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http://www.world-federation.org/Education/Articles/Guide_Stydying_USA_Aunali_Khaku.htmGuide to Studying in the USA by Aunali Khaku

A number of people have asked me about studying in the USA thus I have tried tolists the main points, especially what I have seen as important, and what I have

been specifically asked. Please note however that this is just meant as an amateurguide and you will have to do yr own research for more info. Any body else canalso add on to it.

The first thing I would advise anybody thinking of studying in the US, (oranywhere for that matter) is do yr research. Visit the library or highereducation/career resource center; there are a number of good books, (some goodpublishers include Barrons, Petersons), which are a good guide for studyingabroad. So are certain websites e.g. www.coleggeboard.org, www.edupass.org. Alsoask people who know, ask community members who have studied in the US, askstudents who are currently there The bottom line is you have to do the researchyourself.

Q. Is A Levels necessary?

Necessary-NO, recommended-YES. A Levels will give you certain skills which willbe useful, and will make you more independent and mature, however A levels is notnecessary as you will repeat a lot of the stuff you learn in A levels in the Firstyear courses. However if you decide not to do A Levels then prepare for a possiblyhard and tough first year, as you might be learning new things, coupled with yrsettling in/ culture shock stress. Many US universities give credit for IBcourses. They can even give credit for A level courses, however from myexperience, you have to really struggle to convince your professors and theregistrar to give you the credit.

What is required though is your SAT exams. Get info from sat@ets.org. The top

schools ask for SAT 1 and SAT 2, most schools however require SAT 1 only. The SAT1 exam especially the verbal section is tough...so prepare for them like you arepreparing for your Final Exams (e.g. A Level). There are SAT prep books available(barrons, petersons...) USE THEM. Try to memorize the high frequency word list forSAT verbal. International students are also asked to give TOEFL exams...if youspeak English well, its a breeze, however you should also try to study the prepbooks.

Which university or college should I go to?

This is a tough question... let me just briefly go over the pre info needed tochoose a school

Choosing a school There are literally thousands of places of higher education inthe US, and choosing a place can be the most difficult. Broadly there are 1)Vocational schools/technical colleges 2) 2 yr community colleges 3) 4 yearcolleges and Universities. In order of status the best are the 4 yr colleges anduniversities. If you are an average student, who wants a recognized degree I wouldsuggest you avoid the vocational schools/technical colleges, as some of them areusually not recognized throughout the US. A rule of thumb: avoid doubtful placesthat are not on the main websites like collegeboard.org, or have web addressesthat end in .com instead of .edu.

Most college degrees in the US are 4 yrs, so if you enroll in a community college,

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which is 2 yrs, (a cheaper option if finances are important) you have to thentransfer to a 4 yr college or University.

PS note that community college is not the same as college and it is a commonmisconception is to mistake the 2. Some 4 yr colleges, are very good universitiesof high standing, it's just the name that's college. To illustrate, theundergraduate school of what everyone calls Harvard University is officiallycalled Harvard College.

If you are an exceptional student maybe you want to try applying to the Ivy leagueschools i.e. the most prestigious and recognized schools, which include Harvard,Yale, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania...however always also apply to otherplaces at the same time also, because if you do net get into the college you wantto... Advertise yourself well on their admission forms, especially any work youhave done internationally e.g. Red Cross, UN

I would suggest also try to locate a place where the community is not too faraway, it is always advantageous to have a community nearby. The best thing thenwould be first choose a location where you want to study, then find schoolsthere...you can use college board search engine for this. So if you chose alocation, and you know community members there, ask them to guide you, with

colleges in that area ...

Another thing that I think would be very helpful, is that group of friends (couldalso be 2 people) try to apply to the same place together.

PS to compare schools rankings, prestige...you can use the compare function on thecollegeboard.org website; a rule of the thumb: the better the school the lower thepercentage of applicants accepted, the higher the SAT scores needed and the higherthe GPA (GPA stands for Grade Point Average, it runs from 1-4...4 being thehighest/best i.e. if you get a GPA of 4 that would be roughly equivalent to an Ain the UK system)

A final word of caution: Unlike the UCAS system, you have to apply to each

individual school separately in the US and so it can be pretty cumbersome, howeverpatience and perseverance is the key.

Can I get a scholarship?

That's probably the most asked but hardest to answer question. I am quotingverbatim from dupes

"A US education is very expensive. Tuition, room and board at an undergraduateinstitution will cost from $15,000 to $40,000 a year, depending on the school. Agraduate education can be even more expensive. There is very little financial aidfor foreign nationals to study in the US, with the possible exception of citizensof Canada and Mexico. Most grants, scholarships, and loans from public and private

sources are restricted to US citizens..." (and permanent residents) As a result,international students will find very little information about financial aid forinternational students.

However let this not discourage you. I know of international students on fullscholarships. Financial aid and scholarships are there, but locating and searchingfor them is difficult and long. Again patience and perseverance is the key. Inyour package you will receive long and tedious financial aid forms, fill them outas meticulously, carefully, and truthfully as possible. Also access thewww.finaid.org site. Read all the info on this website and familiarize yourselfwith the terms used.)

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The US system of education

The US colleges follow a credit system. Most undergrad degree programs are 4 yrs,however if you take more courses per semester than the minimum, you can accelerateyour degree. (ps medicine and law and other professional degrees are graduatedegrees, and u need a 4 yr pre-med or pre-law degree to enter medical/law school)

Each yr is divided into 2 main semesters (fall (Sept- December) and spring(roughly Jan-April) There are 2 summer sessions (May-August), most people don'ttake classes/courses in summer, but if you want to speed yr degree youcould...(you have to pay additional fees for the summer term)Unlike the British system, in which you decide what yr career choice is beforeselecting a course, and then for the next 3/4 yrs or more you continue studyingthat, the US system is quite different. Each semester you register for a number ofcourses of your choice. (On average most people take around 4/5 courses in asemester). Guidelines are given on how to select coursesEach course is worth acertain amount of credits (4 or 5). There are a number of required courses andsome electives of your choice. To qualify for a degree (BS/BA) you should havecompleted a certain amount of credits, some of required courses. To illustrate,

for instance if I want to do a BS in Physics, I have to have taken 5 requiredPhysics courses, one Writing class, one calculus course and the rest could becourses of my choice from philosophy to historyPS First year students are called freshmen, second year: Sophomore, Third years:Juniors. And final year seniors.

How about expenses

When preparing a budget, you will need to account for the following costs:Application fees average $50 to $75 per school.Academic entrance examinations will cost you about $100 to $200 per examination,and most students take at least two tests. Assume that you will be spending at

least $500 on tests.Tuition and fees will cost between $5,000 and $30,000 per academic year (ninemonths), depending on the type and quality of institution. (w/o financial aid)Books and study materials will cost $500 to $1,000 per academic year.Travel costs to the US vary, but will be between $500 and $2,000. Travel costswithin the US will be between $300 and $700. NOTE apart from the big cities, thepublic transport is not good at all. If you are staying off campus, you willsooner or later have to get a car...so learn how to drive and apply for yr uslicense after practicing. Plus include car expenses.Room and Board will cost between $3,000 and $7,500 per academic year. Allow anextra $1,000 to $2,000 for vacation periods when the dormitory might be closed.If you will be living off campus, the cost of renting an apartment will be between$300 and $600 a month, but could be substantially higher depending on the location

of the school. Meals should cost about $2,500 a year, assuming that you do not eatin restaurants too frequently.Health insurance (mandatory) will cost $300 to $500 a year for one person,Personal expenses will cost about $2,000 a year.Note: You can work part time while studying. On campus jobs may be the best tostart with, as you can schedule them around your classes. Some jobs e.g. in thelibrary are normally very easy.Expect and prepare for Culture Shock:

The following is picked up from a website, and I think its quite good.

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integration is accompanied by a more solid feeling of belonging. The person startsto define him/herself and establish goals for living.The fifth stage is the stage that is called the "re-entry shock." This occur! swhen a return to the country of origin is made. One may find that things are nolonger the same. For example, some of the newly acquired customs are not in usein the old culture.These stages are present at different times and each person has their own way ofreacting in the stages of culture shock. As a consequence, some stages will be

longer and more difficult than others. Many factors contribute to the duration andeffects of culture shock. For example, the individual's state of mental health,type of personality, previous experiences, socio-economic conditions, familiaritywith the language, family and/or social support systems, and level of education.How to Fight Culture ShockThe majority of individuals and families that immigrate from other countries havethe ability to positively confront the obstacles of a new environment. Some waysto combat stress produced by culture shock are:Develop a hobbyDon't forget the good things you already have!Remember, there are always resources that you can useBe patient, the act of immigrating is a process of adaptation to new situations.It is going to take time

Learn to be constructive. If you encounter an unfavorable environment, don't putyourself in that position again. Be easy on yourself.Don't try too hard.Learn to include a regular form of physical activity in your routine. This willhelp combat the sadness and loneliness in a constructive manner. Exercise, swim,take an aerobics class, etc.Relaxation and meditation are proven to be very positive for people who arepassing through periods of stress . * Reading Quran, duas, namazMaintain contact with your ethnic *religious group. This will give you a feelingof belonging and you will reduce your feelings of loneliness and alienationMaintain contact with the new culture. Learn the language. Volunteer in communityactivities that allow you to practice the language that you are learning. Thiswill help you feel less stress about language and useful at the same time.

Allow yourself to feel sad about the things that you have left behind: yourfamily, your friends, etc.Recognize the sorrow of leaving your old country. Accept the new country. Focusyour power on getting through the transition.Pay attention to relationships with your family and at work. They will serve assupport for you in difficult times.Establish simple goals and evaluate your progress.Find ways to live with the things that don't satisfy you 100%.Maintain confidence in yourself. Follow your ambitions and continue your plans forthe future.If you feel stressed, look for help. There is always someone or some serviceavailable to help you