Applying to a US UniversityTips for a successful admissions process1Who are we?2United States Educational Foundation in Pakistant A bi-national commission, established 1951, with 4 Pakistanis appointed by the Secretary, Ministry of Education and 4 U.S. citizens appointed by the U.S. Ambassador t Oversees Fulbright and other programs t Recruits, selects, supports program grantees, and administers the program in Pakistan t Advises prospective students on all aspects of studying in the U.S. t Administers standardized testing (TOEFL, SAT, GRE, etc.) t Funded by both the U.S. and Government of Pakistan3TodaytU.S. Education tChoosing a College or University tThe Application ProcessStanford UniversityUniversity of Florida4U.S. EducationUniversity of New MexicoHarvard University5Why study in the U.S.?t Diversity international students 600,000 (4% of the total undergraduate US university and US college population, and 10% for US graduate school). t High Standard of Educationt School for Everyone Most exciting, rewarding and comprehensive array of study options in the world. 6Why study in the U.S.? Average spending on post-secondary education per student: US $ 22,234 Germany $ 10,504 Australia $ 12,688 UK $ 10,753SOURCE: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Education at a Glance - OCED Indicators 2004. (Paris, 2004). The average top 500 US university has about fifteen times the endowment of the average top 100 UK university.7Why study in the U.S.? Research funding at U.S universities in 2005 was $43 billion dollars. Research funding at U.K. universities in 2004/5 was $5.5 billion dollars.8What makes US education so different (and so confusing to many students)tDifferent from Pakistani and UK systems tDiversity of choice tNot standardized No central ranking body Not based on exam scores alone- examples of different projects Different process at every institution9Personal Reasons Meet new, interesting people! Become more Globally Conscious Mature as a person Social Activities Road Trip!10High school earns a diploma after 12 years of formal education Community College Associate degree (AA/AS) 2 yearsCollege or University Bachelors degree (BA/BS)4 / 4-5 yearsU.S. graduate students earn a masters or PhDMedical School MD 4 yearsLaw School JD 3 yearsGraduate School PhD 2-4 yearsMasters degree (MA/MS) 2 yearsBusiness School MBA 2 yearsU.S. undergraduate students earn a bachelors degree11What does it cost?t Higher education in the United States can be very expensive. It may cost between $30,000 to $50,000 per year to pursue a degree in the US. t Therefore, it is extremely important to have a very realistic picture. t Students must have proof of their ability to finance their education before they will be granted a visa to come to the US. t While expensive, an American education is an investment that will greatly benefit your future. 12Choosing a College or UniversityBrandeis UniversityBryn Mawr13Researcht What institutions offer your program? t Can you enter at any time or only in Fall? t Application deadline t Financial aid deadline t Costs vs. your budget t Application and financial aid process Princeton University14Compare institutions Public InstitutionsPublic universities are also called “state universities”Tuition is (usually) lower than in private institutionsOffer lower tuition to state residentsInternational students are considered out-of-state residents15Compare institutionstPrivate InstitutionsPrivate university support comes from student tuition, investment, income research contracts and private donations. Tuition is (usually) higher than public institutions16How to choose a universitytIs it accredited? Check at www.chea.org tAre there (ideally) 5-10% international students on campus? tIs the location good? Study the cost of living in that area Are friends and/or relatives nearby? Do you prefer urban or rural settings? What climate is good for you (Alaska versus Hawaii ) Resources: Petersons guide, Index of Majors & Graduate degrees, International Student Handbook, Funding for US Study 17Where to look?t The Internet www.educationusa.state.gov www.useducation.com.pkwww.collegeboard.com t What to ask? t Who to ask? t Take initiativeTexas A&M University18Choose institutions wheret Full-time faculty do the teaching t Low student/ faculty ratio t Opportunities to interact with professors t Opportunities for undergraduate researchColumbia University19Compare institutionstLocation, housing options, campus setting, climate and cost of living tInternational student servicesStanford UniversityMiddlebury College, Vermont20Is financial aid available?t Aid is primarily available at private universitiest It rarely covers full costt Aid requires early applicationt It is extremely competiti