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You must have a solid background in basic academic skills,
particularly those that relate to your field of study. Otherwise,
you may find that it may take longer for you to adapt to the pace
and demands of university work in the United States. Talk to your
teachers and faculty advisers at the school you are presently
attending. Ask for an evaluation of your academic strengths and
weaknesses and for suggestions on how you might improve the weaker
skills before coming to the United States. Prior to your departure, review the current edition of the college or university catalog of your chosen school for detailed information concerning instructional facilities and teaching resources, course requirements, and descriptive listings of courses offered. Look up the catalog on the Internet or contact your nearest EducationUSA information and advising center since they often have copies of university catalogs in their library. Finally, it is very important to understand the terms of your admission, as stated in your letter of acceptance. If you have been admitted conditionally or as a "special student," you will be expected to fulfill certain requirements before being granted degree-candidate status. The specific requirements that must be fulfilled to attain degree-candidate status are usually stated in the admission letter. If you are unsure of any of the educational requirements, talk to your U.S. educational adviser about what will be expected of you during your academic stay in the United States, or check directly with the international admissions officer whose name is listed on your letter of acceptance. Typing Skills and Computer Literacy Before you come to the United States, you should learn to type on a computer with English characters. Many university courses require written assignments called "papers" that must be typed. Especially if you are a graduate student, you may have to prepare a typed thesis or dissertation. In engineering, mathematics, or fields that use statistics, you will most likely have to use computers to work on complex problems. Use of the library may also depend on skills in using a computer. A few universities now require all students to purchase a personal computer. Many universities offer informal computer courses at the beginning of each semester. They can help you become familiar with basic computer functions and software packages. Language Skills The success of your educational experience in the United States rests largely on your ability to understand, speak, read, and write the English language. Experience has shown that no other single factor is as important to academic success as proficiency in English. Most academic institutions in the United States require as part of their application process that foreign students take an English examination, like the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Some schools require a second institutional English proficiency exam before students are allowed to register for classes. Requirements vary with different schools and there may be costs involved. The admissions officer at your college or university will give you information regarding English language requirements for foreign students. If you are offered a graduate teaching assistantship, the school may require that you take a special test to measure your ability to speak English. One examination used for this purpose is the Test of Spoken English (TSE). Ease with spoken English does not necessarily guarantee adequate skills in written English. Even native English speakers often need additional assistance with reading and writing for academic purposes. If you can read and write English easily and have a good vocabulary, it will be easier to study and to finish assignments on time. Lectures are the most common method of instruction in U.S. colleges and universities. Professors will not reduce their normal lecture speed to accommodate you. You must be able to understand English well, and you must be able to take notes easily on facts, ideas, and references presented in lectures. Improving Your English Skills To increase proficiency in English and achieve greater success in your studies, use every opportunity to improve your language skills before coming to the United States.
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