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The
Right Program
Be
sure that the U.S. institutions that interest you are accredited by an agency
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation assures you that
the university has met certain standards. A degree from a non accredited
institution may not be recognized by other educational institutions or by
employers.
Quality
Because of size and variety of higher education
in the United States, the quality of any given institution and its programs,
even when accredited, is hard to determine. The most expensive institution is
not necessarily the best, nor is every program at a highly regarded
institution necessarily of the same high quality.
For graduate students, the research and
publication records of the faculty in your chosen department are probably the
best measures of quality, although even a "good" department might
not have a top professor in the specialization that you are looking for. Ask
your current professors for advice and guidance. They are usually the best
sources of information on the quality of a graduate program.
Factors that can affect the quality of the
education available to undergraduates include:
- Class
size: are all classes taught in a lecture format, or are smaller
seminars and discussion sessions available for undergraduates?
- Opportunities
for independent research and direct work with faculty: are there
service learning opportunities, undergraduate research programs, and an
honors program?
- Educational
background of the student body: is the institution nonselective
("open enrollment"), selective, competitive, or highly
competitive?
Other Educational
Factors
Graduate students will want to consider the
type and number of research or study facilities available. For example, you
may want to know how many libraries the school has, how many volumes those
libraries contain, and whether students can borrow books from libraries at
other institutions using inter-library loan.
In addition to finding out about the library,
look for information about special research collections, laboratories, and
other facilities that can affect your education opportunities. The more
information about the university you can obtain ahead of time, the easier it
will be for you to decide where you want to study.
For undergraduates, if you think you know what
discipline you want to pursue, look at the size of the department, the breadth
of its offerings, and related departments. If you are less certain of your
choice or major, you might want to consider a larger institution where
you would have more options. For undergraduates, the ambiance or mood of a
campus can be an important factor. Some universities may stress friendliness,
community involvement, and personal attention. Others may stress independence
and offer less personal advising and supervision. It is important to read an
institution's promotional material to determine whether a campus is going to
suit you and your needs.
Cost
Tuition costs vary enormously from one
institution to the next, ranging from $2,000 to $28,000 per year. In some
cases scholarships or other types of financial assistance may be available
through the institution; in other cases the source may be a private
foundation, a private company, or your home government. Financial assistance
may come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, teaching assistantships,
research assistantships, or tuition reductions. It is important in your
selection process to keep tuition rates and the availability or unavailability
of financial assistance in mind.
When choosing an institution, you will also
want to consider the cost of living in the surrounding area. You will find
that cost of living varies greatly in different parts of the country and even
between different cities in the same state.
English Language
Proficiency and Instruction
If your English skills are very limited, you
may need to attend an English language institute before beginning your degree
program. You may wish to select a university that offers an
English-as-a-second-language (ESL) program preceding academic enrollment.
Conditional or provisional admission may be
offered to you if your academic or professional qualifications are very good
but your English needs additional improvement. If you are given conditional or
provisional admission, you may be required to complete English language
courses or retake standardized language proficiency tests before being allowed
to enroll in certain courses. You may have to satisfy this condition during
your first or second term.
It is very important to know the university's
policies on English-language testing and classes. When you are admitted to an
institution, you should carefully examine the documents in your admission
packet to determine whether you will be required to enroll in ESL courses.
If you are an international graduate student
and are interested in applying for a graduate teaching or laboratory
assistantship, you will need to pay particular attention to any special
English-language or other preparation programs that may be required for such
assistantships
Access to Health
Care
Many universities have student health centers
that offer basic medical care at little or no cost to students. If you know
that you have a specific medical condition or will require regular medical
care, you will want to locate a university that has adequate student health
services and is located near a comprehensive medical center. Remember that
health care for major illnesses or accidents can be extremely expensive in the
United States, so health insurance is essential.
The
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 protects the rights of all
students, both U.S. and international, to have the opportunity to participate
fully in the programs and services of a college or university. Many campuses
have offices with specially trained staff to provide support services for
students with disabilities. If you have a disability, you will want to find
out about the special facilities or resources available to you. If a
university has other students with the same or a related disability, this may
indicate
For
More
Information
InternationalStudent.com
contains a wealth of information and is a necessary resources for any one
considering applying to school in the US
IEFA.org
maintains the most comprehensive listing of grants, scholarships, loan
programs, and other information to assist students in their pursuit to study
abroad.
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©2000 by InternationalStudent.com, All Rights Reserved.
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