We take no responsibility for any inaccuracy in the information presented.  Note also, that the interpretation of the law can vary substantially according to the regulations and policy promulgated by the concerned government agencies.  Law Offices, Rajiv S. Khanna, P.C.

FOURTEEN STEPS TO STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES

STEP 1: Consult an advising center

STEP 2: Define your educational and career objectives

STEP 3: Determine whether you meet admission requirements

STEP 4: Arrange to take required graduate admissions examinations

STEP 5: Evaluate your ability to finance U.S. study

STEP 6: Arrange to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination, and, if necessary, the TSE (Test of Spoken English) examination

STEP 7: Prepare for enrollment by selecting 10 to 15 appropriate institutions

STEP 8: Write to the Graduate Admissions Office of the institutions you have selected and ask for an application and information. When application forms arrive, prepare them carefully, including all the items requested

STEP 9: If you need financial aid, begin to took for sources

STEP 10: Wait for offers of admission; supply any additional items requested

STEP 11: Accept one offer of admission; write to the institutions you will not attend

STEP 12: Decide whether you will live in housing on-campus or off

STEP 13: Apply for a student visa

STEP 14: Attend a predeparture orientation session at your advising center

External Links On Student Visa Information

FAQ's on F Visa

SOURCES:

GLOSSARY:

IF YOU WANT TO STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES:
GRADUATE STUDY

IS U.S. STUDY APPROPRIATE FOR YOU?

Hundreds of thousands of students from other countries annually come to the United States to study. Most have a rewarding academic and personal experience and return to their home country, well prepared to begin or resume a career. For a few, the experience may be disappointing. The difference lies in planning, and knowing the facts well in advance.

Many foreign students considering an educational experience in the United States fail to get information and advice based on their individual needs and abilities, as well as the differences in American colleges and universities. As a result, they may enter an educational institution in the United States with expectations that cannot be fulfilled. To find if study in the United States will be the best alternative for you, you need information about study options available in your field in the United States and for employment after you return.

First, contact the American embassy, consulate or United States Information Service (USIA) office in your country to locate the nearest educational advising center. Such centers are often found in U.S. Information service offices, in American libraries, in binational centers, in Fulbright Commission offices; or in some countries, at AMIDEAST or Institute of International Education (IIE) offices.

Qualified educational advisers in these offices provide information and most services free of charge. When you go, or if you inquire by mail, you should state the following:

• Degree sought and degrees already earned;
• Your field of study and research goals;
• Whether or not you need financial aid;
• When you want to begin study;
• Your English language proficiency; and
• Where in the U.S. you want to study.

Many advising centers also offer group programs about the application and selection procedures, as well as predeparture orientation programs. The educational advisers can assist you in answering questions about:

• Equivalence between the educational system in your country and the United States;
• Entry requirements for study in your field;
• Use of reference materials to find appropriate institutions;
• Sources of financial assistance available in your home country and in the United States;
• Testing requirements and applications;
• How to prepare your applications;
• How to plan your education;
• Adjusting to academic and cultural life in the United States;and
• Using your education after you return to your home country.

In addition to educational advisers, graduates of U.S. colleges and universities who have recently returned home are excellent resources for advice about the benefits and costs of study in the United States.

STEP 2: DEFINE YOUR EDUCATIONAL AND STEP CAREER OBJECTIVES.

Because educational objectives are usually related to a specific career goal, you need to consider how study in the United States will fit into your long-range plans, and whether this study will be fully recognized at home. Ask yourself some important questions:

What career do I want to pursue?
Is employment available in this field in my home country?
An educational adviser will have information about the skills and background needed for various careers, as well as knowledge of the need for professionals in various fields in your country.

How can study in the U.S. enhance my career?
Consult educators, government officials and working professionals in your country to determine the usefulness of U.S. study for you at this point in your career. Check to see if there are revalidation or certification procedures for employment and take these into account in your planning.

Can I receive the same training at less expense in my own country or in a nearby country?
In some countries, particularly those with educational systems markedly different from those in the United States, postgraduate degrees from the United States may not be recognized, or may be recognized at a different level. If this is the case, you may still consider U.S. study to gain information and experience.

Will my U.S. degree be accepted when I return?
Will it offer the right kind of qualification for the kind of work I want to do?
Check with your Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education, or other appropriate authority before you go, to find out if recognition of study abroad will pose any problems.

STEP 3: DETERMINE WHETHER YOU MEET STEP ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS.

The three basic requirements for admission to educational institutions in the U.S. are:

• A strong academic background;
• Adequate financial resources; and
• A command of the English language.

To be eligible for a graduate level program, you should have completed at least four years of university education and earned a first academic or professional degree. This is usually the equivalent of 16 years of study. If your first academic degree only required three years, if you have completed only 14 or 15 years of study, or if your degree study involved only a single technical field, ask your educational adviser about policies of various universities in the United States. Although universities follow the same general guidelines, they may differ in the level at which they recognize a particular degree from your country.

Graduate school applicants should also have excellent grades, particularly in the chosen field of study. Most graduate departments require a "B" ("3.0") grade average for undergraduate work. Your educational adviser will be able to tell you the equivalent grade average in your own educational system. Proven research ability or relevant work experience definitely increase your chances of admission at the graduate level.

STEP 4: ARRANGE TO TAKE REQUIRED GRADUATE ADMISSIONS EXAMINATIONS.

Most graduate departments require at least one academic admissions examination, either a general aptitude test such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or a demonstration of proficiency in your Field (GRE subject test), or sometimes both. See Table I for a description of academic admissions examinations that may be required (these are in addition to an English proficiency examination, Table III, required of non-native speakers of English). Professional schools such as law, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine have special examinations tied to placement schemes; see the booklet Scholars and Professionals in this series.

These tests are standardized, multiple choice tests that require a high degree of English proficiency. Some also require mathematical skills or in-depth knowledge of content related to the field of study. To obtain information about these examinations, consult your advising center or write to the addresses in Table I.

Usually the faculty of each department within each university determines the requirement for various entrance examinations, as well as the weight given to the result; in consequence, there is no general rule to follow with respect to examination requirements.

To find out if you need to take one or more of these entrance examinations, consult reference books at the advising center. These reference books also give ranges of the score levels of successful applicants. There are no passing or failing grades on these examinations, but your score will have an effect on the overall competitiveness of your application.

These tests are only one of the factors in the evaluation of a foreign student's record. Admissions officers are aware that you may be taking the examinations in a language other than your native tongue, and they will take this into account.

STEP 5: EVALUATE YOUR ABILITY TO FINANCE U.S. STUDY.

In making a financial assessment of whether or not study in the United States will be possible for you, consider the following:

Foreign students currently in the U.S. agree that study in the United States is usually more expensive than they had expected. You must plan for the total cost of living and studying over a period of one to two years for a master's degree and three to seven years for a doctoral degree. The total "published" cost for one academic year (1990-1991) ranges from $8,500 to $18,000 per academic year. The total cost will usually be at least year higher than the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board, published in $6,000 per year higher than the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board, published in the university catalog. About 75 percent of all foreign students are funded by home-country sources, either from private funds or home-country scholarships. If graduate departments offer financial assistance, they often wait until after the first year of graduate study. if your field enjoys a high level of grant funding for research in U.S. universities, however, you may be able to qualify for a research assistantship in the first year. Current immigration regulations restrict the possibility of working outside the university to support yourself as a student. Even if you can find work, no job that you could find pays wages that will cover all your expenses.

Estimating Expenses for One Academic Year

When you apply for a student visa, you will need to show evidence of support adequate to cover study and living expenses for at least one academic year. (An academic year usually lasts nine months.)

The cost of study varies widely among institutions, and the cost of living varies from one location to the next. To compare total costs, therefore, you will need to do some research. A basic reference is: The College Board Handbook: Foreign Student Supplement, published by the College Board. This book compares tuition and the cost of living based on estimates from each institution.

Table II details costs involved in U.S. study for one academic year of nine months. Costs are for an unaccompanied student unless otherwise indicated. Sponsored students should check with their sponsoring agency about terms of their support. After arrival in the United States, they should maintain contact with designated agencies or, if sponsored by the homecountry government, with the cultural or education section of their embassy in the United States.

Economic Factors

If you plan to receive funds from your home country, fluctuations of the exchange rate between currency in your country and the U.S. dollar may make a significant difference in the dollar value of your funds over the period of your stay in the United States.

In financial planning, you should adjust cost estimates to allow for inflation. In recent years, the rate of inflation in the United States has been under five percent annually.

Hidden Costs

In addition to published costs, which include application fees, tuition, miscellaneous fees, books, health insurance, and room and board, you will need to add at least $6,000 per academic year to cover "hidden" costs. These hidden costs, detailed in Table II, include personal expenses, costs when residence halls are closed, required health insurance and medical expenses which may exceed coverage, and changes in the value of currency. if you travel or study during the summer, if you live off campus, if you bring other members of your family, or if you buy a car, you must add in these extra costs.

Income Sources

Consider all funds available, and how much can be drawn from each source. For example:

• Annual family income, the earnings per year of each member of the immediate family who will provide money toward your education;
• Family assets, current holdings in bank accounts, investments in stocks and bonds, business enterprises, debts owed to the family, and any other assets from which money could be drawn or obtained through sales or loans in an emergency;
• Your own earnings until departure, savings from earnings and gifts, investments or property; and
• Other sources, such as relatives in the United States, or a sponsor (individual, government agency, or private organization) in your country who has agreed to pay all or part of your educational expenses.

Using a Financial Worksheet

On a financial worksheet, estimate your expenses for each major item for one academic year at the institution(s) in which you are interested. Estimate other expenses according to where you will be living, what sort of housing is available and other factors that you can anticipate. Then list and add the amounts that will be available for your educational expenses from each of the sources described above and convert the total to U.S. dollars. If the total is less than the costs anticipated for the first year, you will need financial aid to make up the difference, plus an extra amount for emergencies. For each additional year of study, repeat this process, adding an appropriate amount to cover inflationary increases.

To avoid disappointment, do not plan to make up the difference by working or finding a scholarship once you get to the United States.

Financial Assistance

Many students in other countries seem to believe that foreign students can easily get the money they need for study once they have been admitted to a college or university in the United States. That is an incorrect assumption and can lead to hardship and disappointment. Most institutions have committed all their scholarship and loan funds long before the academic year begins. Accordingly, the best time to arrange U.S.-based financial assistance is before you leave home for the United States. Applications for financial aid must be initiated as early as one-and-a-half years before departure. See Step 9 for suggestions on searching for financial aid.

STEP 6: ARRANGE TO TAKE THE TOEFL EXAMINATION, OR IF NECESSARY, THE TSE EXAMINATION.

To complete graduate academic study in the United States successfully, you will need to be able to read, write and communicate orally in English with a high degree of proficiency. English language proficiency is a requirement for gaining admission to U.S. institutions of higher education as well as for achieving your academic and personal goals while in the United States.

Assessment of English Language Proficiency

To determine your level of English language proficiency, arrange to take the TOEFL as early as possible -- at least a year before you plan to enroll. Most institutions require a score of 550 to 600 on the TOEFL examination for graduate academic admission. A few accept scores as low as 500.

Even if you already have basic English proficiency, a college or university may require you to take courses to improve your mastery of American English, academic usage or research and study skills. If you studied English under the British system, you may find that U.S. vocabulary and usage are quite different.

If you are applying for a teaching assistantship, the university may ask you to demonstrate your proficiency in spoken English, which the TOEFL examination does not test. The Test of Spoken English (TSE), often required for this purpose, is offered less frequently and at fewer centers than TOEFL; so allow several additional months for the application process if you are applying for a teaching assistantship.

STEP 7: PREPARE FOR ENROLLMENT BY SELECTING 10 TO 15 APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONS.

Many foreign students miss opportunities for acceptance at institutions of their choice or chances for financial aid simply because they do not allow enough time for the application process. The process of entering higher education in the United States requires at least one to two years, if you are applying to selective institutions or requesting financial aid. Selection, application and testing may each require several months. Travel arrangements and visa application can also be time-consuming.

There are about 1,100 universities in the United States that offer graduate level programs; 430 of these offer doctoral degrees. Educational institutions are usually called universities in the U.S. if they offer graduate study, emphasizing research as well as teaching. Most also offer undergraduate studies. Some have professional schools, such as law or medical schools, as well.

Although graduate students usually take some formal coursework as part of their degree requirements, research is an important part of most graduate programs. Graduate students do independent research in consultation with a supervising professor (often called the "major professor" or thesis adviser) or a committee of professors who help to set up research plans and schedules. Research must be original and creative.

Master's Degree

Most universities award master of arts (M.A.) degrees in arts, sciences and humanities and master of sciences (M.S.) degrees in applied fields such as engineering. The master of business administration (M.B.A.) equips students with a credential for entry into the business world.

Increasingly, master's degrees are acquiring new names and initials as more and more professional fields design master's degrees as credentials for entry into the field. Such master's degrees, which include the name of the field or specialization as part of the title, usually lead to eligibility for professional certification rather than preparation for doctoral study or teaching.

Master's degrees may require one to two years of courses (30-60 credit hours) concentrated in the field of study, with other courses from closely-related fields. Usually a grade average of "B" must be maintained to receive the degree. Master's degrees may or may not require a thesis in addition to course work.

Doctoral Degree

Doctoral degrees include, for example, the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in the arts and sciences, and the doctor of education (Ed.D.). Doctoral programs almost always require original research leading to the defense of a doctoral dissertation. Students may enter some programs with the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree and take courses for one to two years before beginning dissertation research. in this case, a student may or may not earn a master's degree upon completion of course work. Other doctoral programs begin after the master's degree with little if any course work required. Some programs require that students pass a comprehensive oral and/or written examination to attain candidacy for the degree.

Types of Universities

Universities may be public or private. institutions of high quality are found equally among public and private universities; the principal difference is one of funding. Public institutions are funded partially by the government of the state in which the institution is located (for example, Texas or Florida), and partially by student tuition payments and private donations. Since public institutions are supported by state government, they give preference in enrollment and tuition charges to students from that state. The total cost, however, is usually lower at most state institutions than at private institutions, even for those who are not residents of the state.

State universities fall into two general categories:

• Research Universities
  Most states have at least one public university designed to provide the traditional variety of educational opportunities in academic fields, These universities, in addition to offering undergraduate education, stress research as well as teaching. As a general rule, they are less likely at the graduate level to place emphasis on applied study and research and more likely to place emphasis on theoretical, or "pure" research.
• Land Grant and Sea Grant Universities
  In 1862 Congress passed the Morrill Act that provided a grant of land to many of the states to establish a "land grant" university. These universities, in addition to providing a broad general education in many fields, emphasize the application of knowledge in such fields as agriculture and engineering.
  The name of a land grant university often reflects this emphasis. Look for "Agricultural and Mechanical University" or "Technological University" to designate a university that stresses applied knowledge. Other states call this type of university a "state" university. More recently some state universities have been designated as "sea grant" universities, to emphasize the importance of marine applications.

Short-Term Study

In addition to degree programs, many universities offer opportunities for short-term study. Students who might not be able to gain home-country recognition of a U.S. graduate degree, and employed professionals who cannot afford sustained absence, often benefit from short-term training and educational programs. Consult your advising center for information about these short-term options.

Other Institutions

Research centers, special institutes or professional schools may also offer graduate degrees. These institutions may offer research and/or instruction in only one field or group of fields. Often these institutions have a relationship to a university.

SELECTION FACTORS

To select institutions effectively, you must first think carefully about your intentions and plans. If you are planning to study toward a master's degree, decide whether you want to emphasize professional certification with an applied "terminal" or professional master's degree leading directly to employment in the field, or to prepare for teaching or for doctoral study and research with an academic master's degree. These distinctions matter, because many master's degrees cannot be used as the basis for doctoral study.

The master of business administration (M.B.A.) program, designed for immediate employment, cannot be applied toward a Ph.D. in business. Before you apply to any M.B.A. program, analyze the programs at the universities you are considering, to make sure that you choose a program that meets your goals and preferences. Ask yourself the following:

• Are you interested in a one- or a two-year program?
• Do you want to emphasize computer applications in management or follow a more traditional approach?
• Do you want a program that uses the case study method, and therefore requires a high proficiency in spoken English?

If you are interested in a research degree, particularly a Ph.D., investigate the definition of your field as it exists in the United States and choose your research emphasis. Rather than specifying your field broadly, for example, "civil engineering," define your research interests as clearly as possibly, for example, "dry-land irrigation methods." Talk to local professionals in your chosen field, especially those who have studied in the United States, and ask about centers of excellence in your particular field of study. These do not correspond necessarily with various rankings of universities as a whole. If you can, attend a conference in your field or go to the library and scan journals published for your field. Look at the papers in your specialized field of research to see who is active in your field and to which university they belong. if your application reflects that you have tried to match your interests with those of the department, your chances for acceptance and for departmental funding increase dramatically.

Field of Study

To find institutions that offer the program you are considering, consult books that cross-reference institutions by field of study. (See "Sources for Further Information") The library at the educational advising center may also contain special books for use in locating programs in your field. At your advising center, use catalogs, brochures and other publications to investigate the entire range of possibilities. (A complete and current set may be available on microfiche.) Educational advisers can assist in interpreting the differences between institutions and in locating references that list professors and their research interests by field. They are also aware of host-country regulations and educational equivalencies in various fields.

Once you have located a suitable group of institutions that offer your specialized field, compare them systematically. Look at the differences between them with respect to:

• Research emphases;
• Size of department;
• Qualifications of the faculty;
• Academic admission requirements, including required TOEFL and GRE or GMAT scores;
• Length of time required for degree;
• Cost of tuition, books, etc.;
• Availability of financial assistance for first-year foreign students;
• Location, housing options, campus setting, climate and cost of living;
• Course and thesis requirements; and
• International Student Services Office.

Compare the number of applicants with the number of students accepted. If possible, try to find out the level of outside funding (government, foundation and private grants) for research in your department for each of the universities you have selected; this factor affects the availability of research assistantships.

Using a comparison worksheet makes it easy to eliminate institutions that are too expensive, that do not meet your individual needs or that have admissions requirements that are too high or too low. Gather as much data as possible about specific programs and institutions through research at the advising center and through correspondence.

Quality

A question that students often ask is, "How do I find the best institutions?" Unfortunately, there are no simple answers.

The first step is to define your academic and career goals, as well as personal preferences about the campus environment. Then find institutions whose goals and offerings most closely match your needs.

A second step is to check whether or not institutions are recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA). Each year the American Council on Education publishes for COPA a list of all accredited institutions in the United States, called Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education. While there may be institutions of high quality that have chosen not to participate in the COPA accrediting process, questions should be raised about the acceptance of degrees by, and transfer of credits to and from accredited institutions, and whether or not unaccredited institutions meet the minimum standards of a COPA-recognized institution. Caution should be exercised and considerably more information should be requested from such institutions before enrolling.

The United States does not have a Ministry of Education responsible for regulation of educational institutions. Instead, institutions agree to voluntary self-regulation in the process called accreditation. There are two types of accreditation: institutional and professional.

Institutional accreditation refers to the institution as a whole. For conferring institutional accreditation, COPA recognizes six regional accrediting agencies, as well as accrediting agencies for independent schools and religious colleges.

Professional accreditation exists only in fields or programs where professional or occupational competence in the field is a major concern, such as medicine, engineering, business and law. Professional accrediting associations usually require that the entire institution be accredited before they will accredit a particular program. The importance of professional accreditation varies from field to field. Often professional accreditation applies only to the first professional degree.

It is important to distinguish between accreditation and state authorization. State authorization or "state approval" may not involve regulation of quality at all, but simply indicate that an institution complies with financial and licensing regulations. Some states do not regulate educational institutions at all.

A third step in seeking quality is to avoid institutions that seem too anxious to enroll foreign students. Unfortunately, there are some institutions in the United States that are more interested in the dollars of foreign students than in providing a good education. These institutions are not numerous, but there are enough that caution is necessary.

Published rankings (assessments) of colleges and universities are available, but their usefulness varies. There is no "official" ranking of colleges and universities in the United States. Rankings according to competitiveness of admission (that is, the ratio of the number of students who apply to the number admitted) are useful in giving an idea of the chances for admission. For other rankings, it is necessary to define your goals carefully, and to make sure that the criteria on which a ranking is based match your criteria for choosing institutions.

Some rankings are based on the opinions of one person who has visited or interviewed people about a number of colleges and universities. Others may be based on an opinion survey of professionals in the field. Still others are based on funds allotted by the federal government for research grants.

In the final analysis, finding the "best" institutions means finding the institutions that best meet your individual needs and interests.

Location

The continental United States can be divided into several regions based on climate. In New England, the Middle Atlantic, the Midwest and eastern regions of the West, as well as Alaska to the north, winters can be cold, with extended periods in which the temperature stays below zero degrees centigrade. In these regions, summers are mild. in the South and Southwest regions, as well as Hawaii and Puerto Rico, summers may be hot, and winters mild. in the Northwest and Southwest, year-round temperatures are more nearly uniform, Certain parts of the states of Washington and Oregon have a rainy season and a dry season.

Cost of living varies from region to region as well. In general (although exceptions are frequent), living costs are lowest in the South and Southwest regions and highest in large cities and in New England.

Urban, rural and suburban campuses offer different advantages and pose separate problems. Students from small countries or rural areas may appreciate the atmosphere of campuses far from large cities. Be sure to weigh advantages and disadvantages, and choose an area where you will feel most comfortable.

Cost

Institutions vary widely not only with respect to tuition charges, but in cost of living as well. in comparing costs, remember to use the "total" cost rather than "published" figures based on adding tuition, room and board, books and fees. A general rule is to add at least $6,000 (for a single student) to published totals.

Availability of Financial Aid

In graduate departments, availability of financial assistance varies widely from field to field and from university to university. Most financial assistance comes in the form of assistantships. In general, fields that attract federally funded research grants, such as physical sciences, applied health, biological sciences and engineering, support many graduate students through research assistantships. In most of the humanities and social sciences, in business, and in the fine arts, few if any research assistantships are available.

Departments that offer large undergraduate introductory courses often employ graduate foreign students as teaching fellows, but usually only after the first year and only if the teaching fellow can demonstrate outstanding proficiency in spoken English.

Availability of English As A Second Language

If you need further English language preparation, select colleges, community colleges or universities that offer English as a second language or make sure such programs exist at nearby institutions.

International Student Services Office

One of the most important factors for foreign students is the presence of a comprehensive program of international student services. An institution that provides services for foreign students is also more likely to be sensitive to the academic needs of students from other countries.

STEP 8: WRITE TO THE GRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE OF THE INSTITUTIONS YOU HAVE SELECTED AND ASK FOR AN APPLICATION AND INFORMATION.

After selecting a group of 10 to 15 institutions that seem most appropriate, write to at least 10 of them for information and application materials. Always use the same spelling of your name, from the first inquiry through the entire application process. This is especially important if your name is transliterated from some other language into English.

In requesting information and application materials, use a preliminary application form provided by the nearest advising center, or write a letter containing information similar to that in the application form. If there are mail or currency restrictions in your home country, consult the nearest advising center for procedures.

When to send inquiries. Receiving a response to your first letter may take four to six weeks. For selective institutions or for financial assistance, mail your first inquiry at least a year-and-a-half before you plan to enroll. In other cases, send your first inquiry at least a year before you plan to enroll (by August for the fall term of the next year).

How to send inquiries. Send inquiries by airmail, and request an airmail reply. Carefully type or print all items. Do not send any documents with the original inquiry; wait until you file a formal application. Some universities have facsimile (fax) numbers; if this is the case, you may be able to save time by making your first inquiry by fax. In most cases, For the application, however, the university will want actual documents rather than a facsimile transmission.

If you have conducted thorough research, most or all of the institutions will respond by inviting you to submit a full formal application for admission. They will send all the necessary forms and instructions. Sometimes a preliminary application will be necessary.

If you are applying to English as a second language programs you may find applications included in brochures available in the advising center. In such cases a preliminary letter is unnecessary.

What to Include

You may lose valuable time by not including essential information in the first inquiry. A letter or preliminary application should have the following:

• Where to send inquiries. Address your inquiry to the Director of Graduate Admissions, using the address for the university given in the reference books. Write a separate letter to the Department Chair or Departmental Graduate Admissions Committee Chair requesting information about study and research in the department.
• Your name, printed legibly or typed in exactly the same form and spelling each time, clearly indicating which of the names is the family name. in the United States, each person is identified primarily by a single family name or "last name" and it is customary to use only the father's family name as the son's or daughter's family name. It is best to use your name as it appears on your passport.
• Date of birth, printed or typed with month first, then day and year as it corresponds to the (Gregorian) calendar used in the United States. Example: May 6, 1967 is 5/6/67. If a different calendar is used in your country, "translate" into the U.S. system and be sure to always use the same birth date.
• Mailing address.
• Citizenship and country issuing passport.
• Marital status and number of dependents.
• Past and present education, in chronological order, including secondary schools, technical programs, colleges and universities attended, with examination results, grades and rank in class, if known.
• Program of study, stated as specifically as possible, with the month and year in which you hope to begin studying in the United States.
• Total funds available to meet your educational and living expenses during each year of study in the United States, and sources of these funds.
• Scores of TOEFL and required admissions tests, if available, or dates on which you are registered to take these examinations.
• Number of years of English language study and where you studied.

These items will enable admissions officers to judge whether application at a particular level is suitable and to indicate chances for admission.

Although U.S. educational institutions vary in their procedures and requirements for admission of students from other countries, formal applications usually include most of the following:

• Institutional application form;
• Certified copies of original educational documents;
• Certified translations of these documents if not originally in English;
• Evidence of English language proficiency (usually TOEFL);
• Scores for any required academic entrance examinations;
• Financial information, with applications for financial aid if requested;
• Letters of recommendation from teachers; and
• Non-refundable application fee of $25 to $100.

As in the initial inquiry, be sure that you print and spell your name in exactly the same way in each part of the application. Use the same name order, and indicate the family name, either by underlining it or writing it in all capital letters, for example: Richard John SMITH. If different parts of the application arrive separately -- for example, test scores or recommendation letters -- they will be placed in separate files if the names are even slightly different. Admissions files do not become active unless they are complete, so unless all items arrive and are placed together, no action will be taken. To help admissions officers keep all documents together, attach a note to each document which bears a different name or different spelling, giving the same first, second and family name you used on your application form. Use the name on the passport if possible.

Instructions for each application will differ. Follow them carefully, paying particular attention to closing dates or deadlines for receipt of completed applications. (See The College Board Handbook: Foreign Student Supplement.) Allow enough time for mail delivery. Often the closing date for students from other countries is earlier than for U.S. students. Usually applications for scholarships or fellowships must be submitted earlier than applications for admission.

Try to begin work on applications well before the deadline and submit completed applications two or three months before the closing date. This will allow the institutions time to evaluate the application before the peak of the selection period. If you are applying in a competitive field or to a selective institution, submit your application as early as possible.

If there are mail or currency restrictions in your home country, seek advice on effective application procedures from educational advising centers in your country.

Keep copies for your records of all documents and application forms submitted. Keep a record of when materials were mailed and where.

Throughout the application process, do the best that you can to comply with instructions, but if some procedure is impossible or some document is lost or cannot be obtained, state the situation in a letter with a cover letter from the advising office or the U.S. cultural affairs officer. Sometimes accommodations will be made for difficult circumstances.

Application Forms and Instructions

The glossary at the back of this handbook defines the more common technical terms that may be included in application forms. Most institutions want to know the kind of career you plan, as well as plans for career preparation and educational background.

Educational Documents

Each institution will specify the types of official records it requires to document past education. Usually they will require your entire scholastic record from secondary school and/or university sources. U.S. admissions officers prefer that transcripts of previous educational work be sent directly from your former schools. The institution may also furnish special forms on which school authorities are asked to write your grades and your academic performance relative to other students in your institution. If such forms are not provided, you or the school will be expected to submit official documents that provide this kind of information. If the admissions officer requests explanation of the grading and class ranking system or descriptions of courses that you have taken, this information should be furnished by an official of your school or university if possible.

As requested, send certified copies of the originals of diplomas, degrees or professional titles, or copies of full records of your performance in the comprehensive 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 university or certified by a public official authorized to certify documents. In some countries these officials are called notaries public. If English translations are necessary, you may use the services of a professional translator or translate the document yourself. Such translations must also be certified by a notary public or another acceptable agency. U.S. embassies and consulates no longer certify documents, copies or translations.

Letters of Recommendation

Some universities send recommendation forms with the application; if so, ask professors who know you and former employers to use these forms and to follow the instructions printed on them. If there are no specific instructions, ask three or four professors, administrators or employers who know you well to type letters on their own letterhead in English and send them directly to the university. To guarantee candor and confidentiality, you must arrange for the writer to mail your recommendation directly to the university without your reading it. As a courtesy, give them stamped airmail envelopes addressed to the institution. Write in the lower left hand corner of the envelope "Re: Application of (your name)."

Recommendations should include:

• A statement about their experience with your academic work or employment;
• An estimate of how your work compares with others in the same field with whom they have experience;
• An assessment of your particular strengths;
• Your rank in class, department or university if they know it; and
• An assessment of your research experience and ability, if known.

Graduate students can apply for financial assistance through home-country assistance programs, U.S. government programs, private international programs or individual university departments.

Home-Country Sources

Ask at the educational advising center or consult local contacts about funding from home-country or regional sources. Government scholarship programs, regional assistance programs, local or third-country organizations or businesses, banks or religious institutions may offer aid to graduate students from your country.

U.S. Government Assistance

The Fulbright Program, founded to encourage mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries, offers awards for graduate and postgraduate scholars and researchers. Postgraduate lectureships are also available. There are currently 36 different types of awards, from travel grants to grants which cover maintenance and study costs; their availability varies from country to country. in general, more types of awards are available in countries which contribute to and jointly sponsor a Fulbright Commission or Foundation for Educational Exchange with the United States. Applicants must apply to and be approved by appropriate agencies in the home country. if there is a Fulbright commission in your country, inquire about the types of grants available; if not, inquire at a United States information Service (USIS) office.

In some developing countries, support for short-term graduate study or master's level degree study may be available through programs sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Eligibility for these programs varies, but in general local institutions nominate employees for training or education that promotes a specified development goal.

Some scholarship programs operate regionally. For sub-Sahara Africa, the AFGRAD program, and in Latin America, the LASPAU program, may offer opportunities. Your educational advising center may be aware of other U.S. government-sponsored programs functioning in your home country.

Private U.S. Sources and International Organizations

Private U.S. agencies, foundations, business corporations and professional associations often award financial aid in the interest of furthering international exchange. international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS) are other possible sources of financial aid. Since these institutions are large and complex, writing to them directly with general requests for financial aid will have little effect. Use references available in the advising center to find specific awards or grants for which you are eligible, and address the office indicated. Many awards and grants are directed toward particular groups (e.g., women, irrigation engineers, children of journalists); you must read carefully to see whether you fit into any of the categories. Greater foundation support is usually available for students in the social and natural sciences, and the humanities. Apply only for awards for which you match the specifications.

If an application requires that you write a research or project proposal, pay particular attention to this step. If possible, have the proposal checked by a professional in your field who has worked in the United States. For suggestions, see Table V, "Writing a Research Proposal."

U.S. Universities

Although availability of financial assistance from university departments varies directly with the field, many foreign graduate students finance U.S. education through assistantships. To locate likely sources of aid, first consult the Directory of Graduate Programs, published by the Council of Graduate Schools, and available in your advising center. Institutions offering your field are listed by state, with a numerical breakdown of the number of fellowships and assistantships awarded, by total and by number awarded to first-year students. Since this publication applies to U.S. students as well, these totals do not refer only to foreign students. Sources of aid that involve loans or work/study programs are not available to foreign students. Choose several institutions that offer assistantships to first-year students and consult other references for further information.

Fellowships

Departments award fellowships on the basis of academic merit, normally after the first year of study. Graduate fellowships may be modest, covering only tuition and fees, or full grants, providing the cost of tuition and fees, and monthly cash payments for maintenance. Fellowships do not usually cover the total cost of living and studying.

Assistantships

Assistantships are the most common form of financial aid at the graduate level. Assistantships are cash awards which require the performance of services related to the field of study, usually about 20 hours per week. Sometimes an assistantship carries with it a waiver or reduction of tuition. Awards may range from as little as $500 to as much as $17,000 (or effectively higher, if high tuition costs are waived) for an academic year, U.S. income tax must be paid on all forms of graduate financial assistance, including assistantships. There are several types of assistantships.

• Teaching assistantships may be available for the first year of graduate study in university departments with large numbers of undergraduates in introductory courses. Teaching assistants work about 20 hours per week. They may supervise undergraduate laboratory classes, lead discussion groups or teach small classes. increasingly, universities require that teaching assistants pass the Test of Spoken English (TSE) before receiving a teaching assistantship. Often universities require teaching fellows to complete seminars which prepare them to teach in the U.S. educational milieu. if you are interested in applying for a teaching fellowship, mention any previous teaching experience you may have.
• Research assistantships involve performance of research services, about 20 hours per week, related to the field of study. For engineering, for example--in addition to the Directory of Graduate Programs mentioned above--you can look up your research specialization in the annual March issue of Engineering Education. This publication lists by institution, amounts and subjects of current research grants at universities. Find institutions that have grants in your field, and apply to these universities for research assistantships. If you apply to institutions whose research funding matches your interests, professors who are the principal researchers for grants in your area will often single out your application for funding, especially if you have proven research experience.
• Administrative assistantships usually require 10 to 20 hours per week working in administrative offices of the university, such as the Foreign Student Advising Office. Apply for these assistantships through the Graduate Admissions Office rather than the department in your field of study.

Competition for all types of assistantships is intense, since only limited numbers are available at any one institution. Foreign applicants must compete with U.S. students. Doctoral students are more likely to receive support than master's candidates. Although financial need is taken into consideration, the most important factor in selection is academic achievement and promise in the field of study. Practically all awards for graduate study are made one year at a time. Renewal is not automatic and depends on your performance and the availability of funds.

Other types of aid include part-time employment on campus up to 20 hours per week and short-term emergency loans. For further information about sources of financial aid, consult sources listed at the end of this booklet. Many of the references will be available in your advising center, and the educational adviser may know of additional home-country sources.

STEP 10: WAIT FOR OFFERS OF ADMISSION; SUPPLY ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUESTED.

Several months will pass while institutions review applications. During this period, test scores, letters of recommendation and other documents arrive, and the admissions file is finally completed. Consult the advising center if you encounter difficulties such as inability to obtain particular documents.

Many institutions review all completed applications at the same time and issue acceptances between March and May.

STEP 11: ACCEPT ONE OFFER OF ADMISSION; WRITE TO THE INSTITUTIONS YOU WILL NOT ATTEND.

If you are accepted by an institution, you will receive a letter of admission and the form you need to apply for a visa, the "Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant F-1 Status," Form 1-20 A-B. (See Step 13) Or if you are sponsored by a qualifying institution or program, you need the "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, " Form IAP-66. (See Step 13)

The letter of admission will probably ask that you make a decision within a specified period. You may also be requested to confirm your intention to enroll by sending in a deposit of $50 to $ 100. If you accept, write a letter to the admissions officer, and to the graduate department, stating your intention to enroll. Fill out and return any additional forms by airmail. If university-sponsored housing applications are included, process them as soon as possible, and return them by airmail with a check or money order for any deposit that may be required. (See Step 12)

If you are offered an assistantship, you must either accept it or refuse it by a common acceptance date (usually April 15) designated by the university. If you are waiting for another acceptance or another offer of financial assistance, wait until you are sure before accepting a less desirable offer you might then decide to refuse. When you have made a decision, also inform the institutions whose offers you have decided not to accept.

STEP 12: DECIDE WHETHER YOU WILL LIVE IN HOUSING ON-CAMPUS OR OFF.

Alternatives for housing may include residential halls on campus, rented rooms, or furnished or unfurnished apartments on- or off-campus. Occasionally students are able to arrange accommodations with a family. Except for on-campus housing, however, most of these options must be arranged after you arrive. (See the booklet, Predeparture Orientation.)

On-Campus Housing

Sometimes separate residence halls are provided for men and for women; in other cases, the residence halls are "co-ed" -- that is, men and women live in the same housing unit but do not share rooms. Usually two students share a room; single rooms are scarce. Generally, rooms have a bed, a desk, a chair, a closet and sometimes draperies. Students must provide bed linens, draperies, decorations and accessories. Contracts for residence halls usually cover the entire academic year. Often you must pay nonrefundable fees in full at the beginning of the year -- so you will need to have a large portion of your funds available immediately on arrival -- if you have not already paid them with your admissions cost. "Room and board" contracts cover the cost of housing as well as a specified number of meals in the campus dining hall or cafeteria.

Off-Campus Housing

If you choose to live off-campus, you will probably have to wait until after you arrive to arrange housing. The international Student Services Office may be able to help in locating housing, but it is wise to plan to take this responsibility yourself. Some cities have apartment locator services that charge a fee for locating apartments with your specifications.

Options include single rented rooms, with or without kitchens; rooms in "boarding houses" with meals provided at extra cost; shared houses for rent; and furnished or unfurnished rented apartments. "Furnished" in the United States means that basic furniture and sometimes floor coverings and draperies are provided. Bed linens, towels, kitchen equipment and dishes are not provided. Public transportation may be scarce. If you need a car to get to campus, costs will increase dramatically.

Living with a Family

The ease of arranging homestays with families in the U.S. varies from location to location. If this service is available, the cost is usually about the same as that of a rented private room with added meals. The International Student Services Office can sometimes offer information about homestays. The Experiment in International Living is one of a number of organizations that sponsor group programs and one-month homestays for students who would like to live with an American family before beginning their studies.

STEP 13: APPLY FOR A STUDENT VISA.

Consult the consular section at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as early as possible to determine the specific procedures and documents necessary to apply for a non-immigrant (F-1) student visa. These may differ from country to country. Below are the usual requirements:

• Passport, valid for at least six months after the date you plan to leave;
• Visa application form;
• A photograph, 5 cm by 5 cm, with your signature in English on the back;
• Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant F-1 Student Status (Form 1-20 A-B);
• Affidavit of financial support form and evidence of support;
• Evidence of English language ability; and
• Any other documents of local importance.

The F-1 Student Visa

To apply for an F-1 student visa, present the above documents to a U.S. consular officer. The consular officer usually interviews applicants and will examine your documents and review your educational plans. Although the visa application process normally is not time-consuming, it is a good idea to apply early. Any questions that might arise about your qualification to receive a visa can be dealt with without delaying your departure.

Note: The Form I-20 is not a visa, nor does it guarantee a visa. Be sure that you have read the form before you go to the interview and have completed any statements required of you. The statements that you will be asked to sign include:

• That your purpose in coming to the United States is to remain temporarily to pursue a full course of study at the school specified on the Form 1-20 and stamped on the visa;
• That you will not accept employment or engage in business in the United States without authorization of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS);
• That adequate finances are available for the entire period of your study; and
• That you notify the INS promptly of any change in address.

If the consular officer grants an F-1 student visa, he or she will stamp the visa into your passport, noting on it the name of the institution issuing the Form 1-20. This indicates your intent to pursue a full course of study at that institution. If you decide to attend a different institution which has also issued a Form 1-20, contact a U.S. consular officer before departure to see if the notation on the visa can be changed. For entry into the United States, the institution endorsed on the visa and the institution you plan to attend must be the same.

J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa

Certain students, scholars and professionals coming to the United States to participate in a program of study or research may be issued Form IAP-66, "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status." Programs eligible to issue the IAP-66 include those approved by the U.S. Information Agency and sponsored by a private organization or government agency.

To apply for a J-1 visa, complete pages two (2) and six (6) of the IAP-66, and present it along with the documents listed above to a U.S. consular officer. Terms of the J-1 visa are very explicit. They define precisely the purpose and length of stay allowed. in applying for a J-1 visa, you must agree to the following:

• Your stay in the United States will only be for the duration of the program described in the Form IAP-66;
• You will engage only in the activities pertaining to the program described in the Form IAP-66;
• You will provide, or obtain from a sponsor, adequate finances for support during your authorized stay in the United States; and
• You will secure a release from sponsors and permission from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service before transferring to another exchange visitor program.

If your travel or study is financed directly by the U.S. government, or by your home-country government, your eligibility to change your immigration status while in the United States is limited by law. You must return to your home country or country of last residence for two years before becoming eligible to apply for an immigrant (permanent residence) visa. The two-year foreign residency requirement also applies to those whose field of study appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List and to all foreign medical graduates coming to the United States for graduate medical education. U.S. consular officers will explain details to anyone who applies for the J-1 visa.

STEP 14: ATTEND A PREDEPARTURE ORIENTATION SESSION AT YOUR ADVISING CENTER.

Your advising center may offer programs to give you information about what to expect regarding the academic system, the climate, the culture and other aspects of your life in the United States. Arrange to attend such a program, and obtain the booklet in this series, Predeparture Orientation, which gives further information.

SOME SOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT GRADUATE STUDY

The following references may be available in your advising center or USIS library. This is only a sampling of available resources and does not imply endorsement.

Other books may be available in your advising center for researching programs in special fields of study. Consult your educational adviser or librarian for field of study assistance.

Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education, 1991-92. Published annually. MacMillan Publishing Company.

Lists accredited institutions, professionally accredited programs and candidates for accreditation. Information is supplied by national and regional accrediting groups that have been evaluated by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) and recognized for meeting acceptable levels of quality and performance.

Accredited Programs Leading to Degrees in Engineering. 1991. Published annually. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Includes all engineering programs accredited for the first professional degree.

Accredited Programs Leading to Degrees in Engineering Technology. 1991. Published annually. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Includes all programs in engineering technology accredited for the first professional degree.

The College Board Handbook: Foreign Student Supplement, 1991-92. Published annually. College Board Publications, P.O. Box 866, New York, NY 10101.

The Foreign Student Supplement contains information of special interest to foreign students on most institutions listed in The College Board Handbook, including description of application processes and deadlines, availability of foreign student advisers, availability of financial aid to foreign students, and minimum and average TOEFL scores.

Directory of Graduate Programs. 1991-92. Published annually. Educational Testing Service/Council of Graduate Schools. Council of Graduate Schools, Publications Order Office, Graduate Record Examination, Educational Testing Service, Box 2606, Princeton, NJ 08541. 4 vols.

Institutions listed by fields of study, cross-classified by number of students, number of fellowships and assistantships offered, and other factors important in selection.

Diversity, Accessibility and Quality -- A Brief Introduction to American Education for Non-Americans. 1990. College Board Publications, P.O. Box 886, New York, NY 10101.

Examines the philosophical assumptions underlying American education, the organization and control of American education, descriptions of different types of institutions and the programs they offer, methods of measuring student performance and quality control mechanisms.

The Doctor of Philosophy Degree. 1990. Council of Graduate Schools, One Dupont Circle, N.W., Suite 430, Washington, D.C. 20036-1173.

Describes conditions necessary for admission and the standards of quality to be met for programs leading to the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in the U.S.

English Language and Orientation Programs. 1991-92. Published annually. Institute of international Education, 809 U.N. Plaza, New York, NY 10017.

State by state, lists and describes intensive programs in English a