It’s not just about applying to a university. An applicant’s progress is often measured by the steps taken before and after the submission. Here are some of the most common mistakes that students can prevent by planning:
Education USA advisers tell students that one of the first advice they offer them is to apply to US universities after verifying their accreditation status. Accreditation is a mark of excellence and a means of evaluating the university’s, campuses’, and programmes’ reputation.
Students can use ‘DAPIP’ (a US Department of Education database of accredited US universities – https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home) and ‘School Search’ (a US Department of Homeland Security resource – https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/school-search) to review a university’s accreditation status and eligibility to host foreign students. There are over 4,500 accredited higher education institutions.
In the United States, there are over 4,500 accredited higher education institutions that annually welcome lakhs of Indian students. Enrolling in – anti institutions can result in a waste of time and money.
University shortlisting: Universities are eager to accept applicants who are the “best fit.” As a result, colleges use a comprehensive review process that considers an applicant’s specific experiences and standard academic metrics, including grades and test scores.
Financial Aid: Students seeking financial aid, particularly need-based aid, should review the university’s policy of financial assistance, as well as its availability to international students and eligibility requirements. Failure to do so can result in a misalignment of standards for both the student and the university.
Students can not always grasp the application criteria simply by reading the university website. Correspondence and research are two examples. Students are welcome to ask questions at American universities, which offer various ways to contact university officials (email, phone, WhatsApp, Zoom calls). Remember, if you’re unsure, ask!
Application: Students should ensure that they complete and mail their applications before the deadline. The application is not considered submitted until you press the send/to submit button and pay the application fee for electronic submissions. This involves submitting all necessary supporting documents, such as essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and any other details requested by the university.
If you don’t complete all or any of the above, your application may not be submitted or reviewed. Students can also make mistakes when answering essay prompts. This, combined with other factors like fit, the number of applications received, and your application’s overall strength over others, could lead to rejection.
Although this phase comes after the application, it may also decide if a student can move to the United States for educational purposes. Students’ chances of obtaining a visa can be affected if they provide inaccurate or incorrect details on the student visa application form and during the visa interview. Although many organisations and individuals claim to help with this procedure, the only official source of information on student visas is the US Bureau of Consular Affairs at the US Department of State (ustraveldocs.com/in).
Students can find out about information sessions held by Consular or “Visa Officers” from the US Embassy and Consulates in India by contacting their nearest United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) and EducationUSA centre. Students may use this link to see any upcoming visa awareness sessions or other activities hosted by EducationUSA at USIEF – bit.ly/IndiaCalendar.
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