Step-by-step guide for college applications:
Before I start of I just want to say that my decision to study in the US was the best one I ever made! I love the endless opportunities that the education system gives you.. I get to study a little bit of everything in addition to the subjects that I really like. I think it makes you a lot more wellrounded =)
The application guide below should cover most of every college applications, but be warned every college is different.
There are 4,352 universities, colleges and junior colleges in the US. So I can assure that you will find your fit if you just keep on going :) Don’t get discouraged if one school doesn’t admit you, because the schools don’t talk to eachother. There are hundreds of stories where people didn’t get into University ABC, but got into Stanford or Harvard. My point: Don’t give up!! There are both paper and online applications, but I would recommend the online application. It is a lot easier to use and you’re saving paper (yay!)!
1. Sign up for the SAT Reasoning Test/ Subject Tests on www.collegeboard.co {Make sure to take a practice test or two online (many free ones out there)}
2. Sign up for the TOEFL iBT test on www.ets.org
3. Go to the websites of the universities you want to apply to and register as an applicant
4. Read through Application Do’s and Dont’s
5. Look through the application forms and find out what the specific schools require
6. Fill out the basic information
7. Read the essay questions and start thinking about what you want to write {essays are often better when you have more time – ok ok I know some people write better under pressure, but it has never hurt anyone to be on top of their game =) Be sure to show the specific schools that this essay is for their school and for their school only. The schools look for different characteristics – address that!}
8. Start your application. Take breaks and come back to it. If you visited the school you are applying to or have friends or family that went there, write about that. Show why you are interested. Tell them why they should chose you. Tell them why you ROCK!
9. If your transcripts are not in English, get them translated!
10. Make a portfolio where you collect all the commonly requested documents {SAT results, TOEFL results, transcripts, an individual checklist for each school (yup, I’m great I made a template for you below!!)}
11. Print out recommendation forms on the universities’ websites. There should be one for teachers and one for counselors.
12. Get recommendations from two teachers and your advisor. Make sure to chose professors who will write nice things about you. It is also important that you obtained good grades in their classes. {Advice: Give whoever writes your recommendation a personal statement or a resume. This way they will know more about you and can include that in their recommendations! =) }
13. Print out ”Financial Aid”-forms and give them to your parents/guardian to fill out. {Note: my dear foreign friend, the financial aid funds for foreigners are very limited}
14. Spellproof your application form and your essays
15. Let your family/friends/neighbors/teachers/coaches/strangers spellproof your application!
16. Finish the application and click the submit button!
17. Send all the required documents well ahead of the deadline!
Checklist for my application to ____________
1. Application form
2. Essays
3. SAT results
4. TOEFL results
5. Transcripts
6. Recommendations from teachers
7. Recommendations from counselor
8. Financial Aid forms
