How to apply for higher education in the US?

For domestic and online students

Best move in your career

The decision to pursue higher education is the best move in the current economic and job market scenario. As per the current market trends, the demand for a well qualified individual in any industry in the US, is very high.

Read on to know about how you could apply for higher education degree in the US schools & colleges and get placed in reputed, high-paying jobs.

The US Educational Institutions for Higher Education

The United States of America has 8,990 higher education institutions. Of which 4,495 institutions are included under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Financial aid for students are available for only these colleges covered under the act.

Application and Enrollment Process for Domestic Students:

Students willing to pursue higher education may do their research about the accredited Universities or colleges, area of study, and the degree program.

Admission process starts with getting the right educational qualifications or academic equivalence required by the college one would want to apply for. In the US, about 85% of the colleges require SAT or ACT test scores. 

A domestic student must decide on the colleges to apply by October of the high school senior year and be ready with the paper work and references the college may ask for. 

Early admission process can be opted for the colleges with top priority. Once a student has been accepted in a college, financial aid can be sought through the college itself or through FAFSA.

To get admission in the US colleges, a student should have passed one or more of the following tests based on the program and the college:

• SAT Reasoning Test
• SAT Subject Tests
• ACT + Writing Test
• TOEFL
• IELTS

Application Process

A student should follow these steps diligently to have the application successful:

• Obtain application and financial aid forms 
• Be ready with academic performance transcripts and letters of recommendations
• Be ready with scores of necessary standardized tests
• Send the completed application form, recommendation letter, academic transcripts, and completed financial aid forms to each institution
• Acknowledge letters of acceptance and rejection from the colleges

Financial Aid

Financial contribution for the US studies:

• Family or other personal sources
• College or University Scholarship –  Scholarships are available for highly qualified applicants

• Financial aid from the government – Financial aid is based on the economic background of the student
• Financial assistance for academic merit, proved talent in sports and music
• On-campus employment

Option for Online Studies

In the United States, Online Universities have become fully accredited and increasingly gaining recognition among public and employers. If a student does not want to relocate to the US or quit the job for studies, online degree programs are the best option to consider.

Advantages of Online Programs:

1. Study from anywhere and at any time
2. Fix personalized class schedule
3. Take advantage of student-centric teaching approach
4. Easily access study materials round the clock
5. Share thoughts by classroom discussion available online
6. Enjoy the financial reasonability
7. Interact with experts worldwide
8. Experience working with modern technology-based learning tools
9. Use chat room facility
10. Share knowledge across the globe
11. Start a discussion anytime
12. Learn life-long
13. Become self-disciplined

Application Process for Online Programs

The application process for online programs is simpler than on-campus process. The whole admission process can be completed via online or a phone.
Online Universities are specifically designed for students who wish to pursue higher education to move a step ahead in their careers without having to relocate.
For online degree programs, a student must take into account, all the aspects mentioned for earlier stages of any on-campus application process. This includes:

• Choosing the Accredited University
• Filling out the Online application
• Submitting the required documents
• Applying for Financial Aid and Scholarship

Students opting for online studies should remember that professional advice and assistance is available throughout the admission process and during the whole degree program. Time flexibility of the online programs makes the learners take these courses for granted, at times. A student must strictly stick to the online class schedule and try to be self-disciplined, once he or she gets enrolled in a program.


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