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Preparations before applying to study in the United States
1. Goal determination
The first step is to determine what stage and direction of study in the United States. This is the first step in the application process for studying in the United States. The stage of studying in the United States is basically to study for an undergraduate degree or a master's degree. At this stage, you should determine your future plans. Universities are generally private universities, public universities, and community colleges. These schools have huge differences in tuition fees, teaching quality, faculty, majors, etc., so students must have a basic idea.
Regardless of which stage of application you are applying for, you will need to prepare test scores, and the test scores you prepare for at different stages are also very different. This is the most important part of the application process for studying in the United States, because it determines the basis for choosing a school major.
Undergraduate: language scores (TOEFL or IELTS), grades in all subjects in high school, GPA, and US college entrance exam scores (SAT or ACT)
Graduate student stage: language scores (TOEFL or IELTS scores), GPA scores, graduate entrance examination scores (GRE scores), and some special professional examinations (GMAT, LAST).
3. Preparation of written materials
Application documents mainly include resumes, personal statements, letters of recommendation, etc. These are mainly to prove that the applicant's personal ability is suitable for studying at the school, so that the admissions office can understand the special features of the application and attract the school to admit. In addition to these materials, prizes, medals, certificates, etc. won in large-scale competitions are also important materials that reflect the applicant's ability. Documents are as important as test scores in the application process of studying in the United States.
4. Narrow down your application goals
After getting the test scores, you can make a preliminary school screening based on the scores (screening based on the selections made in the first step of the application process for studying in the United States). You can divide them into three types: backup schools, suitable schools, and sprint schools. Then when choosing a school, you can also refer to the school's ranking, the school's geographical location, the safety of the location, the school's fees, the school's faculty, the number of scholarships, and other factors. When choosing a major, you still have to choose according to your own preferences and wishes. Each university has different advantageous majors, so when choosing a major, don't blindly pursue the top 50 schools on the list, and don't follow the crowd and choose a major you don't like.
5. Payment of school fees
You need to pay a certain fee to the school when you apply and when your application is approved. This is part of the payment process for studying in the United States. When applying, you need to pay a non-refundable application fee to each school, which is generally no more than $100. Many schools will require students who need to study and stay in school to pay tuition in advance, which can generally be paid online or at a bank counter.
6. Post-production materials
After successfully applying and paying the fees, you will receive a school admission letter from the school. If you apply for dual admission, you will also receive a language school admission letter. After receiving the letter, you need to prepare the following documents in the application process for studying in the United States.
Certificate of Deposit for Studying in the United States: The certificate of deposit for studying in the United States is to show that the applicant can pay all expenses during the study in the United States. The amount of money is generally stored based on the number of years of study and the annual study expenses, and needs to be frozen for 3-6 months.
Passport: Required when entering or leaving the country. You can also use your passport number when purchasing airline tickets to ensure the validity of your passport.
U.S. study visa: The U.S. study visa is a document that students going to study in the United States must apply for. Generally, there are two types: "F" and "M".
7. Preparation before the trip
Buy plane tickets and prepare accommodation: Non-resident students need to find a place to live in advance. If you arrive at school early, you need to book a hotel.
Further reading: A guide to packing for studying in the United States
1. Suitcase:
Everyone should note that the weight of luggage can be divided into two types. Checked luggage is usually about 23 kilograms, which is about 50 pounds; if you carry it at any time, you can only carry 10 kilograms, which is about 20 pounds. After arriving in the country, you can also buy a suitcase. This item is often discounted in the country, and the price is not high. It is recommended to buy a better quality soft case so that you can fit more things.
2. Clothes:
Students in this country usually need to bring formal clothes. If you buy them in the United States, you may not be able to get there in time due to transportation. It is recommended that students prepare 2 sets of formal clothes in case of emergency. For other light and thin clothes, it is recommended to see the weather where you are. However, this country usually has more spring and autumn seasons. Students can bring shirts, thin sweaters, down jackets, and 1-2 pieces are enough.
3. Everyday items:
Since you may not go to the supermarket on your first day in the country, you can bring a set of bedding with you so that it will be convenient for you to sleep at night. One set is enough. There are many Chinese supermarkets in the country, and the shopping malls have a wide range of items. You don’t have to travel thousands of miles to bring a lot of things from China. It is also cheaper to buy them directly in the country.
For example, in terms of food, some students may find it difficult to adapt to the foreign cuisine all at once, so it is recommended that you bring some light seasonings. Please note that you cannot bring seeds or meat! There are also three things, hair dryers, chargers, and USB flash drives, which are usually used a lot and are relatively small. It is recommended that students bring them. For girls, there are more skin care products, so it is recommended to bring basic ones, which can be bought in the United States.
4. Small gifts:
You can bring some small gifts to your friends or teachers to express your feelings. They can be culturally distinctive, such as bookmarks, pottery, paper-cuts, folding fans, and tea. These are beautiful and inexpensive.
5. Other materials:
There are many materials that students need on a daily basis, such as passports, visas, resumes, numbers, email addresses, tutor contact information, and registration confirmation letters. These are relatively commonly used. Students can buy a special item to hold these to prevent loss.
Some students will consider how much cash to bring. Except for some small expenses that require cash, other things do not need to be paid with cash. It is recommended that 500$ is enough. For the rest of the tuition and living expenses, it is safer and more convenient to put them in a card.
Further reading: Things to note when entering the United States
- 1. Passengers are directed to the immigration inspection room and line up for inspection according to their entry visas. Non-immigrant visa holders should line up in the nonresidents line, while immigrant visa holders or green card holders should line up in the citizens/residents line.
- 2. When it is your turn to be inspected, hand in your passport, I-20, I-94 and customs declaration form to the immigration officer for inspection. You should know that holding a passport and visa does not guarantee entry. Because a visa only gives the holder the right to request entry, whether to allow entry or not is up to the immigration officer. The immigration officer will check the "blacklist" to see if the foreigner is on the list. If the foreigner has a bad record with the immigration bureau in the past and has been deported, he will have trouble entering the country.
- 3. As usual, immigration officers will ask you some questions, the main purpose of which is to determine where you will study or live after you come to the United States, your purpose of coming to the United States, and how much money you will bring with you. Don't be nervous, just answer calmly.
- 4. After the immigration officer asks questions, he will stamp the I-20 and I-94 - stamp the entry date, sign the visa type and the deadline for re-entry. If you hold an (F-1) visa, the United States will allow you to stay in the United States for the necessary number of years to complete your studies. Therefore, the immigration officer will usually put a D/S (duration of status) stamp in the duration column of the I-94 form. If you hold an exchange scholar (J-1) visa, the United States only allows you to stay for a specific period of time and must study a designated course to maintain your status as an exchange student or scholar. Whether you hold an F-1 or J-1 visa, you must pay attention to the fact that the validity period of your passport must always be more than six months longer than the scheduled stay in the United States when you enter the country.
- 5. The immigration officer will tear off the exit part of the I-94, staple it to your passport, and return the I-20 to you. (You must immediately confirm that the added data is correct. If there is any error, ask for correction. Going back to ask or ask questions after leaving the counter will only cause trouble). Please note that the I-94 is a document that proves your legal entry into the United States. Although it is just a small piece of paper commonly known as the "little white card", it must be kept properly with your passport during your stay in the United States. If you lose it, you must apply for a reissue from the nearest immigration office.
Summary of preparations before applying to study in the United States
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