The United States continues to top the list of the country with the largest number of International students and the reasons are not far-fetched. In 2022, the United States recorded 948,519 international students and is followed by the United Kingdom with 633,910 and Canada with 552,580. If you desire to study in this country but do not know how to go about it, then this article will serve as a detailed guide for you.
If you would love to read more articles like this one then subscribe to our newsletter.
Table of Contents
Before we go into the detailed process of how you can gain admission into US universities, let’s examine some of the benefits you stand to gain when you choose the US as your study-abroad destination.
Read also: How To Move To The US With HND?
Before you start your study abroad journey, you have to first make up your mind about the university program and the course you are enrolling for to make the process easy for you. Is it a bachelor’s degree? A masters? Or a PhD? Is it a STEM-related course, or an arts course, or a management course? Answering these questions will help guide your choices as you proceed.
Below are the steps aspiring international students can follow to get admission into US universities without the help of any travel agents:
You cannot apply to a university you do not even know. It is therefore important that you research to find out the universities in the US so that you can make a choice. Doing research will help you narrow down your choices so you can pick the best option for you. Sites like U.S. News & World Report’s, QS World Ranking, Forbes, The Princeton Review, and Times Higher Education can help give you the ranking of the universities in the US so you can make a choice. However, ranking should not be the only criteria you should consider. Other aspects you should look into include:
However, to make the right decision, you can contact a study advisor or attend webinars of people who have successfully processed their admission, so they can they can help guide you as you make your preferred choice.
After you have embarked on research, you should make a decision and pick a school that suits your program choice and education goals. Below are a few questions that can guide your choice:
Answering these questions will help guide your choice. Once you have selected the school and the program, the next step is to apply for admission.
Read also: Universities In The US That Do Not Require Application Fees?
After making a choice, the next step is to visit your school’s website and begin your application. Many of the schools have made the application process easy by allowing students to apply online. However, it is important to note that each school will have specific requirements that they expect students to meet. This will also be included on the university’s website.
As it has been established above, various schools have their unique requirements, however, some of the generally acceptable requirements for an aspiring undergraduate international student include
For graduate students, the required documents needed to get admission into US universities differ from the undergraduate requirements. However, it is important to note that there might be a slight difference according to the university’s preferences. Below is the list of documents:
Also, it is important to note that you might be required to interview with the admissions committee before your admission will be granted. This however depends on the school you are applying to.
Read also: 10 Affordable Colleges In The USA
Universities in the United States often charge an annual fee. It usually covers tuition, living expenses, health insurance, book supplies, and other state fees. From your research, you must have had an idea of how much it is going to cost you. Like it was stated earlier, there are various ways you can fund your education in the US. You can either:
Additionally, you can check out the school’s website to see if they have financial aid programs for international students.
Read also: How To Get A Graduate Assistantship In The US
Furthermore, once you have completed the application form, the next step is to await your admission. You will receive a notification once the school has granted you the admission. It is also possible to apply to multiple schools at the same time and pick the best option when the results come. Once you have accepted the admission, the next step is to process your student visa and prepare for the new life.
To study legally in the United States, you will need the I-20 form to apply for your student visa. Also, take note that there will be a specific deadline for payment of tuition and accommodation to further show your interest in the admission.
Additionally, it is important to note that there are different types of student visas available in the US for international students who have been admitted. Some of them include:
Moreover, to apply for an F-1 or M-1 visa, you need the I-20 form while the DS-2019 form is for the J-1 visa. Some universities in the US will send either the I-20 or DS-2019 alongside your admission letter if you have funding for at least a year of academic study. Other universities will do so after the finding is documented, and the deposit is paid. After getting the form, you must:
To learn more about the US student visa, click here.
Below are some of the important tips you should consider after your visa application:
Read also: 10 Profitable Businesses You Can Start In The US As An Immigrant
Below is a list of the top 20 universities in the United States in 2024 according to the QS world ranking:
| Universities | Ranking |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 1 |
| Harvard University | 2 |
| Stanford University | 3 |
| University of California Berkeley (UCB) | 4 |
| University of Chicago | 5 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 6 |
| Cornell University | 7 |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | 8 |
| Yale University | 9 |
| Princeton University | 10 |
| Columbia University | 11 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 12 |
| University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 13 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 14 |
| New York University (NYU) | 15 |
| Northwestern University | 16 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 17 |
| Duke University | 18 |
| University of Texas at Austin | 19 |
| University of California, San Diego (UCSD) | 20 |
How do you go about your admission processing into schools in the US and Canada? Don’t worry! We’ve got your back! Enrolling in the top universities in the world can increase your chances with employers. Unfortunately, studying abroad can be expensive due to the current economic crisis. But this shouldn’t limit you as there are other options you can explore to enhance your career.
MPower Finance and Prodigy Finance are some of the best student loan providers for international students. They also do not require any cosigner or collateral before application. At EdXtra Associates, we can help you with your loan application process. We also provide educational consultancy services for international students to help make your journey easier and faster. You can reach out to us, as we’d love to guide you through this journey.
This post was last modified on February 13, 2024 2:46 pm