Steps of the University Admissions Process

Photo and essay by Ammar Abdullah

If you have a strong desire to pursue your studies abroad, especially in the United States, you should follow many steps. These steps are required at most universities in the United States, except in some universities or departments which may have special requirements. I have listed the five main admissions steps here.

First, select the major in which you are interested. This step is very important. You can choose from a variety of majors or programs that are available in many universities and institutes. It depends on what is right or suitable for you. If you have not selected your program, you can go to the program finder to look for the majors and programs available on the university website. You can filter your search alphabetically, by academic area, or college.

Second, look at the requirements of specific programs in which you are interested to see if they correspond with your qualifications. You can find these admission requirements by clicking the admission requirements links on the individual program or major websites. You can also find them at the bottom of the program descriptions.

Third, assemble all the documents that relate to your admission and are required by the program to which you want to apply. For example, you might need transcript(s), recommendations, tests scores, a statement of purpose letter, and proof of financial support.

Fourth, fill out and submit the application and supporting documents that are required for the program you are interested. Today, there are online applications, but some universities still accept hard copies. Practically speaking, using online applications is faster than submitting paper applications. You will also need to upload supporting documents. If you are a graduate applicant, you will need to upload your score from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). If you are an international student, fill out either the I-20 or DS-2019 visa application, and make sure it is accompanied by a financial support document.

Fifth, to check the status of your application, review your admission status by logging into the website using the username and password that you created when you initiated the admission process. Most universities let applicants know the status of their applications soon after they complete them. This process may take six to ten weeks, and some programs take more time to evaluate the application. You should be patient while you wait for your admission decision. It is recommended that you fill out more than one application for different programs or universities. If you wish to postpone your enrollment, notify the university or graduate program administration as soon as possible.

To sum up, although most students have a strong desire to complete their studies in universities, many of them have no idea about the admission application process. Students have to follow these steps to ensure the acceptance of their application. Choosing your program, examining the necessities which match your qualifications, accumulating the papers that are needed in your admission, filling out and submitting requested documents, and reading through the status of your application are the most significant stages that you need for every application process, unless some programs have a different application admission process.