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- Plan ahead; start at least three to four months before you wish to enter the university, but 8 to 12 months is best.
- Look for schools that offer what you want to study at the level you desire (Undergraduate or graduate level?)
- Learn more about the schools; check out school websites, look for information about international students, write or email the admissions office, visit the school and talk to alumni or others who know the university
- Narrow the list of possibilities; you may want to limit the list to three or four schools: one that you are sure you can get into, one or two that are strong possibilities and one that may be more difficult to get into
- Plan your university budget (Tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, computers, transportation, personal expenses)
- Check to see if you are eligible for international scholarships and financial aid
- Complete applications early and pay attention to deadlines (Be careful!); deadlines may be different for international students
- Take required tests (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, SAT) in time for scores to be reported to the university
- If you plan to transfer from a community college to a university, find out which courses will transfer