Each university and institution in the United States establishes its own admissions criteria and selects applicants who match those criteria. As a result, you must apply to each institution or college independently. These are some of the most important subjects for students to be aware of while applying to American universities. Fall and spring are the two main intake seasons for universities in the United States. Unlike India, universities in the United States adopt a bi-semester system, with each academic year divided into two semesters. Students must choose between the fall and spring semesters. Students who want to start undergraduate or graduate studies in September 2021 should be aware of the deadlines.
For Study in USA, almost all courses will have a minimal English language requirement that Indian students must meet. A minimum academic record of 65 percent in the humanities stream in class XII and 70-80 percent in the Science/Commerce stream in class XII will also be required. For students who have received less than a 60%, foundations and diploma programmes are accessible. Before beginning a degree programme, a student must have reached the age of eighteen.
The majority of applications for Study in USA will include the following:
- Form of application
- Scores on standardised tests
- Transcripts
- The personal statement, also known as the Statement of Purpose essay or Sop, is a type of essay that is used to express one’s goals and objectives.
- Separate research statement (describes your research interests and plans) (occasionally necessary)
- Recommendations 2–3 Letters
- Curriculum Vitae (sometimes required) a summary of your career and extracurricular achievements
- Some students (such as MBA applicants) may be asked to interview, whereas those applying for arts programmes are likely to be required to audition.
- Application fees
Selecting a University for Study in USA
Pre-application should begin around 14-18 months before you want to begin your studies in the United States. It’s a good idea to start by writing or emailing as many as 20-30 universities, though your final shortlist might be anywhere from 8 to 10 or more. When choosing universities, a number of variables should be considered. A comparison chart listing the differences between university departments in terms of field of study, research quality and areas of faculty interest, programme thrust, accreditation, student requirements, selectivity or level of competitiveness, costs, financial aid options, geographic locations, and so on will help you narrow down your options. Because not all characteristics are equally significant, each student should prioritise his or her goals while narrowing down graduate programmes.
When to Apply for Study in US
Universities in the United States have two main intake seasons: September and January, with certain institutions also having intakes in May, July, and October. The primary intake season for top courses in the United States is September, while the minor intake season for a small number of courses is January.
You should begin the application procedure at least six months prior to the deadline. Most institutions have two deadlines, usually in October and January. It is up to the students to decide which deadline to aim for. By three months before the deadline, you should have completed your language and aptitude examinations. The last three months should be devoted to thoroughly filling out the application form. For the September intake, it is critical to finish the “full application process” by June or July, which includes sitting for interviews and completing the visa application process. The fall semester, or September, is the key intake season for elite institutions and courses. Because many courses do not have January intakes, it is dependent on the course you wish to pursue. If you want to enrol in a vocational course, you should know that some schools begin accepting applications in January, and some even in May or July.
Exams Required to Study in USA
General Exams
Following are the general tests that universities usually require applicants to take. Which exam results will be applicable to the course of your choosing will be specified by the university to which you are applying.
- SAT
- GMAT
- LSAT
- GRE
You can take the GMAT as many times as you wish, with a maximum of five times per year and a 30-day break between examinations. You can repeat these tests after a 30-day break from the first time. The GMAT costs INR 18,250 ($US $250), the GRE costs INR 14,965 ($US $205), while the LSAT costs INR 3,800 ($US $200).
The average GMAT score accepted by colleges is 547. The average GRE verbal score is 155, quantitative score is 167, and writing score is 5.0. Universities accept an average LSAT score of 162 points.
Language Exams
The following are the standardized language proficiency test that need to be taken for getting admission in colleges for Study in USA. These have a specific format, structures, and outcome bands. These examinations differ in a variety of ways, but many colleges will accept any of the results. As a result, the student must choose which exam to take.
- IELTS
- PTE
- TOEFL
If you want to apply for the September intake, you should take these examinations by November so that you can submit your application before the first deadline.
West Highlander- Your trusted Study in USA Consultant
The application process for USA Study visa involves many steps. It starts from selecting a right University and a course from vast range of options available. At West Highlander we guide USA Study visa aspirants through each and every step from selecting a University and a course, preparing admission documentation for Study in USA , sending admission application to your choice of universities and guiding through the USA Student visa process.