Choosing an Institution
13-18 months before beginning your study
Below are some criteria you may want to consider when choosing the right institution for your academic and personal goals. EAS also produces a Parent's Guide that details parental involvement in helping prepare for a US education.

Cost:
International students must prove they have sufficient funding to cover all costs for at least the first year of study in order to receive a student visa. Tuition can range from $1,500 - $35,000 per academic year (nine months), not including books. Living expenses vary and are likely to be at their highest in big cities, ranging from $4,000 - $14,000 per year. You will also need to cover transportation between the US and your home country and health insurance.

Financial Aid:
A student’s family is usually the primary contributor to the cost of education, although some colleges offer aid for international students. Funding from UK Local Education Authorities is not available for full-time overseas study.

After family resources, US colleges are the main source of funding. However, scholarships that cover total expenses are very rare. Funding is usually based on academic merit, though some colleges may give funding based on need. Some institutions also offer sports scholarships or performing arts scholarships. Please read our Athletic Scholarships section for further information, and visit the EAS library.

Funding from independent funding bodies is less common, and usually requires time and dedication to sift through listings in directories and on the Internet. Loans are available from some universities or through certain US lenders if the student has a US citizen to co-sign. Students can work on campus for up to 20 hours per week. However, an on-campus job CANNOT be listed as a source of income for any official financial statements in a visa application.

The following books are available in the EAS reference library:

    • International Student Handbook (The College Board).
    • Funding for United States Study: A Guide for International Students and Professionals (Institute of International Education).
    • Scholarships and Grants for Study or Research in USA: A Scholarship Handbook for Foreign Nationals (American Collegiate Service).
    • Scholarships for Study in the USA & Canada (Peterson's).
    • The Scholarship Handbook (The College Board).
    • Scholarships, Grants and Prizes (Peterson's).
    • Undergraduate Awards Folder (EAS).

Please visit our undergraduate funding page for more information. Additionally, the following websites have useful information about financial aid for international students:

Important Details:
Check that any university you are considering is regionally accredited, otherwise you may have difficulty having the degree recognised by other universities and employers. EAS can confirm for you whether or not a university is regionally accredited. You can also use the Council for Higher Education Accredition's website to find out more about a university.

The admission difficulty of institutions varies greatly in the US. Most institutions look at more than academic performance when making admissions decisions; therefore, not even straight As will guarantee a place at your first choice university. We recommend that you apply to a range of institutions to ensure yourself a place.

Your field of study or “major” will obviously be a consideration in your choice of institution. For visa purposes it is recommended that students declare a major. However, because of the Liberal Arts curriculum it is quite flexible to change your major once you have been admitted.

The environment varies greatly from college to college. Location: large city or small town, East Coast or Midwest, and weather will also have an impact. Enrolment at institutions ranges from 200 to 50,000 students, which will offer different opportunities and academic climates for students.

Campus life also will have an impact on the personality of a college. Consider extracurricular activities such as sports teams, academic clubs, university newspapers, theatre productions, etc. Some universities, while accepting students of any race, creed or colour, were established with specific missions, such as religious affiliations, women-only campuses, or a particular ethnic majority on campus.

The EAS reference library holds a number of directories and books to assist you in your selection process. Additionally, you may wish to utilise the internet to make your selection. Click here for a listing of external resources to assist you with your research.

Sites to help you make a choice:

www.petersons.com
http://educationusa.state.gov
www.collegeboard.org
www.univsource.com/region.htm
www.collegenet.com
www.collegeview.com
www.eiworldwide.com
www.edupass.org
www.embark.com
www.goabroad.com
www.collegequest.com
www.petersons.com
www.schoolsintheusa.com
www.studyusa.com
www.usjournal.com