Undergraduate Study in the U.S.

Improving your English Prior to U.S. Study

Proficiency in English is an important prerequisite for U.S. academic programs. Most U.S. degree programs require a minimum TOEFL iBT score somewhere between 79 and 90, or similar demonstration of advanced English proficiency. Even to grant admission conditional on further English language study, U.S. universities typically require reaching at least a high intermediate level of English.

Because of the cost for U.S.-based study and what often proves to be greater difficulty in obtaining a visa for English language study only, it is recommended that students begin their English language training at home.

Most AMIDEAST offices offer English language programs. Our programs provide excellent preparation for academic or professional goals that require proficiency in English.

Find AMIDEAST English language training near you.

In general, when trying to determine English language training quality, look for--

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Undergraduate Study in the U.S.

Tips on Admissions Essays

Realize that the people who work in admissions offices must read many, many essays. You want yours to stand out and get their attention, not bore them!
Understand the purpose of the essay–basically, it is your chance to communicate who you are and what you are all about to the admissions committee. This is one way they can get to know you as a person. Think about what makes you unique, different from other candidates.
This is also your chance to sell why you would be a good match for their program. You will want to customize essays to fit each school to which you apply.
Make sure you answer the question you are being asked.
Most essays follow a formula: an introduction, a body, and then a conclusion. Create an introduction that grabs their attention, and a conclusion that sums it all up and ends on a positive note.
Pay attention to how long the application form says that the essay should be, and don’t go over that limit.
Use examples and details from your life–has there been a research project or some other relevant activity in your life that you’ve particularly enjoyed? What was it, what did you contribute, and what was the result? What have teachers or others said about you as a student or a human being? What are you most proud of? What is motivating you to pursue this degree? What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? Failures are also something you could write about if there was an important lesson you learned from the experience. These are all examples of things that could possibly be woven into your essay to make it come alive.

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Undergraduate Study in the U.S.

Links to More Information

Below are links to some additional useful sources for additional information on U.S. undergraduate study. Also check our Fields of Study section for additional links for students interested in particular fields of study.

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Undergraduate Study in the U.S.

U.S. Undergraduate Admissions Terms and Policies

Different U.S. undergraduate institutions vary in their admissions policies and practices. Below some terms are defined that tend to be particularly confusing to international students.

Conditional Admission. Means the student must complete some step before being offered admission. This might include providing a missing final grade or secondary school completion document, improving English proficiency to a specific level, or doing well during the initial semester at the institution.
Open Admission. Some U.S. institutions admit all students who meet a few basic requirements, such as secondary school completion and English proficiency. Admission is noncompetitive though students will have to meet academic expectations to remain in the program.
Rolling Admission. Some U.S. institutions do not have a specific deadline for application materials, but process each whenever all required materials are received. It is still a good idea to apply early as programs will have a limited number of spaces to fill and financial aid (if offered) will be limited--early applicants have an advantage.
Early Decision. At some institutions, applicants can agree in advance to attend if accepted, and their applications are processed early. Students should only apply early decision to one institution and only then if they are sure they want to go to that institution—early decision involves a commitment to attend.
Early Action. At some schools, applications received by a certain date are processed early and the applicants are informed whether or not they will be admitted. No commitment to attend the school is involved.

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Undergraduate Study in the U.S.

Quick and Easy Degree? Beware

There’s an old saying that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Getting a diploma saying that you’ve earned a Ph.D. for a few hundred dollars, within thirty days, and with little or no work on your part may sound great—but such a diploma is a worthless piece of paper that could cost you your career.

Any degree-granting U.S. institution of higher education that you are considering attending should be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education. You can find a free, searchable database listing all institutions with recognized accreditation here.

(You will also want to check with the ministry of education, licensing authorities, etc. in the country where you plan to work regarding any additional requirements that they may have for degree recognition.)

Accept no substitutes for CHEA/U.S. Department of Education recognized accreditation. “Incorporated,” “legally operating,” “approved,” “state-approved,” “authorized,” “registered,” or “member of” are not the same and are not sufficient to ensure minimum educational quality. Being “accredited” by an organization that is not recognized by CHEA or the Department of Education may prove to be completely meaningless.

Don’t trust a beautiful Web site, misleading advertising, or persuasive salespeople. Legitimate degree-granting institutions that are not accredited are rare. Fake universities that will provide “degrees” for a summary of life experience, review of your resume, completion of a test or research paper, or even simply for a credit card payment….these are common, because running such a “diploma mill” is a profitable if fraudulent business.

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Undergraduate Study in the U.S.

Questions and Answers on U.S. Undergraduate Study and Admissions

Start with our pages on Choosing and Applying to U.S. Colleges and Universities and Testing, which cover the most frequently asked questions on this subject.

Also visit the Fields of Study section to learn more about particular majors in which you are interested.

Below are the additional questions that we’ve researched so far related to U.S. undergraduate admissions and study. Each month, we add any new questions we’ve responded to on this subject, so check back for more.

If you have questions not currently answered on our site, please write us.

What’s a “liberal arts education”? A “liberal arts college”?

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U.S. undergraduate study focuses on exploration of varied areas of knowledge rather than immediate specialization. Students are expected to establish a broad base of “general education” or “liberal arts” study through courses that provide solid background in the arts, social sciences and languages, science, and mathematics. This type of education is offered in most U.S. undergraduate programs, not just at “liberal arts colleges.”

Institutions characterizing themselves as liberal arts colleges typically have a strong focus on undergraduate teaching. They may have smaller classes and more selective admissions than other types of institutions, but this will vary from institution to institution—it is best to look at the particular college rather than relying on its classification.

What are the different types of U.S. university scholarships for undergraduate students?

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Awards based on academic excellence (often called “merit” awards) are the most common type available to international students. Level of financial need is often also a factor and some awards are primarily “need based,” though it is hard for U.S. universities to accurately determine financial need in the case of international students.

“Talent” awards are usually for ability in the visual or performing arts. You may have to submit a portfolio of your work or an audio- or videotape of yourself performing, or even audition in person. Consult the specific school for details.

Other awards may be based on your past involvement in community leadership and service, or they may require you to spend a certain number of hours in support of the local U.S. community. In the case of international students, service may take the form of speaking about your country to community and school groups.

Some awards are reserved for women (or, less often, men), international students or U.S. citizens, members of particular religious or ethnic groups, or other special categories such as individuals with disabilities.

AMIDEAST EducationUSA centers periodically provide presentations giving more information on scholarships and strategies for winning one.

I’ve heard that it’s less expensive to attend a community college for my first two years of undergraduate study. Can you tell me more about this?

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Yes, two-year undergraduate institutions (“community colleges”) are typically less expensive than four-year institutions, though they do not generally offer financial aid as do many four-year institutions. Community colleges also typically offer such advantages as a flexible and less demanding admissions process, faculty who concentrate exclusively on teaching, and good student support services.

As indicated by the name, community colleges were historically founded to serve local communities, with most students living close by. While international students are welcome, typically there is no on-campus housing and extracurricular campus activities may be limited.

Many students begin their undergraduate study at a community college, graduate with an associate’s degree, then transfer their credits to a four-year institution and finish the last two years of the bachelor’s degree there.

Not all two-year degrees are designed to transfer. Some are vocational, designed to provide workplace skills, and will not transfer. Make sure you are entering a transfer program if you want a bachelor’s degree.

Specific transfer/articulation agreements between two- and four-year colleges are helpful in ensuring maximum credit transfer, so find out about agreements colleges you are considering may have established. Academic planning can be complicated, so meet early with the academic adviser at your two-year college as well as discussing your plan in advance with four-year colleges that interest you.

What are some ways that I can earn credit toward an undergraduate degree before I actually enter a U.S. college?

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Undergraduates may be able to earn credit for postsecondary-level courses that they have taken previously that are comparable to those offered by the U.S. university they plan to attend. Check with individual admissions offices regarding this possibility and how to have such credits evaluated.

Over 2,900 U.S. institutions also award credit for success on particular examinations. Which examinations and scores needed vary by institution. You can read more about two of the more commonly accepted and widely available tests, CLEP and DSST, on this site. You can take CLP and DSST tests at AMIDEAST EducationUSA centers.

If you have work experience that includes structured corporate training (or other nondegree training) or if you have taken professional certification tests, check to see if they are included in the credit recommendation published by the American Council on Education. Be aware that the recommendations are only recommendations and will not be accepted by all universities. Other advanced nondegree training, work, or other life experience can sometimes, though less commonly, be considered for credit. Again, the key is to show that knowledge gained through such training or experience is comparable to specific courses offered by the U.S. university. This may involve “portfolio assessment,” which can be a fairly complex process, varying from school to school. You would probably only want to pursue portfolio assessment if you have a really substantial amount of life experience that you think might be applicable; if so, ask universities if such assessment is a possibility there.

When can I expect to hear back from universities to which I have applied, and what are the next steps

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Many universities do not make admission decisions until March or April. The university will not act upon your application until they have received all required documents, including any required test scores (which must be sent from the testing agency). Applying to schools with rolling admissions may help you get a quicker answer but you will still have to wait until your application is complete before it is acted upon.

Once you have heard from the different universities that you applied to (be sure to apply to more than one!), make your decision among those accepting you and write a letter to the university that you choose, confirming that you accept admission.

In addition to a formal offer of admissions, the accepting institution provides successful applicants with an I-20 form, which allows the student to obtain an F-1 or "student" visa. (Students sponsored by U.S. government and some other exchange program will instead receive an IAP-66 from that exchange program, which enables the student to obtain a J-1 or "exchange visitor" visa.) You will need to take the form provided along with your letter of admission, academic records, and financial documents when you apply for a visa.

Write to any other universities that you had applied to informing them that you will not attend and enclosing the unused I-20s.

Some universities and colleges ask for a monetary deposit prior to registration. If this is the case, check whether the deposit is refundable, especially in case the U.S. visa is denied. Reserve housing if desired. Health forms also usually need to be completed prior to registration, requiring documentation of vaccinations and a medical examination.

See “Questions and Answers on Visas” for more on obtaining a visa.

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Undergraduate Study in the U.S.

Letters of Recommendation

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Letters of recommendation, most commonly written by professors (sometimes also by employers or others who know you well), are required for almost every U.S. graduate school application and are an extremely important part of the application process. Strong letters can improve your application significantly.

Generally three letters of recommendation are required per application (schools will specify). When deciding who to ask to write your letters of recommendation consider how well the letter writer knows you, as well as how effective a writer he or she may be.

A clever strategy you can use to get a good letter of recommendation is to provide your letter writer with information about yourself along with your request for the letter. This way, you can get a letter that includes specific details that you want mentioned, not just a general report on your grades.

When getting a letter of recommendation, look for a person who—

Is aware of your academic areas of interest and the schools you are applying to
Is able to evaluate your performance in your field of interest.
Is able to discuss your personal strengths
Can discuss your capacity to work with others
Can discuss your leadership skills
Can evaluate your level of professionalism (e.g., punctuality, efficiency, assertiveness)
Can discuss your academic skills—not simply experience, but your potential to succeed in graduate-level study
Will evaluate you positively in relation to others
Has some professional recognition and whose judgment will be valued within the field
Is able to write a good reference letter (i.e., can write well in English)

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Undergraduate Study in the U.S.

Undergraduate Study in the U.S.

These articles for students from the Middle East/North Africa focus specifically on undergraduate study in the United States and the U.S. application process for undergraduate students.

Be sure to also visit our Fields of Study section and see what information we have related to your planned career and study area.

We will be updating and adding material to this web site so be sure to visit regularly.

If you have questions not currently answered on our site, please contact your nearest AMIDEAST office.

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