This document provides an overview of the process for applying to colleges in the United States. It discusses the different types of educational options including technical schools, community colleges, and 4-year universities. The application process involves submitting transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, and exam scores from the SAT, ACT, or TOEFL. Application deadlines vary, with early options providing earlier decisions. Financial aid comes in the form of scholarships and loans. International students will need a student visa, requiring forms like the DS-160 and an interview at the appropriate embassy or consulate. Additional resources are listed for more detailed information.

1. Tips for
Applying to
College in
The United
States

2. A Note from the Editor
The following slideshow is intended to help applicants and
parents better navigate the college application process. It is
intended as a rough guide and not as a comprehensive
source. Please check the websites provided under
“Additional Resources” (amongst others) for more accurate,
up-to-date, and in-depth information.
Best of luck in the application process!
Heidi E. Sahmel
CCuracao AAmerican PPreparatory SSchool

3. Table of Contents (1 of 4)
Slide Title
7 Different Educational Options
8 Different Educational Options: Pros and Cons – Technical School
9 Different Educational Options: Pros and Cons – Community College
10 Different Educational Options: Pros and Cons – University/College
11-12 College vs. University
13 Public vs. Private Universities – Public Universities
14 Public vs. Private Universities – Private Universities
15 The Application Process: The Common Application

4. Table of Contents (2 of 4)
Slide Title
16 The Application Process: Required Exams
17 The Application Process: Required Exams – SAT
18 The Application Process: Required Exams – ACT
19 The Application Process: Required Exams – TOEFL
20 The Application Process: Authenticated Transcripts
21 The Application Process: Letters of Recommendation
22 The Application Process: Essays
23 Application Deadlines: Early Decision

5. Table of Contents (3 of 4)
Slide Title
24 Application Deadlines: Early Action
25 Application Deadlines: Regular Admissions
26 Application Deadlines: Rolling Admissions
27 Application Deadlines: Possible Outcomes
28 Financial Aid: Scholarships vs. Loans
29-30 Financial Aid: Resources
31 Financial Aid: Other Financial Obligations
32 Visa Requirements: General Information

6. Table of Contents (4 of 4)
Slide Title
33 Visa Requirements: Types of Visas
34 Visa Requirements: Visas for Studying in the U.S.A.
35-36 Visa Requirements: Visa Application Process
37 Visa Requirements: Required Documents
38 Visa Requirements: DS-160 Form
39-41 Additional Resources

7. Different Educational Options
High School
Technical
School
2-Year
Community
College
4-Year
College or
University
Specific
Profession
Profession
requiring an
Associate’s
Degree
Profession
requiring
Bachelor’s
Degree
Graduate program
such as Medical
School, Law
School, Business
School, etc.

8. Different Educational Options:
Pros and Cons – Technical School
 Pros: Technical schools save students time and money if
they are certain they want to pursue a career in a technical
profession (i.e. electrician, engineer, mechanic, computer
programmer, etc.)
 Cons: Students do not receive a well-rounded education at a
technical school because they only take courses related to
their chosen career.

9. Different Educational Options:
Pros and Cons – Community College
 Pros: Community colleges offer students 2-year programs.
Community colleges are much cheaper than traditional
universities or colleges, so students can save money by
attending a community college for the first two years of
their undergraduate studies. Students not interested in
continuing their education will graduate from community
college with an Associate’s Degree.
 Cons: Community colleges are geared towards students
who are from the area and so housing arrangements are not
provided. Additionally, while community college can make
it easier for a student to transfer into a traditional university,
community colleges themselves do not carry prestigious
reputations.

10. Different Educational Options:
Pros and Cons – University/College
 Pros: Traditional universities and colleges provide students
with a 4-year program, at the end of which they receive
either a Bachelor’s of Arts or a Bachelor’s of Science (for
science majors) degree. These students also have the typical
“college experience” because they can live in dorms on
campus.
 Cons: Universities and colleges generally have very high
tuitions, which can be cost prohibitive for some.

11. College vs. University (1 of 2)
 Colleges are schools that offer a group of majors in a certain
field, whereas universities are a group of colleges. This
means that if you attend a university, you will be graduating
from a college within that university (for example,
University of Maryland’s College of Sciences).
 Consequently, universities are larger, usually more well-
known, and offer students more options, but colleges can
provide students with a more intimate educational
atmosphere.

12. College vs. University (2 of 2)
 Despite these technical differences, the terms “college” and
“university” are used interchangeably in the United States.
Therefore, this slideshow may use one term instead of the
other, but the information applies to both.*
 * Please note that “college” does not mean “community
college” unless specifically stated

13. Public vs. Private Universities:
Public Universities
 Public universities are run by the state, which is where they
receive the majority of their funding. This translates into
substantially lower tuitions for students. Additionally,
students from the state where the school is located receive
an even cheaper (“in-state”) tuition.
 Public universities are generally larger than private
universities and therefore can offer students more varied
opportunities in terms of extracurricular activities and
majors.
 Even though public universities tend to have more diverse
student bodies than private schools, many public schools
attract the majority of their students from the surrounding
state(s).

14. Public vs. Private Universities:
Private Universities
 Unlike public universities, private universities do not
receive state funding and therefore their tuitions are
substantially higher.
 Because of their smaller overall size, private universities can
offer students smaller class sizes and more individualized
attention from professors.
 Some of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. are
private (i.e. Harvard and Yale), but private universities are
not necessarily better than public universities.

15. The Application Process:
The Common Application
 The Common Application is an online undergraduate
admissions application. The Common Application
(“Common App”) allows students to complete one
application and then send it to any of the 456 member
universities.
 Common App saves applicants time and hassle, but students
should still confirm with each individual university to find
out specific deadlines and test requirements.
 Common App can be found at:
https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx

16. The Application Process:
Required Exams
 Most universities in the United States require one or more of
the following exams.
 SAT
 ACT
 TOEFL
 Students are encouraged to take the tests in their junior year
of high school so as to ensure that they can retake the exams
if they are unhappy with their scores. Please also keep in
mind that test availability is limited in Curacao and thus
students should plan to take tests well in advance.
 The specific test requirements for each university can be
found on that school’s website.

17. The Application Process:
Required Exams - SAT
 The SAT is a globally recognized college admissions test
that consists of reading, writing, and math sections.
 Each section is scored between 200-800, making 2400 a
perfect score.
 The SAT is designed to assess how well a student will
perform in their first year of college.
 More information regarding the SAT can be found at:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/home

18. The Application Process:
Required Exams - ACT
 The ACT is a national college admissions exam that consists
of English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional
30-minute writing test.
 The ACT is created to assess the student’s current
knowledge.
 More information about the ACT can be found at:
http://www.actstudent.org/

19. The Application Process:
Required Exams - TOEFL
 TOEFL is an international exam that tests applicants ability
to understand and use the English language.
 The test is comprised of listening, speaking, reading, and
writing components
 Applicants who have not completed their entire educational
career in English, or who do not come from a country that
speaks English as its first language, are generally required to
take the test.
 More information regarding TOEFL can be found at:
http://www.ets.org/toefl

20. The Application Process:
Authenticated Transcripts
 In addition to the TOEFL exam, students who did not
receive an education in the United States must have their
transcripts authenticated.
 Professional authenticators are responsible for translating
the transcripts, authenticating them, and finding out the
closest U.S. equivalent to the degrees earned abroad.
 There are many professional authenticators available online,
such as Education Credential Evaluators (ECE). More
information regarding ECE can be found at:
https://www.ece.org/

21. The Application Process:
Letters of Recommendation
 Universities will often ask applicants for 2-3 letters of
recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be
written by teachers, advisors, bosses, or people in the
community who know the applicant’s character and work
ethic well.
 Students are encouraged to ask for letters of
recommendation before they leave for summer break after
their 11th
grade year so that the references have time to
prepare the documents before application deadlines pass.

22. The Application Process:
Essays
 Applicants will often have to write essays as part of the
application process. Applicants should look at the required
essays well in advance of application deadlines so that they
can write several drafts. This will ensure clarity and limit
grammar and spelling mistakes.

23. Application Deadlines:
Early Decision
 Students who are certain of the university they would like to
attend should apply in the early admissions period. Early
decision is a type of early admissions that allows students to
apply ahead of time and find out the university’s decision
earlier than normal.
 Students may only apply to one university early decision,
and if accepted, they must attend that university and
withdraw all other outstanding applications.
 Generally speaking, the dates for early decision are as
follows:
 Application Deadline: November 1
 University’s Decision: Mid-December

24. Application Deadlines:
Early Action
 Early action is similar to early decision except that students
often can apply to more than one university for early
admission, and they do not have to accept the university’s
offer. Whether a student may apply early decision or early
action depends on the university to which they are applying.
 Generally speaking, the dates for early action are as follows:
 Application Deadline: November 1
 University’s Decision: Mid-December

25. Application Deadlines:
Regular Admissions
 Regular admissions is the standard application process.
Students are encouraged to apply to as many universities as
possible, and should ultimately accept the offer from the
university that is best for them.
 Generally speaking, the dates for regular admissions are as
follows:
 Application Deadline: January 1
 University’s Decision: April 1

26. Application Deadlines:
Rolling Admissions
 Unlike other application deadlines, students may apply to
universities with rolling admissions at any time, and
applications are viewed in the order they are received until
all spaces are filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as
soon as possible, however, in order to increase chances of
acceptance.
 Generally speaking, the dates for rolling admissions are as
follows:
 Application Deadline: May 1
 University’s Decision: As received

27. Application Deadlines:
Possible Outcomes
 Accepted
 Student is invited to attend the university for the
following school year, and may accept or reject
invitation (unless application was Early Decision).
 Rejected
 Student is not invited to attend the university for the
following school year, but can always transfer or reapply
at a later date.
 Waitlisted
 There is currently no room for the student for the
following school year, but space may become available
depending on whether other accepted applicants choose
to attend.

28. Financial Aid:
Scholarships vs. Loans
 Higher education in the United States can be very costly.
Therefore, it is important that applicants explore all outlets
of financial aid. Financial aid can come in the form of a
scholarship or a loan.
 Scholarships are awarded by universities or private
organizations. Scholarships do not need to be repaid, and
are awarded based on:
 Need: student has proven that they and their parents
are financially unable to pay for school
 Merit: student is awarded money based on
outstanding performance in high school
 Loans are given by banks or private organizations and
must be repaid, plus interest.

29. Financial Aid:
Resources (1 of 2)
 Unlike American students, international students are not
eligible for financial aid from the U.S. government.
Nevertheless, international students should check with their
own government for available funding.
 Applicants should also research international organizations
that often grant students money. These include the United
Nations, the Fulbright Commission, AMIDEAST, World
Health Organization, etc.

30. Financial Aid:
Resources (2 of 2)
 Students can also search for funding based on where they
are from, where they wish to study, what they wish to study,
and their qualifications at the following websites:
 International Financial Aid and College Scholarship
Search: www.iefa.org
 International Scholarships:
www.internationalscholarships.com

31. Financial Aid:
Other Financial Obligations
 In addition to tuition, universities often require applicants to
prove that they have a certain amount of money in their
bank accounts. Applicants should check with the individual
university for more specific information and prepare
themselves to meet this requirement.

32. Visa Requirements:
General Information
 The website of the Consulate General of the United States in
Curacao provides information for travelers who wish to
study, travel, or work in the United States. The following
information has been provided by the U.S. Consulate’s
website, but checking with the official website for up-to-
date information is strongly advised. For more information
regarding visas, please visit:
http://curacao.usconsulate.gov/non-immigrant_visas_niv2.html

33. Visa Requirements:
Types of Visas
 The type of visa you apply for depends on your purpose for
travel.
 Some relevant types of visas are:
 B Visa: Business, tourism, medical treatment
 F Visa: Student, academic
 J Visa: Exchange visitors
 M Visa: Students, vocational

34. Visa Requirements:
Visas for Studying in the U.S.A.
 Students planning to attend a university or other academic
institution require an F-1 visa.
 Individuals planning to attend a vocational (i.e. technical
college) or non-academic institution require an M-1 visa.
 Generally, prospective students should apply for a visa after
receiving an acceptance letter from a university in the U.S.

35. Visa Requirements:
Visa Application Process (1 of 2)
 For F-1 visas, applicants who hold Dutch passports or are
renewing a multiple entry U.S. visa valid for at least one
year should apply to the U.S. General to the Dutch
Caribbean in Curacao.
 All other passport holders must apply to the U.S. Embassy
in Caracas, Venezuela.

36. Visa Requirements:
Visa Application Process (2 of 2)
 Visa applicants must complete an interview with the appropriate
U.S. Consulate or Embassy. In order to schedule an
appointment, you can call 001-602-567-9833 or you may
schedule an appointment online at:
https://www.usvisa-info.com/en/selfservice
 Please keep in mind that service fees apply and can be paid on
the phone or online using Visa or Mastercard.
 Each phone call costs $19 USD
 The online service costs $10 USD

37. Visa Application Process:
Required Documents
 You must bring the following documents to your interview:
 Non-refundable application fee of $160 USD cash, which
is to be paid at the time of the interview
 Signed passport, valid for at least 6 months from the date
of intended departure from the United States
 Completed DS-160 (a nonimmigrant visa application form,
which can be found at: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/)

38. Visa Application Process:
DS-160 Form
 In order to complete this form, you will need the following
documents (which you should bring to your interview as
well):
 Passport
 Travel Itinerary (if you have already booked your
reservations)
 Dates of your last five visits to the United States (if
applicable)
 Resume/Curriculum Vitae/Transcript (for an F-1 visa,
your educational background is very relevant)
 SEVIS ID, which is found on the I-20A, I-20B, I-20MN,
or DS-2019 form that the accepting university provides
 Address of the school or program you plan on attending,
which can also be found on the I-20 or DS-2019

39. Additional Resources (1 of 3)
The following websites were used in the making of this
presentation. Please visit each for more up-to-date and in-depth
information.
 Application Information:
 International Student:
http://www.internationalstudent.com/study_usa/application-
process/
 Peterson’s The Real Guide to Colleges and Universities:
http://www.petersons.com/
 Step Up Hawaii: http://www.stepuphawaii.org/apply
 The Common Application:
https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx

40. Additional Resources (2 of 3)
 Standardized Tests:
 ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/
 SAT: http://sat.collegeboard.org/home
 Princeton Review:
http://www.princetonreview.com/college-education.aspx
 TOEFL: http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/about?
WT.ac=toeflhome_ibtabout2_121127

41. Additional Resources (3 of 3)
 Scholarship Information:
 International Financial Aid and College Scholarship
Search: http://www.iefa.org/
 International Scholarships:
www.internationalscholarships.com
 Transcript Authentication:
 Educational Credential Evaluators: https://www.ece.org/
 Visa Information:
 Consulate General of the United States in Curacao:
http://curacao.usconsulate.gov/