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寰宇教育
Global
Pacific Education |
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info@global-edu.org
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USA
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Study Methods
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 |
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September (24 months)
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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 |
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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
GES can assist you with this.
ACT
ACT produces and administers the ACT
Assessment test.
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.
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Calculating
College Costs
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When calculating the annual
cost of a US education at a particular college
or university, add at least $6,000 Appox. to the
published cost of tuition, fees, and room and
board. The College Board publishes college
costs, required admissions tests, and other
useful information in The International Student
Handbook of US Colleges.
When preparing a budget, you
will need to account for the following costs:
- Application fees about $50 to $75 per
school.
- Academic entrance examinations will cost
you around $100 to $200 per examination, and
most students take at least 2 tests. Assume
that you will be spending at least $500 on
tests.
- Tuition and fees will cost between $5,000
and $30,000 Appox. per academic year (9
months), depending on the type and quality of
institution
- Books and study materials will cost $500
to $1,000 Appox. per academic year.
- Travel costs to the US vary, but will be
between $500 and $2,000 Appox. Travel costs
within the US will be between $300 and $700
Appox.
- Room and Board will cost between $3,000
and $7,500 Appox. anually. Allow an extra
$1,000 to $2,000 for vacation periods when the
dormitory might be closed.
- If you will be living off campus, the cost
of renting an apartment will be between $300
and $600 a month, but could be much higher
contingent on the location of the school.
Meals should cost about $2,500 a year,
assuming that you do not eat in restaurants
too many times.
- Clothing will cost $500 or more anually.
- Health insurance will cost $300 to $500
Appox. a year per person, $2,000 to $3,500
Appox. per family.
- Personal expenses will cost around $2,000
Appox. per year.
If you bring other family
members with you, assume that your annual
expenses will increase about 15% or $5,000 Appox.
for each additional family member.
If you wish to buy a car,
assume that it will cost you around $4,000 a
year.
If you will be traveling
during the summer, assume a cost of $50 to $75
Appox. a day for touring. If you will be
continuing your education during the summer, add
half the figure you calculated for the full
year.
Assume that your costs will
increase by about 5% per year due to inflation.
Do not forget to include an allowance of about
10% to account for changes in exchange rates.
Use the financial planning
worksheet to estimate your costs for a year of
study in the US. Be realistic when estimating
costs for personal expenses. |
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