Choosing A School
Academic Considerations
Area of Concentration: It is not essential to declare the area of concentration you plan to undertake when you enter a university. If you have a definite degree objective, however, identify universities offering that field. Many subjects are taught in every university, so choice of fields does not necessarily eliminate many institutions. In some fields, however, you may want to check out possible specialization (For example, many universities offer education but only a few offer physical education or special education).
Academic Emphasis: Get an idea of how the university emphasizes its curriculum. Is it pre-professional orientated or liberal arts? Do the undergraduates dominate the campus or do the postgraduates? Many liberal arts colleges emphasize teaching and professor/student interaction, so the teacher to student ratio is quite low. Some research centered campuses are postgraduate dominated and undergraduates are secondary; however, facilities are often state of the art and professors are world-renowned.
Courses: Study the course catalogue and course descriptions. Many international students choose the US system because of the flexibility it offers through the liberal arts framework. Some degrees, however, are highly structured and universities dictate exact course-work. Prescribed course-work does not allow for student athletes who want to take a lighter load “in season” or double major options for the motivated student.
Rate of Return: The rate of return of students who continue after their first year gives an indication of the program difficulty level and student satisfaction level, so try to get more information on this.
Accreditation: Check that any university you are considering is regionally accredited.
Cost
Study the fee structure printed in most university prospectuses carefully and incorporate into your calculations the cost of room, food, tuition, fees, travel and other expenses for the full four years.
Private vs. State-Supported: US universities are either private or state-supported. In general the tuition fees at state-supported universities are less expensive than private universities. International students, however, are considered non-state residents and are charged “out-of-state” tuition rates, which are higher than in-state rates. Some state universities are limited in the percentage of out-of-state students they can enroll.
Tuition: Note the cost of tuition and fees and be aware that tuition costs may rise each year.
Housing: Try to find out if housing is available for all four years of enrollment. If students are asked to find off-campus housing for one or two years, find out the cost of off-campus housing.
Meal Plan: Some universities mandate that first year students must purchase a meal plan, while other universities offer various options within the meal plan including the number of meals per week or the meal halls used etc.
Financial Aid: Some US universities offer financial aid for international students. Check the amount of the average award, the percentage of financial aid awarded and the nature of the awards, whether they are need-based or academically based. It is possible that a university will allow an international student to be on a payment plan so that they can pay the tuition in installments.
Admission Difficulty
Because the U.S. university system is so extensive, admission requirements vary greatly. This means that private universities and liberal arts colleges at the top of the selectivity indices receive enormous numbers of applications and accept only a small percentage, while other colleges can accept all applicants who meet their admission standards. Most directories will give information such as the average SAT score for the previous year’s accepted students. In addition, directories and many college prospectuses will list the percentage of students accepted the previous year. Selectivity assessments using this type of data, however, tend to put weight on test admission scores that are only one part of an application and not necessarily the most important part.
Size and Location
Size: Many international students do not realize that U.S. universities’ enrollment size can range from 20 – 60,000 or even more. Some universities resemble small cities with their own post offices, grocery stores and shopping centers. Size ranges offer different opportunities and academic climates for the undergraduate. Some large campuses are located in very small rural towns where the students and the universities dominate the local economy. Other schools may be in large, densely populated urban areas with a very small enrollment.
Location: The climate in the US varies considerably from one region to another. Every region offers both urban and rural settings. Some areas present more security concerns than others. The undergraduate student candidate should be informed about security risks and precautions. Some international students have relatives living in the US and this may be a major influence on the choice of universities.
Institution Personality
Social Life: Some U.S. universities have reputations as either social schools or very quiet academic schools. In addition, some schools may be known as “commuter schools," meaning that most students live off-campus and commute into classes, which affects the campus atmosphere. Potential undergraduates will want to know what the atmosphere is like at weekends on campus; if most students have cars, they might leave to go on road trips or back home to visit family every weekend and vacate the campus.
International Students: Some US universities enroll a substantial number of international students while others may only enroll one or two students. You may either be considered a very special person to get to know or you may have a built in support group with people who can share your experiences.
Personality: All US universities will accept students of any race, color or creed. Many universities or colleges, however, were founded with a certain mission, whether to provide a religious atmosphere on campus, a single sex educational experience or a majority ethnic student population. Read university mission statements in college prospectuses carefully and decide if your goals match the goals of the campus.
Extracurricular Activities: US universities offer many opportunities for students to develop skills through extracurricular activities such as sports teams, academic clubs, university newspapers, drama productions and other rewarding programs.
Other Considerations
Student Services: US universities cater to the needs of the student through services such as international student advisers, counseling services, legal aid services, housing offices, varied meal plans, health centers, tutoring facilities, and many other helpful services. Prospective undergraduates can compare facilities among universities.
Academic Distinctions: Many US universities award academic distinctions to outstanding graduating seniors, which often provide an incentive for students.
Internship or Overseas Study Programs: Many US universities have incorporated into their curriculum internships or overseas study programs.
Graduates: The job-placement success of a university’s graduating seniors is one indication of the emphasis of the curriculum. Universities will tell prospective students how many of their graduates find professional positions and the number of graduates accepted to postgraduate programs.
Students with Disabilities: If you have special needs then you need to make sure that the college can accommodate you. Advise the admissions office of your disability early on in the process and obtain information about facilities offered from the college’s Office of Disabled Student Services. Find out what services are provided automatically and whether any extra costs will be incurred.
Mārtiņš Mašulis, Bates College, PhD candidate, Cornell University: "I avoided the better-publicized paths of foundations and scholarship programs, favoring direct contact with colleges. I would suggest that students look into the option of small liberal arts colleges, since I benefited immensely from my own experience at Bates College. Large universities are great for research, and they will always remain an option for advanced studies!"
Aleksejs Požarskis, Naples Air Center, Inc.: ""I have found most of the information on the internet. As I am going to study to become a professional pilot and work in Europe, it was very important for me to get the European Pilot License. In order to obtain it, the school should be listed as Flight Training Organization approved by the European authority. The flight school where I am going is approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, so there should be no problems to get the European License."
Lt Ērika Neimane, United States Air Force Academy, Airspace Management Coordinator, Latvian Civil Aviation Administration: "Since early in school I wanted to learn more about airplanes and military aviation fascinated me. While a senior in high school I read an article in “Rīgas Balss” about the possibility of studying in a US military academy. My decision was quick and clear: first choice USAFA, second choice Annapolis I’ve met some US military officers before, and had an insight into the US military through the different books. While gathering info about USAFA I learned about the USAF core values, academic and aviation programs it offers and decided that USAFA would be right the place for me. I contacted the US embassy, and so it started… "