Many people give up choosing employment, postgraduate entrance examination, civil service examination or travel halfway because their intention to study abroad is not clear, which not only costs them a lot of examination fees, application fees or agency fees, but also consumes their energy and time to do useless work. Therefore, before deciding to study abroad, clear intentions and firm beliefs are very important.
Generally speaking, the intention to study abroad is generally:
1. Parents gilded it to increase its employment competitiveness.
2. The company experiences for it and increases its post ability.
Personally, I want to go abroad, broaden my horizons and increase my knowledge.
4. Value-added learning and self-improvement are important steps in your career planning and life planning.
Although the starting point of the four intentions to go abroad is different, the result is to go abroad. It's better to be the fourth kind of person, and really give full play to the greatest value that going abroad brings to individuals.
Choose the way to study abroad
1.DIY application. That is, the applicant directly submits an application to an American university. Due to the complicated application procedures for studying abroad, a large number of materials need to be submitted. Applicants need to comprehensively consider the advantages and disadvantages of American universities, application standards, qualified language test scores, qualified application materials preparation and various problems and difficulties they may face while making reasonable arrangements for their study and work. DIY application is generally suitable for people with excellent conditions, relevant application experience and sufficient time and energy.
2. study abroad agent. That is, the applicant can pay the agency fee for studying abroad, and the agency will arrange all the applications on his behalf. Although this method is relatively simple, it does not require the applicant to make great efforts. However, the following points should be noted:
1) study abroad agency qualification. That is, it has been filed in official website, Ministry of Education. Because the intermediary industry of studying abroad is a sham, black intermediaries are rampant. Therefore, when choosing a reliable intermediary, we must conduct a comprehensive investigation.
2) The study abroad agent operates behind the scenes, in collusion with the diploma workshop. Generally speaking, there are many foreign cooperative agencies in the intermediary, but some are second-and third-rate schools or other small projects in the name of first-class universities. The study agent can choose its partner institution to detain the student's admission notice. Therefore, when contacting the study abroad agency, we must attach great importance to school selection and inspection, and we should not be credulous.
3. Study abroad consulting institutions. That is to say, to provide a full set of services to applicants like an agent studying abroad, and charge a certain fee. General study abroad consulting institutions provide specialized study abroad services from language training and examination training. Different from study abroad agents, study abroad consultation advocates transparent and open services. However, when choosing consulting institutions for studying abroad, field visits and word of mouth are worthy of attention.
Take the study abroad exam
There are two kinds of study abroad exams. One is the language test, which mainly examines the applicant's English ability. The second category is the entrance examination, which focuses on the research ability of the applicant's professional category.
1. Language test
1) TOEFL (English full name test for English as a foreign language)
The examination sponsored by the Education Examination Service Center is specially used to test the English level and proficiency of students from non-English speaking countries. At present, schools in the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Austria, Singapore, Japan, South Africa, Hong Kong and other countries and regions all recognize TOEFL scores.
2) IELTS (English is the International English Language Testing System).
It is an international English proficiency test jointly organized by the British Council, the Local Examinations Board of Cambridge University and the Australian Agency for International Education and Development. Mainly recognized by Commonwealth countries (Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc.). ), and now some American universities have recognized IELTS scores.
2. Entrance examination
1)GRE test (English full name GradeRecord
GRE (short for GRE) is an American postgraduate entrance examination, which is suitable for postgraduate examinations in various disciplines and majors except law (LSAT score) and business (GMAT score). It is an important basis for American graduate schools to select and train senior research talents, and it is also one of the important reference conditions for university graduate schools to decide whether to provide scholarships to applicants.
2)GMAT (English full name: Graduate Management Admission)
Test (GMAT for short) is a test entrusted by the Graduate Entrance Examination Committee of American business schools in educational testing services. Universities in the United States, Britain, Australia and other countries all evaluate whether an applicant is suitable for business or economic management graduate students through GMAT test scores, so as to decide whether to accept them.
3)LSAT exam (English full name law school admission
Test (LSAT for short) is an entrance qualification examination set by the American Law School Admission Committee. Most of these law schools are located in American States, and a few are located in Canada. Almost all law schools require applicants to submit LSAT scores. As one of the main conditions for law school to evaluate applicants, LSAT score is a very important measure.
4)SAT (English Academic Assessment)
SAT is an academic proficiency test held by educational testing service. SAT is one of the important reference indexes for American universities to decide on admission and evaluation of scholarships. SAT is divided into two parts: sat ⅰ and sat ⅱ, in which sat ⅰ is a reasoning test and sat ⅱ is a special test.
5)ACT (American College English)
Test (ACT) is one of the important reference indicators for American colleges and universities to decide admission and evaluate scholarships. ACT is also recognized by many American universities, but most of them are in the midwest. ACT is only equivalent to the SAT Ⅰ i test.
(Note: This paragraph comes from Baidu Encyclopedia and has been edited and processed appropriately. )
Select the target institution
There are more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, of which more than 3,600 universities offer undergraduate degrees, and 1700 universities offer master's degrees and above. Among so many schools, how to choose and locate the schools to apply for after reasonably evaluating their own conditions? Generally, schools can be selected from the following aspects:
1. University strength ranking: This is the most popular way to choose a school. Please refer to us generally.
Comprehensive/professional rankings of American universities. However, it should be noted that university ranking is only one of the references. A good institution is one, a good major is another, and more importantly, it matches itself and its future development.
2. Admission conditions: Under normal circumstances, American universities will indicate the admission requirements and minimum standards of various disciplines and majors in their official website, such as TOEFL scores, GPA scores, GMAT scores and the list of materials to be provided.
3. School major setting: Different universities have different teaching emphases, and disciplines and majors also have their own advantages. Applicants must choose a university with professional advantages in combination with their own professional direction, especially those who apply for graduate students.
4. Tuition: American universities are divided into public and private. Generally speaking, public schools are funded by the federal government or the state government, and the tuition fees are relatively cheap. Private schools are set up with donations for their alumni, and the tuition fees are relatively expensive. However, the best TOP 100 institutions in the United States are mostly private institutions, especially top universities such as Harvard, Yale and Stanford.
5. Difficulty in applying for scholarships: There are relatively many scholarships in American universities, and there are several categories. Although you can know the scholarship application conditions of each school in advance before applying, scholarships are just icing on the cake, and are generally not the only or very important criteria for selecting schools, unless applicants must rely on scholarships to maintain their studies.
Prepare application materials
1. Standardized test scores (official transcripts, such as TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT and GRE)
2. Transcript of senior high school/university/postgraduate stage (stamped by the academic affairs office of the school or notarized by a professional institution)
3. Resume
4. Personal statement or article
5. Letter of recommendation (preferably a well-known professional professor or intern or senior company leader)
6. Degree certificate/diploma or proof of study.
7. Proof of property
8. Other materials (copy of scholarship certificate, copy of award-winning certificate of international competition, copy of published academic papers, research plan of professional direction, etc.). )
Online application
Online application, namely "online application system". Almost all American universities have opened today.
Generally speaking, online application generally needs to fill in the basic information of the applicant, or personal description, resume and other materials. Specific operation:
1. Log in to the "online application system" of the school you want to apply for and register a new account.
2. Log in to the online application system with your account, fill in personal information and upload PDF materials as required, and click after confirmation.
Submit button. Since it cannot be modified after submission, please save the final submission first if you are not sure.
3. Finally, the system will list the materials that must be mailed. According to this list, all materials will be packaged and mailed to the school by international letters, express delivery, etc.
4. pinch the deadline. In order to ensure the success probability of the application, it is recommended that the applicant deliver the materials to the school before the deadline.
Magnetization and interview
1. magnetization. What is "magnetism"? That is, when waiting for the offer, communicate with the professor by email, telephone and MSN. In order to get information, express yourself and win scholarships. In the process of magnetization, we need to think carefully about the way of magnetization, grasp some details at the same time, and finally do it persistently. Before, someone changed more than 10 email accounts to engage the same professor, and finally succeeded.
2. Interview. In other words, before the formal offer is issued by the school, it is necessary to understand the communication ability of students and verify the authenticity of the information in the application materials through remote meeting and on-site interview with the applicant. Finally, introduce the situation of the school to students and understand their real interest in the school. Interview plays a very important and even decisive role in the admission process of American universities.
The school waits for the results and answers.
Generally speaking, American colleges and universities began to issue admission notices in June+February (after Christmas) in 5438 after the first round of applications were accepted, and some schools may not finish issuing them until March and April (the third round of applications) at the latest. The latest reply time will generally be indicated in the admission notice. You must return to school before this time. Do you accept or not accept the admission of the school?
The last time for the applicant to decide which school to choose cannot exceed April 15. In other words, if you refuse to accept a school, you must submit all kinds of admission and scholarship materials (including I-20) before April 15.
Form) to school. If you accept the school's admission, you should also inform the school as soon as possible. (i.e. 4. 15 protocol)
Visa preparation
Visa is the last step in the whole process of applying for studying in the United States. Generally speaking, applicants can pass safely. But there are exceptions, so we should be prepared to face American interviewers with the best face and positive attitude.
Because studying abroad requires a visa of F 1, the principle is:
1. Applicants must prove their ability to become full-time students in the United States.
Applicants must also prove that the sole purpose of their short stay in the United States is to complete their studies in established academic institutions. In particular, it is necessary to rule out immigration tendencies.
3. The applicant must also prove that he has the ability to pay the tuition and living expenses required during the school period.
Preparation before departure
1. Start booking air tickets, hold an F 1 visa, and be the first entry. You can enter the country at least 30 days before the start of school.
2. Prepare clothes, school supplies, medicines and other daily necessities. However, it should be noted that any kind of fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds or plant products, all kinds of meat, unprocessed leather or animal fur, cattle, horses or poultry (including eggs) are not allowed to be brought into the country unless there is a license.
3. According to American law, carrying more than $65,438+00,000 in cash needs to be declared to the US Customs, otherwise it will be confiscated by the Customs. Therefore, it is recommended to have a dual-currency credit card, which is more convenient to use in the United States.
4.2011165438+Starting from1October 29th, the US Department of Homeland Security will require all non-US citizens to have their hands and fingers scanned. At the same time, the physical examination is not mandatory, so there is no need to provide a medical certificate.