A Quick Guide to Attending School in the USA for International Students

A Quick Guide to Attending College in the USA for International Students Considering the Move

 The Research Prior to the Actual Student Loan

My student loan debt felt like it took a few years to acquire even before the bank transferred the first disbursement amount into my account. The very first step was finding a school to attend and getting accepted. If you are careful and pay special attention to this selection process it will play a major role in your success with later paying down this debt and succeeding in your life and career.

I spent countless days formulating the idea, from the moment I decided I wanted to attend school in the USA to actually setting foot on a college campus. It was, without a doubt, an idea that brewed from my childhood in Costa Rica. I was fortunate enough to attend a bilingual private school from pre-k to the 12th grade in high school, thanks to my parents. My mother worked there as a Spanish teacher in the early 1980’s. She enrolled me as soon as she was able to and paid with her hard work –a portion of her salary went directly to pay for school tuition fees– and also knowingly accepting that her salary would suffer throughout those 15 years, given the scholarship I was on. 

This school was based on a USA system, as it catered to missionary North-American families that immigrated to Costa Rica with their kids. Costa Rica only has 2 “seasons” wet and dry, yet the school had its program revolve around summer and winter breaks and the 4 seasons present in the northern hemisphere. A majority of the staff were teachers that were born and raised in the USA or Canada and resided in Costa Rica. 

You get the idea –I was exposed to the “American” way from a very early stage in my life. It almost felt like a culmination to my education, to go to college somewhere in the States. It felt necessary but the reality was distant due to economic, legal, and logistical factors.

After graduating from a Costa Rican university with a degree in Architecture, I felt the urge more than ever. My best friend from 3rd grade in elementary school all the way to college decided on a similar path and went for a master’s degree at a well-known design school in Rhode Island.  That’s when I really started doing my due diligence. I was already working at architecture studios by that time and would research in my free time. I asked my friend all the questions I could think of for how he had gotten it done and would then go spend time on my computer trying to figure out my own path.

The Due Diligence of getting accepted in a school in the USA

These are the real steps I took once I had my mind set on taking the plunge.

Step 1

Research all the potential schools and all the application requirements from your computer.

By now you very likely have an idea of the field of study you are interested in, and that should help you narrow down the list of schools.

Understand the different types of schools and colleges. Getting accepted to a school in the USA is a competitive and lengthy process that requires work and dedication prior to attending.

I strongly suggest you start to do this at least 1 year prior to your intended date of attendance, if not more, depending on the number of universities you are planning to apply to.

Start with the school’s website and navigate through the programs offered, the school’s schedule (whether it is quarterly or semester-based), the duration of the program, the staff, the school’s location, and surroundings.

Step 2

Download or make a list of all the requirements.

Special items to note:

1. Admissions deadlines and cost of applying. What is the timeframe for submitting the application items? Different schools have different deadlines.
2. What types of tests are you requied to take? e.g. TOEFL, GREs. Find out the cost, the schedule and location of testing centers near you or of the location you intend to test at.
3. If you have previous degrees that you would like to be evaluated and acknowledged as part of your academic career; find out with your college or university if they offer submitttal of transcript information to USA colleges and universities on your behalf. This can be a tricky one, if your school does not offer a similar service since USA schools require official documentation in English in order to evaluate your previous studies.
4. Make note of all the application requirements and forms. Download them and organize them by folders on your computer. Do you need to provide a portfolio of work? This one can take time and you may be able to pay for professional help to create one or enlist talented friends or family to help you.

Step 3

Financial Aid

Depending on your financial situation this could represent one of the trickiest steps – it was for me!

If you do not have the means to pay for the costs of attendance you may want to start by looking into what aid is available in your home country. Depending on your location in the Sphere, your government may have programs that sponsor all or at least a portion of the costs. 

If that is not available, there may be institutions that provide financial aid. These organizations have their own set of application requirements and limits.

Another option [or in combination with the above] is to reach out to your immediate or extended family members. You would be surprised by how much your loved ones are willing to do to help you reach your goals. Do not be shy and potentially recruit the help of your parents or siblings to market your dream with you. Close friends are also a potential option, if all else fails. If you have any of these that live in the USA, they may understand the hurdles involved and could be willing to help you by either sponsoring or co-signing a student loan for you. I know, I know, there are tons of horror stories, but I will get into managing this responsibly in a later post.

Step 4

Research the cost of attending. Excel is a great tool to create spreadsheets. Note all your different costs per school and start keeping track of the budget you will be spending.

These are a list of costs to itemize and assign numbers to:

1. Application fee. (Fee the school charges to review your request to attend).
2. Documentation (e.g. portfolio of work printing, transcrripts, shipping costs).
3. Potential trips to visit the campus location. (Flights, hotels, food, passport, visa).
4. Testing Fees. (TOEFL, SAT, GRE costs at the testing centers and cost of materials to study).
5. Transportation from your country to the state where you will be attending school.
6. Tuition costs. (Actual school program cost).
7. Room and Board. (Living costs once you attend the school).