GPA or limited research experience, by providing context or evidence of growth and improvement.
- Stay organized and maintain clear communication with the admissions office or program coordinators throughout the application process.
**Researching Tuition and Fees:**
- Visit the university's website and navigate to the section on tuition costs.
- Locate the page titled "View Tuition Costs by Semester" or a similar resource.
- Identify the section for bahelor/graduate-level programs, which may include Rates for Local Campus, Online, Study Abroad, Specialty Programs, Executive Education Programs, etc.
- Find the specific degree and program you are interested in and look for the program's tuition and fees by credit hour.
**Determining Costs:**
- Determine the number of hours (or credits) you plan to take for all your semesters.
- Determine whether you will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition.
- Understand the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
**Additional Advice for Applying to University:**
- Start the application process early to ensure you have enough time to gather all necessary documents and information.
- Research financial aid options, scholarships, and grants to help offset program costs.
- Consider the overall affordability of the program, including living expenses, textbooks, and other associated costs.
- Reach out to the university's financial aid office or admissions department if you have any questions or need clarification on tuition and fees.
- Explore opportunities for part-time work or assistantships within the university to help cover expenses.
- Keep track of important deadlines for submitting financial aid applications, scholarship applications, and the university's application for admission.
- Consider creating a budget to manage your expenses throughout your academic program and beyond.
- Seek advice from current students or alumni of the program to gain insights into their experiences with tuition costs and financial aid opportunities.