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Guide to Studying in the USA – by Aunali Khaku

A number of people have asked me about studying in the USA thus I have tried to
lists the main points, especially what I have seen as important, and what I have
been specifically asked. Please note however that this is just meant as an amateur
guide and you will have to do yr own research for more info. Any body else can
also add on to it.

The first thing I would advise anybody thinking of studying in the US, (or
anywhere for that matter) is do yr research. Visit the library or higher
education/career resource center; there are a number of good books, (some good
publishers include Barrons, Petersons), which are a good guide for studying
abroad. So are certain websites e.g. www.coleggeboard.org, www.edupass.org. Also
ask people who know, ask community members who have studied in the US, ask
students who are currently there… The bottom line is you have to do the research
yourself.

Q. Is A Levels necessary?

Necessary-NO, recommended-YES. A Levels will give you certain skills which will
be useful, and will make you more independent and mature, however A levels is not
necessary as you will repeat a lot of the stuff you learn in A levels in the First
year courses. However if you decide not to do A Levels then prepare for a possibly
hard and tough first year, as you might be learning new things, coupled with yr
settling in/ culture shock stress. Many US universities give credit for IB
courses. They can even give credit for A level courses, however from my
experience, you have to really struggle to convince your professors and the
registrar to give you the credit.

What is required though is your SAT exams. Get info from sat@ets.org. The top
schools ask for SAT 1 and SAT 2, most schools however require SAT 1 only. The SAT
1 exam especially the verbal section is tough...so prepare for them like you are
preparing for your Final Exams (e.g. A Level). There are SAT prep books available
(barrons, petersons...) USE THEM. Try to memorize the high frequency word list for
SAT verbal. International students are also asked to give TOEFL exams...if you
speak English well, its a breeze, however you should also try to study the prep
books.

Which university or college should I go to?

This is a tough question... let me just briefly go over the pre info needed to
choose a school

Choosing a school There are literally thousands of places of higher education in

the US, and choosing a place can be the most difficult. Broadly there are 1)
Vocational schools/technical colleges 2) 2 yr community colleges 3) 4 year
colleges and Universities. In order of status the best are the 4 yr colleges and
universities. If you are an average student, who wants a recognized degree I would
suggest you avoid the vocational schools/technical colleges, as some of them are
usually not recognized throughout the US. A rule of thumb: avoid doubtful places
that are not on the main websites like collegeboard.org, or have web addresses
that end in .com instead of .edu.

Most college degrees in the US are 4 yrs, so if you enroll in a community college,
which is 2 yrs, (a cheaper option if finances are important) you have to then
transfer to a 4 yr college or University.

PS note that community college is not the same as college and it is a common
misconception is to mistake the 2. Some 4 yr colleges, are very good universities
of high standing, it's just the name that's college. To illustrate, the
undergraduate school of what everyone calls Harvard University is officially
called Harvard College.

If you are an exceptional student maybe you want to try applying to the Ivy league
schools i.e. the most prestigious and recognized schools, which include Harvard,
Yale, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania...however always also apply to other
places at the same time also, because if you do net get into the college you want
to... Advertise yourself well on their admission forms, especially any work you
have done internationally e.g. Red Cross, UN…

I would suggest also try to locate a place where the community is not too far
away, it is always advantageous to have a community nearby. The best thing then
would be first choose a location where you want to study, then find schools
there...you can use college board search engine for this. So if you chose a
location, and you know community members there, ask them to guide you, with
colleges in that area ...

Another thing that I think would be very helpful, is that group of friends (could
also be 2 people) try to apply to the same place together.

PS to compare schools rankings, prestige...you can use the compare function on the
collegeboard.org website; a rule of the thumb: the better the school the lower the
percentage of applicants accepted, the higher the SAT scores needed and the higher
the GPA (GPA stands for Grade Point Average, it runs from 1-4...4 being the
highest/best i.e. if you get a GPA of 4 that would be roughly equivalent to an A
in the UK system)

A final word of caution: Unlike the UCAS system, you have to apply to each
individual school separately in the US and so it can be pretty cumbersome, however
patience and perseverance is the key.

Can I get a scholarship?

That's probably the most asked but hardest to answer question. I am quoting
verbatim from dupes

"A US education is very expensive. Tuition, room and board at an undergraduate

institution will cost from $15,000 to $40,000 a year, depending on the school. A
graduate education can be even more expensive. There is very little financial aid
for foreign nationals to study in the US, with the possible exception of citizens
of Canada and Mexico. Most grants, scholarships, and loans from public and private
sources are restricted to US citizens..." (and permanent residents) As a result,
international students will find very little information about financial aid for
international students.

However let this not discourage you. I know of international students on full
scholarships. Financial aid and scholarships are there, but locating and searching
for them is difficult and long. Again patience and perseverance is the key. In
your package you will receive long and tedious financial aid forms, fill them out
as meticulously, carefully, and truthfully as possible. Also access the
www.finaid.org site. Read all the info on this website and familiarize yourself
with the terms used.)
The US system of education

The US colleges follow a credit system. Most undergrad degree programs are 4 yrs,
however if you take more courses per semester than the minimum, you can accelerate
your degree. (ps medicine and law and other professional degrees are graduate
degrees, and u need a 4 yr pre-med or pre-law degree to enter medical/law school)

Each yr is divided into 2 main semesters (fall (Sept- December) and spring
(roughly Jan-April) There are 2 summer sessions (May-August), most people don't
take classes/courses in summer, but if you want to speed yr degree you
could...(you have to pay additional fees for the summer term)

Unlike the British system, in which you decide what yr career choice is before
selecting a course, and then for the next 3/4 yrs or more you continue studying
that, the US system is quite different. Each semester you register for a number of
courses of your choice. (On average most people take around 4/5 courses in a
semester). Guidelines are given on how to select courses…Each course is worth a
certain amount of credits (4 or 5…). There are a number of required courses and
some electives of your choice. To qualify for a degree (BS/BA) you should have
completed a certain amount of credits, some of required courses. To illustrate,
for instance if I want to do a BS in Physics, I have to have taken 5 required
Physics courses, one Writing class, one calculus course… and the rest could be
courses of my choice from philosophy to history…

PS First year students are called freshmen, second year: Sophomore, Third years:
Juniors. And final year seniors.

How about expenses

When preparing a budget, you will need to account for the following costs:
Application fees average $50 to $75 per school.
Academic entrance examinations will cost you about $100 to $200 per examination,
and most students take at least two tests. Assume that you will be spending at
least $500 on tests.
Tuition and fees will cost between $5,000 and $30,000 per academic year (nine
months), depending on the type and quality of institution. (w/o financial aid)
Books and study materials will cost $500 to $1,000 per academic year.
Travel costs to the US vary, but will be between $500 and $2,000. Travel costs
within the US will be between $300 and $700. NOTE apart from the big cities, the
public transport is not good at all. If you are staying off campus, you will
sooner or later have to get a car...so learn how to drive and apply for yr us
license after practicing. Plus include car expenses.
Room and Board will cost between $3,000 and $7,500 per academic year. Allow an
extra $1,000 to $2,000 for vacation periods when the dormitory might be closed.
If you will be living off campus, the cost of renting an apartment will be between
$300 and $600 a month, but could be substantially higher depending on the location
of the school. Meals should cost about $2,500 a year, assuming that you do not eat
in restaurants too frequently.
Health insurance (mandatory) will cost $300 to $500 a year for one person,
Personal expenses will cost about $2,000 a year.
Note: You can work part time while studying. On campus jobs may be the best to
start with, as you can schedule them around your classes. Some jobs e.g. in the
library are normally very easy.

Expect and prepare for Culture Shock:

The following is picked up from a website, and I think its quite good.
Culture Shock
The term, culture shock, was introduced for the first time in 1958 to describe the
anxiety produced when a person moves to a completely new environment. This term
expresses the lack of direction, the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to
do things in a new environment, and not knowing what is appropriate or
inappropriate. The feeling of culture shock generally sets in after the first few
weeks of coming to a new place.
We can describe culture shock as the physical and emotional discomfort one suffers
when coming to live in another country or a place different from the place of
origin. Often, the way that we lived before is not accepted as or considered as
normal in the new place. Everything is different, for example, not speaking the
language, not knowing how to use banking machines, not knowing how to use the
telephone and so ! forth.
The symptoms of cultural shock can appear at different times. Although, one can
experience real pain from culture shock; it is also an opportunity for redefining
one's life objectives. It is a great opportunity for leaning and acquiring new
perspectives. Culture shock can make one develop a better understanding of oneself
and stimulate personal creativity.
Symptoms:
Sadness, loneliness, melancholy
Preoccupation with health
Aches, pains, and allergies
Insomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little
Changes in temperament, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless
Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others
Identifying with the old culture or idealizing the old country
Loss of identity
Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new culture or country
Unable to solve simple problems
Lack of confidence
Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity
Developing stereotypes about the new culture
Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness
Longing for family
Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused
Stages of Culture Shock
Culture shock has many stages. Each stage can be ongoing or appear only at certain
times. The first stage is the incubation stage. In this first stage, the new
arrival may feel euphoric and be pleased by all of the new things encountered.
This time is called the "honeymoon" stage, as everything encountered is new and
exciting.
Afterwards, the second stage presents itself. A person may encounter some
difficult times and crises in daily life. For example, communication difficulties
may occur such as not being understood. In this stage, there may be feelings of
discontent, impatience, anger, sadness, and feeling incompetence. This happens
when a person is trying to adapt to a new culture that is very different from the
culture of origin. Transition between the old methods and those of the new country
is a difficult process and tak! es time to complete. During the transition, there
can be strong feelings of dissatisfaction.
The third stage is characterized by gaining some understanding of the new culture.
A new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced. One may start to
feel a certain psychological balance. The new arrival may not feel as lost and
starts to have a feeling of direction. The individual is more familiar with the
environment and wants to belong. This initiates an evaluation of the old ways
versus those of the new.
In the fourth stage, the person realizes that the new culture has good and bad
things to offer. This stage can be one of double integration or triple integration
depending on the number of cultures that the person has to process. This
integration is accompanied by a more solid feeling of belonging. The person starts
to define him/herself and establish goals for living.
The fifth stage is the stage that is called the "re-entry shock." This occur! s
when a return to the country of origin is made. One may find that things are no
longer the same. For example, some of the newly acquired customs are not in use
in the old culture.
These stages are present at different times and each person has their own way of
reacting in the stages of culture shock. As a consequence, some stages will be
longer and more difficult than others. Many factors contribute to the duration and
effects of culture shock. For example, the individual's state of mental health,
type of personality, previous experiences, socio-economic conditions, familiarity
with the language, family and/or social support systems, and level of education.
How to Fight Culture Shock
The majority of individuals and families that immigrate from other countries have
the ability to positively confront the obstacles of a new environment. Some ways
to combat stress produced by culture shock are:
Develop a hobby
Don't forget the good things you already have!
Remember, there are always resources that you can use
Be patient, the act of immigrating is a process of adaptation to new situations.
It is going to take time
Learn to be constructive. If you encounter an unfavorable environment, don't put
yourself in that position again. Be easy on yourself.
Don't try too hard.
Learn to include a regular form of physical activity in your routine. This will
help combat the sadness and loneliness in a constructive manner. Exercise, swim,
take an aerobics class, etc.
Relaxation and meditation are proven to be very positive for people who are
passing through periods of stress . * Reading Quran, duas, namaz…
Maintain contact with your ethnic *religious group. This will give you a feeling
of belonging and you will reduce your feelings of loneliness and alienation
Maintain contact with the new culture. Learn the language. Volunteer in community
activities that allow you to practice the language that you are learning. This
will help you feel less stress about language and useful at the same time.
Allow yourself to feel sad about the things that you have left behind: your
family, your friends, etc.
Recognize the sorrow of leaving your old country. Accept the new country. Focus
your power on getting through the transition.
Pay attention to relationships with your family and at work. They will serve as
support for you in difficult times.
Establish simple goals and evaluate your progress.
Find ways to live with the things that don't satisfy you 100%.
Maintain confidence in yourself. Follow your ambitions and continue your plans for
the future.
If you feel stressed, look for help. There is always someone or some service
available to help you