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Below is the recommended timetable for applying to universities
in the United States. It is sometimes possible to complete
the process more quickly, but you may have a much more limited
choice of schools. Planning well ahead gives you sufficient
time to make successful applications to the colleges of your
choice.
12 TO 18 MONTHS PRIOR to the academic year in which
you hope to enroll, begin to consider, research, and do the
following:
- What are your reasons for wanting to study in the United
States?
- Which universities will meet your needs?
- Will you need financial assistance?
- Find out application and financial aid deadlines. This
will affect when you take the standardized tests required
for admission since test results must reach admissions offices
no later than these deadlines. The tests should be taken
in advance of submitting university application forms.
- Register to take standardized tests if required by the
universities to which you are applying.
- Begin narrowing down your choices of schools to approximately
10 to 20 institutions.
12 MONTHS PRIOR to enrollment, complete the following
(months indicated are estimates, based on fall enrollment):
AUGUST
- Contact universities for application and financial aid
forms and catalogs.
- Obtain test registration forms or register on the web to take the TOEFL, the ACT, and SAT
I and SAT II, if necessary.
SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER
- Continue narrowing down your choice of schools. While some students apply to more, 5 to 10 well-researched choices are sufficient.
- Request an official transcript from your school.
- Request letters of recommendation from your teachers.
- Submit completed application forms (for admission as well
as financial aid).
- Double check that transcripts and references have been
sent.
- Take the necessary admissions tests.
JANUARY – APRIL
- University application deadlines must be met; note that
these are for regular admission — early admission deadlines
will be sooner.
APRIL – JUNE
- Letters of acceptance or rejection arrive. Decide which
university to attend, notify the admissions office of your
decision, complete and return any forms they require.
- Send letters of regret to those universities you turn
down.
- Organize finances: arrange to transfer funds to a U.S.
bank; make sure you have funds for travel and expenses on
arrival.
- Finalize arrangements for housing and medical insurance
with your university.
JUNE – AUGUST
- Use information from your Form I-20 or DS-2019 to fill out the SEVIS Form I-901 and pay the $100 required SEVIS fee (see SEVIS information for description of SEVIS form and fee).
- Upon receipt of your I-20 and SEVIS I-901 payment receipt, apply to your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a visa. This should be as far in advance of your departure date as possible (see "Visas").
- Make travel arrangements.
- Contact the International Student Office at your university
with details of your arrival plans, and confirm details
of any orientation for new students held by the university.
Getting Ready to Go
Once you know that you are going to study in the United States,
you will probably have many questions about visas, accommodation,
health insurance, banking, how to study, and other "pre-departure"
information. See 'Predeparture
Information' for further information.
Most EducationUSA information and advising centers conduct
pre-departure orientation presentations in the summer, and
some may also offer sessions midyear Contact your nearest
center for their schedule and to reserve space for these popular
events. Some centers may charge a fee for this service.
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