Embassy of the United States Trinidad & Tobago

The Internet is an excellent resource tool for research on studying in the United States.  It provides access to information on specific universities, standardized testing, financial aid and many other topics.  Start your journey by checking our Overview (PDF-44KB), Timeline (PDF-7KB) and then clicking on the educationUSA logo on the right.

Before applying to any institution, students should vertify its accreditation status with the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago at www.actt.org.tt/

Happy surfing!!

College Search Engines

Hereunder you will find information on the U.S. higher education system and links to thousands of colleges and universities. Many links have helpful information about finding a school, the admission process, etc., and may include online application forms. Some universities share application forms, which are called "common applications". A student can use a common application to apply to multiple universities.

• Glossary of Terms
  http://www.educationusa.info/pages/students/research-references-glossary.php
• The Common Application
  http://www.commonapp.org Home of the Common Application, the website also provides answers to commonly asked questions.
• U.S. Department of Education
  http://www.ed.gov/
  Promoting educational excellence for all Americans.
  The U.S. Department of Education's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access
• EducationUSA
  http://www.educationusa.info/
  Subtitled "Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education," EducationUSA provides "a wealth of information and services for international students at all stages of the college search." It composes a global network of more than 450 advising and information centers in 170 countries.  These centers "actively promote U.S. higher education around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, objective, and timely information about educational opportunities in the United States and guidance to qualified individuals on how best to access those opportunities." Portions of the Web site cover accreditation, finding the right school, visa information, financial aid, Fulbright scholarships, and programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State.
• Exchanges Connect
  http://connect.state.gov
  Connect - Communicate - Collaborate.  An international social network managed by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs that highlights first-person stories about cultures, commonalities, and exchange program experiences.
• American Council on Education
  http://www.acenet.edu//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
  The major coordinating body for all of the nation's higher education institutions, ACE also sponsors a number of international initiatives: http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=International
  The American Council on Education, headed by David Ward (the former Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin), “seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and to influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives”. To this end, the website is a vast repository of papers, research initiatives, and newsletters that will assist those persons working in higher education administration, or those with a general interest in trends with American universities and colleges.
• NAFSA: Association of International Educators
  http://www.nafsa.org/
  NAFSA is a member organization promoting international education and providing professional development opportunities to the field.
• National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
  http://www.nasulgc.org/
• International Education Week
  http://iew.state.gov/
  A joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to celebrate and promote international education and exchange.
• USNEI: U.S. Network for Education Information
  http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei
  /edlite-index.html
  A basic resource on the U.S. educational system created to inform international exchange students.
• CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange
  http://www.ciee.org/
• Institute of International Education
  http://www.iie.org/
  IIE, an independent non-profit organization founded in 1919, is a world leader in the exchange of people and ideas. IIE administers over 200 programs serving more than 20,000 individuals each year.
• Association of American Colleges and Universities
  http://www.aacu-edu.org/
• Council of Independent Colleges
  http://www.cic.org/
• CHEA: Council for Higher Education Accreditation
  http://www.chea.org/
  Database of accredited institutions and programs.  The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a private, non-profit national organization that coordinates accreditation activity in the United States. It is the primary national voice for voluntary accreditation and quality assurance to the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Education.  Database of accredited institutions and programs: http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp
• Office of Postsecondary Education Database of Accredited Institutions
  http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
• CLEAR: Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation
  http://www.clearhq.org/
  CLEAR has compiled a directory providing links to North American (and international) state boards for dozens of regulated professions, from architecture and teaching to private investigators and cemetery brokers. These can be viewed by profession or by state. Also of interest are the links to testing and certification organizations, associations of professional regulatory boards, and much more.
• International Association of Continuing Education and Training
  http://www.iacet.org/
  This accrediting body (recognized by the U.S. Department of Education) reviews the programs of organizations offering instruction based on the Continuing Education Unit (CEU-a measure for non-degree programs with one CEU equaling ten contact hours). Links are provided to the association's over 750 members.
• University and College Accountability Network
  http://www.ucan-network.org/
  The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities has created this online database that lists statistics like graduation rates, tuition, and enrollments for more than 600 private institutions, as well as information about student life.
• Hobson's USA Education Guides
  http://www.usaeducationguides.com/
  Welcome to Hobsons' USA Education Guides, an American education service offering information to help international students study in the United States. At this site you can:
  
  
  • Search for universities and colleges in the USA
  • Read accounts written by other students from your  
  • region who are studying in the USA 
  • Find out what exciting programs, colleges and  
  • universities in the USA have to offer international students
  • Read articles and find advice about living and studying in the United States
• The Chronicle of Higher Education
  http://chronicle.com/
• Requires subscription; limited free material available: http://chronicle.com/free/Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
• http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/list/whhbcu/edlite-index.html
• University of Texas at Austin Web U.S. Higher Education
  http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ/ 
• eduPASS!
  http://www.edupass.org/
• Higher Education Resource Hub
  http://www.higher-ed.org/
• Petersons
  http://www.petersons.com/
  Home page for Peterson's, one of the largest publishers of educational material, including the Peterson's Guides to Graduate Programs and the Peterson's Guide to Four-Year Colleges. Provides information on all levels of study in the United States, careers and jobs, summer programs, distance learning, financing your education, executive education, and much more.
• Petersons-EducationUSA
  http://www.petersons.com/educationusa
  Designed by Peterson's, official web site of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for advisers and international students searching for appropriate schools and academic programs.
• National Center for Education Statistics-College Navigator
  http://www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
  From the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics - a searchable database of nearly 7,000 colleges and universities in the United States. The site also links to information on preparing for college, financial aid and career choices.
• National Center for Education Statistics
  http://www.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/Search.asp
  For exploring and comparing colleges, College Opportunities Online (COOL) is a new Web Site with links to more than 9,000 colleges and universities across the United States - large universities, small liberal arts colleges, specialized colleges, community colleges, career and technical colleges, and trade schools. You can search COOL by location, program, and degree offerings (alone or in combination). COOL is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). It was authorized by Congress in 1998 to help college students, future students, and parents understand the differences between colleges and how much it costs to attend college.
• U.S. News & World Report
  http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/eduhome.htm
  Home page for the Colleges and Careers Center run by U.S. News & World Report. Contains information on college and graduate program rankings, test preparation, career options, funding, best value schools, and more.
• http://www.collegeprofiles.com/
  The College Profiles web site will be a valuable resource for students looking for the college that will best serve their educational needs. The site provides brief sketches of thousands of colleges and universities, along with materials on the cost of each school, financial aid opportunities, and campus life. Information on the site is organized in several different ways, with the most helpful being the interactive map on which users can click to find a complete list of college and universities in any selected state. From the main page, users can also click on a list of thematic lists of schools, including Catholic colleges, black colleges, women’s colleges and two-year colleges.
• http://www.collegeweeklive.com
  Get college application tips and advice online at CollegeWeekLive, the world's largest college fair. CollegeWeekLive revolutionizes college admissions, making the process easier by saving you time. CollegeWeekLive connects colleges with students, parents, counselors live online. CollegeWeekLive is free. Join hundreds of colleges and universities from around the world and tens of thousands of high-school students. Watch college application and admissions experts speak on topics such as how to prepare for the SAT, how to write a winning application essay or how to pay for college. Video chat with college students to learn what campus life is really like.
• http://www.collegenet.com/
  College search. Scholarship search, academic resources, financial aid, online application forms and much more. Aimed at undergraduates.
• http://www.collegeview.com/
  An online search service with profiles of over 3,500 colleges and universities, virtual campus tours, campus life, electronic applications, financial aid and career planning tools.
• http://www.collegelink.com/
  College search engine, scholarship and financial aid search, online application forms and more
• http://www.weapply.com/
  College search engine and downloadable college application program.
• http://www.studyusa.com/
  Home page for study in the USA, an educational guide for international students. Provides access to information about colleges and universities in the United States, including request forms for contacting admissions offices. Also has information about obtaining a visa and applying for admission.
• http://www.collegesintheusa.com/
  Colleges in the USA.com provides information on studying in the USA. Search American universities, colleges and English language programs and request information from schools in the USA.
• http://www.academicinfo.net/
  AcademicInfo is an online education resource center with extensive information on subject guides, educational resources and online degrees. Its mission is to provide free, independent and accurate information and resources for prospective and current students.
• The International Student Guide to the USA
  http://www.internationalstudentguidetotheusa.com/
  
  
  • Highlights educational opportunities in the United States
  • Articles on English Language Programs
  • Listings of and contact information for schools, universities, colleges,and English Language Programs
  • Useful resources, such as profiles of higher education by state
  • Articles about popular courses of study, such as Business, Engineering, Medicine, and Hospitality & Tourism Management
• http://www.asgs.org/
  Home page of the Association for Support of Graduate Students.
  Find out what issues are important to graduate students in the United States. Contains information about writing theses and dissertations.
• http://www.mastersinteaching.com
  An unbiased and updated list of every school that offers a Masters in Teaching degree in the U.S.
• http://www.mastersinaccounting.net
  Masters in Accounting was created as a nonprofit resource to serve students considering enrolling in a masters in accounting program. Actively maintained, Masters in Accounting is the only nonprofit website which lists and links to every accredited masters in accounting program as well as answers some basic questions about the degree so that students have a single unbiased resource from which they can begin their research.
• http://www.review.com/
  Home page for the Princeton Review, publisher of study guides for standardized admissions tests. Includes information on test schedules, business and law schools, other graduate programs, undergraduate study, career advice, and information for international students.
• http://www.princetonreview.com/
  Provides rankings, video college campus tours, interactive tools to help students choose a major, and admissions expertise.  To access information you must be a member, but creating a membership account is free.
• The Ultimate Writer's Guide
  Essay Writing, Developing & Ordering Paragraphs, Writing Clear
  Sentences, Choosing and Using Words, and more
• http://u101.com/
  Links to about 4,000 college and university websites in the United States and Canada
• http://www.studynewyork.us
  Provides easily accessible and comprehensive information about the state’s unique educational assets.  This website is the first step to help students explore their options and make the best possible choices for higher education in New York State.
• http://collegecost.ed.gov
• http://www.acuinfo.com
• http://www.intstudy.com/
• http://www.embark.com/
• http://www.fastweb.com/
• http://www.ies-ed.com/
• http://www.collegegate.com/
• http://www.educationcorner.com/
• http://www.educationconnect.com/
• http://www.internationalstudent.com/
• http://www.collegesearchdatabase.com/
• http://www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html
• http://www.iefa.org/
• http://www.globalslc.com/
• http://www.nytimes.com/pages/education/index.html
• http://whatwilltheylearn.com
• http://zencollegelife.com
• http://collegeweeklive.com
• http://www.adventuresineducation.org
• http://www.pbs.org/tenstepstocollege
• http://www.thinkcollege.org
• http://www.gradschools.com/search.html
• http://www.internationalgraduate.net/
• http://www.americangraduateeducation.com/
• http://iiswinprd01.petersons.com/GradChannel/Search.asp
• http://www.businessschools.com/
  This site is designed to provide detailed information on many different aspects of pursuing an undergraduate or advanced degree in business, along with providing related information on available scholarships and potential career options. Developed as part of the All Schools online network, visitors to the site can search their database of over 1500 schools by state, country, specialty, and educational level. The search engine will return results based on visitors specifications that will contain links to the different schools' respective programs, along with a link to send email to the program directly.
  
  The site also has a helpful list of hundreds of financial aid options available to students studying business, along with a glossary and suggested reading for selecting an appropriate program. Finally, the site contains numerous guidance articles written by experts in the field of business education, such as a Yale business school professor and a former Ocean Spray marketing director.
• The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing
  http://nutsandbolts.washcoll.edu/
  Despite the relatively high levels of literacy among the general populace of college students in the United States, many of them have difficulty with writing clearly and effectively. A new writing primer has been developed by Michael Harvey (a professor at Washington College in Maryland), and will be of great help to many students who find themselves grappling with writing college-level assignments and papers. The homepage for the guide contains hypertext links to various sections, including those dealing with style, structure, evidence, and paper mechanics.
• Family Business Study
  http://www.uic.edu/cba/fbc/syltable.htm
  Over the past two decades universities in the United States have developed family business centers as they and others realized and documented the importance and complexity of family business. Defined as an organization owned or substantially controlled by members of a family, family businesses currently account for over 90 percent of U.S. business organizations and employ over 50 percent of the domestic workforce. Starting in the late 1970s and peaking in the mid-1990s, over one hundred universities have started family business centers.
  
  Currently there are about fifty to sixty active programs, and offering related courses to students is a growing trend, though only a few offer a formal minor in the area (specifically, Alfred University and Stetson University).

Careers

• Occupational Outlook Handbook 2000-2001
  http://www.bls.gov/oco
  The latest edition of this biannual handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics offers a wealth of career information for a wide range of occupations, including a brief review of important features and "what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings and expected job prospects." It remains an excellent source of relevant, condensed and updated occupation information.
• College Majors 101
  http://www.collegemajors101.com
  Andrew Leidner, who has college admissions and financial aid experience, created College Majors 101 to educate high school and undergraduate college students about college majors and the careers to which they can lead. Each major has its own "channel" presenting descriptive information, along with typical positions held by people who have majored in a particular area.
• Mapping Your Future
  http://www.mappingyourfuture.org
  Provides information on various careers and how students can choose careers and colleges and pay for their education.
• National Institutes of Health Office of Science Education
  http://science.education.nih.gov/LifeWorks.nsf/feature/index.htm
  Explore careers, read insights from professionals and prepare for college.

Financial Aid/Scholarships

• http://www.educationusa.info/financial-aid
  Financial aid updates from EducationUSA, the official website of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
• FAFSA on the Web
  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
  The website for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for American students and those with resident status. This form must be submitted in the senior year (afer January 1) for families applying for need-based aid.  Students may complete it electronically on the site.
• Federal Student Aid: International Students
  http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/
  english/intl.jspStudy in the United States is a serious undertaking. To decide if it is the best option for you, consider carefully how it will fit into your long-term educational and professional plans.
• Foreign Student Financial Aid Application Form http://www.collegeboard.org/ie/student/html/students.html
  Students should send this form to individual universities upon the request of these universities.
• InternationalStudent.com
  http://www.internationalstudent.com/
  Studying in the United States - Financing your International Education.
• FastWeb
  http://www.fastweb.com
  Extensive information on merit- and need-based scholarships and aid, and information on transitioning to college, dorm life and college budgeting.
• FinAid!
  http://www.finaid.org
  Information about types of financial aid and how to apply for it.
• Scholarship.com
  http://www.scholarship.com
  Scholarship search engine
• Wired Scholar
  http://ww.wiredscholar.com
  Pointers on the college search and application process, from preparation to getting loans.  It also has interactive tools for analyzing the affordability of schools and comparing financial aid award letters.
• Funding U.S. Study
  http://www.fundingusstudy.org/
  IIE's free online resouce, searchable by field of study, geographic area and nationality, filled with scholarship opportunities for international students seeking to study in the United States.
• College-scholarships.com
  http://www.college-scholarships.com
  Links to free online scholarship searches and college websites
• Student Aid on the Web
  http://studentaid.ed.gov/
  Your source for free information from the U.S. Department of Education on preparing for and funding education beyond high school.
• International StudentLoan.com
  http://www.internationalstudentloan.com/
  Studying abroad often requires financial assistance for extra expenses such as travel, accommodations and materials, which can make it a greater financial commitment. International Student Loan is here to help, by offering access to a range of international student loans and study abroad loan.
• OAS Rowe Fund http://www.oas.org/en/rowefund/

The Rowe Fund, a student loan program of the Organisation of American States (OAS), helps citizens from Latin American and Caribbean OAS member countries finance a portion of their studies or research at accredited universities in the United States by awarding interest free loans. Prospective applicants must be accepted to, or currently studying at, an accredited U.S. university and demonstrate good academic records in addition to full-time enrollment. Applications are received and reviewed on a year-round basis. The maximum loan amount per student is $15,000. For eligibility requirements and application forms, visit: www.oas.org/en/rowefund and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rowefund. Please send any questions to rowefund@oas.org.

Test Prep/Study Help

• http://www.collegeboard.co
  Home page for the College Board, the company that administers the SAT exam. Offers information for students, parents and educators regarding taking standardized tests, online registration, planning for college, finding a college, applying to college and paying for college. Aimed at undergraduates.
• http://www.ets.org/
  Home page of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), creator and marketer of the SAT, GTE, GMAT and TOEFL standardized tests. Links to sites with information about the tests. Also has information on universities and colleges, and financial aid.
• http://www.sat.org/
  One of the ETS web pages. Offers information about the exam, how to order preparation materials, sample test questions, financial aid, and more.
• http://www.gre.org/
  One of the ETS web pages. Offers information about the exam, how to order preparation materials, sample test questions, financial aid, and more.
• http://www.gmac.com/
  One of the ETS web pages. MBA Explorer web site. Find out everything you ever wanted to know about the GMAT exam, order preparation materials, learn about various MBA programs, the truth about MBA admissions requirements, financial aid and much more.
• http://www.kaplan.com/
  Home page of Kaplan, one of the largest test preparation companies in the United States. Contains information about all levels of education, nursing, financial aid and information for international students. http://www.kaptest.com/
• The Ultimate Guide to the SAT: 100 Helpful Sites and Resources 
  http://satguide.weebly.com/
  The site doesn't look like much at first glance, but the content is extremely comprehensive.  It has everything from vocabulary building to online mock SAT tests. And the best part, it's ALL FREE. Also, there is a 300 page pdf SAT study guide! 

Virtual College Tours

• Campus Tours: Virtual College Tours
  http://www.campustours.com
  Virtual tours with still pictures and descriptions, webcams, campus maps, and videos of hundreds of colleges throughout the United States.  Provides a first look at colleges.
• Collegiate Choice Walking Tours Videos
  http://www.collegiatechoice.com
  A site run by a group of independent souncelors in New Jersey who offer videos of walking tours of more than 350 colleges.
• eCampusTours.com
  http://www.ecampustours.com
  Virtual tours of colleges. Useful for its 360-degree views of dorm rooms and other buildings.

Community Colleges

• http://www.americancommunitycolleges.com/
  1. Highlights the benefits of attending a community college in the United States
  2. Articles that explain what a community college is, and how to transfer from a community college to a university
  3. Listings of and contact information for community colleges
  4. Useful resources, such as homestay programs
• American Association of Community Colleges
  http://www.aacc.nche.edu/ http://www.CommunityCollegeUSA.com/
• Community Colleges USA
  http://www.cc-usa.org/
• National Articulation and Transfer Network
  http://www.natn.org/
  Great information is provided on transferring from a community college to a four-year institution. Although much of the information is directed at U.S. students, there is a section which lists recommended courses that transfer easily and a section on undergraduate and graduate scholarships. Access to the database requires that the student register.

Distance Education/Online Degrees

• http://www.phoenix.edu/
• http://www.geteducated.com/
• http://www.academicinfo.net/eddist.html
• http://www.straighterline.com/
• http://www.braintrack.com/online-colleges
• http://www.onlineschoolsalabama.com
  Schools in Alabama
• http://www.onlineschoolsarizona.com
  Schools in Arizona
• http://www.onlineschoolscalifornia.com
  Schools in California
• http://www.onlineschoolsflorida.com
  Schools in Florida
• http://www.onlineschoolsgeorgia.com
  Schools in Georgia
• http://www.onlineschoolsillinois.com
  Schools in Illinois
• http://www.onlineschoolsmichigan.com
  Schools in Michigan
• http://www.onlineschoolsohio.com
  Schools in Ohio
• http://www.onlineschoolstennessee.com
  Schools in Tennesseez
• http://www.onlineschoolstexas.com
  Schools in Texas
• DETC: Distance Education and Training Council
  http://www.detc.org/
  DETC has been the standard-setting agency for correspondence study and distance education institutions since it was established in 1926. Its purpose was, and still is today, "to foster and preserve high quality, educationally sound and widely accepted distance education and independent learning institutions.

Rankings

There are no "official" rankings of universities or programs by the United States government or the universities themselves.

The following are commercial rankings:

• http://www.usnews.com/
• http://www.library.uiuc.edu/edx/rankings.htm
• http://www.educause.edu/ir/dheo.html
• http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/rankings/rankingsBest357.asp 

Sports Scholarships

The Do-It-Yourself Athletic Scholarship - In September, Kirsten Bladek a senior in high school and a volleyball player spent $39.99 to post her athletic resume and pictures of her playing on the Web site http://www.berecruited.com/. The shots, combined with videos posted later, highlighted her ability to set the ball from in front of her forehead, with arms thrust out like Superman in flight. That display, combined with some telephone campaigning by Kirsten and her mother, got college coaches to start paying attention. Do-it-yourself services have emerged that allow student athletes to showcase their abilities for a fraction of the price. Aside from beRecruited.com, other sites include http://www.prepchamps.com/, http://www.trupreps.com/ (owned by CBS Corp.'s MaxPreps unit), http://www.activerecruting.com/, http://www.collegecoaches.net/ and http://www.sportsworx.com/. There are also numerous sport-specific sites.

• http://www.athleticaid.com/AthleticScholarshipInformation.html
• http://www.collegesportsscholarships.com/collegeresources.htm
• http://www.petersons.com/

 Great Websites for MBA Hunters

GMAC now has two sites:

• http://www.mba.com
• http://www.gmac.com

We're the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the people behind the GMAT—the test used by nearly 2000 business schools. For close to half a century, we've been helping people just like you find your way to the MBA. Find out everything you wanted to know about the GMAT exam, registration, order preparation materials, learn about various MBA programs, the truth about MBA admissions requirements, financial aid and much more.

• Financial Times Global MBA Rankings
  http://rankings.ft.com/rankings/mba/rankings.html
  The MBA is still the gold standard in management education. Compare the data from the 100 top global MBA programmes, as compiled in this ranking, and use our interactive table to select the best program to suit your needs. Whether you are looking for a full-time MBA or a two-week course to improve your management skills, the Financial Times rankings list the best management programmes available. The tables are available in interactive and pdf formats.
• http://news.ft.com/businesslife/mba 
• http://www.petersons.com/mba
• http://www.princetonreview.com/mba
• http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/
• http://www.bschool.com/
• http://www.businessschools.com/
• http://www.mbaprograms.org/
• http://business.gradschools.com/
• http://www.mba.us.com/guide
• http://www.mba.gradview.com/
• http://www.mba-courses.com/
• http://www.ft.com./ftsurveys
• http://www.aacsb.edu/
• http://www.topmba.com/