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Decide what kind of education is best for you. This is best done by analyzing your career goals. Find out which of the academic degrees are recognized by your own government. Do some research to find out which fields of study will most likely lead to a good job after you graduate.

If you have visited the U.S.A. and seen the campus of the school you want to attend, making a decision will be easier for you. But if you have not been to the U.S.A., you must spend time writing to schools and universities to find out how best they can help you. Union of  Bulgarian Students abroad can assist you in this task.

Location of the institution you will choose is an important factor, but is not as important as knowing the kind of programs and the kind of faculty you will have at this institution. You must decide just how specific you want your field of study to be. If you choose a business administration schools, for example, it should be one that specializes only in business, or would you prefer an institution that teaches a wider variety of subjects, so that you can learn other subjects at the same time?

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Choose Your Field Of Study

In the U.S. and Canada, a term used to describe the subject you wish to study is "major". You may also study another subject of less importance to you and this will be known as your "minor". It is important that you decide on your "major" or your general area of study before you begin selecting schools. For example, if you wish to study some aspect of business administration, then you can narrow your search to schools that offer courses and degree programs in business administration.

Do not worry if after thorough research you are still undecided on which course of study to follow. Many colleges and universities (usually Liberal Arts schools) encourage students to take general education studies in different subjects for a year or two and later decide on a major. The American education system is flexible and supports the idea of an all-encompassing, well-rounded education.

If you are looking for a vocational or technical certificate, you may wish to learn more about the many accredited technical and career schools in the U.S. These schools may be able to train you in a particular field in the shortest period of time since they specialize in the subject you have chosen. Remember that vocational schools generally do not offer more than a certificate. They are non degree granting institutions.

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There are several types of awards for the completion of technical or academic studies. These are:

Certificates - requires varied length of time
Associate Degrees - usually 2 years
Bachelor's Degrees - usually 4 years
Master's Degrees - usually 2 years after Bachelor
Doctoral Degrees - up to 5 years after Master

If you are looking for an academic degree, decide which degree you will pursue at an American Institution. Remember that 2-year community colleges grant an Associate degree (Associate of Science - A.S..; Associate of Arts - A.A. etc.) as their highest undergraduate degree.

NOTE: There are a relatively small number of institutions that are "Upper Division" 2-year colleges. These institutions offer the last two years of study required to complete the B.A. degree.

Four-year colleges award the bachelor's degree (B.S., B.A., etc.). Academic programs leading to the graduate degree, either the Master's alone (M.A., M.S.., M.B.A., etc.) or the Master's and doctorate (PH.D., M.D., etc.), may be available at these four-year schools, or you may have to transfer to another college or university to complete this level of higher education.

Make a list of those technical schools, colleges, university "departments" or special "graduate schools" that offer the program you want. Evaluate the research facilities and the faculty teaching there. Some schools or departments are known for their innovative methods of teaching. You may not have to evaluate the reputation of the entire university, just the department or school where you intend to study.

Finally, take into consideration the duration of each program along with the total cost of obtaining a particular degree. Don't forget to be realistic about the relatively high cost of living in the United States of America and Canada.

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With few exceptions, post secondary education in your own country will be applied toward your U. S. or Canadian degree program. It is very important for you to supply the school you choose with a complete record of your education and to write a special letter asking if courses from your home country will be counted toward your American degree. You may discover that only a few of your courses will be accepted, but credit for them can be very important in helping you complete your American program more quickly. Many students are pleasantly surprised when virtually all of their previous courses are accepted by an American school. We can supply you with a lot of useful. personalized information on this matter.

Because of the general studies requirements, in American higher education, even students who are making a great change in field of study (such as from medicine to computer science, or economics to engineering) will find that courses from home will satisfy many general studies requirements and can save as much as a year of time.

Foreign students often make serious errors when proceeding from one level, such as a bachelor's degree at home, to another level, such as a master's degree in the U.S. particularly when there is an important change in major. Graduate schools in the U. S. have two basic requirements for graduate admission: (1) You must have a bachelor's degree and (2) You must have an adequate undergraduate background in your major. A student with a bachelor's degree in economics from home does not need a bachelor's degree in computer science to enter a graduate computer science program in North America. Instead, the North American college will require completion of certain undergraduate courses prior to acceptance into a master's or Ph.D. program (but not a second bachelor's degree). Students who understand this and who ask many questions about academic rules, may save as much as two or three years of study in completing a graduate degree.

Not all bachelor's degrees from abroad are recognized in the U. S. and Canada. This leads many students to the false conclusion that the American institution is rejecting the entire bachelor's degree program. One of many examples is the student from India with a three-year Bachelor of Commerce who will usually find that American schools will not grant admission to a master's degree program in business. American undergraduate schools, however, will accept the Bachelor of Commerce courses toward a bachelor's degree in business and will often grant nearly three years of credit toward a four-year degree program.

Occasionally, you will find that American colleges will reject all technical courses when you are accepted into an academic program. For example, an engineering school will accept a physics course in mechanics but will reject an applied mechanics course covering manufacturing machinery. On occasion, students may find that higher education from home is not recognized at all by a U. S. institution, though this is not common. It is very important to ask about "transfer credits" . Each North American school sets its own standards for granting credit for study at other schools, American or foreign. If one school will accept only half of your credits, apply to another school to see if they will accept more.

Always apply at the appropriate level of education. If you have completed two years of post-secondary education in your home country, you probably should not apply to a community or junior college and you certainly should ask the school's advice before applying. If you have completed a bachelor's degree program, write to graduate schools to see if you meet their requirements for admission before writing to undergraduate schools. Graduate and undergraduate admissions are often handled in separate offices. Always address your inquiries to the Director of Graduate Admissions when you have a bachelor's degree. If you need additional undergraduate study, the Director of Graduate Admissions will explain the requirements.

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Evaluate your own academic standards and those of the institution you might want to attend. If the standards are too high for you, chances are you will not be accepted for study; if too low, chances are you will be bored and not challenged as a student.

Keep in mind that most American colleges and universities base their admission decision on academic performance. Scores on standardized admissions tests are also important.

Ask your advisor from the Union of Bulgarian Students Abroad if he/she thinks you have a chance of being accepted at your first schools of choice.

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The U. S. and Canada are very large countries. Canada, in fact, is the second largest country in the world, after Russia. The U. S. is about the same size as the continent of Australia. Climate, topography, and population density are extremely varied. There are high mountains and vast, flat plains, deserts and rain forests, sparsely populated areas and huge cities. Both countries stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean and feature several of the world's largest lakes and major rivers.

The population of most of the two countries lives in temperate regions with four distinct seasons. Parts of the southern and southwestern U. S., and Hawaii, are warm year round. A few areas of the northern U. S. and Canada have long, cold winters. Though a few students find it difficult to adjust to extremely cold or extremely hot climates, most schools are located in areas with weather between the two extremes. You should ask questions about climate at schools you are considering, if climate is important to you, and be sure to bring appropriate clothing. Looking at a map will not explain much. Southern Alaska, the Pacific Coast of Canada, and Seattle, in the extreme northwestern corner of the U. S., are all warmer in winter and cooler in summer than Denver or Northern Texas. Parts of California have harsh, snowy winters and parts have no cold weather at all.

For most students, other factors are more important than weather in choosing a school location. Do you prefer to be near mountains or the ocean, a large city, small community, or rural area? For students from many countries, it is important to know if there are settlements of people from their home country and whether or not it will be possible to find foods from home. 

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American colleges and universities have formed associations that set the educational standards for themselves. The Department of Education maintains a list of recognized accrediting agencies. The associations, called "accrediting agencies," evaluate each U.S. college and university. If the institution has achieved an acceptable rating, it is "accredited." Colleges and universities must meet minimum standards to remain accredited.

It is important to attend a school that is accredited, unless you are attending specializing institutions for which no accrediting agency exists. If you do not attend an accredited school, your own country may not recognize your degree, and you may not be able to transfer your credits to another American college or university.

Possibly, your government may insist that you earn a degree from a school with two types of accreditation. One type is regional. Regional accrediting agencies are identified geographically; for example, the "Southwest Association of Schools and Colleges." The other type is by professional accreditation: "Accrediting Commission of Career Schools/Colleges of Technology".

Accreditation is not required for schools or programs which do not grant degrees, such as English language institutes. These are often legitimate and good schools.

If you have a question about the accreditation of a particular institution, ask your  adviser. 

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Keep in mind that the cost of an American college education includes more than just tuition. Attention must be given to housing, food, books, supplies, health insurance, travel, and of course personal living expenses (vacation trips, entertainment, clothing, etc.) Find out how much it costs to live in the city or town where the university is located. Prices can differ greatly between living in a small town in the Mid-west or a large city on the east or west coast, for example.

Private colleges and universities usually have higher tuitions than State supported schools. It is important to remember that even State schools most often charge a higher rate to non-resident or foreign students. At some institutions the tuition for foreign students is two or more times the resident tuition. Room and board, books, supplies and lab fees, health insurance, expenses such as laundry, transportation, telephone, personal items, entertainment, all must be taken into consideration. A rough estimate of average span of costs would be:

State Schools from $9,000 - $20,000, including tuition.
Private Schools from $12,000 - $30,000 and more, including tuition.
Rates are for average undergraduate tuition. Certain institutions, such as medical schools for example, will cost much more

Technical, Vocational and English language schools may charge anything from $400.00 per month or more for tuition only. Since these smaller schools may not have dormitory space for you, you must add to this your own cost of renting an apartment, buying your own food, and sometimes providing your own transportation. Some of these schools do not offer complete packages including tuition, room and board.

Larger colleges and universities will most often provide you with a residence and a meal plan for a set amount of money per quarter or semester or a year.

For a comprehensive list of tips and explanations about receiving Financial Aid, please, utilize our services.

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Other students

You should know how large the student population is at a possible choice of school. Do you like lots of people around you? Or do you prefer to study with fewer students and have less distractions? Smaller schools may be able to pay more individual attention to their students.

Take into consideration whether the school is all-men, all-women, or co-educational (mixed). Ask about the number of undergraduate and post-graduate students. How many other international students attend the school? Do most of the students belong to a particular religious or ethnic group?

Activities

If you are interested in certain sports, make sure the college offers you the chance to participate in these. What about choir singing, the theater, local politics? If you want to attend concerts or theatrical events, find out if this will be possible where you are studying.

It is worth taking the time to find out the availability of any of your hobbies or pastimes at either the school of your choice or the environs. Through out the whole process of applying for a study at an American University, we would be glad to assist you and give you personalized advice!

Programs for Spouses

Is your spouse and/or family joining you? If so you might want to know what kind of programs or services are available for them. Many colleges offer special married student housing for couples. English language programs, or special courses may also be offered for spouses of children of students. 

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