More than 4,500 universities in the United States offer undergraduate degrees. Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology are only the top universities favored by international students, but there may be many famous universities in American higher education. When you have so many choices, how can you find your ideal American university?
1. Be sure to find your own interests.
Don't underestimate your intuition. Even if you are always told that these decisions should be based on rational analysis, it will take you three to six years to study the topics you are interested in and make sure that this is your real interest.
You may plan to start your own business in this field, so the best choice is to focus on the field you are interested in and then solve the remaining details. You need to ask yourself honestly whether you really think you want to do research in this field and develop your own career after graduation. If the answer is yes, then you have taken the most important step.
List the best-educated American universities in your field.
Now that I know what major I want to study in the United States, it is also indispensable to find a job. University rankings and professional rankings are practical ways to find American universities that meet your interests. You should also remember that only American universities accredited by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program have the right to accept international students.
List the institutions you are interested in and study each university carefully. Check the official information of the university website, course introduction and even more "inside information" on the student forum. If possible, try to contact alumni. Their learning experience is very important because they can let you know what your future will be like.
You can also make full use of social media to connect with universities, students and alumni. Check the university's Facebook page or Twitter account to find out how they interact with students and the information they provide. The LinkedIn University page is also very useful, through which you can see what careers students and alumni are engaged in. Of course, there are no universal rules, but these channels can help you find the most suitable American university for you.
3. Check the contents of specialized courses
Many students are ultimately disappointed with the programs they were admitted to because they didn't check the course content carefully before applying to the university. Even if you really like a university as a whole, you may be particularly interested in a certain part of your subject, and you should check whether it is included in the courses offered.
If you are not satisfied with the course information you found, or just want to know more details, you can contact the school directly. After all, these courses are what you really need to spend time studying. I can only assume that you will find them interesting-because it will make your life happier, because you may get better grades.
4. consider your own economic conditions
In order to estimate the cost of studying abroad in American universities and your ability to pay, you need to do a comprehensive study. According to a report by the College Board, a student support organization, the average tuition fee for non-American students attending state universities is $22,958. In contrast, the average tuition fee of private non-profit universities is 365,438+02,365,438+0. In addition to these expenses, you have to add living expenses such as transportation and accommodation. It is conceivable that it will far exceed the above figures.
If you find that some American universities you are interested in are too expensive for you, it doesn't mean that you have to cross them off your application list. Most American universities offer grants, so long as they are well prepared and do not miss the deadline, they can apply. There are also many scholarships offered by individual American universities. You can learn to apply at ordinary times. In addition, you can support yourself part-time or get a loan. There are many opportunities, you just need to start your research early.
5.？ Understand the student accommodation provided by American universities.
For most international students, emigrating to a different country in order to improve their education level is both exciting and frightening. This is why you should start your study abroad plan as soon as possible and find all the information you need in order to have a comfortable time during your study.
Most American universities provide students with on-campus accommodation. Accommodation on campus can often bring a great experience, because you may share a kitchen with other students, have the opportunity to interact with them and get to know them easily. You need to check all these details for each university you decide to apply for.
6. Decide in advance where you want to study in the United States.
An important factor in choosing American universities is geographical location. Yes, you dream of studying in the United States, but every state and city has its own characteristics, unique culture, climate, economy, history and so on. Some states are more popular with international students than others. 7. Participate in university fairs, virtual activities or online information meetings.
As you can see, once you make a strong plan and focus on your best choice, it is not so complicated to make your dream come true.