Welcome to U.S. Study Information page! Here, you will find a lot of information about studying in the United States. Deciding to attend school abroad is probably the hardest and mot challenging decision you will ever have to make. For this reason, you need to take a lot of things in consideration before you sign on the dotted line. During your decision-making process, you need to consider, what you want, your academic goals and abilities, your personal needs, as well as your financial situation.
Personal Interests
The first and probably the most important thing you need to consider is "who you are" and "what you need." Ask yourself, what it is you want and why do you want to go to school abroad. Take an interests inventory test and really find out what kinds of jobs you will be happy doing. You really don't want to spend years of your life in school and find out later that you have just wasted your money and your time because you're not made for the field you have chosen.
Academic Strenghts & Weaknesses
The next thing you have to consider is your ability. To be admitted in most universities in the United States, you are required to score high on standardized entrance exams (e.g. SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, TOEFL). These tests are used to assess all applicants against the same standard. Universities are not all the same as far as tests scores--some require higher scores than others. There are, however, some universities that do not require entrance exams but these schools may not be recognized by your country so it's always a good idea to check first.
Personal Needs
Another thing you should consider when choosing a school is your lifestyle and the environment in which you will be living for four years or more. Different states in the United States have different climates and culture. You need to consider if you want to live in a cold or a warm place; a small town or big city; a small college or a big campus. Living in a place where you're not comfortable may affect you not only personally but academically. Depending on where you decide to go, you more than likely will need an International Driver's license to get around or you'll find yourself stuck on campus or spending a lot of money on transportation. Some states like Hawaii and Florida will allow you to use your Taiwan Driver's License.
Financial Issues
Finally, the most important aspect of your decision to study in the United States is money. You need to make sure you have sufficient funds to pay for your tuition and living expenses while in school. Most universities require that you show enough money to cover one school year ($30,000).
Most students with a J-1 visa can work (related to field of study) 20 hours per week on and off campus. Student with an F-1 visa can work only on campus. International students working 20 hours a week may earn up to $460 a month earning minimum wage ($5.75 per hour).
To close, students desiring to study in the United States must understand that being able to choose the school that is right for them, knowing what they need, and what they can afford is something they must take in consideration during the decision making process. It is important that prospective students give the whole process a personal touch--handing over the responsibities to an agent or education counselor may seem the easiest and painless way to go but may cause you grief and regrets later.
Website Designed by Liza Manalo-Lee
Last Updated: April 2006