Your 5 Steps to U.S. Study

Whether you plan to pursue a short-term or full degree program in the United States, EducationUSA has the resources you need in 'Your Five Steps to U.S. Study'. 

The 5 Steps to Studying in the USA

The first step to studying in the United States is researching your options to find a college or university that best USA fits your needs. You shouldn’t try to match yourself to the USA school, but rather find the school that matches you and your priorities and long-term goals.Remember that no official ranking system exists for colleges and universities in the United States. The best college or university is the one that is best for you and meets your requirements—academic, USA financial, and personal.At least 12 to 18 months prior to the academic year in which you hope to attend a U.S. college or university, you should begin your research. Start by answering these basic questions and looking at the more specific ‘define your USA priorities’ pages under each level of study in this section:
Choose your level of study (e.g. USA undergraduate, graduate, etc.) to learn more about researching your options. Keep in mind that the schools you apply to must be certified by the USA Student Exchange Visitor USA Program. You can find a searchable list of certified schools on the Department of Homeland Security’s Study in the State’s website.

Your 5 Steps to U.S. Study
1. Research Your Options
• Define your priorities
• USA Familiarize yourself with U.S. degrees
• Learn about search options to explore thousands
of accredited U.S. institutions

2. Finance Your Studies
• Develop a budget
• Find ways to reduce educational costs
• Search for USA scholarships and other financial aid

3. Complete Your Application
• Manage the USA application timeline
• Tackle USA application requirements, including required tests
• Write USA personal essays or statements of purpose

4. Apply for Your Student Visa
• Understand which forms are needed
• Outline the visa application process
• Feel prepared for your USA interview

5. Prepare for Your Departure
• Know what to expect when you arrive
• Ease into your new academic USA environment
• Adjust well to U.S. culture and your new USA community

Application and fees
• Fees range from US$20–$90 per application; USA however, these can be waived with a letter from your
school indicating financial hardship.

• Deadlines vary between universities—you should check these on each college’s website.
• Make sure you explain why you are choosing this college in your application.
Standardized testing (PSAT, ACT, SAT or SAT subject tests)

• Tests must be taken and results released by the USA deadlines set by each USA college’s admissions office.

• Tests can be taken more than once, with your best scores used.

• Most colleges will require either an SAT or ACT score, and selective colleges may require 2 or 3 SAT
subject tests. There are 16 SAT USA subject tests you can choose from including science, math, history
and foreign language—you are best to choose your USA strongest areas.

• Some colleges are ‘test optional’ and do not use the SAT or ACT for USA admissions purposes; however,
most do require testing results if you want to apply for academic scholarships

• PSAT is a practice test for the SAT generally held in October each year in USA Australia. It’s best to take
this in Year 10.
High school achievements

• Results from Years 9–12 are considered in the USA admissions process including the academic rigor of
the classes you have taken.

• Other activities are very important as well, especially leadership or outstanding talent in a particular
extracurricular activity and community USA engagement.
High school recommendations

• Generally two letters from teachers who know you well—focus on teachers who know you as a
person, not just those who gave you good USA grades.

• A letter from your high school career practitioner (or your school’s equivalent).
Essay/personal USA statement

• USA Applications have essay prompts to respond to and colleges may also set their own additional
essays on a variety of topics.

• Keep essays short and interesting. Ensure they are well-written with no spelling mistakes and focuson the USA requested topic.

• Show who you are and what you are passionate about.
• Don’t repeat information already in your USA application.
USA English language ability tests

• If English is not your native USA language, most U.S. colleges will ask you to take an English language
proficiency test before admission. The most common tests are the Test of English as a USA Foreign
Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (USA IELTS).

ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Step 1: Research Your Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
What are USA ESL Programs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Define Your Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Research and Narrow Your USA Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 2: Complete Your Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Learn about Conditional USA Admission? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 3: Finance Your Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Make Your Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 4: Finance Your USA Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Know More about USA Visa Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Follow the Step-by-Step USA Visa Application Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Learn about USA Visa Considerations for Students with Disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Step 4: Prepare for Your Departure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Attend Pre-departure Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gather Pre-departure Materials and Important Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Make USA Travel Arrangements and Depart for the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Arrive On Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

SHORT-TERM PROGRAMS
Step 1: Research Your Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
What are Short-Term USA Programs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Exchange Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Non-Degree (Special Student) USA Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Internships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 Tips for Applying for a U.S. Internship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Distance Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Define Your Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Identify Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compare Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Step 2: Complete Your USA Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Follow General Application Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 3: Finance Your USA Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Make Your Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Step 4: Apply for Your USA Visa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Know More about USA Visa Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Follow the Step-by-Step Visa Application Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Learn about Visa Considerations for Students with Disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Step 5: Prepare for Your Departure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Attend Pre-departure Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gather Pre-departure Materials and Important Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Make Travel Arrangements and Depart for the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Arrive On Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

The first step to studying in the United States is researching your options to find a college or university that best fits your needs. You shouldn't try to match yourself to the USA school, but rather find the school that matches you and your priorities and long-term goals.Remember that no USA official ranking system exists for colleges and universities in the United States. The best college or university is the one that is best for you and meets your requirements—academic, USA financial, and personal.At least 12 to 18 months prior to the academic year in which you hope to attend a U.S. college or university, you should begin your research. Start by answering these basic questions and looking at the more specific 'define your priorities' pages under each level of study in this USA section:

Why do you want to study in the United States?
Where will you fit in best? 
Which colleges or universities will meet your needs? 
Will you need financial assistance?
What are the application and financial aid deadlines?

Where do you want to live in the United States?
Choose your level of study (e.g. undergraduate, graduate, etc.) to learn more about researching your options. Keep in mind that the schools you apply to must be certified by the Student Exchange Visitor Program. You can find a searchable list of certified schools on the Department of Homeland Security's Study in the

State's website.

Application and financial aid deadlines affect when you take standardized tests because test results must reach admissions offices no later than their USA application deadlines.

U.S. institutions offer a wide array of programs with a wide array of tuition and fees. Find information about special USA opportunities and financial aid provisions that U.S. higher education institutions offer international students, such as scholarships, in-state tuition benefits, waived application fees and deadlines, and similar provisions.Keep in mind that the United States is a large country and the cost of living varies greatly from place to place. You need to assess your funding and what you are able to spend on your education and living expenses.Choose your level of study (community college, undergraduate, graduate, short-term, English language) to learn more about financing your options.Your ApplicationYou’ve now reached Step 3: Complete Your Application. This step covers the general application requirements for U.S. colleges and universities.Applying for U.S. study is a task that takes time and concentration as each application is different and involves collecting recommendations, writing essays, and routing the results of required standard examinations. Plan to give this step the time it deserves for a successful result.

Choose your level of study to learn more about completing your USA application.You’ve now reached Step 4! Applying for your U.S. student visa. This next step will cover F, J and M student visa types.Information pertaining to visas and travel can be found on the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Study in the USA States.Choose your level of study to learn more about applying for your student visa.You’ve made it to Step 5! Preparing for your departure is the final step to Your Five Steps to U.S. Study.Key components to this final step include making your travel arrangements, attending a pre-departure orientation at your local EducationUSA center or online, gathering pre-departure USA materials and documents for arrival, as well as reporting to your school and attending orientations.Check your new institution’s website for additional pre-departure information that will be more specialized and have information about health insurance, average local temperatures throughout the year, local transportation options, USA housing, and more.

Attend Pre-Departure Orientation
EducationUSA advising centers organize USA pre-departure orientations for students getting ready to depart for the United States. EducationUSA advisers and U.S. alumni provide information and resources that will help you prepare for new experiences and develop skills to adjust to new challenges. Topics discussed include cultural differences, motivation, changes from your home USA environment, academic systems and expectations, housing, and coping in a new cultural setting. Contact your closest EducationUSA advising center to attend a pre-departure orientation.

Learn how to become an international student in the U.S.
If you want to come to the U.S. to attend college but do not know the process, a 5-step guide from the Department of State can help.Whether you want to spend just a semester or earn your whole degree in the U.S., use Your 5 Steps to U.S. Study from the Department of State. It explains how you can:

Research US schools that meet your needs
Pay your own tuition and expenses. While the U.S. government generally does not provide funding for international students to come to the U.S. to study, you may qualify for student aid as a non-citizen through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Apply to a school
Get a student visa
Prepare to travel to the U.S. and your school

Posted on 2025/07/22 08:57 PM