If my TOEFL score is below the requirement of a university, what can I do? Also, can you tell me what an I-20 form is?

Answer: The I-20 is the form that is issued by a university when it accepts you. It is used to obtain your student visa.

If your TOEFL score is lower than you expected, you may consider enrolling in an Intensive English Language Program in the United States. These program also issue I-20 forms. Choosing an English program can be confusing. If you have no idea about how to do this, you may consider contacting the closest academic advising center sponsored by your government or by the government of the United States. Each of these offices can provide excellent advice about English language programs that you should consider. You should also look at the schools that have links to this site (see earlier pages). Many of them have excellent English programs.

I am in my final year of undergraduate study at a university in my country. I have excellent grades and very strong GRE scores. I want to undertake postgraduate study in the United States. Can you tell me how colleges weight the analytical stores?

Answer: There is no standard interpretation of GRE partial scores: each university applies its own criteria to the scores. You may wish to inquire of the International Admissions office at the schools you are interested in.

I have a diploma in architecture and I want t to earn a bachelor=s graduate degree in that field. Will universities in the USA consider my diploma? How many years will I need to study?

Answer: You will probably receive some advanced standing for theoretical courses you have completed. However, the courses will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by individual universities. If you have a specific university in mind, it would be a good idea to contact the School of Architecture of that university directly. Your question concerning the amount of time you would need to complete your B.A. is a good one. It would depend on the requirements of the individual university. Remember that you will need to take general education requirements as well as major and supporting courses in the field of architecture. Most U.S. architecture students spend five years or more to complete the B.A. or B.S.

I am an international student who would like to continue my studies in the U.S.A. The standard admission form requires an international students to hand in a financial support statement. I cannot ask for financial aid support from my current sponsor because they want the offer letter from the university before they consider giving me financial aid. Is it possible for me to hand in the admission form without the financial support statement, and is the financial support statement one of the requirements for admission?

Answer: Ordinarily, an international applicant is expected to provide a financial support form. However, in the case of a scholarship or bursary award provided by a government or private sponsor, most international admissions offices can make provision for your situation. You should make direct contact with the international admissions office of the school(s) you wish to attend and explain your situation. They will inform you as to their procedures.

I am applying to a program in the USA. The application asks me to calculate my units and my GPA. How do I do this if my subjects are not counted in units and my grades are not on the same scale that is used in the United States?

Answer: In most cases, you should not attempt to calculate your units or your GPA (Grade Point Average). This should be left to the admissions office at the university to which you are applying. Some schools send the same application form to domestic and international students, and this form may ask for transfer units. In the case of an international student, We recommend that you do not attempt the calculation, but instead write something like "University study in foreign country." This will alert the admissions office that the file needs to be evaluated by an international specialist.

The main exception to the above advice is when a university wants you to indicate units completed in order to determine the level of study for which you are applying. In that case only, you should estimate approximately 30 semester units (or 45 quarter units) for each complete year of post-secondary study. If you completed British pattern A-level examinations, you should estimate 6-8 semester units for each subject passed with "C" or better. Note that these are very rough estimates and should be used only for purposes of deciding level of study.

I am currently studying physics. Next summer when I get my "Vordiplom" (in Germany students get it after three years of study), I want to continue my education in the USA. Should I apply for graduate or undergraduate study?

Answer: Many universities will consider "Vordiplom" holders for graduate admission, while many others will not. There is no uniform policy. I suggest that you make direct contact with the universities that interest you to determine their individual policies.

This is generally true for any level of study that does not normally exist in the United States. For example, in some countries a university degree is based on four years of study after a ten year primary and secondary program. Policies on admission of these students varies from school to school and it is important to inquire directly.

I am a student in Thailand and I am interested in studying in the USA. Is it important to visit schools in the USA before I apply? Should I apply in person instead of sending the application by mail?

Answer: Your admission will not depend on a campus visit. However, if it is practical, you might find such visits very useful in making your decision if you are accepted at more than one university. Our general advice is to visit campuses if it is convenient to do so, but don't make a special trip to the U.S. only for that purpose. However, if you are in the area of a school you are interested in, you may certainly call the admissions office and ask for an appointment with an admissions counselor. Generally, the university will be happy to have someone meet you, show you around and answer questions.

In most cases, applying by mail is just as good as applying in person. Usually, a clerk will accept your hand-carried application and merely put it with the ones that have been received by mail.

I am a graduate student. I am trying to earn a master's degree at an American university. I would like to know if I need to take the GRE or GMAT test for admissions to a computer networking program.

Answer: Each university has its own requirements for testing for graduate admissions purposes. In general, however, the only time that you would be asked to present GMAT results is for admission to a graduate program in business (usually an MBA). Other universities will usually require the GRE. However, it is important for you to check carefully with the universities that interest you.

Our university doesn't offer any official transcripts, so I have to type one on my own. My question is: What should a transcript contain, and how should it look like? Perhaps there are some examples somewhere?

Answer: It is quite unlikely that any university in the United States would accept an unofficial transcript that had been prepared by an applicant. However, admissions offices understand that many universities in the world do not issue documents that resemble U.S. transcripts. What is required is copies (certified by your university) of all of your academic records and certificates, including examination results and diplomas. In many cases, such records will be in the form of a study book (sometimes called an "index") containing examination results, marks and instructors' signatures. If the records are not in English, a professional translation is usually required.

In other words, an admissions office here needs the same information that your own university would use to grant you a degree. In some cases, these documents cannot be released to a student, but can usually be sent by your university (usually by the office of the Rector) directly to another university.

If, for some unusual reason, nothing at all is available, you should contact the admissions office at the universities to which you intend to apply and explain the situation, then ask them how they wish you to proceed.

I am a student in the UK on a student visa .I would like to continue my education in America and want to apply for an F-1 visa after I receive my I-20 visa form from a university. Since I am Indian citizen, do I have to go back to India and apply for my visa, or is it possible for me to apply for it here?

Answer: You should have no particular difficulty in applying for a U.S. student visa (F-1) in the UK, as long as you are in legitimate status there. However, situations vary and students from some countries are restricted as to the places from which a visa can be obtained. You should contact the U.S. embassy or consulate nearest you for specific information.

I have F-1 visa for next spring semester which is for 3 years. However I need to postpone my entrance date to summer semester. Will postponing my entrance date affect my visa?

Answer: The primary concern is your I-20 form, which indicates the date at which you are expected to begin study. If you defer study, you will need a new I-20 form from your university in order to gain admission to the United States. We do not think the visa will be a problem.

I have a question concerning the status of my spouse for the period of my enrollment in the USA. What is she allowed to do in the USA - work, study or only sit at home and gaze in the window because all other activities are illegal? Does it depend on university policies? Do American universities have any programs for spouses?

Answer: Fortunately, your spouse will not have to sit and stare out the window! We assume that you will be on an F-1 student visa during your stay, and that your spouse will hold an F-2 visa. (If this is not the case, slightly different answers apply.)

An F-2 visa holder (that is, a dependent of an F-1 holder) may study full-time or part-time, but may not work. She may be able to take classes at the university you attend (depending on its individual policy) or at another school. Most universities have social and learning programs available for F-2 students. And she would be able to participate in many community activities as well.

Depending on her English language skills, she may wish to attend classes in a local adult school (although most of these are held in the evening, some communities have day classes as well). We suggest that you ask the International Student Office at the university you will attend for specific information about the range of activities available to your spouse.

Please tell me about application process, financial needs, financial aid, etc. for a 16 year old boy studying for one year in a US high school.

Answer: There are several possibilities for secondary study in the U.S. that you should consider. For many people the best approach is to work with an established secondary-level international exchange program. There are a number of such programs, and you should contact an academic advising center in the nearest large city for information about them. Note that cost and obligations will vary from program to program. You may also wish to make direct contact with a U.S. high school which may is located in an area that is interesting to you or where you already have friends or relatives. Both public and private secondary schools may accept international students.

However, you should be aware that the Ministries of Education in many countries will not recognize secondary study in the United States toward completion of secondary education in those countries. Please take this into account when making your plans. If you are intending to complete your education in your country, it is important for you to make contact with the administrators in your local schools in order to determine their policies.

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