First, the application process for studying in the United States
1. Examination required for studying in the United States:
Business school: GMAT
Medical college: MCAT
Law School: Law School
Others: GRE, TOEFL
2. TOEFL score:
Generally speaking, if you want to study in the United States, foreign students whose mother tongue is not English need to hand in TOEFL scores. Students who take the TOEFL can send their scores directly to the school you apply for through the educational testing service.
It takes about 6-8 weeks for TOEFL scores to be sent to the school. Generally, a corresponding fee will be charged for the consignment mail. Every school and major has its own standards for TOEFL scores. If you don't know, you can go to the department network or school department of your school. Now TOEFL takes the form of computer test, so the number of exam places is limited every year, and students who take the exam need to register online in advance.
3. Professional test scores:
If there are students who apply for science and engineering, liberal arts, education, art and other departments, the school they apply for will require students to attach GRE professional examination results. In addition, if you apply for an MBA, you should attach the GMAT professional examination results, if you apply for a law student, you should attach the LSAT professional examination results, and if you apply for a medical student, you should attach the MCAT professional examination results. In other words, students can submit required scores according to their chosen major.
Second, choose schools and majors.
As we all know, there are 3,600 schools in the United States, but foreign students often apply for more than 250 schools. There are many people who want to study abroad, and each school has many professional choices. Students can choose according to their own interests or future employment prospects.
Third, prepare the application documents.
1, personal statement (personal statement)
Personal statement is a very important part of the application documents, which may become an important document affecting your admission, and more importantly, it is related to whether students can get scholarships.
You can fully demonstrate your ability to the school you apply for through written expression. The content should show the reason why you chose this major, your past achievements in related fields, express your current thoughts, and your future plans if the application is successful.
Fu You, let me remind you that the most important thing is to make the school feel that you are the kind of student that best suits their choice, instead of blindly shaping yourself into a perfect person. There is no such person in the world, is there? This will also make the school think that you are so perfect. Why did you come to our school?
American universities are more concerned about what useful potential will be tapped from you if you are admitted. Therefore, when you apply, you should emphasize your interest in this major, your professional achievements and experience, which can attract the attention of American professors and highlight the results of professional courses in GPA.
2. Letter of recommendation (letter of recommendation)
Choose a referee to write a letter of recommendation. You'd better find someone familiar with your situation. Referees should have senior titles. The most suitable candidates are department heads and professional tutors. Their letters of recommendation are more convincing than those who are famous but don't know you.
The recommendation letter shall explain the basic situation of the recommended person and introduce the performance of the recommended person, including academic papers, scientific research achievements, awards won, abilities possessed, etc. There are generally three letters of recommendation, one for comprehensive performance and two for professional level.
3. Resume (resume)
No matter whether the school requires it or not, Fu You, I suggest that you'd better prepare a resume with a length of 1-2 pages. This is also a manifestation of the applicant's serious attitude.
4. Thesis
It is best for the applicant to prepare a paper, which can highlight the applicant's research ability and is of great help to get a scholarship.
Fourth, capital preparation.
In order to ensure the cost of studying abroad and prevent students from dropping out of school due to lack of funds, American research institutions require international students to produce documents that can guarantee the source of tuition, fees and living expenses for at least one year.
When estimating the cost of studying abroad, in addition to tuition and miscellaneous fees, we also need to consider the cost of accommodation, students' books, clothes, medical insurance and holiday travel. The economic proof documents can be the bank deposit certificate of the applicant's parents, the property certificate, the scholarship obtained by the individual, the guarantee of the guarantor, etc.
Some schools will provide proof forms of fixed financial resources for applicants to fill in, and proof of family financial resources should be accompanied by proof of the relationship between bank depositors and applicants. It is suggested that the parents' deposits provided by the applicant be kept for as long as possible, which can prove that the applicant has a long-term and sufficient plan to study in the United States.
1, credit card
Students will use credit cards when applying for and sending GT scores online, so Fu You, I suggest you do so as soon as possible. China Bank, China Merchants Bank and China Guangfa Bank all have corresponding international credit cards. It is recommended to apply for a VISA card.
2. Economic guarantee
Economic sources included in the economic guarantee:
Parents' income certificate is issued by parents' work unit (property and labor stamp are required). Personal/family deposits, real estate licenses, scholarships, grants, etc. In the application process, it is generally not necessary to provide the original documents.
In addition, deposits need to be prepared and put in for a long time (more than half a year). It is best to open a VIP customer of the bank, so that it is convenient to issue real estate licenses in the future, without spending money and without restrictions. It is suggested to apply for another supplementary card, which is needed for going to the United States, and it is a global VIP.
Verb (abbreviation of verb) Formal application and sending of application materials.
1, apply online
Most American schools can apply online. Applicants need to prepare application materials, credit cards and other related materials, and then set up an account on the relevant website of the school to apply, and track the progress of the school trial.
Now the application forms of American universities can be filled in online, downloaded and printed by themselves. Most schools also offer online applications. When applying, students need to register online, set their own user name and password, and fill in the application materials online after logging in. If you can't complete the application form at one time, you can quit first and continue to fill it next time. The applicant can update the information at any time.
Step 2 send materials
You need to prepare a big envelope and put all the information to be sent in order.
This information includes:
(1) cover letter, explaining to the school that all the materials are ready and sending them together. I hope the school can seriously consider it and give a reply.
(2) application fee. The application fees of different schools in the United States are different, and the average cost is about 50- 100 dollars. In the United States, applicants can pay by buying cashier's checks, money orders or using bank checks. Whether it is a cashier's check, money order or check, you should write the name of the school you are applying for on your head. The application fee should be sent together with other documents.
(3) The length of the application form can range from one or two pages to seven or eight pages. The application form needs to fill in the applicant's name, date of birth, marital status, education, experience, major and degree, etc. Some schools' application forms also include records of extracurricular activities and special skills.
When students fill in the application form, the English spelling of their names must be consistent with the English names on their academic qualifications, passports and other documents. When learning experience, you need to fill in the backward table, from the most recent year, year by year back to the future.
(4) Personal statement and resume, which are very important for scholarships. Be sure to write your strengths and achievements fully and credibly.
(5) thesis.
(6) Copy the latest TOEFL, GRE or GMAT transcripts, sign them and put them in the bag.
(7) It would be better if there are professional papers in the file, which will definitely increase the chances of admission or scholarship, which is a plus item.
(8) Proof of financial resources, regardless of your financial situation, you should fill out the form and put it in the application package.
(9) Other materials and documents required by other schools. You need to prepare yourself and deliver it yourself.
The following documents can't be put in the big envelope in front, and must be sent separately.
(1) Three letters of recommendation. You need to put three letters of recommendation in three envelopes respectively. Please ask the professor to sign the envelopes.
(2) Transcripts in Chinese and English should be sealed with the envelope of the school, and the seal must be signed by the school.
If you are applying for graduate school, you need to attach four years' transcripts and graduation certificates. If the school has issued an official English version, it can be directly attached to the application;
If the school issues a Chinese version, in addition to the original Chinese version, a notarized English version is also required. Transcripts need to have course title, credits, academic average, etc. It is best to apply to your school for a report card with a seal.
(3) The official report card of the new TOEFL, GRE or GMAT must be sent directly to the school through the foreign test center. GRE and TOEFL scores can only be sent through the test center ETS to be officially valid. Delivery methods include mail, fax and telephone.
Six, magnetic interview
Students can engage in magnetism with professors before and after application. A school can choose 2-3 professors or associate professors. The school will also arrange relevant telephone interviews. Students can make full use of written materials in the interview.
Seven. Scholarship application
Some universities apply for scholarships at the same time as they apply for admission, but others need to fill out another form to apply. The form can be downloaded online, or you can ask the school's admissions office or financial aid office to mail it to the applicant.
If students are going to apply for scholarships, they must pay attention to the application deadline. Many schools will advance the deadline for scholarship application and separate it from the application for admission, so as to have enough time to screen students.
Eight, received an offer.
Students who have received the admission and scholarship will soon receive the I-20 form from the school. The full name of the I-20 form is the qualification certificate for non-immigrant students (F-1)-applicable to academic and language students. Insform I 20a/B. DSO (Director of Student Affairs Office) is the only official in the school who has the right to issue I-20 forms. Applicants are advised to make a choice after all the schools they apply for have the results.