It's a real challenge to choose from thousands of universities the ones that suit you. There is no general recipe for success, so when you make your choices you need to clarify your objectives and consider the factors that are important to YOU in both your education and your lifestyle.

You may like to take into consideration the following criteria:

• Major
  The major is the subject in which you choose to concentrate. You don't have to declare the major when you apply to the university - you will do it by the end of the second year of study. But if you have a specific program in mind, it is wise to select universities which offer that field. Access university websites or college catalogs available at our Advising Center in order to find the programs you are particularly interested in.

• Entrance difficulty
  College catalogs include statistics regarding the number of applications received by a school, as well as the number of students admitted. You will notice that very competitive schools generally receive huge numbers of applications but accept a much smaller number, while moderately difficult colleges usually admit a larger number of applicants.
  Visit university websites and check the freshman profile. You'll see their SAT scores, GPA, etc. and learn how competitive the students admitted to the program are.

• Campus size and location
  Consider also the size of the student population and the campus location. Will you enjoy the independence - and anonymity - of a huge campus with 50,000 students, or will you feel better in a small college with a couple of hundred students, where everybody knows everybody?
  You will find schools in urban, suburban or rural settings. An urban campus will give you easy access to a wide range of cultural and entertainment opportunities. A rural campus will provide a quieter environment, where you can concentrate more on your academic work. Which environment is for you? 

• Coed or single-sex colleges
  The U.S. offers a huge number of coeducational schools, but also a significant range of single sex colleges. Single sex colleges take pride in the fact that a high percentage of their graduates become leaders in their communities and careers. You may like to consider this option that allows you to put all your energies into your personal development.

• Rankings
  There's no official college ranking by the U.S. Government or the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore take all rankings with caution, especially if they don't explain the criteria on which they are based.
  Try to learn about colleges you're not familiar with. Think beyond the Ivy League schools: there are lots of good colleges in the United States where you can get admission and funding.
  Consider your objectives and motivations first, research the programs carefully and find the institutions that are RIGHT for YOU.

Tools for college search:

If you are far away from the Fulbright Educational Advising Center and find it hard to visit and use its multiple resources, you can always relay on the Internet. Below you will find a number of sites and resources that have proved helpful to Romanian applicants:

Peterson's: www.petersons.com.   Go to  the section Colleges and Universities, then click on International Students, then Search Colleges by Subject, or any other criterion you want to use.

College Board's: www.collegeboard.com.   Go to section Find a College, then click on College Search. To get started, pick a category, then use your own criteria for searching colleges.

The path for study and entry into many professions in the United States differs from the process in Romania.

In the United States admission to medicine, law, business administration follows completion of a bachelor's degree. You need first to get an undergraduate degree in a variety of fields and then you can apply to a program in medicine, law or business administration.

For talented, hard-working students from Romania, it's often the funding that is more problematic than admission to undergraduate programs in the U.S.. Competition for financial aid is very keen among international students. Full financial aid from the U.S. university covering all or almost all of the expenses for one academic year is available only to top students.

Most Romanian students in the U.S. are funded by their colleges and universities. The financial aid package commonly includes a scholarship, campus employment (maximum 20 hours per week of campus work) and, possibly, a loan (nothing to worry about, as study loans in the U.S. generally offer excellent terms).

Funding from private sponsors or foundations is most unusual.

All applicants interested in attracting financial aid from U.S. schools should consult the magic green folder available at the Fulbright Educational Advising Center. The folder summarizes financial information from major printed sources from the US - all available at our center - as well as financial data reported by Education USA centers worldwide.

The following table is a one-page sample from the green folder showing over 600 U.S. schools which offer various degrees of financial aid to international students. The table uses the following abbreviations:
MC: most competitive
HC: highly competitive
VC: very competitive
C: competitive
LC: less competitive
NC: noncompetitive
W: women’s college
#: number
Intl: international
Avg. Aid: average aid
[ISH]: The College Board's International Student Handbook 2006 and 2007
[ACUUS]: Peterson's Applying to Colleges and Universities in the United States, 16th edition
[CIS]: The Council of International Schools' table published on their website www.cois.org

Full Need indicates that the U.S. school is able to meet the full financial need of international students. 

The green folder is for reference only, cannot be photocopied or consulted off site. In order to have access to the full material, you need to visit us during public hours and have a valid ID form.

Tools for Financial Aid Search:

If you are far away from the Fulbright Educational Advising Center and you find it hard to visit and use its multiple resources, you can always rely on the Internet. Access College Board's website www.collegeboard.com and follow the steps below: 

• Type NAME OF THE SCHOOL in the section "College Quick Finder"; for example Amherst College (make sure you type the full name of the school correctly). 

• The page includes sections on admissions, deadlines, tests etc. Click on "International Students" and get relevant information on annual costs and financial aid for international students.

• This section describes what type of financial aid is available for international students.

• From this section you can also find out the average amount awarded to an international student admitted to the respective school in the previous year: please divide the total amount awarded $3,220,013 by the number of enrolled international students who received aid in the previous year - 76 - and you'll get $42,368. Which means that at Amherst College the average amount  awarded to international students will cover tuition ($36,232) and part of the living costs which range up to $11,000. As you can see this is one of the U.S. schools that offer massive financial aid to international students.
    

See also Financial aid - Undergraduate study.

The Admissions Committee considers academic performance, extracurricular activities, plus personal abilities when evaluating an applicant.

Generally, U.S. schools require you to submit the following documents:

• Application form: includes sections like personal information, education, standardized tests you've taken or registered for, extracurricular activities, academic honors, work experience, if available, etc. You can get the application form from the schools you plan to apply to or you can download it from their website. Read the information in the application package and contact the school for further details. See the Sample application form for an explanation of terms in the Common Application.
• Application fee: covers the cost of processing your application. You can pay by bank check or by credit/debit card. Fees usually range between $30 to $100 and are not refundable. Some schools may grant you a fee waiver if the application fee proves a significant burden to you. Check with the school.
• Academic records / official transcripts (Romanian equivalent foaia matricola): includes the subjects and grades you have taken in high school. A grade point average (GPA) stands for media generala. A GPA conversion chart is available at www.princetonreview.com for your reference only; you don't have to make the conversion from the Romanian grading system into the American one. Many Romanian high school students make the English translation of the official transcripts, have them verified by the high school secretariat, signed by the school's principal, and sealed by the secretary. If it is impossible for you to obtain this type of document, then you can resort to notarized copies of the official transcripts, accompanied by a certified English translation.
• Official score reports for the standardized tests: TOEFL and SAT. Check with the schools what minimum TOEFL score they require for admission. The SAT I - the Reasoning Test - is required for admission to most US colleges and universities. The SAT II - the Subject Tests - demonstrate your knowledge in various disciplines. SAT II is required for admission to many competitive schools. Based on our experience, SAT II gives you a better chance to impress with your academic stamina. Even if SAT II is not required, you'd better take the SAT II tests in order to increase your chances of admission and financial aid.
• Letters of recommendation: 2 or 3 letters, usually from teachers who know you well in class and from people who know you well outside class (extracurricular activities). Your referees will write about you at school and/or in your free time and will assess your potential to do well in the U.S. colleges you are applying to. Approach referees early so that they have enough time to write the letter. In the letter, the referees will include their credentials, their professional relationship with you, information on your academic skills and interpersonal abilities. The letter goes into an envelope that the referees seal and sign on. Your name must appear on the envelope, clearly indicating that it is a "letter of recommendation for applicant (…your name!)".
• Application essay / personal statement: gives universities a chance to evaluate your writing skills, while getting a personal glimpse of you. Read instructions carefully! Make sure the essay has a good opening, a solid content and a strong conclusion. Try to make the essay memorable so that it wins you admission!

Supplementary materials

The following documents may enhance your application:

• The school profile provides background information about your school.
• The resume (curriculum vitae): given the limited space on the application form, a resume gives you the possibility to highlight your accomplishments in school and outside: contests, prizes, voluntary work etc.
• The extracurricular activities show the way you spend your time outside school; select the significant ones that fit in well with the rest of your application.
  

Sample application form

This section includes explanation of terms frequently used in the Common Application Form and the School Report available on the official website Common Application www.commpnapp.org .

The terms are listed in alphabetical order.
ACT = an American college admission exam that consists of subject areas tests in English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, plus a Writing test. In Romania this test is administered by Bucharest Christian Academy. For further information on this test please visit the official website of this test www.actstudent.org. However, most Romanian students choose to take the SAT.
AP (Advanced Placement) = AP courses are generally taught at U.S. high schools by teachers who follow the guidelines developed and published by the College Board. According to the information available on the official website (http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html), there are 35 AP exams in 20 subject areas. These exams test the student's ability to perform at a college level. Note: AP courses are not offered in Romania.
Block schedule = Yes, in Romanian high schools. All subjects are mandatory and the teaching content and pace is the same for all students.
Class rank = a number or ratio indicating a student's academic standing in his/her graduating class. A student who ranks first in a class of 100 students would report his/her class rank as 1/100, while a student ranking last would report 100/100. Class rank may also be expressed in percentiles (for example, the top 25 percent, the lower 50 percent, etc.).
CSS Profile = the financial aid application service of the College Board. More than 600 colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and scholarship programs use the information collected on the Profile to determine eligibility for nonfederal student aid funds. It is a fully Web-based application system that provides students a secure and efficient method for reporting their financial data to schools. Mind that this service is for a fee! International students generally fill out the International Student Financial Aid Form available free of charge on each college website. Click here to view a sample of this form that international students usually fill out.
EA (Early Action) = students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution's regular response date. Information available on www.nacac.org
ED (Early Decision) = students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted they are expected to enroll. The application deadline and decision deadline occur early. Information available on www.nacac.org
FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Not applicable to international students.
Fee waiver = if the application fee, requested by all U.S. universities, proves to be a financial burden for your family, most schools accept that you send a fee waiver request. This request will come from your school principal or your counselor, and will explain your financial situation and why the university should waive the application fee.
GED (General Education Development) = a test that certifies the taker has attained American high school-level academic skills. International students need NOT take this test for admission to U.S. colleges and universities. Please write "Not applicable" in the specific line.
GPA (Grade Point Average) = a system of recording achievement based on a numerical average, calculated by multiplying the numerical grade received in each course by the number of credit hours studied. Romanian "media generala". The Grade Point system is on a 1 to 10 scale in Romania.
IB (International Baccalaureate) = the IB program is administered by the International Baccalaureate Organization http://www.ibo.org/. Note: in Romania the IB is administered by two schools: American International School of Bucharest http://www.aisb.ro/ and Mark Twain International School http://marktwainschool.ro/ .
REA (Restrictive Early Action) = students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision early. They may be restricted from applying ED or EA or REA to other institutions. If offered enrollment, they have until May 1 to confirm. Information available at www.nacac.org.
SAT = standardized test required for admission to most U.S. colleges and universities. For further information on this test please visit the SAT section on this website.
Social Security Number (SSN) = a number issued to people by the U.S. government. Anyone who works regularly in the U.S. must obtain a Social Security Number. Many institutions use this number as the student identification number. Please write "Not applicable" in the specific line.
Weighted GPA = some U.S. schools offer classes that are much more difficult then regular classes, or often it is the same class but the teacher gives extra work. These tough classes are called "Weighted Classes". Weighted Classes are based on a different Grade Point system (A = 5.0, B = 4.0, C = 3.0, D = 1.0, F = 0; there is no 2.0). With Romanian high schools teachers usually give extra work with most subjects and some classes are more difficult than others, so we can say that the cumulative GPA is weighted. But the Grade Point system is still on the 1 to 10 scale.

Deadlines and submission of documents

Regular deadlines usually fall between December and February.
Early deadlines are usually in November. If you choose to apply Early Decision, you can submit your application to only one institution which is your nr. 1 educational option. If admitted, you are expected to confirm that you will attend that institution. The problem with Early Decision is that it doesn't allow you to compare financial offers from several universities.
Rolling admission means that a university will admit and reject candidates until the freshman class is filled. So increase your chances of admission by applying early!
Generally, all the application documents need to be at the university by the date specified as deadline. A postmarked deadline means "data postei"!

Some of the components of the application package can be submitted online, such as the application form and fee, essay, while others need to be mailed (official transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) since they need to bear an official signature and stamp. You can also submit your application in the good old traditional way, by mailing it cu confirmare de primire. Make sure your application is well organized. Each application component will go into its own envelope; then you will put all the pieces in one big envelope that you will mail to the universities. Check with the universities if they prefer documents to arrive separately - for instance, letters of recommendation to be sent by the referees.
You need to plan well so that all documents reach the university on time. We recommend that you mail your application package by registered mail (recomandata cu confirmare de primire).
Registered mail is safe but somewhat slower, so don't wait until the very last minute. If the deadline is pressing, you may need to send your application by courier. Keep in touch with the colleges to make sure that your application documents have arrived. Make photocopies of all materials you send just in case the university requests them again.

Timeframe for admissions

We recommend that you allow at least one year and a half for selecting US programs and preparing your application. The tentative schedule below is based on our advising experience, on input and feedback from the Romanian students admitted to undergraduate programs in the U.S.
March - August:

• Visit our Educational Advising Center. Attend our group advising sessions. If that's not possible, read information about U.S. higher education and the admissions process on this website. The Useful websites section is also a good start.
• Consider your personal criteria for selecting U.S. universities (quality of program, financial aid, etc.). Choose a significant number universities that meet your requirements. Some people start with 15-20 universities, some with more. Investigate their admission requirements and deadlines. This will affect the dates for taking the standardized tests: TOEFL and SAT.
• Establish contact with the selected universities. Send them an e-mail message with details of your study objectives, training and experience, clearly stating that you will need financial aid. Try and impress them with whatever is exceptional about you. Do not underestimate your extra-curricular achievements, be they sports, special talents or community work. It's a good opportunity to ask questions, clarify issues, but only after you have carefully read all information on the university website.
• Learn about the standardized tests you need to take, about registration procedure and deadlines. You may like to take the tests in summer so that you can resit them in fall, in case you are not satisfied with your scores! Most universities set their admission deadlines between December and early February. Plan well!
• Prepare for the required standardized tests. At our Educational Advising Center you have free access to test preparation materials in our library!

• To give yourself the best chance of being admitted, make a realistic assessment of an institution's admission standards and also of your own qualifications. How well do they match? You have better chances of admission with funding if you are above the average applicant! That's why the freshman profile at the schools you want to apply to is SO useful.
• Work on the application package.
  Admissions officers spend a lot of time on the essays and letters of recommendation. When they review an application they also look at the applicant's prizes, community service, leadership skills, and special talents. Admissions officers try to determine if you are a good match for their institution. University websites and college guides available at our Center will provide helpful information in documenting this match. A good match spells success!

• Application deadlines with most universities.
• Submit your applications.

• Universities announce acceptance/rejection.
• Decide which university to attend, notify them of your decision, complete and return any official university forms that are sent to you.
• Write to the schools that you reject and thank them for admission and financial aid. Inform them of your decision to enroll elsewhere.
• Make housing arrangements (apply for on-campus housing, etc.).
• Acquire as much pre-departure information as you can. It will pay off!

• Apply for the F1 visa after you receive the I-20 form from your university. Don't forget to pay the SEVIS fee!
• Make travel arrangements.
• Contact the university International Student Office with details of your arrival plan.
• Obtain a copy of your medical record, regular prescriptions, etc.
• Plan to arrive on time for the university orientation session.
• Attend the PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION organized by the Fulbright Commission to facilitate your academic and cultural adjustment in the U.S. It's a full-day event usually held in mid-July that combines sessions and presentations with networking opportunities and fun.