{"id":1533,"date":"2017-11-29T13:39:48","date_gmt":"2017-11-29T13:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/find-the-american-universities-that-are-right-for-you\/"},"modified":"2018-06-22T12:13:00","modified_gmt":"2018-06-22T18:13:00","slug":"find-the-american-universities-that-are-right-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/find-the-american-universities-that-are-right-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Find the US Universities That Are Right for You"},"content":{"rendered":"

With so many US universities to choose from, the application process can be confusing. However, there are steps that you can take to create a list of American colleges that best suit you. It is best to start the entire college selection process about 16 months before the date you intend to enter college. This way, you\u2019ll have enough time to research your many options.<\/p>\n

For any US university: First things first<\/h2>\n

Begin your search by looking for colleges in the US<\/a> that offer the type of degree you wish to pursue in the field that you wish to study. Once you\u2019ve done that, it\u2019s time to look a little more closely at each school. As you review your options, think about what\u2019s most important to you. Things to consider include the type of college, its location, the costs involved, financial aid<\/a>, entrance difficulty, housing options, availability of ESL programs, and library holdings.<\/p>\n

Think carefully about the environment in which you\u2019ll be most comfortable. For example, are you interested in an urban, suburban, or rural environment? Will you be comfortable on a large campus with thousands of students or would you prefer a smaller, more personal campus? Are you looking for particular climate conditions? Do you want to attend a school where there are special dorms for international students? These questions do not really have “right” answers\u2014you should simply decide what\u2019s important to you and look for schools that match.<\/p>\n

Thoroughly review the details about each US college you have chosen, and decide which of them best suit your wants and needs. After carefully considering the factors listed above, eliminate those schools that do not offer what you are looking for. From the remaining list, select seven to ten institutions to which you think you might want to apply.<\/p>\n

Get more information about the American colleges that interest you<\/h2>\n

Next, write to the institutions you have chosen and request application materials, catalogs, and information about financial aid<\/a>, housing, fields of study, etc. You can also get this information on the schools\u2019 Web sites.<\/p>\n

This is also a good time to find out what standardized admission tests are required by each school. Most schools require the SAT<\/a> or ACT<\/a>. In addition, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL<\/a>) is generally required from international students who do not speak English as a native language. Register for these tests as soon as possible and have your test scores sent directly to each USA. university.<\/p>\n

Decide which US colleges will receive your application<\/h2>\n

Review all the materials you receive, and reduce your list to three to five US colleges. In doing so, you should consider the following:<\/p>\n