Step-by-step Guide for Moroccan and other International Students who want to study in the USA
For more info, please look at this introduction page for international students to find several websites that will help you with this process, and follow my blog.
- Know Yourself. Decide what you want to study: Pick something that will interest you, and also that will be practical. Take career interest inventories. Think about careers paths that will function globally, but also where you are from. Remember, even if you study in another country, getting a work visa is becoming increasingly difficult. The odds are, you will return to that country someday. Make sure you pick a career path that fits your personality, and will allow you to earn a living and contribute to your country of origin if and when you come home. Of course if your dream job doesn't exist in your country, maybe you can cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit, and create it!
-> MyNextMove.com offers some career interest inventories, and links them to careers with "bright outlooks." Tip!
-> Blog-orocco, in my blog I share much more detail on steps you can take to learn about what you want to study. In particular, look for posts from winter of 2018-19.
-> Know Yourself worksheet Here's a worksheet I created that you can use as you move through step 1. The blog posts listed above should help, too! - Learn about the education system in the USA so that you can figure out what kinds of institutions you should apply to. Understand the different levels of education, from high school through university. Learn the difference between public and private education, and the types of degrees offered.
In the future, I plan to post a blog on this topic, but until then, here is some information:
-> French/Moroccan vs USA education: A brief overview.
-> French/Moroccan vs USA education: A detailed comparison in a blog post that I wrote on the topic.
-> Different types of colleges and universities in the United States. - Plan how to afford education in the United States. If you will need help paying, make sure you look for programs that offer financial assistance for international students. Know about student visa requirements, and if you are unable to afford the expenses, look into Fulbright and other scholarships that will help with your Visa.
-> The Complete Guide to US Financial Aid for International Students offers some good starting advice.
-> Federal Student Aid: Learn About Your College and Career School Options. This website provides information on the different types of schools and the average time it takes for students to graduate from each. - Find your college fit. Develop a list of colleges you can apply to. You'll want at least 6 with at least 2 safety schools you know you can be admitted to, 2 that match your profile well in terms of grades and test scores and such, and 2 dream schools that might be a reach for you.
There are loads of websites to help with this.
-> Bigfuture.com is a good place to start. Working with a counselor can really help with this process! - Make a Plan. Develop a timeline and task list. Figure out all of the college deadlines that you'll need to fulfill, all the tests to take, essays to write, the recommendations you'll need, and more. Plug it all into a timeline and checklist to ensure on-time completion. Each university has its own deadlines, and testing only happens a few times a year so make sure to track this well in advance. US universities typically have deadlines starting as early as October or November for the upcoming school year.
-> Make A Plan: Check out the "Make A Plan" tool on the BigFuture website.
-> Use a Checklist and Calendar: For example, this international student calendar and checklist on EduPass will help you with your college admissions planning. It begins 24 months (2 years) before your planned enrollment date. - Develop yourself! Selective universities and scholarships want to train leaders who will contribute to their academic communities, and then graduate and do things that help in the world. Think about ways you can develop your leadership and community building skills outside of the classroom, either in your academic institution, or in your community. If you're passionate about an academic program, try to enter competitions or start a student club or take MOOC coursework in your free-time. If you care about animals, help at an animal sanctuary. Look, for ways to grow.
StudyPoint offers some tips on how you can demonstrate leadership in your college applications. This can help for scholarships too! - Get help as needed!
For Moroccans: The US Embassy offers free advising through EducationUSA/AMIDEAST, the Fulbright Scholarship program has contacts who can answer your questions.
For all students and families, I offer in-depth college counseling one-on-one, in small groups, or in custom-built workshops.
-> Contact me if you you need extra support, and we can discuss sliding-scale rates. - Apply! Get accepted. Pick the option that works best for you.
- Get Your Student Visa. Colleges will typically walk you through this process, but if you have questions, here is EducationUSA's guide on student visas. This wont' apply to most people here, but for temporary work visa info check out travel.state.gov,
- Study in the USA! Prepare for the big changes coming, and then off you go! Make sure to check with the US Embassy for workshops to help you prepare for the new culture you'll be visiting.
For more info, please look at this introduction page for international students to find several websites that will help you with this process, and follow my blog.