as well as knowledge of the need
for professionals in different fields in your country.
How will study in the United
States enhance my career? Will a graduate degree
help me earn a higher salary?
Consult educators, government officials, and working
professionals in your country about the value
of U.S. study for you at this stage in your career,
including any increased earning potential. Take
into account in your planning any revalidation
or certification requirements for employment in
your particular field when you return home.
What is the system of recognition
for U.S. degrees in my country?
In Pakistan, a U.S. degree is highly valued, and
recognition of degrees is straightforward. However,
you may still wish to check on the situation with
the Ministry of Education or other appropriate authority
before you begin your applications. Be careful to
choose institutions and programs that are accredited.
This is especially important if you are planning
to undertake a professional program in the United
States.
Develop a Shortlist of Programs
Deciding which institutions to apply to is one
of the most important decisions you will make.
It requires serious consideration. Since there
is a great deal of diversity in graduate programs,
it is especially important clearly articulate
what it is you wish to accomplish and find out
which institutions offer the kind of program you
are seeking.
Identify Universities That
Offer Your Field of Study
Your first and most important step is to identify
institutions that offer your subject area and
(most importantly) the specializations you wish
to pursue within that subject area. Finding the
right academic "match" between you,
the department, and its faculty by using the various
human, electronic, and printed resources below
can be the key to a successful graduate experience
in the United States.
Printed Directories:
There are several general directories that list
institutions by degree program and include
helpful articles on graduate study. Many are available
in local bookstores, or can be viewed by making
an appointment to meet with the educationUSA adviser.
Professional associations for different subject
areas also publish directories of university departments
in the United States, including information on different
specializations and faculty research interests.
University catalogs provide the most specific information
about the institutions and their programs.
Contacts:
Discuss your plans with faculty members
at your institution and with students who have
studied in the United States. They are likely
to have their own contacts in the United States
and suggestions of universities to consider. Also,
do not be afraid to contact universities in the
United States directly with questions about their
programs or to communicate with other international
students in the department you're interested in.
College Web Sites and E-Mail:
The United States leads the world in using the
World Wide Web. Almost every U.S. university and
college has a Web site that offers information
about degree programs, application procedures,
academic departments, faculty members, facilities
on campus, and other topics. In many cases, you
will also find a copy of the college catalog that
you can study online or download to read later.
Don't forget that many sites also give e-mail
addresses for current students, including international
students, who often are happy to answer your questions
about applying to the school and about campus
life. Once you have narrowed down the colleges
and universities you are interested in, you may
wish to e-mail professors and admissions personnel
to have specific questions answered before you
finally decide where to apply.
College Searches on the
Web:
Some Web sites are independent of colleges and
universities and allow you to search for institutions
by the subject you are interested in studying,
by geographic preference, or by a range of other
criteria that you can specify. See the search
engine provided specifically for international
students at www.educationusa.state.gov.
Check Accreditation Status
One of the major indicators of the quality of any
U.S. college or university is its accreditation
status. It is important to check that all institutions
you are considering are appropriately accredited.
Unlike many other countries, the United States does
not have a central governmental body that approves
educational institutions. Instead, it relies on
a system of voluntary accreditation carried out
by non-governmental accrediting bodies to ensure
that schools meet standards. While almost all U.S.
universities hold widely recognized forms of accreditation,
it must be noted that accreditation in the United
States is a complex area; there are different types
of accreditation (institutional and programmatic)
and a large number of accrediting bodies.
There is no legal requirement that degree-offering
institutions be accredited or hold a particular
form of accreditation. Because of this complexity,
you should check carefully whether a degree from
the institutions you are applying to will be recognized
by your home country government and by any relevant
professional associations, ministries, and employers.
Also talk to graduates who have returned to your
country to see if they have been successful in
applying degrees earned from such institutions
to their chosen professions.
Rankings:
There is no official list of the top 10, 20, 50,
or even 100 universities in the United States. The
U.S. government does not rank universities!
Rankings that you may come across are usually produced
by journalists and are likely to be subjective.
They generally are based on a wide range of criteria
that do not necessarily include academic standards
or general reputation as a primary factor. Be particularly
wary of rankings that do not explain the criteria
on which the ranking is based. The more established
rankings may give you a starting point for your
decision; however, the "best" college
is the one that is right for you.
Size:
Some institutions are small and offer degrees
in one or two fields of study; some are very large
and offer degrees in many fields. When choosing
where to apply, you should consider the size of
the institution, as well as the size of the department
and degree program. A large institution may offer
better academic facilities, while a small institution
may offer more personal services. The same is
true of the size of the degree program. A large
program that has many students may not provide
the individual attention you need; however, there
may be more diversity within the faculty and student
body, and more assistance may be available from
other students. A small degree program may not
expose you to as wide a range of views in your
chosen field.
Student populations on U.S. campuses can range
in size from 200 to 60,000 students. Some universities
resemble small cities with their own post offices,
grocery stores, and shopping centers. Other institutions
may be in large, densely populated urban areas
but have a very small enrollment. Determine what
opportunities are important to you, and read the
university catalogs closely with these in mind.
Location:
Universities are located in all parts of the United
States, from major cities where many institutions
may exist, to rural areas where one institution
serves a large area. Urban campuses offer a variety
of eating, entertainment, cultural, and shopping
facilities. Cities are usually more diverse in their
populations than rural areas and may have a significant
number of residents from particular countries. However,
cities may also be more expensive. A rural university
may mean a quieter, more college-centered environment.
Climate is another possible consideration. From
the four seasons in the Northeast to the desert
in Arizona and a sub-tropical climate in Florida,
the variety is almost endless.
Student Services:
U.S. universities offer students a variety of
services such as international student advisers,
campus orientation programs, counseling services,
legal aid services, housing offices, day care
facilities for students with families, varied
meal plans, health centers, tutoring facilities,
English as a Second Language programs, writing
laboratories, career counseling, and more. Prospective
students can compare facilities among universities
to find services tailored to their specific
needs.
Services for Students
With Disabilities:
If you have special needs, make sure that the
university you choose can accommodate you. Allow
plenty of time to correspond with colleges.
It is advisable to begin your inquiries at least
two years before you plan to leave for the United
States. When you write for information from
universities, give brief details of your disability
and request information about assistance they
offer to students like yourself. You may also
want to contact the office on campus that deals
with the special needs of students with disabilities
to find out more about the services they provide.
This may be a specific office, such as the Office
of Disabled Student Services or the Office of
Disability Services, or services may be housed
within a general student services office on campus.
Some universities offer comprehensive programs
for students with disabilities, while others make
a number of special services available to such
students. You should look at the services offered
and compare them to your needs. Find out which
services are provided automatically and free of
charge and which services need to be prearranged
and incur a charge. When you apply you will need
to supply evidence to support the existence of
your disability. If possible, try to contact a
student at the college who has a similar disability
to yours so you can gain a more personal perspective.
Students with disabilities can, with proper documentation,
request special facilities or extended time to
take the graduate school admissions tests and
any examinations during the academic year.
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