Documents required for filling Applications for Universities in the USA
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Students across the globe desire to pursue their higher studies in USA. However, this involves several steps, such as applications, documentation, and more. In this article, we have listed the documents required for filling applications for universities in the USA, both for Master's and Bachelor's courses.
The USA continues to be a top destination of choice for study-abroad aspirants. It is more so in the cases of Indian students. According to a report by the Economic Times, nearly 2 lakh Indian students went abroad this year for higher studies. According to the information received from the Bureau of Immigration (BoI), the top preferred destinations for education in 2023 were the US, UK, and Canada. The Universities in the USA continue to be ranked top among all universities in the world. No matter which field you choose, American University would feature in that list for sure. So be it bachelor's, master's or even a doctorate, when the admissions open, students start with the lengthy process of applying. In case you are planning to do the same, here is a hygiene checklist of documents you must have before you start the application process for American Universities.
Application Process for US Universities
The application process varies for both master's and bachelor's courses in USA. UG applications are accepted differently and PG applications are accepted differently. Check out the difference below:
Undergraduate Application Process in USA
For UG admission applications in USA, international applicants have to:
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- Submit applications either through Common or Coalition App. Check: Common v/s Coalition App: Which One to Choose?
- University applicant's applying for admission will be either given an option between the two or there will be one option only.
- The application fee for Coalition App is USD 75 while for Common App is USD 30 - USD 75.
Postgraduate Application Process in USA
For postgraduate admissions in USA, applicants have to:
- Log on to the official US university's website and go to the respective Department's page.
- The application link will be found at the Department's website.
- Applicants can access the application from the link provided on the Department's website.
- Submit all details, attach the documents and submit with a fee.
Please note: The fee for masters courses in USA will vary with each university and department or even course of application.
Aspirants should also know the complete application process of applying to US universities before applying for admissions.
Documents required for applying to US Universities: A Brief
Given below are the details about the documents required to study in USA.
- Passport: This is one of the most important documents required to study in USA. In case, you do not have a passport, it is advised to apply for the same in advance. Also, keep copies of the first and last pages of the passport ready. A valid passport is necessary before you schedule your entrance exams.
- Letter of Recommendation: A LOR is also one of the crucial documents required for US university admission. These letters come from your professors or managers. Skills, achievements, and experience at the college or professional level are some of the things that are described in the letters of recommendation. According to your course, you may be required to have 2-3 recommendations. Some universities prefer recommenders to send the letter directly to the admission department online. Whereas, a few other universities may ask for hard copies of the LORs.
- Resume: A resume will depict your objective, educational qualifications, work experience (if any), internships (if any), details of the projects undertaken during your studies or job and any curricular and extra-curricular activities.
- Entrance exam scorecards: There are several tests that you are required to take to gain admission in U.S. universities. Carefully check the details of the program for which you are applying and keep your scores ready before applying for admission. The exams for which you may be required to appear are SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, and LSAT.
- English Language Proficiency test scores: Those students who belong to non-native English-speaking countries are required to prove their English language proficiency. To prove this, you can appear for IELTS or TOEFL.
- Statement of Purpose: A statement of purpose is an essay specifying the purpose of applying for a particular course at a particular university. This essay contains the gist of who you are, how ready are you to pursue a course in an institution, and who you want to become. An SOP justifies the applicant’s life, his / her goals, and the motivation for a chosen career path.
- Academic Transcripts: You would need your marks/ result for all classes from class 9 and upwards. If you are still in class 12, then you would need the result of class 9, 10 and 11. If you are applying for PG courses, you would also need the mark sheets or your bachelor degree (all year scores as well as a cumulative score would be required). A student need not worry about getting the marks converted to GPAs as per the American Credit System.
- Proof of funds: This is one of the important documents required to study in USA. Universities require this information in order to assess the ability of students to afford the education as well as determine their eligibility for granting of any scholarship / aid.
- Work Experience Letters: If you have worked or interned at some organization, then you are required to attach your work experience letters as well with the other documents.
- Certificates for extra-curricular activities: If you have previously excelled in some of the extra-curricular activities, then it is advised to attach the relevant certificates for these supporting your claim for the same. This will further help in improving your overall application.
What are the Documents required for applying to US Universities for Undergraduate Admission?
Given below are the documents required to apply for UG courses in USA:
- Letters of Recommendation
- Entrance exam score cards – SAT / ACT
- Statement of Purpose
- English language proficiency scores
- Passport
- CV or Resume
- Mark sheets and pass certificates
- Application confirmation copy
- Essays
- Certificates for extra-curricular activities
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Proof of funds
Documents Required to Apply for Masters in USA
Given below are the documents required to apply for Masters in USA.
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts for bachelor’s degrees or equivalent
- Entrance exam scorecards – GRE / GMAT / MCAT / LSAT
- Proof of English language proficiency scores
- Statement of Purpose
- Passport
- Resume or CV
- Other academic transcripts
- Mark sheets and pass certificates
- Work experience letters (if any)
- Application confirmation copy
- Certificates for extra-curricular activities
- Application confirmation copy
- Proof of funds
- Research proposal / any portfolio (for any particular course)
Check out the full list of documents required for masters in USA for international applicants.
Applicants who have doubts can get in touch with us in the comments below or sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling.
FAQs
Q. List some of the top universities in the U.S.
Q. What all documents are included in the proof of qualification?
Q. List the documents required to study in USA.
Q. How many copies of academic transcripts are required by U.S universities?
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
Q: Is MIT costly for Indians?
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: Is University of Minnesota Morris hard to get into?
According to various sources, University of Minnesota Morris has an acceptance rate of around 78% making it moderately selective for admissions. Some of the general admission requirements for international students are given as follows:
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Ranks
- Additional Academic Record
Students are required to apply for admission according to the deadlines given on the official university website.
Q: Is Texas A&M Commerce a good university?
Texas A&M Commerce is regarded as one of the top public universities across the United States. Moreover, the Texas A&M Commerce ranking 2024 under the category of Best Colleges is National Universities is #369. Also, the acceptance rate of this university is 42%. Additionally, the university offers the best academic programs, expert faculty, job & placement, and more. Besides, Texas A&M University-Commerce also offers over 130 academic degrees for its students.
Q: What are the requirements for admission into Purdue?
Purdue University application must have the following components:
Undergraduate Admissions
- The application itself
- Purdue-specific questions from the application
- Self-reported high-school grades
- Self-reported SAT or ACT scores (if applicable)
- Application fee
Steps to apply for Purdue University Undergraduate Courses
- First of all, complete and submit a Common application as per the Purdue University application deadlines
- Make sure that Purdue University receives all material required to complete the application
Graduate Admissions Steps
- Firstly, check Purdue University entry requirements
- Then, create an application account to start the application
- Choose the campus and course as per the preference
- Then, submit the results of the tests needed for the graduate program
- Prepare the additional documents based on the graduate program
- Lastly, pay the non-refundable application fee to submit the application. Purdue University graduate application fee is USD 75 for international applicants
Q: Is it expensive to study in UT Tyler Texas?
Annual tuition fee required to pursue a degree course at Indiana State University is around INR 15 L on an average, which can be considered affordable as a study abroad option. Students can refer to the table for course-specific fees requirements:
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
BBA (5 courses) | INR 10 L - 15 L |
MBA/PGDM (4 courses) | INR 12 L - 14 L |
BSc BTech (5 courses) | INR 15 L - 18 L |
MIM (3 courses) | INR 12 L - 14 L |
BBA (4 courses) | INR 15 L - 17 L |
BSN (1 course) | INR 15 L |
BSc (1 course) | INR 15 L |
Q: Is Canada or USA cheaper to study?
International students are more likely to receive financial help or scholarships from Canadian universities than from American ones, which is quite uncommon. Furthermore, tuition at Canadian institutions is typically 27% less expensive than that of US universities. However, some United States universities offer international students Financial aid and other scholarships that help them to study in the United States.
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Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
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There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.