How Do I Get Started
Once youve made up your mind about where you want to study, you should start to think about choosing a program and a university, if you havent already. You can research leading universities with the QS World University Rankings®, use the subject rankings to discover universities which are best for your subject, and also consult national rankings of universities in your chosen destination.
Youll then want to look closely at the courses offered by the institutions on your shortlist, as well as researching the local area and lifestyle, admission requirements and costs.
Once youve firmly decided on your program and institution, you should start to think about your application. Application processes differ depending on the university and the country, but generally each institution will provide full details of how to submit your application on the official website.
In some cases, there is a two-step application process for international students. This means you must submit two applications: one for a place at the university and one for a place on the course itself. This should be clearly stated on the universitys website. If you still have questions about the process, you should contact your chosen university directly.
If you think you might need a student visa, remember that in most cases you wont be able to apply for one until you have received a letter of acceptance from your chosen university. Each stage can take several months, so allow as much time as possible.
Studying Abroad Is A Major Life Decision That Takes Immense Planning To Help With This Confusing Study Abroad Application Process Here Is A Simple Step
Choosing the perfect university program and applying for it is already a complicated process. But abiding by the timelines and deadlines is even more complex. You can use this helpful step-by-step guide that tells you all about how to apply to universities abroad.
Want to apply to schools for your higher education? Take a look at this video about how to apply to universities abroad!
Where In The World Should I Study
Choosing where in the world you wish to study is not always an easy task. As well as your own personal interests, you should think about practicalities such as the costs of studying in that country , your graduate career prospects and your overall safety and welfare.
You should also think about what sort of lifestyle you wish to have during your studies. Do you want to live in a big city or a small university town? Do you want arts and culture on your doorstep or world-class sporting facilities? Whatever your interests, be sure to match them up with your study destination so that you really give yourself the best chance of loving your international experience.
If you need help making up your mind, take a look at some of the most popular destinations Australia, Canada, Germany, the UK and the US or use the links below to view our university rankings and full range of country guides:
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Tips For Applying To College Abroad
First and foremost, if you’re applying to study abroad for a semester or year while you are already enrolled at college in your home country, then you can meet with the study abroad adviser at your school for guidance. Likewise, if you’re applying for a bachelor’s program abroad straight out of high school, then you can meet with your guidance counselor. If you’re applying for a master’s program abroad, then you will have to do a lot on your own, but there are many resources online to help you with the process.
Another tip is to ask questions to those who have studied abroad before you. They can serve as a mentor and guide you whenever you hit a bump in the application process. Some colleges abroad also hold sessions or attend college fairs in different cities, and you can attend one of these to get more information.
Research And Pick Schools
In order to be realistic and flexible you should know your options. There are thousands of universities and colleges in the United States. And there are good choices for just about everyone, from community colleges to private, liberal arts colleges and large, public universities. The ivy leagues arent the only universities with stellar programs. And dont forget about English language programs. This might be where you need to start your higher education career.
Here are some fantastic resources to get you started:
Your local EducationUSA Advising Office Attend higher education fairs in your country or sign up for virtual fairs online StudyUSA.com Your high school careers advisor U.S. News and World Report American newspapers and news websites
Pick 5-10 schools to apply to. Dont forget to read their admission requirements before applying.
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Can Degrees Be Transferred Across Countries
One thing you should consider before applying to college in another country is whether or not your degree can be transferred either back to your home country or to other countries across the world. The first step is to look for a school that is accredited in its home country, and it is even better if it is internationally accredited. Then, it’s important to search for a degree program that’s usually transferable within that, such as a business degree, a degree in liberal arts or an engineering degree.
While a bachelor’s degree in itself is usually recognized around the world, some majors are not as easily transferable, such as a degree in education, medicine or law. One degree that’s definitely easy to transfer and great for studying in another country is a language degree. If you want to major in Spanish, for instance, then it would be very wise to study that in a Spanish-speaking country.
Add A School To The Osap Approved List
If the school is located outside of Ontario but not approved for OSAP you can ask the government to consider approving the school.
To make a request, you will need to:
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Dont Underestimate The Sat/act Or Toefl
Doing well on standardized tests is important for all college applicants, and it becomes even more significant for international students in the USA. The TOEFL shows admissions officers that you have the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills to succeed in college-level classes. The SAT and ACT, furthermore, show your academic skills and college readiness.
These tests are meant to measure students on a level playing field, regardless of differences in individual high schools and curriculum . Admissions officers may be unfamiliar with your school abroad, so they especially rely on these test scores to make sure you have college-ready skills.
As discussed above, you should set aside several months to prep for each test and leave yourself additional test dates if you want to retest and achieve your target scores. If your sights are set on a U.S. college, then make sure you have the SAT or ACT and TOEFL scores to compete with other applicants.
Tips For Your College Application
Preparing to apply to college is a process that can start at the beginning of high school. Colleges will look at all four years of your classes, grades, and extracurricular involvements, so it helps to consider your college goals as you make choices throughout 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade.
Most students apply to several colleges typically, eight or nine is a good number. That way they can maximize their chances of getting accepted. Students usually apply to two to three safety schools, or ones where their credentials are well above that of the average accepted student. They also apply to schools to which getting accepted is more challenging – usually two to three match schools and two to three reach schools.
The application forms themselves are not all that time-intensive. You should give yourself at least a month before your deadlines to fill them out and proofread for any errors. As an international student, you might be in a good position to emphasize any language skills or unique multicultural experiences that you have.
The aspects of your application that require months, if not years, of planning, are your SAT/ACT scores, TOEFL scores, essay, and letters of recommendation, as youll learn more about below. First, lets consider another piece of your college application, your high school transcript.
Depending on college policy, you might need to translate your transcript.
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How I Use Asana To Help Students Applying For College Abroad Stay Organized
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no cost to you, I may receive a commission for a purchase made through the links.
When students or families come to me wondering how to apply for college in the UK, for example, one of the most common things I hear is that they just don’t know where to begin, what to focus on or when.
They often find themselves stuck in analysis paralysis, bogged down with so many details and data from who knows how many sources or websites, struggling to cut through the noise–ultimately not able to take any action.
They can see the end goal, but the path to get there on their own is like trying to read printed out MapQuest directions in the car, while billboards on every corner tell them a different way to go.
They’re just overwhelmed by it all.
But this is where I come in–helping students stay organized with a clear vision of what needs to happen and when .
Thinking back to my days studying project management in Australia, I like to say that the process of applying for a bachelor’s or master’s overseas is like being a project manager.
There is a lot to organize, and there are certain steps that have to be completed before being able to move on to the next one.
For example, you can’t jump to submitting applications before writing the personal statement, and you can’t write the personal statement before knowing what you want to study.
If I write it in a spreadsheet for them, it probably still won’t get done on time.
How To Apply To College Abroad With A Scholarship
To enroll in colleges abroad, you must meet certain conditions. The first one is to be in the last year of high school or to have recently graduated. Then have great academic performance.
Many foreign universities offer incentive programs
Mastering English is important and fitting into the socioeconomic conditions of each college to compete for the scholarship is fundamental.
For Harvard, for example, in addition to being an excellent student, it is necessary to prove some conditions. Harvard’s annual price ranges between $43,000 and $63 thousand. In the first case, it is for those who are going to study, while the last is for those who will also live at the institution.
See too: Harvard University: where is it, price, how to enter and courses
Students whose families have an income of less than $65,000 receive a 100% scholarship. Families with an income between 65,000 and 150,000 contribute up to 10% of their income.
Another group of fellows pay a much smaller amount. There are 12 thousand a year and they can receive aid with a grant of 50 thousand dollars a year.
But all values can be traded. This will depend on the financial situation of each family and everything is assessed individually.
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Be Confident For The Interview
The last stage of the application process might be an admission interview. Some schools like the University of Oxford and certain elite programs conduct interviews to find which candidates are more qualified to get into the school. The interview usually starts with why you want to study in this school or program, your background and plans for the future. Practice for the interview, be confident and dont let the formal setting stress you out. Remain calm and dont speak too quickly or slowly.
How Applying Is Different
There are a few extra steps if youre applying as an international student. First, you might have to take the TOEFL if youre from a country where the official language is something other than English. The TOEFL is a test that demonstrates your English language proficiency.
Second, you may need to get your transcript and any other academic credentials evaluated by an approved organization. This evaluation puts your courses and grades into U.S. terms so that admissions officers can understand them.
If financial aid is important to you, then youll have to figure out whether you can obtain aid directly from colleges.Federal financial aid is only available to U.S. citizens. You might also apply for outside scholarships open to international students.
Finally, youll need to sort out the legal requirements of living in the U.S. by applying for a student visa. Usually, you apply for your student visa after gaining admission to a college and accepting a place in the next class.
Now that you have a sense of the unique requirements for international student admission, lets dive into the application process, step by step.
Read on to learn how each piece of the international student application fits together!
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Remember That Many Colleges Use A Holistic Process
While test scores are important, remember that theyre not the only part of your application. Many colleges use a holistic process to admit students, in which they consider your personal qualities and impact in your school community.
Admissions officers want to learn about your interests and pursuits in and out of school. Theyre interested in your extracurricular involvements and any leadership positions. They want to see if youve done community service, volunteered, or worked a part-time or summer job. They also gain a sense of your role in your school community through your letters of recommendation.
Admissions officers tend to be more impressed by deep involvement in a few areas than scattered participation in many areas. You might keep this in mind as you move through high school and choose your activities, as well as when you describe your involvements on your application.
Ultimately, applying to college requires a lot of self-reflection about your identity and goals for the future. Think about whats important to you and what you hope to achieve. Then, reflect this self-awareness through your essays and application as a whole.
Why Attend College Abroad
Most students study abroad for only one academic term or year. Theyre still enrolled at their home university in the US during this time, and that home university often helps them manage the logistics of academic planning, housing, and support before, during, and after their time abroad.
Attending college abroad is a longer-term commitment that allows students to more deeply immerse themselves in the culture and lifestyle of wherever theyre studying. Its not an educational trip its actually living and working in a new place for four years.
There are a wide range of reasons why a student might attend college abroad. You might be looking for an adventure, or you might want to access the resources of a particular school that happens to be outside the US. You might have family or friends in your country of choice, or you might want to pursue a career in which international experience is valuable. Whatever your reasons, youre not alone in your interest a UNESCO study in 2014 found over 60,000 students from the US temporarily living in other countries and attending school there.
Given the number of interested students, procedures and resources exist to help make attending college abroad possible. Even with these guidelines, theres a lot to think over and prepare for, and there are many logistical and personal hurdles youll encounter along the way. Next, well go over some of the specific topics youll need to consider when making your plans.
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Tips For Your Letters Of Recommendation
Just as you should give yourself plenty of time to write your college essay, you should give your recommenders sufficient time to write your letters. You should ask your recommenders at least one month before your deadlines. You might also ask at the end of junior year.
Its best to ask teachers who had you recently and for a whole year junior year teachers tend to be a good bet. If your teachers write in another language, then youll have to get your letters translated.
The best letters come from educators who know you well, so you should ask teachers with whom you have a strong connection. You might also via conversation and a brag sheet, a document you can prepare to help your teachers. You could talk about your favorite classes, significant experiences, and academic and personal goals for college.
For many colleges, your recommendation letters are a very important part of your college application. Admissions officers are sifting through many strong applicants and trying to gain a clearer idea of who you are as a person. Your recommendation letters are a great opportunity to showcase your positive relationships with your teachers and successes in school.
Now that weve gone over the main parts of your college application – the application itself, transcript, standardized testing scores, essays, and letters of recommendation – lets consider some final tips for applying to college as an international student.
Applying To Study Abroad
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