ENROLLING AT A UNIVERSITY IN THE USA: HOW TO DO IT?

Have you just graduated from high school and want to study at a university in the USA? In this article, we are giving you all of our advice on how to make your American dream a reality. It will of course require preparation and anticipation so that your administrative procedures run smoothly.

In order to go to the USA as part of your studies, it will be necessary to apply for an authorization to enter American territory, since the criteria for entering the USA are strict. The ESTA will not be valid for this type of stay, you will need to apply for a specific visa: the F-1 visa.

INFORMATION ON ENROLLING AT AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

The United States has a very large number of universities (almost 4,900) on its territory. There is a directory of these universities, available from the Franco-American commission to help you make a decision.

American universities are known to be very selective and demanding, which means having a concrete application file in order to apply for admission. Each university in the USA has specific admission requests, but all these schools will check your language level and your academic average.

The more prestigious the university (Brown, Yale, Princeton or even the famous Harvard University), the more tedious it will be to register, especially because of the much stricter admission conditions.

The educational level of each candidate is assessed by the Grade Point Average (GPA), which will convert your average to the education system in the USA. The candidate must also submit to an entrance test, the SAT. The Scholastic Assessment Test is divided into three parts with a text analysis, a writing part and a section on your knowledge of mathematics.

Obviously, the higher your score, the higher the chances of joining the American university of your dreams and finalizing your enrollment in an American university.

If the candidate is from a non-English speaking country, proof of their English language level will be required, usually in the form of an English test (TOEFL or IELTS). A personal essay (Personal Essay) will also be requested. With this text, you will be asked to describe yourself and convince the university to accept you. In addition, the university in the USA can find out about your interests, activities and hobbies, etc.

In order to have a complete registration file, it is advisable to add a letter of recommendation written by one of your teachers.

HOW TO FINANCE YOUR ENROLLMENT IN AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY?

Enrollment in an American university is far from free. If you do not have financial assistance from your parents, you will have to find a solution to pay the tuition fees.

In general, joining an American establishment (private or public) will cost you between 15,000 and 50,000 €. Given these far from democratic prices, foreign students who do not come from families who could help them financially must find an alternative.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The scholarship is a financial aid that is sought directly from American organizations and is very difficult to obtain for foreign students. Scholarships are grants generally awarded to students at the end of the cycle or with extraordinary skills (sports, intellectual, artistic …) and who wish to enroll in a university in the USA. Obtaining a scholarship is therefore not accessible to all profiles.

It will be easier for you to apply for funding via French organizations (for example the Regional Council or even Crous) or else ignore the USA and go study abroad in the EU, via example of structures such as Erasmus.

FIND A JOB WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY

In order to finance your studies, you can apply, under certain conditions, to work in the university.

LOAN APPLICATION

It is possible, as a last resort, to apply for a loan from your bank in order to finance his studies and pay the registration fees. It must be taken into account that it is not easy to reimburse a substantial sum after your studies. By applying for a loan, you agree to repay it over the long term.

In addition, more and more American universities are requiring students to take out health insurance . The cost of this insurance should therefore be included in your total budget.

GOING TO A UNIVERSITY IN THE USA: SUMMARY

You will understand, studying in the USA and enrolling in a university in the USA is not an easy thing to achieve after the bac. However, with preparation and a lot of work, it is not impossible.

Your level of English must be good, and you must pass the various tests mentioned above. You will also need to apply for the American F1 visa at the American embassy in order to have the possibility of doing your university course in the USA and registering at an American university.

If you wish to do an internship in the USA, you will need to apply for a J1 visa.

We wish you good luck in your academic year and hope that you will be admitted to an American university! Do not hesitate to contact our team if you wish to make a stay in the USA, whether for studies or not.