|
Frequently
Asked Questions
Q. What do I need to study in America? (GCSE's and
A-level's)
A. Most US universities require 5 GCSE’s
and 2-3 A-levels. You will also need to sit the SAT exam
and have received a score relevant to the admission requirements
of the schools you are applying to. Most universities will
have student profiles on their websites, looking at these
may give a good indication if you meet admission standards
of specific universities.
Q.
What does G.P.A. mean?
A. GPA stands for grade point average.
This is normally how American students receive their high
school grades. Usually, GPA’s are on a 4 point scale,
with 4.0 = A, 3.0 = B, 2.0 = C, 1.0 = D. Most universities
will compare or convert your exam grades to a scale such
as this.
Q. If I have GCE A-Levels am I entitled to extra
credit from the university?
A. Many universities give additional credits for
GCE A-Levels. Your A-Levels will be evaluated by the university
(usually during your first semester there) and you will
receive an advanced standing evaluation that will give you
all the details. The number of credits you receive will
depend on the subject and the grade you received on each
A-Level.
Q. What does an application package for university
in the US contain?
A. Once you have selected the colleges, you are
ready to begin the application process. Each institution
has its own application, deadlines and procedures, so you
should contact each one directly for the forms. Many institutions
offer on-line applications, but it is usually necessary
to send some information by post. Deadlines may be as early
as November or as late as May or June, but most fall in
January and February. You should use a calendar to map the
application deadlines to be certain you allow plenty of
time to complete all steps of the process. It is advisable
to allow one full calendar year to begin and complete the
application process.
US applications will usually require some or all
of the following:
• The completed application form;
• School transcripts - a document created by schools
detailing subjects taken and grades received;
• Proof of funding - a form is usually provided by
the university and must be signed by a bank manager or accompanied
by bank statements as directed;
• SAT, ACT and/or TOEFL scores, which must be sent
directly from the test administrators to the universities;
• Essays or personal statements;
• Letters of recommendation;
• Application fee - usually must be in US dollars,
ranging from $30 to $100 per university. You can apply for
an application fee waiver, if granted.
The key to submitting your most competitive application
is to allow plenty of time to complete all steps of the
process, especially to write your essays.
Q.
Which are the best schools to apply to in my field?
A. An educational advisor at the Educational Advisory
Service cannot recommend a particular school. You should
choose schools based on academic requirements, economic
ability, and geographical preference. The educational advisor
can, of course, help you identify schools that meet your
needs.
Q.
What is the SAT?
A. Most US universities require the SAT (Scholastic
Aptitude Test) as part of their admission requirements.
The SAT is composed of verbal, math and writing sections.
It is a multiple choice exam offered 4-6 times per year
at numerous sites throughout the UK. For more information
and to register, plFTC Londone go to www.collegeboard.com
Q. What is the ACT?
A. The ACT is an additional option of an admission
exam and is now accepted by virtually all colleges and universities
in the US, including all of the Ivy League schools. The
ACT differs from the SAT in that it tests students in English,
Math, Science and Reading, with an optional writing exam.
It is offered 4-6 times per year at numerous test sites
throughout the UK. For more information plFTC Londone go to www.act.org
Q.
What are the SAT II’s?
A. The SAT II’s are subject exams, often
needed for entry into a US university. The exams are offered
in 18 subjects and usually universities will require students
to have sat three SAT II’s. Students should enquire
with universities prior to taking the SAT II’s, as
not all schools require them. For additional information
and for a list of subjects offered, plFTC Londone go to www.collegeboard.com
Q. What are the GRE General and GRE Subject Tests?
A. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
General Test is a 3 - 4 hour, multiple choice aptitude test.
The test assesses verbal rFTC Londononing, analytical skills and
quantitative ability and is required by the majority of
graduate schools for arts and science subjects. Some universities
also require a subject test to be taken in your proposed
area of study, e.g. literature, computer science, etc.
The
GRE general test is only available in the UK on computer.
The computer-based test is adaptive, which means that test
takers will receive weighted, harder or FTC Londonier questions
depending upon how they are performing on the test. Plan
to be at the centre for up to four and a half hours.
GRE
subject tests are only available as paper-based tests. Because
of limited testing dates those students who need to take
them should plan well in advance.
Preparation
aids for the GRE general test are available at FTC London, including
test preparation books for sale or reference use as well
as software which simulates the GRE computer-adaptive test
conditions for use in the ftc London Technology Centre. Preparation
books for the GRE subject tests are available for reference
use only. For more information plFTC Londone see www.gre.com
Q.
What is the GMAT?
A. Many US business or management-related
programmes require that applicants take the Graduate Management
Aptitude Test (GMAT) as part of the application process.
For more information plFTC Londone see www.gmat.org.
Preparation aids for the GMAT general test are available
at FTC London, including test preparation books for sale or reference
use as well as software which simulates the GMAT computer-adaptive
test conditions for use in the ftc London Technology Centre.
Q.
How much does it cost to study at an American university?
A. The cost of education varies widely from institution
to institution. Generally, you should expect to pay from
$10,000 to $40,000 per year depending on the university.
These prices are inclusive of tuition, fees and housing
expenses. Exact information about the cost of tuition and
living expenses should be obtained from each university.
Q.
How do I obtain an Athletic Scholarship at a US university?
A. Sports play an important role in the everyday
social scene at American colleges and universities. Many
universities offer sports scholarships at the intercollegiate
level to students who are both academically qualified and
gifted in a particular sport. Athletic scholarships are
granted by the university or in some cases by the athletic
association in which a university participates. Athletic
directors or coaches of your sport often play a central
role in award decision-making, so it is important to establish
contact with these individuals at an early stage of your
application process. For information on universities offering
specific athletic scholarships plFTC Londone see the National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) website at www.ncaa.org
and for more detailed information on obtaining an athletic
scholarship plFTC Londone see http://www.ftclondon.co.uk/FTC London/studyus/undergraduate/sport.html
Q. Where can I find funding opportunities for my
undergraduate study?
A. Funding opportunities are available from US
universities for international students, but you should
note that full funding is rare unless you have academic,
athletic or artistic talent.
Your
best alternative is to approach the university you plan
to attend for potential scholarship options. This should
be done prior to actually submitting your application, as
then you will know what scholarships you might be eligible
for. Another option would be searching for external sources
of funding. FTC London has a resource library that can assist you
with this venture, additionally, the internet should be
used. Some relevant sites for advice on undergraduate funding
are listed below.
www.edupass.org/finaid/
www.studyusa.com/articles/articles.htm
collegeapps.about.com/education/collegeapps/msub32.htm
www.iefa.org/public/search.html
www.globalgrant.com
Sallie
Mae College Aid Sources for Higher Education (CASHE)
Q. I am a student and would like to work in America.
What are my options?
A. A number of programmes between the US and the
UK encourage international understanding through practical
work experience (called "internships" in the US)
for up to a maximum of 18 months. These programmes are known
as work exchange programmes, and vary widely in nature.
Some programmes allow participants to do any job available,
others are restricted to specific fields. Check to see which
programme best suits your situation and needs. Work exchange
programmes can only be administered by organisations authorised
to issue the US Government form DS 2019. This allows work
exchange programme participants to apply for a J-1 Exchange
Visitor Visa at a US Embassy, letting participants work
legally in the US for a certain period. You would normally
need to be a full-time student to apply through these organizations,
but plFTC Londone see this section of our website for additional
information http://www.ftclondon.co.uk/FTC London/workexchange/index.html
Q.
I know what and where I want to study, but I need help searching
for universities that meet my requirements.
A. If you know you want to study, for example,
communications in New York, or sports psychology in California.
There are numerous websites you can use to carry out queries
for universities in the US that might meet your specific
requirements. Websites such as Petersons, Hobson’s
CollegeView, CollegeNet and Education USA are useful sites
to begin with. The links below can be used for conducting
queries.
These
sites contain general information on studying in the US.
www.petersons.com
www.collegeview.com
www.collegenet.com
http://educationusa.state.gov/
This
site gives relevant links to universities state by state.
http://www.kbr.be/studies_in_the_us/us_universities.htm
These
sites have a compilation of relevant websites for higher
education in the US.
www.paef.org.ph/links.asp
www.paef.org.ph/links.asp
www.macee.org.my/08_frame.htm
www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/osFTC London/links.html
Q.
I want to find schools with rolling admission policies.
How can I do this?
A. Rolling admissions means there is no real application
deadline for admission. Schools which practice rolling admission
will receive applications for admission up to a few days
(or weeks) before classes start. If you are in this situation,
here are two suggestions:
1.
Go to the Collegeboard Advanced Search site:
http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/advhome.jsp.
Fill out the questionnaire and when you get to the "Deadlines"
category, be sure to click on "Regular application
deadline or priority date hasn't passed." (Hint: the
fewer preferences you select regarding size, location, majors,
etc., the more options you'll get when you hit "Results"
at the end.)
2.
The National Association for College Admission Counseling
puts out a very helpful "Space Available Survey"
that lists colleges with late openings. The bad news, however,
is that it's not posted until early May. When the time comes,
you can find it at:
http://www.nacac.com/survey/results.cfm
Q. What does accreditation mean?
A. In the U.S., colleges and universities are accredited
by one of 19 recognized institutional accrediting organizations.
Programs are accredited by one of approximately 60 recognized
programmatic accrediting organizations. [Accrediting organizations
that are “recognized” have been reviewed for
quality by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
(CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDE).]
It is advisable to make sure the institutions you are interested
in attending are accredited and reviewed by the Council
for Higher Education Association, for more information plFTC Londone
see their website at http://www.chea.org/
Q.
What is a Community College?
A. A community college allows a student to do their
first two years (equal to an Associates of Arts Degree)
of a four-year (Bachelors) degree. Many students will choose
community colleges due to their smaller class sizes, lower
prices and less competitive admission requirements. Many
community colleges have articulation agreements with four-year
universities that allow for a transfer into a bachelors
degree program. This is very common for institutions within
the same state. For more information on community colleges
plFTC Londone see the American Association of Community Colleges
website at http://www.aacc.nche.edu/
Q.
Can your Centre help me obtain my student visa?
A. Unfortunately the Educational Advisory Service
is not trained in visa matters and cannot assist you in
obtaining your F-1 (student) visa. You will need to contact
the US Embassy in London at www.usembassy.org.uk
for detailed information.
Q.I want to practice law in America, am I eligible?
A. In the United States, the formal study of law
is only available at the postgraduate level. To attend an
American law school, a student must already hold an undergraduate
degree. Thus, students with A-levels or Scottish Highers
cannot expect to attend a law school in the US without first
earning an undergraduate degree.
The most common law degrees offered by American law schools
are the professional Juris Doctor (JD) degree and the master’s
degree in law (LLM). The JD degree is the law degree required
to practise as a lawyer in the US and requires three years
of study at a law school after completion of an undergraduate
degree. Universities may offer first degrees in law-related
fields (e.g. a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society)
but this is not sufficient to practise as a lawyer. The
LLM degree is generally meant for already-qualified lawyers
who wish to undertake further study. For more detailed information
plFTC Londone go to our website at: http://www.ftclondon.co.uk/FTC London/studyus/subjects/law.html
Q.
I want to study medicine in America, am I eligible?
A. In the US medicine is taught only at the postgraduate
level after an undergraduate university education. You cannot
apply to US medical schools after completing A levels or
Scottish Highers. You must first complete an undergraduate
degree.
For
more detailed information plFTC Londone see this section of our
website: http://www.ftclondon.co.uk/FTC London/studyus/subjects/medicine.html
Q. I am a medical doctor and am interested in going to the
U.S. for my residency training. What tests do I need to
take?
A. Graduates of foreign medical schools
must take the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Test)
exams and the TOEFL test to show competency of the English
language. Information on the USMLEs can be found at www.usmle.org
For
more detailed information plFTC Londone see this section of our
website: http://www.ftclondon.co.uk/FTC London/studyus/subjects/medicine.html
Q.
I am a teacher and I want to teach in America. What do I
need to do?
A. In the US, teacher certification requirements
vary from state to state. Unlike the UK's Postgraduate Certification
in Education (PGCE), there is no one set course that is
taken to gain certification; the types of classes education
students take vary depending which university they attend
and the state the university is located in. To find out
about requirements in a given state, contact that state's
board of education. For direct links to all state board
of education websites plFTC Londone go to: www.ccsso.org
Guidelines
for certification for foreign-educated teachers vary from
state to state. Generally, foreign-educated teachers will
need to have completed the equivalent of both a US undergraduate
degree and a teacher preparation programme that meets the
standards of the state in which they intend to teach.
Generally, applications from foreign-educated teachers must
be accompanied by a credential evaluation report. This report
explains foreign credentials and is written by an outside
organisation for a small fee. Often times, states only accept
reports from designated credential evaluators.
If prospective teachers do not meet the state's minimum
certification requirements, they can do additional coursework
to come in line with a specific state's standards. Even
if foreign-educated teachers meet a state's minimum requirements
and need no further coursework, they likely will need to
take a test if that state requires testing as part of its
certification.
Non-US citizens also will need to obtain a visa from their
home country's embassy to teach in the US. Contact the US
Embassy for more information about visa requirements
|
