From Application to Acceptance: Step-by-Step Guide for UG Admissions in US
Applying to college in the United States as an international undergraduate student can be exciting and daunting. The American education system’s unique aspects and language barriers create a complex maze for applicants. This admission journey can be more challenging if you do not have parents or siblings who have been through the process to offer any advice. However, breaking down the process step-by-step makes it easy.
This guide serves as a roadmap that outlines every milestone on the journey to the college admission process in the USA.
Map Your Admission Strategy
As an international student, the following strategy can help you with the college admission process in USA:
- Define Your Path: Decide on your desired major and minor academic areas of study. Do thorough research to choose subjects that align with your academic interests and career aspirations.
- Find University: Search for universities that offer your selected majors and minors within the undergraduate degree program. Prioritise colleges that offer direct enrollment in your chosen major. Then, expand to schools that allow picking a minor across different subjects.
- Analyse Different Factors: Compare factors like rankings, cost of attendance, scholarships for international students, campus culture, and more. Finalise your list of target schools, and aim for a balanced mix of reach, match, and safety institutions.
- Customise Your Application: Strategically prepare an application for each college on your list to maximise admission chances. Stay organised and meet all application deadlines to submit comprehensive, high-quality applications showcasing your candidacy.
Research Universities and Colleges
You can start researching for college in the United States on the U.S. Department of Education College Navigator site to search for undergraduate degrees as an international student.
College Board’s Big Future also allows searching colleges by academic program, features, and characteristics. Organisations like US News and World Report measure and rank US colleges annually, making evaluating options accessible.
Connecting with experienced college admissions counsellors can further assist in selecting schools and degree programs tailored to your academic and career goals. Online platforms like Career Launcher offer this type of personalised US college advising for international students seeking undergraduate degrees.
Complete College Application and Tests
As an international student, there are different admission criteria in the United States University for undergraduate degrees. American universities generally require the following from international student applicants:
- Personal information of the student
- Transcript of documents
- Standardised Test Scores, i.e., SAT or ACT
- English Proficiency test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, iTEP, PTE academic)
- Essay
- Letter of Recommendation from the school you are currently studying.
- Research proposals for the undergraduate degree.
- Copy of your valid passport
- Information on extracurricular activities
Some additional points to consider:
- Certain universities would require proof of financing for the whole education and a resume of the students.
- Some colleges, for academic purposes, may require an interview, which may take place with the faculty or staff.
- For the colleges starting from June or July, international students must start applying and submitting their applications by November or December of the previous year.
Important College Application Deadlines
Colleges in the US notify applicants about admission decisions at different times depending on what plan they applied through:
- Early Action (EA) – Students receive a non-binding decision in early December, meaning they can still weigh other offers later.
- Early Decision (ED) – This results in a binding decision in late November and early December requiring enrolling if accepted unless financial aid is inadequate.
- Regular Decision (RD) – Most applicants get admission decisions between March and April.
If you get into multiple colleges, compare financial aid awards before making your final choice. We can help you finalise the colleges in the USA that best suit your interests, desires and aspirations.
Study Cost in USA for Undergraduate Degree
In the United States of America, the cost of college is usually charged annually or per semester, and it covers
- College tuition fees,
- Living expenses,
- Books and supplies, and
- Most important of all is health insurance.
You can always look out for academic, athletic, artistic, and even service-based student scholarships, fellowships, grants available, or need-based financial aid.
Accept Offer of Admission
Once accepted to a US university, next steps include:
- Decide and formally accept your school of choice if you have multiple admission offers.
- Complete any deposits to secure enrollment.
- Obtain the I-20 form from the college to apply for a student visa.
- Schedule and complete your student visa interview at the US embassy/consulate by:
- Submit the DS-160 application and pay the SEVIS fee.
- Uploading a compliant photo.
- Preparing all required documents like passport, I-20, transcripts, etc.
- Attending the interview
- Collect a visa granting permission to enter the US 30 days before the semester starts if approved.
- If denied, review the decision and reapply with additional documentation.
- Upon securing your student visa, complete any enrollment paperwork for the university.
By breaking down the multi-faceted application process step-by-step, getting into your dream college in the US becomes much less intimidating. Start your application process early and take the first step towards a bright future!
Shaifali Bhardwaj
Content Writer
About Author
A people- and story-person, Shaifali enjoys crafting narratives inspired by the life of people she meets. She likes to read autobiographies and fiction, indulge in some YRF drama, and even spin stories inspired by everyday objects (like her work desk). Stories being her oxygen, she began her career with HT Media, where she wrote health and entertainment news stories, and later started helping students write and edit essential application documents like statements of purpose. This fulfilled her desire to uncover unique stories and articulate them in the most compelling manner, while forming lasting bonds with her students. Presently with Career Launcher Study Abroad, she’s expanding her skills in website content and copywriting to advance in her field. On weekends, you may find her at a dance workshop or requesting weekday leaves for trekking adventures.
