Advantages of a USA Education                                         
More than four hundred fifty thousand international students from more than two hundred countries around the world come to the United States to pursue a higher education each year. Approximately half enter undergraduate programs, with the rest seeking a graduate or professional education. 5% come from Africa, 58% from Asia, 14% from Europe, 10% from Latin America, 7% from the Middle East, and 5% from Canada. The countries with the greatest number of international students studying in the US are: Japan (8%), China (8%), Korea (7%), India (6%), Taiwan (6%), Canada (4%), Malaysia (3%), Thailand (3%), Indonesia (2%), Hong Kong (2%), Germany (2%), Mexico (2%), Turkey (2%), United Kingdom (1%), Russia (1%). 

The US educational experience is among the best in the world. Many US colleges and universities are known throughout the world for the quality of their academic programs. Private institutions such as Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Cornell, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and public institutions such as Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Univ. of California at Berkeley, Univ. of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Univ. of Wisconsin at Madison, and Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are familiar to students, educators, and business leaders everywhere. In addition to the more well-known institutions, the US has hundreds of other high quality public and private colleges and universities. The depth and breadth of your options will amaze you. 

You will find that a US higher education adds considerable value to your professional development. A US education can enhance your career and prepare you for leadership in your country. It can broaden your horizons and expose you to a variety of perspectives, the latest technology, and state-of-the-art research and training. A degree from a US college or university is a stamp of excellence that marks you for life. 

If you are a graduate student, a US education can help you make contacts with colleagues in the US. This may lead to collaborations with leading international researchers after you return to your home country. Even undergraduate students will find a solid network of support because the US is a "melting pot" of many cultures and there are more international students in the US than in any other country. So you will get help not just from the foreign student advisor, but also from people in the local community. 

With the large number and variety of colleges and universities in the US, you are certain to find one that matches your needs and interests, no matter what your criteria. 

On the other hand, a US education is extremely expensive. Financial aid is very limited. You may be able to obtain similar training in your own country at a much lower cost. You will have to balance the cost against the prestige and quality of a US education. 
Requesting Application Materials From A Unversity
You must write a letter to the department to which you are applying (graduate) or to the Director of Admissions of the university (undergraduate). 

Your letter should include the following: 

1. A request for information from a particular college or faculty/department of the university. 

Graduate example
University of Southern California 
School of Engineering 
Department of Computer Science 
Adam Groz, Chairman 
Los Angeles, CA 94520 

Undergraduate example
American University 
Mr. Adam Groz
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid 
1250 Delamo Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 94520
USA

2. A request for information about financial aid from the department should also be included. You should explain your financial needs. 

3. Include a brief description of what you intend to study, your background, including where you have already studied and any research you have done, and when you want to begin studies at that institution. 

4. Ask the university to send all information intended for foreign students. 

** Keep the letter short. Admission officers are unable to advise about the possibility or probability of admission or financial award.** 

SAMPLE LETTER FOR PROSPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Your address in English 
Your city, COUNTRY 

Date 

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid 
UniversityAddress (exactly as printed in guidebook) 

Dear Admissions Officer, or 
To whom it may concern: 

I am writing to request information on the undergraduate program at your university. I am especially interested in (intended field of study). I graduated/will graduate from (college name)____ in Bangladesh in (month, year) and plan to start college in (month, year). Please include information about the possibilities for financial aid at your institution. (If you need financial help you can state this in the following sentence) I do not have the funds to finance my education; therefore, I will be applying for full financial support from the university to cover tuition and living expenses. 

If you could send me these materials along with an application form and any special information for international students, I would be very grateful. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely, 

Your Signature 
Your name 

Sample Letter For Prospective Graduate Students

TO RECEIVE APPLICATIONS AND INFORMATION FROM UNIVERSITIES 
Your address in English 
Your city, COUNTRY 

Date 

Department 
University 
Address 

To whom it may concern: 

I graduated/will graduate from (name of university) in (month, year) with a degree in (field of study). I would like to pursue a (type of degree) degree in the graduate (field of study) program at your institution beginning in (month, year). I am especially interested in (specialization within field of study). Please send me a catalog and application form along with information regarding financial aid (if needed). Let me know if there are any special requirements for foreign students. 

I look forward to hearing from you. 


Sincerely, 
Your Signature 
Your name 

How to Fill Out the Application?
Neatness is important. Before filling out the original application, answer the questions on a separate sheet of paper. You risk delay or even denial of admission if you send an incomplete application. University admissions committees will not review your application without recommendations and transcripts which must be officially authorized in English. If possible, make a copy of the completed application for your records. 

Personal Data
Address -- Make clear to the university your most reliable address. Permanent address is your home address, where your parents live. Mailing address is your current address, for example if you are living away from home in a dormitory. You should write the address that you want the university to use for all correspondence. If your mailing and permanent addresses are the same, write the word "same". You should not translate names of streets, rather translate the Bengali names into English letters. 
Telephone Number -- international code for Banhgladesh is 880. Your number is 02-(Dhaka city code)-number. 
Social Security Number -- If you have never lived in the US, you can leave this blank; you do not have a social security number. The university will assign you an identification number. 
Visa Types
In almost all cases, foreign students studying in the United States are issued visa type F-1 (F-2 for spouses). Visa type J-1 may be issued if you are receiving support from the US government, your home government, or private foundations. You may prefer one type of visa over another, but the university will make the final decision. 

Test Scores
Universities often ask you to write the results of TOEFL, SAT, GRE, etc. tests on the application. This does NOT substitute for official scores sent by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) from Princeton. If you have not taken the tests or do not know your scores, simply put the date on which you took or plan to take the examinations. You can still mail your application to the university even if you haven't yet taken the exams. (And ETS can send your official scores to the university even if you have not yet sent in your application. They will create a file for you and hold the scores.) 

Educational Background
Translate directly from Bengali to English items about your educational background and degrees. In general, Bangladeshi degrees should be translated as "SSC", "HSC", and "Bachelor of Sciences". 

GPA means "Grade Point Average". The US uses a 4-point system. You should NOT try to calculate your average based on the American system. To calculate your grade average, you sum the marks received, and then divide that sum by the total number of courses. For example, a person with the courses and marks in the table below would write: 

Course Marks 

Since class rank does not exist in Bangladesh schools, leave this section blank. 

When answering how many years of English language study you have had, only count formal training in an educational institution. If you have informal training at home or with a personal teacher, write that separately. 

When describing your knowledge of English and other foreign languages, evaluate your ability HONESTLY -- don't be afraid to speak highly of yourself but don't overestimate your ability either. Rate yourself in the areas of reading, speaking, and writing. The words most used to describe language ability are "excellent", "good", "fair", and "poor". Include knowledge of any other foreign languages and Bengali. Your first language should be described as "native".



Academic Honors 
Some examples are: Scholarships you may have received for good results, recommendation to participate in Student Scientific Society, and any published work. If you have many publications, include them on a separate sheet. 

Extra-Curricular and Community Activities 
Students should be sure to indicate all extra-curricular activities such as participation in special clubs, athletics, theater, musical activities, writing, etc. This is especially important for undergraduates. Colleges and universities are interested in "well-rounded" undergraduate students who have other interests besides academic pursuits. If you received awards or prizes for participating, note them. 

Often high school and college students in the US are involved in unpaid, volunteer work. They may spend a few hours a week assisting with patients in a hospital or serving food to homeless people in a soup kitchen, for example. Even if you have not been part of an official program, write anything that can be considered service to the community. 

Financial Aid 
Application for admission is considered separate from application for financial aid, therefore admission is not jeopardized by requests for financial aid. 

If you and/or your parents earn an average salary, the financial section is not crucial because you do not have enough funds to pay. Fill out this section as best you can. When completing tables, fill in the equivalent dollar amount, using the current taka:dollar exchange rate. Indicate what the current rate is and explain that it changes daily due to inflation. 

If you and/or your parents earn dollars or a very high salary, you may have funds to contribute to your education. 

Depending on the university, you may be asked to provide actual proof of your financial status, either when filling out the application or after you have been accepted. This proof can be a stamped and signed letter from your and/or your parents' employers stating the monthly salaries, and/or official bank statements showing the balance in your account. 

If you are unable to pay for your education, or can only pay part of the costs, indicate that you want them to consider you for all types of financial aid. Be sure to check all boxes indicating teaching and research assistantships and fellowships. 

It is best to be completely truthful about your financial situation.


Statement of Purpose 
The statement of purpose is an extremely important part of the application because it gives the faculty assessing your application their most significant impression of you as an individual. What are your motivations? Do you write clearly? Do your interests really fit those of the department or school? Can you communicate your ideas effectively? Are there special things about you that set you apart from other applicants and make you particularly desirable as a student? 

You should probably write a general statement of purpose as the first step in even considering graduate school. Writing your ideas and goals down on paper should help you clarify your thinking. If you can get things down in no more than 3 double-spaced typed pages, you probably have a good idea of what you really want to do. The statement should reflect your own intellectual development. One way to show that is to discuss the points in your life when you made decisions and what influenced them -- the decision on a college major, the decision on a career goal, the family members and role models who inspired you. 

Once you have a general statement, you can tailor it to specific programs to which you are applying by talking about the reasons you chose the program -- how it fits your background and interests. The application materials may give you a specific format for the statement of purpose or ask you to respond to specific questions, but in all cases, faculty members are interested in your motivation, your intellectual skills, and your suitability for their particular program. 

The general statement of purpose is also a good vehicle to use to approach faculty members for recommendations. Make an appointment with a faculty member to discuss your statement and ask for comments before you put it into final form. Also ask for a letter of recommendation after you have had the discussion. You will have valuable feedback on your statement, and you will be demonstrating your seriousness and interest in graduate school.