Get ready, go to the US to study!

Considering the best destinations for study overseas, the United States is counted among the most popular ones. The country offers an excellent quality of education. It has some of the world's best universities. The country offers outstanding study programs in various fields.

The annual increase in the number of students in American universities is often phenomenal. The influx of talented students in the US contributes to the development of academia and the professional scene.

Though Study Abroad in the USA is an attractive plan for many, realizing it needs lots of determination and preparation. Admission in US universities is extremely competitive. With varied and tough selection criteria in different universities, students will have to step up to stand a chance.

The students must be well-informed of a particular university's terms and how it matches their qualifications. The applications made to the American universities must be filled and submitted very thoughtfully. They must never underestimate the time taken to apply for admission.

The deadline for accepting international applications is at least 8 to 10 months prior to the commencing of the term. It will be wise to set a schedule and a timeline for the application to avoid missing chances.

So, what are the key steps that you need to take to apply to US universities?

One year to start the course

This is the time you spend in identifying and shortlisting universities. Do this based on your subject of interest. Then explore the courses that are offered by those universities in that subject. With such proper research, you can shortlist universities and colleges in a very focused manner. You will get to decide the best courses that fit into many of the requirements you have.

9-10 months to the course beginning

Most American colleges need the students to take one or more standardized tests prior to applying for admission. For undergraduate studies, students must write an SAT or ACT. For post-graduate courses, students need to write GRE or GMAT. For English proficiency, TOFEL, PTE or IELTS test should be given. The scores of these tests are one of the requirements for admission to the college.

7-8 months to start the course

Now you must understand the documents required for application in the college you wish to join. The requirements may be different for each college. The general list of documents needed for application include:

• Resume
• Statement of purpose
• Academic transcripts
• Extracurricular certificates
• College-specific essays
• Financial proof
• Reference letters

As obtaining many of these documents and assembling them takes time, it’s necessary to be proactive in this regard. For e.g. obtaining bank statements, transcripts, and recommendation letters could take time.

Completing the application and submitting it

Application forms mostly have the option to be submitted online. You must attach all the relevant documents. Also, pay the application fee. Submitting the application before the deadline is essential. International deadlines are usually at least 3 to 4 months prior to domestic deadlines. Hence, following a strict timetable will help you make a successful application, giving better chances in the admission.

It must be your intention to impress the authorities with your application. Remember that the application and its statements tell everything about you. It will decide your chances at admission.

Admission teams do look beyond grades when they look through your application. They look at many other factors that tell a lot about you a lot more like:

• Your talents
• Your abilities
• Your essays
• Your extracurricular activities
• Your work experience if any

These matter a lot while determining your selection. It's therefore important to present yourself in the best manner you can. You must make your application stand out.

In the US, the admission generally starts in September and January. There are institutes that give admissions in May, July, and October. The admission season for top courses in US universities/colleges arrives in September.

Certain qualifying exams are necessary for you to qualify for specific courses.

• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for MBA
• Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for law courses
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for MA or MS
• Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) for UG courses

The cost of living is another factor that matters. In the US, that depends on the place where the student stays. In a typical non-metropolitan city, the living cost would come between Rs. 8,00,000 and Rs. 10,00,000 per year. This could go up to Rs. 15,00,000 for a metropolitan city like New York.

So, with this information, you can plan your journey to study in the US and do it with the help of a foreign study consulting like us.

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