Study in North America (US and Canada)
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Application Process |
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While applying to institutions in America, you can apply either through the common application website www.commonapp.org (Used by more than 450 institutions), or directly through the institution’s website as per the policies of the institution. Please use the www.applytexas.org website for most schools in the Texas system and the UC common application for the 10 schools in the California system. Their web site is: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/ |
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Supporting Documents |
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You would need to submit transcripts (Mark lists) of the last three years, one or more essay, information on extra curricular activities including sports, voluntary work and leadership initiatives undertaken; information on summer jobs or internships etc.
Your counsellor and/or Teachers will be invited to send confidential letters of recommendation online along with the profile of the school. Students will also be asked to send SAT and TOEFL scores directly from Education Testing Service and College Board. Some schools would need SAT II subject tests as well. Supplementary forms may be required from you so ensure that you read instructions carefully. Students who wish to pursue Art, Design or Architecture will also be required to submit a portfolio. |
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Deadlines |
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If the applicant wishes to apply for an early decision or early action, the deadline is mostly October. Please visit individual websites for the specific dates. Students wishing to apply for admission to University of California for the fall term must submit an application by November 30. Most other institutions have a January 1st deadline for the fall intake. Visa Process:
The process of applying for an F-1 student visa begins with acceptance to an American college or university. Following admission, the educational institution in the United States will issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status (I-20 form) and provide that to the student. |
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Canada – Facts and Figures |
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Canada has 92 public and private not-for-profit universities that are members of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Between them they offer over 10,000 undergraduate, post graduate and doctoral level courses along with certificate, diploma and professional qualifications. (www.aucc.ca ) Apart from this, there are over 150 members of the Assn. Of Canadian Community Colleges, these are public institutions offering credentials sanctioned by provincial and the territorial government. Programs vary in length from a few months to four years. The courses are mostly practical and offer work placements. (www.accc.ca). Students especially from this part of the world tend to choose schools in Toronto because they know about them through friends and relatives. Canada has lots of options to choose from - Toronto is not the only one! |
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Application Process |
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The University year is usually September to April, intakes being September and January. As the application process is competitive and the deadlines vary, it is best if you apply six to eight months before the start date of your program. Most students apply to multiple institutions. American curriculum students will need to send a SAT score. For students from other curricula, although SAT is not mandatory, some institutions may require it. It is best to check admission requirements of individual institutional websites. Academic records from grade 9 to the most recent will be reviewed as part of the admissions process. The province of Ontario, Alberta and that of British Columbia have a centralized application system for admission. The Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC), Ontario’s application hub started in 1971. British Columbia’s centralized application system can be accessed through myBCcampus. To apply to Alberta, visit its new centralized online application and transcript transfer system through www.applyalberta.ca. After completing the online application, you would need to send all supporting documents like transcripts, reference letters, essays, proof of language proficiency etc. so that your application gets reviewed and processed. Remember to include your student ID number for easy reference. Prospective international students should demonstrate proficiency in English or French as per the language of instruction in the institution/s being considered. Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) or Test de francais international (TFI) are the tests necessary. Preparatory courses before the commencement of the program may be needed for those with inadequate scores. |
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Study Permit |
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Once accepted at a college or university, in order to study in Canada for a period of six months or more, you need to apply for a study permit from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).To study in Quebec; you must also secure a Certificate of Acceptance from the Province of Quebec. For the study permit, apart from your acceptance letter, you would need to show adequate funds to support you during your period of stay in Canada. In some cases, medical and Security checks may also be required.
Look out for information on Toronto schools in Sunday’s Gulf News! Visit the Canadian Embassy’s Education Fair to get all information on 22 Canadian institutions.
Rema Menon |