THINGS TO CONSIDER:
Accreditation and Recognition of Degrees
An important indicator of the quality of an U.S. college or university is its accreditation. While almost all U.S. colleges hold widely recognized forms of accreditation, it must be noted that accreditation in the United States is a complex area; there are different types of accreditation and a large number of accrediting bodies. There is also no legal requirement that degree-granting institutions be accredited or hold a particular form of accreditation.
The best thing you can do is to check whether a degree granting institution you are applying for is recognized by your home country.
Academic Emphasis
You should check to see how the university emphasizes its curriculum. Is the emphasis on professional education or liberal arts? Do undergraduate or graduate students dominate the campus? Many liberal arts colleges emphasize teaching and professor-student interaction, rather than research, so the teacher-to-student ratio is quite low. Some research-centered campuses are dominated by graduate students, but the facilities at these universities are often state-of-the-art and the professors world-renowned. However, at some of these campuses, first-and second-year classes may be taught by graduate students instead of professors.
Selectivity
Most university directories and college catalogs list the number of applicants and the number of students accepted the previous year, plus the average Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) score and grade point average (GPA) for the previous year's accepted students. Selectivity assessments using this type of data, however, tend to put weight on admissions test scores, which are only one part of an application. Remeber that admissions officers look at a variety of factors, including essays, prizes, community service and work experience, hobbies, and special talents, as they review applications to try to determine your potential for success at their institution.
Student-to-Teacher Ratio
At large universities, undergraduate freshman and sophomore classes are usually large, and you are likely to be taught by graduate students rather than professors. At a college, where there are fewer graduate students, you are likely to be taught by a professor and will be required to make a greater contribution to the class from the start. A high student-to-teacher ratio indicates that classes will be large, reducing the amount of attention faculty can give to individual students.
Lifestyle Considerations
One aspect of deciding what school to attend is your lifestyle. It is important that you consider the cost, location, and the climate.
Financing your education is a very important consideration, and you should know what you can afford. Carefully study the cost of the tuition and school materials. You also need to consider your accommodations. Universities in the United States offers different housing facilities and policies, find out if housing is available for all four years or enrollment or if students are required to find off-campus housing. Living in school dormitories is definitely much cheaper to living off campus.
Another thing you need to consider when choosing your school is the location. Every region of the United States offers both urban and rural settings. City-based campuses offer a variety of eating, entertainment, cultural, and shopping facilities. A rural university may mean a quiter, more college-centered environment. Climate is another consideration. From the four seasons in the Northeast to the desert in Arizona adn a sub-tropical climate in Florida, the variety is almost endless. Accessibility to local facilities and services is also very important.
Size
Student populations on U.S. campuses can range in size from 200 to 60,000 students. Some universities resemble small cities with their own post offices, grocery stores, and shopping centers. Other colleges may be in large, densely populated urban areas but have a very small enrollment. Depending on your personal style, you may enjoy the independence afforded by being part of a large student population on your campus, or you may prefer the more personal touch of a small college may be able to offer you.
College Environment
Most U.S. colleges offer students a variety of social, cultural, and sports activities in addition to their academic programs. A unique feature of U.S. campus life is the Greek system, which offers students the choice of joining a fraternity or sorority. These organizations can be the focus of undergraduate social life on many U.S. campuses. In addition to organizing social activities, fraternities and sororities often sponsor philanthropic events. If, like me, you are against or do not believe in Greek system or do not wish to be part of Greek life, attending a university where the Greek scene is prevalent can be problematic, because the pressure to join may be high, and the social life options outside of the system may be limited.
Another thing to consider is the number of international students enrolled. Think about whether your needs as an international student. On campuses where there are a few international students you may be considered a very special person to get to know. However, you may find that these schools provide fewer services for international students. Campuses with many international students may provide a built-in support group who can share your experiences, but it may require extra effort on your part to meet and interact with U.S. students as well as with students from other parts of the world.