This document provides information for Italian students considering higher education in the United States. It discusses the types of colleges and universities in the US system, factors to consider when choosing a school, the admissions and funding application processes, and obtaining a student visa. The admissions timeline begins 1-1.5 years before enrollment with research, then applying 10-12 months in advance. Students can apply for university funding or scholarships, and other financial aid options are available once enrolled. The most common visa for international students is the F-1 student visa, which generally has a straightforward application process through the US Embassy in Rome.
AUDIENCE THEORY -CULTIVATION THEORY - GERBNER.pptx
Choosing a US College: A Guide to the Admissions Process
1. US Higher Education: Choosing a College
or University
Commissione per gli Scambi Culturali fra l’Italia
e gli Stati Uniti
The US –Italy Fulbright Commission
www.fulbright.it
The Fulbright Program
Linking Minds Across Cultures
2. 2
Table of Content
1. US Higher Education: Choosing a College or
University
2. The Admissions Process: an overview
3. Funding Resources
4. Visas
3. 1 US Higher Education: Choosing a
College or University
4. Why study in the US
• Wide range of university programs
• Experience American college life
• Have the flexibility to explore your
academic interests
• Internationalize and strengthen your CV
• Learn about US culture and see a new
part of the world
4
5. 5
Overview of US Higher
Education
• Two-year/community colleges
(Associate’s degree)
• Four-year (Bachelor’s degree)
Type of Institutions
• Public
• Private
6. 6
Choosing a College or
University
• Majors offered
• Type of university
• Location
• Campus Life
• Competitiveness of admission – apply
to a range of universities
• Cost and availability of funding
7. 1Resources for Choosing a
University
• Websites and Databases available
through the “Guide to study in the US”
on www.fulbright.it
• University websites
• Talk with teachers, professionals in
your study areas of interest, etc.
7
9. Timeline
9
Time Before Enrollment Notes
1 - 1 ½ years
•Learn about US higher
education
•Begin choosing universities
10 - 12 months
•Finalize your selection of
Universities
•Register for admission exams
•Begin admission and funding
applications
8 - 10 months
•Submit admission application
•Submit funding applications
10. Timeline
10
Time Before Enrollment Notes
4 - 7 months •Receive admission decisions
1 - 3 months
•Notify universities
•Apply for your visa
- •Begin Study in the US
11. Admission: Application
• Application form
• Admission exams scores
• Transcript & school report
• 2-3 essays
• 2-3 recommendation reference
letter
• Application fee
11
12. Admission: Standardized tests
• English Proficiency: TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign
Language
http://www.ets.org/toefl/
• Scholastic Assesment: SAT Scholastic Assessment Test
http://sat.collegeboard.com/home/
ACT American College Testing
http://www.act.org/aap/
12
13. Admission: Selection
Criteria
• Academics
• Admission Tests scores
• Extracurricular involvement
• Personal attributes
- Interest in your field of choice
- Character
- Leadership abilities
- Reasons for wanting to attend the
university
13
15. 15
Tuition and fees
• Can vary significantly
• May be a set semester/yearly rate or
calculated on a credit-hour basis
• Average tuition fees:
- $ 2,544 or less (two-year public, out of state)
- $ 11,528 (four-year public, out of state)
- $ 26,273 (four-year private)
source: “Trends in Higher Education Series”, College Board,
http://www.collegeboard.com
16. 16
Sources of funding
• US universities
Merit based
Sport Scholarships
• Personal / Family funds
17. 17
Funding:Tip for Success
• Start your scholarship search early
• Be flexible in choosing universities
NOTE
• You may need to “collect” funding from
multiple sources
• Other sources of financial assistance will
likely be available once the student gets to
the US, but these often cannot be taken into
account in the visa interview stage
20. Visas
• F-1 Student Visa
• Generally, straightforward process
Receive your I-20 from the US University
Complete SEVIS application and pay fee on-line
Complete visa application and pay fee on-line
Schedule an interview at the US Embassy in
Rome
• Refer to US Embassy for visa enquires:
http://www.usembassy.it/Main/
20
21. 21
Contacts
Commissione per gli Scambi Culturali fra l’Italia e gli Stati
Uniti
(The U.S. Italy Fulbright Commission)
Website www.fulbright.it
Facebook: facebook.com/FulbrightCommissionItaly
Twitter: twitter.com/fulbrightitalia
Email: info@fulbright.it
Via Castelfidardo 8, Roma 00185
Tel. 06/4888.211
This is a brief overview to help you begin learning about the US higher educational system.
As you can see there are several different types of universities.
Two-year colleges or community colleges -Two-year or community colleges award Associate’s degrees. -Generally, they have a professional or vocational focus, involve less rigorous application processes and entry
requirements than a four-year university. -Many American students start their studies at a community college, and then transfer to four-year university, receiving
Bachelor’s degree from that university in another two years.
-Community colleges may be a particularly good option if your SAT scores are not high, as many community colleges do
not require SAT scores for admission.
-They are also much less expensive than four-year universities
Four-year Colleges:
-Four-year colleges award Bachelor’s degrees
Public vs. Private Universities:
-Generally, there are two types of four-year colleges. -Public universities are funded by state taxes. -They tend to have larger student body and tend to be less expensive than private institutions, making them a good value
for your money. -Private universities are privately-funded by tuition, donors and endowments. -They typically have a smaller student body and are more expensive to attend, but often have better facilities on offer and
more funding set aside for international students
-With so many universities offer, narrowing your search from 4,000 to 4-6 is not easy. -When you have to choose a university there are many other factors to consider including majors offered, type of university, location and campus life, competitiveness of admission, cost and availability of funding.
-We suggest students and parents carefully consider which factors are the top priority and then begin their search.