Your application form should be neat and clear to create a good
impression. Unless it specifically asks you to complete the forms by
hand, use a typewriter or word processor. You should fit your
information into the application form provided and only use
additional pages where necessary. Keep your personal information
consistent, and always spell your name the same way on all
documents. This will help schools keep track of your application
materials more easily. Remember that large U.S. universities handle
thousands of student records annually. Do not worry about providing
a Social Security Number — either leave the section blank or write
"none," according to the instructions. Avoid abbreviations; it is
better to write the names and addresses of your schools, employers,
examinations, and awards in full. Always provide information about
your education or employment experiences in a logical order that is
either chronological or reverse chronological order, as required.
You will be asked when you want to study, what level (usually
"freshman" or "transfer"), and the degree you hope to receive.
Remember that it is acceptable for you to write "undecided" on the
section asking about proposed major.
Almost all universities charge a non-refundable application fee that
covers the cost of processing your application. It must be paid in
U.S. dollars either by a dollar check drawn on a U.S. bank or an
international money order obtainable from banks or American Express
offices. Check the school's application form, website, or catalog
for the current cost.
Each college will specify the types of official records it requires
to document past education. In American terms, these are called
transcripts and include a list of classes that you have taken at
secondary school, when they were taken, and the grades you received
for each class.
The U.S. college may furnish special forms on which school
authorities are asked to write your grades and your academic
performance relative to other students in your secondary school. If
such forms are not provided, your school still will be expected to
submit official documents that provide this kind of information on
letterhead paper with the school stamp. If the admissions officer
requests an explanation of the grading and class ranking system or
descriptions of classes taken or subjects you have studied, this
information should be furnished by an official of your school, if
possible. U.S. admissions officers prefer that transcripts of
previous educational work be sent with your application in an
envelope sealed by your school or sent directly from the school.
U.S. colleges either will evaluate your grades and documents
themselves, or they sometimes require international applicants to
pay an outside company, called a credential evaluator, to evaluate
your documents.
In addition to a transcript, you must also send certified copies of
the originals of secondary school diplomas, certificates, final
examination results, or records of your performance in any national
or leaving examinations administered in your home country. Do not
send original documents unless there is no alternative; usually they
cannot be returned. Copies should be certified with an official seal
from the school, or certified by a public official authorized to
certify such documents.
If English translations are necessary, you may use the services of a
professional translator, or you may translate the document yourself.
Such translations must also be certified by an acceptable agency.
Some EducationUSA information and advising centers translate and
certify documents to assist you with the application process. There
may be a charge for such services. Do not attempt to convert your
school results and courses into American terms. Instead, try to
provide as much background information as possible on the grading
system used and the types of diplomas, certificates, or awards
granted.
When you apply to take the ACT, SAT I or SAT II, TOEFL, or other
examinations, you should know which universities you wish to apply
to. In this way, you will be able to specify at that time that you
wish your scores sent to those universities. You will save time and
money by sending the scores at test time rather than requesting
separate scores at a later date. When you submit an application,
also include a photocopy of your test score reports, if possible.
The admissions office can more easily match the official scores with
your application, and, in some instances, they may begin processing
your application with only the photocopy in hand.
"Don't be afraid to pour your heart out — if something is really
important to you, talk about it, because that is what the admissions
officers want to know about you. The important thing, however, is to
be positive: reflect on what experiences meant for you, how they
changed you, what you learned."
— Molecular biology and genetics student from Romania
"I would say the most important part of an application is the
essay…it's your chance to get across that you've got something
extra, an edge."
— Mathematics student from Ghana
Many schools ask applicants to submit a written personal statement
or essay as part of the admissions process. When university
admissions officers read this part of the application, they may look
to see whether the student can contribute to the school and if the
school can meet his or her needs. The personal statement gives
universities a chance to get a personal glimpse of you, an insight
that is not possible in the grades and numbers that make up the rest
of your application. In general, essay questions either require a
specific response or are open-ended. Colleges look for certain
qualities for their student body and tailor their essay questions
accordingly.
Application essays also allow admissions officers to assess your
writing skills, academic ability, organizational skills, purpose in
applying to a U.S. institution, and your reasons for your chosen
field of study. Admissions officers look for strong writing skills,
as well as a demonstration of intellectual curiosity and maturity.
Write the essay far enough in advance so that you have time to put
it aside for a week and then read it again to see if it still makes
sense. This shows through in your essay, and tells admissions
officers that you are a good writer, that you care about the essay,
and that you are willing to take the time to prepare it well.
Some general tips:
DO:
- Answer the question asked.
- Focus on a specific incident or event you remember well -
details are important.
- Consider explaining anything unusual that has influenced
your school or home life.
- Get others to proofread it for grammatical and spelling
errors.
DO NOT:
- Lie.
- Choose a topic merely to look good.
- Say what you think the college wants to hear; just tell the
truth about your reasons for applying to the school.
- Turn down the college's invitation to write more about
yourself.
- Write the essay (or any other part of your application) the
night before it is due.
Make sure that your essay is a true representation of yourself and
your abilities. The most important part of the essay is to be
genuine and honest — admissions officers read several hundred essays
each year and have become experts in picking out fake essays or
those written by parents. The essay is your opportunity to tell the
college why they should accept you over other students — use it as
such.
"Anecdotes are much better than strings of adjectives and adverbs."
— Associate Dean of Admissions, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill
You will usually be asked for at least two recommendations. These
may come from the head or principal of your school, your school
counselor, your personal tutor, or any teachers who know you well.
Your recommenders must be able to write about your work and be able
to assess your potential to do well at college. If you know the
subject in which you plan to major, have your teacher in that
subject write a recommendation. Recommendations from American
teachers are very positive and can be longer and more detailed than
those written by teachers in other countries. Poorly written,
negative, or late recommendations will reflect on your judgment in
picking referees, so choose with care.
Recommendation forms may ask a list of questions or just one general
question. Since recommendations carry a fair amount of weight in the
admissions process, let your recommenders know about your plans and
where you would like to study. A recommendation form may include a
waiver where you can relinquish your right to see what is written
about you. If this option is offered, most admissions officers
prefer you to waive your right so that recommenders may feel more
comfortable when writing their evaluations. Admissions officers
usually interpret waived recommendations as more honest. If your
recommendations must be sent directly from your referees, it is
common courtesy to give them stamped, addressed envelopes. Also
allow plenty of time for your referees to write their
recommendations. Remind them to sign the sealed flap of the envelope
before mailing.
Most universities include a form called a Declaration and
Certification of Finances or Affidavit of Financial Support in their
application packets. This must be signed by your parents or whoever
is meeting your college expenses, and must be certified by a bank or
lawyer. Keep a copy of this form since you will also need it to
apply for your student visa. Schools usually need to know that you
have at least the first year's expenses covered, although many may
also ask you to indicate your source of income for the entire period
of study. If you know when you apply that you will need some form of
assistance from the college, indicate how much you plan to request
from the university. Many U.S. universities operate a "needs-blind"
admissions policy. This means that your financial position is not a
consideration in the decision whether to grant you admission. Please
note, however, that the university will issue the relevant
certificate of eligibility for a student visa only if you are able
to document fully your source(s) of income.
Each university sets its own deadline date, and it is usually firm
about not accepting applications after that time, particularly if a
college is very popular. Deadlines usually fall between January and
March, although they can be as early as November or as late as June.
If, however, a college indicates that it operates "rolling
admissions," late applicants may still have a fair chance of
acceptance. In this case, a university will admit and reject
candidates until the freshman class is filled. It is nonetheless a
good idea to submit your application as soon as possible.
More competitive universities have an "early decision" deadline. In
this instance, you apply early, usually in November, and you can
apply only to that institution. Because of your demonstrated
commitment to the college, your application may be considered
somewhat more favorably than those applying in the regular way. If
you are accepted, you are expected to confirm that you will
definitely attend this institution.
It is your responsibility to ensure that all your documents,
application forms, references, and official score reports reach the
universities safely and on time. Send your applications by
registered mail or by courier if you are very close to deadline
dates. It is worthwhile telephoning or sending an e-mail to colleges
to make sure that they have received your application package and
that they have everything they require. Keep copies of your
application and documents just in case your material gets lost in
the mail; you will be relieved to know that you can supply another
set of information quickly, if this should happen. |
|
