Five-year college students study abroad.

(A) American university information query

One-side exam (students with good foundation can take the strategy of taking GRE or GMAT first and then TOEFL, because GRE or GMAT is valid for five years, while TOEFL is only valid for two years; There is another advantage of taking the difficult test first: the preparation time will not be too long when taking the easier TOEFL test again. For students with poor English level, it is best to take TOEFL first, so the vocabulary difficulty will gradually increase. When taking an exam, you should get rid of distractions and go all out. Students like Peking University and Tsinghua choose to take the GRE in March and April every year.

Take the TOEFL in May or August. During this period, there is little pressure on the subject examination, and there is enough time to prepare for the application.

Determine the major you want to study in the United States, and investigate the situation and ranking of this major in American universities, even before the exam. Through Peterson's Guide or usnews, you can inquire about the enrollment situation, requirements and addresses of various universities, and you can also enter various universities through the Internet to inquire (a good website can also be found in the reading room of New Oriental School. This kind of consultation is free. You can call for it. Tel: 010-62634349,62634350). Before August, 20-30 schools must be selected as their contact objects. In the meantime, everyone should also try to go back to the original graduation school to issue official transcripts in Chinese and English and English academic certificates.

Write the first application letter on August1-August 30, and send a letter to the school by mail or E-mail to ask for the application form and department introduction. If you haven't received a reply from the school after a week, send another one.

After getting the school information, exclude some schools that are not suitable or welcome you. Finally, 10- 15 school is chosen as the object of serious contact. In the meantime, all the contact documents should be ready. Including personal statement, recommendation letter, resume and transcripts signed by the school in both Chinese and English. Copies of TOEFL and GRE scores, etc.

pay attention to

The 1) address needs to be updated.

2) Choose 20-30 schools.

3) find friends and classmates to apply for the exam, if they are studying in that school.

4) Make a directory of the school address you applied for and keep track of it at any time.

5) If you fail in TOEFL and GRE, estimate a rough score first, but you'd rather estimate high than low.

(2) Production of application materials

A. receive the application form from the school and carefully select and fill it out.

pay attention to

1) Type it with a typewriter with a light color, and correct it with correction fluid if it is wrong.

2) When the form arrives, fill in the mailing date and application deadline on the envelope.

3) Tick the address list of the school to indicate receipt, and fill in the application deadline.

4) Filing according to the deadline for applying for schools.

5) Choose 10- 15 school, but it depends on personal circumstances.

6) Take a blank notebook and arrange 15 schools by selection and letters, leaving a blank page for each school.

7) Record the minimum standards of TOEFL and GRE in each school (the high score can omit this step), several letters of recommendation from professors, new addresses for sending materials (some school materials need to be sent separately), application fees, school codes of TOEFL and GRE (note that TOEFL and GRE codes are different), application deadline (allowing more flexible time for the post office and yourself), and special requirements of the school.

B. reading plan: present your own advantages as much as possible, and any special achievements in and out of class can be included. It's finished. You'd better find someone to revise and polish it.

C. resume: briefly introduce yourself in all aspects, but be careful not to talk empty words when writing your resume. There must be facts, not too long.

D. transcripts and degree certificates: there are two procedures according to the requirements of the school:

1) can be sent together with the application form: bring the report card, degree certificate and envelope (the sender is the academic affairs office of the school and the recipient is himself) to the academic affairs office, and ask the academic affairs office to check the contents of the letter and paste it sealed. You don't have to send it when you get it back. You will send it to the school together with all the application materials in the future.

2) Don't send it with the application form: bring the report card, degree certificate and envelope (the sender is the academic affairs office of the school and the recipient is a foreign university) to the academic affairs office, and ask the academic affairs office to check the contents of the letter, paste it well and seal it well. You don't have to send it when you get it back. Wait until all the application materials are sent to the school within one week.

E. Blessing and GRE proof

note:

1) Don't fill in the wrong school code, don't find the wrong school name (Harvard is different from Hartford), and don't find the wrong code (there are many codes in Ohio).

2) If you send a small number of copies, buy a small money order at the local post office, otherwise compare with several banks.

3) It is best to send it once.

4) Keep the receipt. Americans often come to Tangsai with confiscated goods. Be careful.

5) TOEFL and GRE codes are different, so pay attention.

F. Write a letter of recommendation from the professor

note:

1) At least three letters of recommendation from professors.

2) Write it for you if you can, but it is best to find a sure professor, like your professor, remember your professor, a professor with high marks in this subject, a professor with international reputation, and a professor who has taught you.

3) Prepare your own postage and stamps. Although it is small money, the professor will have a good impression.

4) Whether the application is received or not, you should at least call to express your gratitude. How easy it is to be polite.

5) Pay attention to the address of the school and the address of the professor in the letter format.

G. prepare financial proof and apply for deposit certificate in the bank.

note:

1) The more proof of funds, the better. Every school has different requirements, but it's best to be OK once.

2) Don't prepare too early, lest the financial certificate be too old and not accepted by the school.

3) Ask your family to prepare for you.

4) If the topic is parents, attach a short letter for parents to sign.

H. Send the application form

note:

1) It's best to send letters of recommendation from professors and employers separately, so don't be greedy and save trouble.

2) Each school should make a table of contents, which can remind itself of what has not been prepared and what has been put in, so that the school can know what is included.

3) Copies of TOEFL and GRE scores, indicating that the official scores have been applied for delivery and will be received later.

4) Never fill in wrong or missing forms.

5) Attach financial proof, whether it is necessary or not.

6) Take US dollars to China Bank or CITIC Industrial Bank to make a draft, and each draft will probably need to pay the handling fee of 40 yuan (Beijing price). Attach the draft application to the application letter, send it by registered post office, and keep the receipt for investigation.

7) A small number of cards with their own addresses are applied by the school and are self-help.

8) Record the mailing date for future reference.

1. Notarization required for studying in the United States: birth certificate, marriage certificate, certificate of no criminal record, transcript of graduation certificate (as the case may be), and certificate of special work experience (as required by the school).

J. thesis or portfolio. If a professional paper is attached to the file, it will definitely increase the chances of admission or award. Applicants majoring in architecture must submit their portfolios. If there are other documents for school reference, such as awards, etc., you can also copy them and attach them, preferably with the seal and signature of the issuing unit.

K. send the application fee. Go to the Bank of China and bring your own dollars to handle the bank draft in favor of the school, commonly known as the draft. Some schools accept VISA card or MASTER card to pay the application fee, and you must pay US dollars or Canadian dollars, and then you send a draft to the school. Don't pay RMB in the bank. TOEFL and GRE scores submission fees are also sent in this form.

(3) Mailing materials

Send the above materials to the school as soon as they are ready!

1. Write a simple letter: the letter should inform the school of the department, degree and admission time to be applied for, and list the documents attached to this letter (such as application form, application fee, transcripts, deposit certificate, etc.). ) for the school to check.

2. The whole application document must meet the requirements of neatness and beauty, and give the school a good impression.

It is best to send the application documents one and a half months before the deadline. The deadline for some schools is June 5438+ 10. Please pay attention.

4. The letter requesting ETS to send TOEFL /GRE/GMAT should be sent at the same time as the application documents.

65438+February1-65438+February 30, after all the above work is completed, about 10 ordinary colleges and universities are selected and contacted, and there is no need to pay the application fee and send the original TOEFL and GRE transcripts (but copies are required). Sometimes I get scholarships from these schools by accident. 65438+10-April keep in touch with the school by letter or email, and write to the professor who applies for the major to recommend himself, because the professor is the real decider of the scholarship. Sometimes the school will write to tell us what documents are missing, and send the required documents quickly after receiving the letter.

By the way, the envelope money order given by the school last year lost a lot of tragedies. So if there is a mailing list of whether to send the draft with the letter in the envelope of the school, you'd better not use this kind of envelope, and use ordinary envelopes where you can't see the draft. This is also a measure to prevent post office thieves.

(4) After receiving the I-20 form,

After waiting patiently, you will receive the admission notice from the school and the I-20 form from the International Student Center. Form I-20 is a passport issued by an American school to foreign students to apply for a visa to enter the United States. It contains important matters, such as the school and department attended by students who hold this form, the period of legal residence in the United States, and the amount of economic proof to be submitted. After receiving the I-20 form, you should pay attention to the following points:

A. Check carefully whether the name, date of birth and department of your school are correct. If there is any discrepancy, immediately ask the school to reissue a copy and explain the mistake before returning it.

B. If you receive I-20 forms from several schools at the same time, after considering the choice, you should return the I-20 form from the school you don't want to attend, and attach a letter to express your gratitude and regret, leaving room for yourself. Maybe you will go back to this school to study for a degree in the future.

C. after receiving the scholarship from the school, there is no need to reply in a hurry, because there may be more and better schools to give scholarships. Decide which school to go to in the middle of April, and then reject other schools.

D. Pay special attention to the important information listed on the I-20 form about your personal degree goal, school registration time limit, scheduled graduation years, tuition fees, scholarships and so on.

Remember to make a copy of the I-20 form and take it with you. The original I-20 form will be put in a sealed envelope when you get the student visa, so it is not allowed to open it privately, so it is best to keep a copy.

When the school receives the I-20 form, it will also send a lot of other information about school equipment, dormitory application, club introduction and so on. The most important thing is to apply for a dormitory. There are many factors to consider whether to live on campus, but the most important thing is to find out important information such as dormitory type, rent, whether men and women share a building, food situation and so on. And then consider it according to your own personality and economic conditions. Once a decision is made, it must be sent before the application deadline, and the application fee or deposit should be paid, so as to successfully apply for a satisfactory dormitory. Of course, if you have special requirements, such as living on the first floor because of health needs, or don't want to be near the entrance of the dormitory, then make it clear when applying, so as to avoid a lot of trouble when you have problems and ask to change the dormitory in the future. Read all the information on the application form carefully before signing, especially whether the deposit and application fee can be refunded and whether there is any responsibility.

F. If you haven't got the scholarship by May, don't worry. Keep in touch with the school. About one third of the scholarships were awarded in May and June. What to do after getting the I-20 form (taking Tsinghua University undergraduates as an example) is as follows:

1) Take two-inch passport photos (32*44mm) and print 20 photos.

2) Before the end of April, go to the personnel department of this department to fill out the Application Form for Tsinghua University Graduates Studying Abroad and Not Participating in Employment in duplicate, and sign and seal it. Go to the school graduation distribution office (I-shaped hall west campus) and stamp it, and pay the handling fee of ￥50.

3) Go to the Overseas Department (I-shaped Hall Northwest Campus) to receive the Registration Form for Reimbursement of Training Fees for Overseas Students in Tsinghua University in triplicate and an Application Form for Studying Abroad at One's Own Expense/Going Abroad for Private Purposes.

4) Go to the Beijing Public Security Bureau to receive the Approval Form for Entry and Exit Applications of China People in duplicate, check the ID card and pay RMB 5 yuan.

5) Go to the Higher Education Bureau to receive the Application Form for Students with College Degree or above to study abroad at their own expense, the Examination Form for Students with College Degree or above to study abroad at their own expense, the Certificate for Students to study abroad at their own expense, and the Advisory Manual for Students with College Degree or above to study abroad at their own expense, and submit it to 13 yuan.

6) Read the instructions carefully, fill in the above forms as required, and post photos. Fill in "Tsinghua" for the household registration and "Zhongguancun" for the police station.

7) Reimbursement of training fees:

A. The personnel department of the department shall sign and seal the Registration Form for Reimbursement of Training Fees for Overseas Students in Tsinghua University at Their Own expense. B. The school archives room (northeast of the old library), room 2 15, paid a five-year file storage fee of ***￥ 1200, and signed and sealed the "file" column to get a receipt.

C student affairs office (I-shaped hall west) signs and seals the column of "student affairs office loan review" to pay off the loan.

D. The Student Registration Section of the Academic Affairs Office (East Gate Entrance of Tsinghua University) shall sign and seal the corresponding column.

8) The school finance department (Gu Yue Tangxiyuan) also paid the training fee of ***￥ 12500 for five years, signed and sealed the corresponding column, took a form and got a receipt and a Training Fee Reimbursement Certificate.

9) The department office asks the person in charge of the personnel department (deputy) to sign and seal: Application Form for Going Abroad at One's Own Expense/Going Abroad for Private Purposes, Application Form for Going Abroad at One's Own Expense for Persons with College or Above, and Examination Form for Going Abroad at One's Own Expense for Persons with College or Above.

10) Copy: 2 copies of Training Fee Reimbursement Certificate, 2 copies of Training Fee Receipt 1 copy, and 2 copies of Tsinghua University Graduates' Application Form for Studying Abroad and Not Participating in Employment.

(5) Apply for a passport

Anyone who enters another country must hold a certificate to prove his legal identity, and entering the United States is no exception. The U.S. government requires that foreigners entering the United States must hold legal passports, visas issued by officials of American embassies and consulates and stamped on the inside pages of passports, and "identification certificates" (I-20A-B form or IAP-66 form) issued to students and scholars. Other immigration forms, including Form I-94, namely "Entry/Exit Record Form" (also known as "Residence Permit") and copies of Form I-20ID, will be issued at the ports of entry in the United States. These documents can prove your legal identity. You need these documents whether you stay in the United States or re-enter the country after a short stay. It is very important to keep these documents properly, otherwise it will bring you trouble and even affect your study. Passports are issued by different governments. The passport issued by our government proves that you are a citizen of People's Republic of China (PRC), and you can go back to China after going abroad. To apply for a passport, please refer to the following specific procedures, and prepare necessary photos, certificates and other supporting materials. At the same time, we need to know whether we need an exit visa. Passports issued are valid only on specified dates. The extension request can be applied to the China Embassy or Consulate in the United States, or it can be handled at home when visiting relatives. For holders of F- 1 and J- 1 visas, the US government requires that their passports be valid for at least six months, so they need to apply for an extension eight or nine months before their passports expire. When you arrive in the United States, please register your passport at our nearest consulate or our embassy in Washington. This will also ensure that your passport is filed in the embassy, and it is convenient to apply for a replacement in case it is lost.

The steps to apply for a passport are as follows (taking undergraduates in Tsinghua University as an example):

1. Copy the acceptance notice (the shortest one, as long as there is the words "our school officially accepts you", whether there is money or not) and the I-20 form (the first page) to B5 paper and submit it to the Foreign Languages Department (the second floor of the former management building). Notices and I-20 forms should be translated. Both the translation and the original should be stamped, and at least 3 copies should be made. The office only works on Mondays and Thursdays, delivering documents on one working day and picking them up the next day.

2. Submitted by the personnel department of the school: an application form for Tsinghua University graduates to study abroad and not take part in employment, a training fee reimbursement certificate, a training fee reimbursement registration form for Tsinghua University students studying abroad at their own expense, an application form for studying abroad at their own expense/going abroad for personal reasons, an application form for entry and exit of China people in duplicate, and an application form for studying abroad at their own expense for people with college education or above. Examination Form for Students with College Degree or above Studying Abroad at Their Own Expense, I-20 Form and the original and sealed translation of the Admission Notice, and Certificate of Students Studying Abroad at Their Own Expense (blank).

3. Take it the next day and pay it to 40 yuan RMB, and you will get: Approval Form for Entry-Exit Application of China People in duplicate, Application Form for Self-funded Overseas Students with College Degree or above, Approval Form for Self-funded Overseas Students with College Degree or above, Certificate for Self-funded Overseas Students and Letter of Introduction for Applying for Household Registration Card.

4. Go to the school security office (south of No.1 Education Center and west of No.2 School Gate) to hand in the letter of introduction of the household registration card, check the ID card, pay the 500 yuan deposit, get the household registration card and get the letter of introduction for handling the passport.

5. Submit to the Higher Education Bureau: Certificate of Studying Abroad at One's Own Expense, Application Form for Studying Abroad at One's Own Expense for College Students or Above, Examination Form for Studying Abroad at One's Own Expense for College Students or Above (signature and date), stamped original and stamped translation of I-20 form and admission notice, original training fee reimbursement certificate and copy of training fee receipt. Quot copy, two 2-inch photos, and check ID card and household registration card at the same time. Send it to 40 10 yuan in 3 days, and to 10 yuan in 0 days, and get the following: Application Form for Studying Abroad by College Students and Above, Examination Form for Studying Abroad by College Students and Above (both pages are yellow and white) and Letter of Qualification Examination for Studying Abroad by College Students and Above.

6. Submit to the Municipal Public Security Bureau for examination: Letter of Qualification Examination for Students with University Education or above Studying Abroad at Their Own expense, letter of introduction for passport application issued by the school security office, copies of ID card and household registration card, stamped original I-20 form and admission notice and stamped translation (stamped with red seal), check the original I-20 form and two 2-inch passport photos, and write your name on the back. After 2 1 day, take the parts and pay ￥ 100.