10 Steps to Prepare for an American College

Do you dream of studying in the United States, but aren’t sure where to start? Here are 10 steps you can take to prepare for an American college!

1. Learn about the American higher education system

Most undergraduates in the United States pursue a “bachelor’s degree,” a 4-year program that typically begins in August or September after you graduate from high school. Additionally, when American students pursue graduate degrees (such as a Master’s degree), they typically go to a different institution than where they earned their bachelor’s. Regardless of what kind of degree you’re interested in, make sure you understand how the higher education system works in America!

2. Ask what kind of learner you are

There are thousands of colleges and universities in the United States, so it simply isn’t possible for you to research every single one! One way to narrow down your college search is to ask yourself what kind of learner you are. Are you someone who prefers going to larger lectures where you can listen to a world-renowned professor give a lesson in a lecture hall? Then maybe one of America’s public universities is a good fit for you. Are you the kind of person who prefers small classes where you sit around a table and discuss the material with your classmates and your professor? You can find this type of class at a liberal arts college. If you already know what subject you’d like to major in, you can also research the best programs in that field. Knowing how you learn and what you want to study are 2 key ways to focus your college search on a more manageable list of schools.

3. Think about what kind of setting you’d like

Since you’ll most likely be living on campus for 4 years, it’s important that you choose a school where you feel at home and can be a successful student. Do you want to be in one of the country’s biggest cities, like New York or Los Angeles? Do you want a more rural setting, where you can focus on academics and your school’s community? Does the weather matter to you? In short, make sure you’re taking location into consideration when you’re looking into American colleges!

4. Draft your personal statement essay

The personal statement essay is the cornerstone of an American college application. This isn’t an essay on a test with a lofty academic subject: it’s a chance for you to write about yourself and tell college admissions officers what makes you unique! The personal statement is a relatively short essay (under 700 words) where you have the opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Many American universities, particularly smaller liberal arts colleges, are very thoughtful about the individual personalities that make up their community. With your application essay, be sure to emphasize your strengths and interests while showing what makes you special; in other words, this is where you separate yourself from other applicants who may have similar grades and test scores. Applicants often share a personal story or anecdote that illustrates something about their personality. This can be a creative exercise—but remember, even if this isn’t the kind of essay you normally write in school, it’s still crucial that your spelling and grammar are correct. Have someone check it over for you!

5. Participate in extracurricular activities

Just like the personal statement essay, extracurricular activities are another way to show admissions officers who you are as a person. You’re in school for a set number of hours each day—but what do you do with the rest of your time? Are you on an athletic team? Do you volunteer in your community? Are you an artist, a writer, or a musician? Make sure that your application reflects these parts of your identity, too! It’s also a great idea to pursue leadership roles in extracurricular organizations that are important to you. For example, if you’ve played soccer for years, and now you’re the captain of the team, that shows admissions officers that you’re dedicated, responsible, and a strong leader.

6. Think about your recommendation letters

Most American college applications require at least 2 letters of recommendation. These typically come from teachers you’ve had in high school, and they talk about your abilities as a student. Make sure that the teachers you ask to write your recommendation letters have seen you at your best, and consider giving them a resumé to help remind them of your interests and experiences. It’s a good idea to pick recommenders who can talk about different aspects of your academic performance; rather than asking 2 English teachers to write about you, for example, think about having 1 English teacher and 1 chemistry teacher write your letters so that they can speak to a wider range of strengths. If you don’t have a strong relationship with your past teachers, you might ask a coach, boss, or other member of your community to write for you. Don’t forget to say thank you!

7. Work on your English

Although American universities are home to students from all over the world, classes in the United States are almost exclusively taught in English. As such, top-tier American universities look for applicants whose level of English shows that they can thrive in this environment. These schools often ask for applicants’ TOEFL or IELTS scores, which demonstrate your English proficiency. If you don’t yet have the level you need to succeed at an American university, it’s a good idea to take private English classes or test preparation courses. That being said, there’s a wide range of American colleges and universities: even if you’re not the best English speaker, you can still find an institution that accepts students at your current level, and maybe even offers English language classes to its international students!

8. Plan your summers

For some of the most competitive American colleges, it’s important that you use your summers during high school for more than just going to the beach! Summer is, of course, an important time to relax and recharge before the next school year, but it’s also a great opportunity to seek internships, take outside classes, or pursue an extracurricular passion. Students whose applications demonstrate work experience or a significant time commitment to an activity outside of school are generally much stronger candidates to these universities, so think about how you’re taking advantage of your 3 months off every summer.

9. Look into different scholarships available to international students

Although many schools offer financial aid and even merit-based scholarships, American schools are significantly more expensive than higher education in Europe. Furthermore, not every school is able to offer as much financial aid to international students as they are to American citizens. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to look into outside scholarships that can help cover the cost of your education. Some of these scholarships come from organizations with a special focus on particular fields of study or for specific populations. Do some research on the financial aid that different colleges offer and look into outside scholarships as well! American colleges and universities can definitely be affordable, but you might need to look at a variety of different options for financial support.

10. Talk to some Americans!

One of the best ways to learn about American colleges is to talk to Americans about their experiences. They can offer insight not only about college life in the United States but also about the specificities of a particular school or region of the country. Americans are often passionate about their alma mater, and would be delighted to talk to you about their school. Plus, it’s a great way to practice your English!