How to Research US Universities When You Can’t Visit

There’s no doubt about it: If international students have the time and ability to visit campuses in the U.S., do it!  But that certainly isn’t always a realistic option.

Today we’re going to tackle a selection of questions frequently asked by “international” students, the answer to all of which could be: “It depends.” In fact, I put the word international in quotation marks because the answer to, “Who do colleges consider an international applicant?” is often, “It depends.”  That’s how diverse the range of responses from different colleges can be. But before I answer the questions below, as best as I can, let me tell you two things about international admissions that I know for sure:

I’ve often been asked how US colleges go about admitting international students. The questions are usually centered upon quotas—limits to how many students can be admitted from a particular region of the world. Because certain countries often send such “incredible” students to U.S. colleges, and only a few of them are admitted year to year to a given school, there must be a predetermined number of admission slots per country goes the thinking. Right? Wrong.

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

What International Students Can Expect from the US Admissions Process

Applying to a U.S. university from abroad can seem like a daunting process. Not only are you taking a leap from the familiar educational surroundings of your secondary school into the unknown waters of higher education, there’s a possibility you’re flying farther away from home than most of your peers and taking a chance on an entirely different country and educational system. Let’s just say, “we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Unless, of course, Kansas is your ultimate destination.

Whether you’re an American or international applicant, you may hope to spend your college years in a cosmopolitan campus setting, meeting students from around the world. Maybe this is because you’ve grown accustomed to a diverse population in your own school, or maybe it’s just the opposite—you’re ready for a big departure from your homogenous hometown. Regardless, there are plenty of colleges and universities famous for their international flavor and their variety may surprise you.

Despite a recent downturn in the number of international students moving to the United States to attend college, the U.S. remains a popular academic destination. But there’s no denying that the cost of an American education is a deterrent to many prospective students. If you’re eager to move to the U.S., but the price of our universities gives you pause, you may want to consider beginning your educational journey at a community college. Also referred to as junior or two-year colleges, these schools are usually much more affordable than a four-year institution, and the requirements to gain admission are minimal.

Many international students strive to attend university in the United States, but end up confused by the U.S. admissions process, which tends to be less straightforward than admissions processes elsewhere.  One question we often get is how an international transcript will translate in the U.S. system. Former MIT and Caltech admissions officer, Zaragoza Guerra, answers this question in the latest installment of the College Coach video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert.

Many colleges and universities recommend that applicants have a college interview; several even require an interview as part of the admission process. As an international student applying to schools in the US from abroad you might be thinking, “Can I interview?” The simple answer is yes. However, let’s get a better understanding of the process and determine if having a college interview is right for you.

You’ve heard time and again that admissions officers want to see you take the most rigorous curriculum that you can handle and that your high school offers. Great, so that might get you the coveted acceptance letter, but does all your hard work in these college-level courses get you anything more? Will you get credit or placement at U.S. universities for IB or Cambridge exams? It surprises me how many students are eager and willing to take these challenging courses to impress the admissions committee, but few ever take note as to which universities may be more generous in awarding credit or placement for enrolling students with certain exam results. You’ve worked hard for it! Knowing how your exam results will be treated by different universities could make the difference between repeating courses, having the opportunity to take upper-level courses sooner, and maybe even graduating from college in less time!