You don’t have to be Thomas Edison, Theodore Roosevelt, or Donald Trump to get into a US university. The truth is that making this dream come true depends on a few basic aspects. However, the process and paperwork can take months or years. Normal is 12 months. So you should not despair, but persist. In the following paragraphs we will tell you more about it.
Next, we will explain in five steps how to enter an American university if you are from Latin America or Spain:
Finish high school
You do not have to be a genius to know that it is vital to complete high school studies in your native or current country. Although you can also study high school in the USA. After you have your degree, you will have to go to your old institution in order to obtain your records, so you can:
- Translate them into English, at least the last three years of high school
- And evaluate and validate them with a specialized company
Both steps are key for the American system to validate your procedures. On the other hand, you do not need to take any selectivity exam, such as the PAU in Spain, considering that you will not apply to a local university.
If you have not finished high school, we advise you to start contacting and applying to different North American universities. Remember that this process tends to be the slowest. What should you look for? Inquire about the scholarships that exist for the universities you want to attend, be it MIT, Harvard, Stanford, etc. Do not forget that the selection processes begin 8-10 months before the start of classes.
When it comes to your student records, you don’t need to have them ready during your college application. In addition, if you are looking to study a master’s degree or a doctorate in the USA, it is important that you have consolidated your higher degree or bachelor’s degree studies in your current country.
Complete the mandatory United States entrance exams
You do not have to take the PAU, but you do have to take the USA’s own entrance exams. These are known for:
- SAT, which measures your skills in English and math
- TOEFL, which tests your ability in English
- And GRE or GMAT, which only apply if you want to do a master’s degree
To be considered, try to get a high score on the SAT and TOEFL.
Conclude the acceptance process
Once you have completed the previous two steps, you will have 50 percent of the process ready. Now the necessary thing is to locate the best university for you. To do this, you need to define what you are looking for and what subject you want to study, as well as the expectations you have of the “ideal university.” Once you find it, apply for their scholarship plan and send them the information they request. In case everything goes well, you will be asked to fill in the following forms:
- The I20 form, for F1 & M1 visas
- And the DS-2019 form, for J1 visa
Complete the student visa process
In the previous step you made sure to apply for a visa to study in the United States of America, now what you have to do is obtain it. For what reason? Without the visa it will be impossible for you to be accepted in the country. After you do, you have to deal with a second problem: healthcare in the USA. Remember that the US government is ultra-right, which means the services are private and you will be forced to take out medical insurance regardless of your situation.
However, why is it relevant? All universities require it. Although you do not have to travel independently, remember that most institutions include the cost of health insurance in their rates. Which is ideal for international students.
Concludes with additional documentation (optional)
Keep in mind that not all educational organizations ask for the same documents or follow the same processes. It all depends on your approach. For this reason, we advise you to have your medical history, your passport, and your Bank Statement: a statement of your parents’ bank account to show that you can defend yourself in the USA (financially speaking) without needing the government or the university.
