How to enter an American university and study for free

Maria Gurieva

Company founder Study america, a mentor for admission to US universities.

Education in America is one of the most expensive in the world. Indeed, the United States does not have what is commonly called budget-funded places in Russia. All applicants enter on equal terms, but after enrollment, everyone can apply for financial assistance - a scholarship that will fully or partially cover the cost of training.

Most universities in the United States have multimillion-dollar funds, and they are ready to provide payments, including to international students. Here's what you need to know about education in America and student financial aid.

What types of higher education are there in the USA

In America, there are several stages of higher education: community college (community college), undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate studies. Bachelor's and community college - options for high school graduates, the rest of the steps are suitable for those foreigners who have already graduated university in its homeland.

Community College

This is something like Russian technical schools and colleges. Students of such an institution go through the first two years of the educational program, after which they can transfer to the third year of the university. This direction has its advantages: there are practically no exams (only TOEFL or IELTS language proficiency tests), so it is very easy to enroll, and the training is relatively cheap. For comparison: a bachelor's degree at a state university costs from 30 thousand dollars a year, in a private university - from 60 thousand dollars a year. Whereas for education in a community college you need to pay in the region of 8-10 thousand dollars per year.

It is worth considering that the reputation of community colleges is worse than that of universities. And in order to graduate from the bachelor's degree, after the second year you will need to go to the university. At the same time, no financial assistance will be provided for foreign students.

Undergraduate

They enter here after school, as well as after graduating from a Russian secondary educational institution or community college (after an American college, they immediately enter the third year). Undergraduate studies last 4 years.

An important fact: when entering American universities you do not need choose a specialty. For a bachelor's degree in the United States, this can be done within the first two years. So, if you don't yet know what you would like to specialize in, American universities allow you to study in peace, try, choose classes and decide only by the end of the second year.

For admission to the undergraduate program, you need to pass exams on knowledge of English TOEFL/IELTS and SAT / ACT. Optional - SAT Subject.

SAT Is a test of knowledge of the school curriculum. It is similar to the Russian Unified State Exam, but includes questions in two subjects at once: in English and mathematics. ACT - an analogue of the SAT, but this test includes an additional section with questions from several natural science areas: physics, chemistry, geography and others. All American universities take both examinations. None of them offer any benefits.

SAT Subject - an optional exam, it is something like the USE by choice. The results of this test can be attached to the application for admission if you want to demonstrate excellent knowledge in any of the subjects.

Each exam has an expiration date. SAT and ACT results are valid for 5 years, TOEFL and IELTS for 2 years.

If you are already a student and have completed 1-2 courses of bachelor's degree in Russia, then you cannot start studying at an American university from scratch. A transfer is suitable for you - transfer from one university to another. Students who took advantage of the transfer cannot apply for financial assistance.

Master's degree

This is the next step after the bachelor's degree. This is training in a certain specialty, and it lasts a year or two years. You can choose a master's degree in any direction: medicine, law, creative specialties. The direction of business master's degree - MBA is very popular.

For admission, you also need to pass a language proficiency test (TOEFL or IELTS), as well as GRE - exam in English and mathematics. It is similar to SAT / ACT, but more complex, as it is intended for those who already have higher education. There is an analogue of GRE called GMATdesigned specifically for business graduate programs. But it is also accepted on other programs.

The validity period of GRE and GMAT certificates is 5 years.

Postgraduate studies

Option for those who want to become a teacher and work at a university. Postgraduate studies last at least four years, you can enter after the Russian magistracy, and in some cases after the bachelor's degree (you need to check with a specific educational institution).

This program is always free, but as you study, you will need to teach and do science seriously. Therefore, before choosing a graduate school, you should decide whether you are ready to devote your life to this.

Required exams are TOEFL or IELTS and GRE.

What documents are required for admission and when to send them

Acceptance of applications and selection of prospective students in America begins much earlier than in Russia. For example, if you plan to start training in September 2021, then the documents must be submitted by the end of December 2020. Replies from universities come in April.

Here's what is included in the application:

• Recommendations from teachers. Not formal phrases about good behavior during lessons, but a letter-to-colleague-style text in which your Russian teacher talks about how you showed yourself in the study of subjects, what projects you did, about extracurricular activities and personal qualities. Samples can be viewed here.
• Transcript. This is a list of your high school or university grades. Since the documents must be sent in the middle of the school year, these will be preliminary marks: if you are a student, then for the 10th grade and the first half of the 11th grade. For those who enroll in a master's degree, grades from a diploma. The transcript is sent online in the form of a table compiled according to a specific template: the name of the subject, the number of hours and the grade mark. Confirmed by the seal and signature of the management schools or university.
• Application form. Contains basic information about you, including education, awards, and other achievements. Also, information about the parents is entered into the questionnaire: full name, date of birth, education, place of work. Here you need to attach the exam results and motivationalessay (or letter). A questionnaire is filled out on the university website at the time of application.

• Summary. This is an optional item if you are applying for an undergraduate degree. But applicants for a postgraduate or postgraduate position should write a detailed resume that shows your personal and professional development. The American version has its own peculiarities: for example, you do not need to attach a photo, indicate gender and date of birth - this is unnecessary information. In the United States, resumes are dry data about education and work experience. Many good samples is on the Internet, you can focus on them when compiling your own.
• Portfolio. These are examples of creative work, and you do not need to attach them. But if you enter a creative profession and paint pictures, make music or play in the theater, then your drawings and notes should be included in the portfolio.

How to get financial assistance

What are the types of payments for students

First, let's figure out what the sum for education in the USA. It includes two main positions: fees directly for tuition and for dormitory and meals (Room and Board).

The amount for these items adds up to the total cost of training. In private universities it is 60-70 thousand dollars a year, in public universities - about 30 thousand dollars a year. It should be borne in mind that US state universities do not provide financial assistance to foreign students at all.

There are two main types of payments. There is a term need-based aid - it means financial assistance that is given to those in need, that is, in a situation when the family does not have enough money to pay for education. This kind of support for admission to the undergraduate program is also provided to foreign students. The university can reimburse you for the full cost of tuition, accommodation and meals in the event that the family earns less than 60 thousand dollars a year, and only tuition fees if the family income does not exceed 120 thousand dollars a year. Excellent grades are needed to get maximum funding, perfectly passed exams, great essay and good recommendations.

When entering a master's program, a foreign student can, as a rule, apply only for merit-based aid. This is financial assistance that is rendered for merit - if you are, say, a talented athlete or a young scientist and you have excellent grades. This subsidy is independent of your financial situation.

What you have to pay for anyway

There are expenses that cannot be avoided. Among the compulsory expenses is the examination fee. One attempt to pass the SAT will cost $ 110, TOEFL - on average $ 250 per attempt. GRE costs $ 205. You will also need to pay a questionnaire fee - so that the university of your choice reads your application. In different institutions, it ranges from $ 30 to $ 250.

You will also have to pay for sending exam results - on average, $ 20 per test result to one university. Four submissions are included in the cost of the exam, for additional ones you will need to pay extra.

Well, and, most likely, you have to spend a certain amount on tutors, textbooks and other ways to prepare for admission. But these costs are purely individual and depend on the level of knowledge in each specific case.

Who can't get financial assistance

• Students from families whose income exceeds 120 thousand a year are not given need-based aid. However, they can apply for merit-based aid - scholarships for achievements.
• Students who make a transfer, that is, are transferred from a Russian university immediately to the 2nd or 3rd year of the American Bachelor's degree, are not provided with financial assistance.
• Scholarships are not eligible for students who came to university after community college.
• There is also no financial aid for foreign students who enroll in US public universities. It can only be received by residents - residents of the respective state.

How to apply for financial assistance

To inform universities about their intentions to receive need-based aid, you need to fill out a universal CSS form - most universities accept it. Create a page in CSS Profile and enter information about the financial condition of the family. In order to fill in all the items, you need to get a bank statement and a certificate from the parents' work, which will indicate the salary for the last two years. You will also need to enter data on the cost of the apartment, the presence of large investments, annual spending for utilities, entertainment, food, clothes.

It is not necessary to enter all the information at once. Once you create an account, you can sign in at any time, and all added information is saved.

Some universities may request other documents to prove the financial situation of the family. Such requirements can be seen on the university website. As a rule, these are:

• Income Statement - data on parents' income for the last two years. The document must be translated into English language. The certificate does not need to be certified by a notary; it is enough to send a PDF file with the translated information.
• Certification of Finances - data on the financial situation of the student. The paper must be filled out in English and signed. After that - scan and send to the e-mail address of the university. Or attach it to a special window while filling out the CSS Profile form, which will appear after sending an application for admission to a particular institution.

In general, all documents are sent in the form of scans following the CSS form or attached to the applicant's application.

With regard to merit-based aid, many universities by default consider all applicants as applicants for this scholarship. In other cases, your achievements will need to be additionally supported by documents. One way or another, look for information on the terms of payments on the website of a particular university.

How to choose a university for admission

Should refer to rating the most generous US educational institutions for foreigners. They have huge scholarship funds, and these universities are more likely than others to accept students from abroad and pay for their training.

The leader in this ranking is Columbia University, which in the 2018–2019 academic year provided financial assistance to 254 foreign students; the average amount is 68 thousand dollars. In second place was Skidmore College, which paid out 87 students an average of $ 67,000. In third place, Duke University, whose funds allowed last year to admit 213 foreign students and give them an allowance of 66 thousand dollars.

Overall, Ivy League universities are leading in terms of financial aid, with Princeton University being the most prominent among them. In the 2018-2019 academic year, 60% of Ivy League students receivedPrinceton University costs $ 73,450 per year - but here’s how much students actually pay payments in the amount of 52 thousand dollars on average.

Information on the amount of financial assistance for foreigners is contained on the websites of universities and in open sources. For example, in the aggregator Сollegeboard.org there is data on the potential of the funds of each institution. If you do not find the information you need in the public domain, contact the university itself by mail or call the financial aid department (calls to the United States on Skype are inexpensive).

Several useful links

• General information on financial assistance to foreigners - eduPASS.
• Search for scholarships from various organizations - IEFA. There are few such third-party subsidies for foreigners, and often they are very small - 1-2 thousand dollars. But the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a good example - it pays out quite good sums.
• General Scholarship Base for Foreigners and Americans - Fastweb.

Checklist for the applicant

In conclusion, I propose an algorithm of actions required for admission to an American university:

• Get good grades in school or university.
• Raise the level of English to Intermediate (the minimum required for passing the exams).
• Write a motivational essay.
• Prepare for exams and pass the required tests.
• Choose a university.
• Prepare the necessary documents.
• Fill out the form.
• Apply for financial assistance.
• Wait for the result and hope for success!