The University selection and the process of applying is a pretty long process. The key here is "Plan Ahead & Apply Early." A minimum time-period of 15 to 18 months is required for the complete process. It includes taking the necessary Admission tests (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, SAT etc.), selection and applying to the universities and finally applying for a visa only after getting an admission letter (I20) from any institution.

Studying in the United States is very expensive, especially for International Students. The tution fees varies from University to University and also depends on the program of study. Hence it is necessary to select the best school that suits your pocket and also offers good career prospects.

Be extremely careful while selecting a college/ university. Getting into a good school will improve the chances of future success, in terms of knowledge, career prospects as well as getting lucrative job offers !

Following points may help you take a good decision. Just check it out.

Ø Type:

The US Universities can be broadly divided into two major categories: Public & Private. The Public Universities are funded by the respective State governments and Private Universities are independent institutions.

Ø Size:

Be careful while choosing the institution. Check if it is a Community College or a Liberal Arts college or a University. The Universities are larger institutions having several other colleges on their campus. For eg: A Medical School, College of Engineering, An Arts college. A College may have limited resources, but the students can get personal attention. Universities or large schools may offer better facilities, good resources and also good career prospects. But here students are likely to get less personal attention and also may get distracted because of various activities going around the campus.

But it is always better to join a good university because of the flexibility they offer, in terms of majors and various courses & good facilities especially in terms of research and development.

Ø Location:

One of the most crucial factors while selecting a good university is a geographical location. The cost of living mainly depends upon the location you choose. The living expenses are very high in metro cities like New York, Los Angeles, Washington, San Fransisco, Boston. A University may have different campus locations throughout the United States. Also check for the climate in that particular region, as temperature in winter in many parts of the United States falls below zero.

Ø Costs (Tution & Living expenses):

As per as tution fees are concerned, it varies from university to university. A state or government aided university is usually cheaper than a private university or institution. The tution & fees for a state university may cost anywhere between $ 5,000 to $ 15,000 & for a private institution it may cost as low as $10,000 and as high as $ 30,000 per year.

As mentioned earlier, cost of living a pretty high in big cities. The living expenses include: room rent, cost of books and study material, health insurance, traveling & food and daily expenses. The living expenses may cost anywhere between $ 6,000 to $ 10,000. But again it varies from person to person.

Ø Scholarship & Financial Aid:

As compared to the US citizens, very few scholarships and financial assistance programs are available to the International students. Before selecting a university, make it sure that the university has Scholarships / Aid programs for 'International Students'. Nowadays getting a Scholarship or Financial assistance, right from the start of the program is quite tough. Students may get some kind of assistance in the second semester of the program, depending on academic progress or any achievement in sports or extra-curricular activities. A very few need-based financial - assistance is also available at few universities.

Also nowadays it has become diffucult to get Scholarships / Aid at Graduate level programs as compared to Post-graduate programs. However there are limited number of Research / Teaching assistant ships available, depending upon the academic qualification of the student. Most of the times the amount from these assistant ship programs is not sufficient to carry out all expenses.

International students are also not eligible for the US Government financial assistance programs like Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, PLUS Loan, Federal Work-Study programs etc.

Hence it advisable that before applying to any University, International students should properly check the college-cost structure, availability of Scholarships / Aid programs, and their own financial resources.

Ø Students / International Students:

Before applying, please check for the number International students studying on campus. The Scholarship or Financial assistance programs for International students also depends upon the number of International students on the campus. If there are many International Students on the campus, then the situation becomes tough because of heavy competition.

Ø Majors & Academic Programs:

Check the " Course Content " of the academic program you are planning to apply for. The course content of the academic programs may vary from university to university. Check the exact eligibility requirements for a particular course. For eg. few courses may require to take GMAT instaed of GRE. Again it varies greatly from university to university. Also many universities have a minimum TOEFL score requirement and will not accept or process your application if you do not meet the minimum requirement. Some universities may ask you to take some additional ' bridge-courses ' depending upon the course you are applying for & your previous acedemic qualifications. This can be used to satisfy prerequisites for admission to the graduate program.

More often, students assume that if the university does not need GRE score for example, they need not take the same and still get admission and visa.

Well, they may get admission into a " School of their own Choice ", but definitely not the Visa !

Ø Faculties:

The reputation of any institution mainly depends on the number highly qualified faculties they have and the research work conducted by them. At many universities, faculties for latest & emerging technologies (for eg. Computer Science or Telecommunications ) are the prominent researchers from the industry. Many of these faculties get heavy funding from the government or the industries to conduct the research work. Many universities and colleges have internationally recognized experts in their respective fields and possess considerable experience.

Before applying check the number of regular - full time faculties available for the major/program you choose. Check if there are any additional research and visiting faculties & adjunct faculties from the industry, for your desired program of study.

Ø Housing:

Check out whether On-campus housing facilites are available to International students. The quality and cost structure of the hostel facilities varies from university to university. It is always advisable to stay on campus, as the students can always stay minutes away from the college, library and other campus resources. Also students can get advantage of various other facilities like health clinic, club house, recreation center, cafeteria, laundry facilities etc.

Many Institutions offer Hostel facilities to International students on " First Come - First Serve " basis.