Applying to American Universities for Undergraduate Study

About American Degrees

American undergraduate degrees are based on a Liberal Arts philosophy, which requires students to take a wide variety of courses in the arts and sciences before concentrating in one academic area, creating a well-rounded education.

The Associate degree: normally lasts two years and is designed to meet the requirements of the first two years of a bachelor degree. Associate Degrees are offered by Community Colleges.

The Bachelor's degree: consists of 1) general education courses in a wide range of subjects; 2) a major, which is a concentrated field of study; and 3) electives which are a student’s free choice. Although Bachelor degrees are designed to be completed in four years, there is no fixed completion timeline. Instead, a degree is awarded after a student has completed a required amount of course-work expressed in terms known as credits/units or semester hours. Usually a student will need to accumulate approximately 130 - 180 credits in order to graduate, with each course on average earning 3-4 credits. Continuous assessment is a feature and each course (class) per term is graded and then converted into a numeric equivalency called a Grade Point Average (GPA) on a scale of 0 - 4.0, which indicates the quality of a student's performance. Both colleges and universities award undergraduate degrees. The difference between a college and university is that a university awards masters degrees and doctoral degrees. While some colleges do award higher degrees, they focus on undergraduate education. As spoken English does not differentiate between the two, we will use the terms “colleges” and “universities” interchangeably in this section.

Qualifications You Will Need

Students from Latvia are expected to have a high-school diploma.

When to Apply?

Ideally one should begin the process 12 - 18 months in advance. Application forms for the Fall term (beginning August or September) are available in August of the previous year. Each university has its own deadline, which may be as early as November or December. Allow six months for processing the application. Some universities will accept students for January admission. Remember, the later you apply, the narrower your choice will be.

How to Apply?

Step 1 - Choose your colleges

American students consider the whole institution rather than a single department due to the broad approach of the undergraduate degree. Please note that MEDICINE and LAW are not subjects studied at the undergraduate level in the United States.

There are over 3,600 colleges and universities in the US. The staff at the Education USA Information and Testing Center can help you select the colleges and universities that are right for you, and help you work through all of this information.

Step 2 - Obtain application forms

Almost all American colleges and universities now have their application forms on their web-page. Admission officers nowadays prefer to receive as many application materials as possible on-line, since it saves time and resources. Remember that applying on-line may require you to use a credit card to pay any university application fees. If you are unable to apply on-line, or if you prefer to do it on paper, that option is also available. In this case, you simply print out the application forms from the webpage and send them to the college or university by mail.

Step 3 - Register to take the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

The SAT is a 4-hour primarily multiple-choice aptitude test measuring verbal, mathematical and writing skills. Most institutions will require the SAT in addition to your school qualifications. Some institutions may also require from 1 to 3 SAT II Subject Tests which measure the candidate's knowledge in a specific subject. Registration bulletins and free Sample Questions for the SAT I or II can be obtained from the Education USA Information and Testing Center. You can also register for the SAT on-line and register to take mock SAT exams.

If English is NOT your native language you will need to register for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Registration forms and test preparation material can be obtained from the Education USA Information and Testing Center.

Step 4 - Return the application forms

You must return your completed application forms directly to each individual college. American colleges and universities charge an application fee, which can be from $20 to $100 or more. There is no limit to the number of colleges you can apply to; however, most students apply to between 3 and 8 colleges to keep costs down. Read everything thoroughly and make sure you are sending the college or university all the required materials! Incomplete applications will only cause delays in receiving a decision. The information accompanying the application forms will give you the college's deadline for admission, required tests, documents (such as school records), possible essay questions and the application fee (non-refundable) for processing the application. Deadlines are usually firm.

Colleges usually notify their applicants of acceptance or rejection between March and June. Note the deadlines by which you have to reply if you are accepted. If you are accepted by more than one institution, write to the one you decide to accept (pay a deposit if required) and also write to those whose offers you wish to decline.

Costs & Financial Aid

Costs: Each individual college sets its own fees; consequently they vary widely. Generally, tuition for state universities ranges from $5,000-$25,000. Private universities generally charge between $15,000-$40,000. Living expenses also vary and are highest in big cities. They range from $5,000 to $15,000 per academic year (9 months) which is in addition to tuition costs.

Financial aid: After family resources, US colleges or universities are the primary sources of funding for undergraduate study. Private universities are more likely to provide financial aid to international students than state universities. At the undergraduate level, full scholarships, which cover total expenses, are rare. Most university financial aid is based on academic merit, although some will give funding based on need. Other forms of university funding include athletic scholarships, scholarships based on minority status, performing arts scholarships, or other miscellaneous criteria. Non-university funding is less common but still available from independent funding bodies, corporations, or private individuals.

Talented athletes should inquire about Athletic Scholarships in their chosen college or university. Athletic teams are usually recruited very early in the application process, so make sure to inform your college or university of your interest in athletics as soon as possible.

Visas

Most international students will enter the US on a non-immigrant student visa. To qualify for a visa, you must have proof of university acceptance for full-time study. Once you accept the university offer and show proof of sufficient funding, the university will send you either an I-20 or an IAP-66 government document, which proves university acceptance. You can then apply for your visa. Inquire at the American Embassy in Riga for a visa application form.

Complete and return this form together with the payment slip, I-20 or IAP-66, passport, an extra passport photograph, proof of finances and evidence that you plan to return to your country of residence upon completion of your education.

Laura Belevica, Washington University in St. Louis: "If your documents arrive early, you have a higher chance of being noticed among all the other applications. Build a strong and unique presentation of yourself. Consult your instructors, friends, and family to learn more about your strengths and weaknesses. Look online for resources that might guide you through the preparation process. When the time has come to write your statement of intent, reevaluate your past experiences and present yourself from the best yet a realistic point of view."

Visvaldis Valtenbergs, Fulbright Fellowship Alumnus, Master’s degree in political science, New School University, PhD candidate and Research Project Manager, Vidzeme University: "Firstly, even before you apply - be well rounded in the field you want to pursue. Talk to people, exchange business cards, build a network of friends and acquaintances. Be sure to get some practical work done – volunteer, be active in an NGO, and your community. This network will help you feel welcome when you come back in a year or two. This is very important because re-integration is very difficult for some people. Secondly, be willing to see yourself back home after you finish with your studies in the U.S. Ask yourself – how will I be able to contribute? "