Want to get accepted into an academic institution in the United States? Here's some help to improve your chances for success. As you prepare your application, keep in mind these important points:

• The most essential part of the admissions process involves making the right match between the student and institution. Both should benefit - the student from the experience, and the academic institution from the student's contributions.
• Admission standards will vary widely from institution to institution throughout the nation. Be sure to study the specific requirements of your selected schools carefully.
• There may be considerable competition from other applicants. For each place in class, more than ten students will typically submit an application. Only eight out of 10 of these students, however, will actually be capable of doing the work.

What They Consider
US colleges and universities may have different admission policies, but they typically consider this question most important in their decisions:

What is the applicant's potential for academic success at my educational institution?

To determine that answer, admission councils will consider:

• The quality of the applicant's school programs and the student's past academic performance
• The results of standardized tests
• The strength of the student's English proficiency
• The contents of recommendation letters
• The evidence of academic enthusiasm, creativity, independence or determination
• The appearance of special talent in the arts or athletics
• The involvement in extracurricular activities, such as leadership and service programs

World of Difference
Admission committees, who are evaluating applicants from non-US schools, realize there are many differences in various educational systems - not to mention, in grading methods and testing policies.

These experts recognize that extracurricular activities may not be available, or only on a limited basis in a particular country. They also try to interpret standardized test results in the context of the student's cultural background. Often degree programs, majors, concentration areas, pre-professional programs, and even individual course requirements may be very different in the student's native country.

Your Application
A typical undergraduate or graduate admissions application might include:

• An application form and fee
• School transcripts
• Results of standardized tests
• Reference letters
• A teacher's report
• Essays

A Word about Essays
Essays convey a great deal about an applicant's interpersonal skills and written communication abilities. In fact, an essay or personal statement is very important when applying to a graduate school program. Essays are also a good test of students' English skills - and students with weak written English skills may be required to take a remedial writing course or an English as a Second Language class.

Essays often ask the student to describe the following subjects:

• An important experience or achievement
• A personal, local, national or international issue and how it is important to him/her
• The influence that a specific person has had on him/her
• The role the student has played as a citizen in the community

Students often overlook the importance of essays. That's a mistake. A poorly written essay will give a negative impression, even if the rest of the student's application is top quality. That's why it's very important to remember the following when writing an essay:

• Make sure you understand the essay question completely
• Tell the truth; don't exaggerate or overstate your experience or abilities
• Organize your thoughts before you begin writing; think about what you want to convey
• Write clearly and concisely; use relevant examples or stories to make a point
• Never use a pre-written essay from a book; most school representatives can recognize a staged answer and will judge you very negatively
• Use correct English; have a native English speaker read over your essay for accuracy

Visas, Finances, Insurance
You will also be required to:

• Obtain a F-1 visa
• Demonstrate the financial capability to cover all expenses for that year of study
• Purchase and maintain approved medical insurance

To apply for an F-1 visa, you will need a "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1" student status (Form I-20). This will be provided to you by the academic institution when you are accepted into a program. To learn more about obtaining a student visa, please click here.

Regardless of whether you are applying to an undergraduate or graduate program, do take the time to prepare your application properly. Each day, academic institutions receive hundreds of applications from eager students just like you. You can improve your chances greatly by making the effort to complete the application accurately and completely. Answer all questions correctly and be sure to write or type neatly with no errors.