May 3
The Timeline for Applying to a U.S. University: Summer
Many international students interested in applying to a U.S. university don’t know when to start. In this post I want to give you the Summer portion of the standard timeline for applying. Following this schedule will give you plenty of time to prepare a successful application.
To make it more “real,” let’s assume that we’re a student who wants to start studying at a U.S. university in the fall of 2010. What do we need to do?
Let’s start with what we should start doing now
- we should be investigating universities in the U.S., and doing basic research about the programs that they offer.
- we should begin preparing for the SAT and TOEFL exams
- we should begin to think broadly about our career plans and our life goals
- we should make sure we get good grades in any courses we are taking at our high school
Over the summer, we should:
- If we feel ready, we should take the TOEFL. Doing so will give us time to retake it if we get a poor score.
- We should make sure to register for the SAT. In 2008, the SAT had administrations in October, November, and December – if we register for the October test, we give ourselves time to retake the test in December.
- Make a list of the top 10 universities you know you’re interested in. Over the summer, learn as much as you can about their programs, with the goal of narrowing that list down to 5-7 universities by the end of the summer. When you compile your list of universities, you should try to divide them into three groups: one or two universities that you “dream” about, but may not get into; three or four universities that are very good fits for you, and that you have a good chance of getting into; and one or two “safety” schools, which may not be your top choice, but which you like and will almost certainly get into.
As Summer draws to a close, be sure to:
- Prepare letters or e-mails to the universities in which you’re interested. You’ll need to ask for application materials.
- Finish your myuface online profile (available early summer). This is like applying to hundreds of schools at once. And it’s free.
- Keep asking yourself the BIG questions: what do you want to do in life? How will studying at a U.S. university help your goals? These questions are obviously important, but having good, well-thought-out answers will help immensely when it comes to writing essays.
These are the essential steps to take over the summer months to make sure you’re prepared to apply to U.S. universities.
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Tags: international students, International students in the U.S., study in the United States, timeline for applying to U.S. universities
