Consulting alumni of American universities and current university students, conducting campus visits, and speaking to EducationUSA advisers at USIEF can also help you narrow your search and chose 4-6 universities to which you will apply.

After deciding the type of degree you would like to complete, begin by researching the academic fit and suitability of departments. Make this your top consideration. Then, take into account location and campus setting/size, competitiveness of admission, cost of attendance and funding and accreditation and reputation.

Academic Fit and Suitability of the Department

"I like the fact that the department has an academic advisory committee that works closely with students, providing advice on your choices of classes, your general progress and areas for improvement." - Laura, Indiana University at Bloomington

Your academic fit within the department should be your top consideration, before location, brand name of the university and pretty much anything you can think of! It is essential to research the department to find the right 'academic home' for you. Consider the following factors:

Areas of faculty expertise

For research students, faculty members' interests and backgrounds will dictate the electives and research assistantships/projects available for students. It is important to find a department with faculty conducting research in your specific area of interest. This will ensure you have support for your research as a student and a great number of useful contacts when you search for jobs.

Electives, concentrations, joint degree programs

For students on professional degrees, the key is finding a program you can tailor to your interests or future career plans. Look into elective courses both within and outside your department, concentrations and joint degree programs, through which a student can earn two degrees in a shorter time than completing the degrees separately. Popular joint degrees include the JD/MBA or MD/PhD.

Size and atmosphere

Graduate programs can sometimes feel quite insular and you will likely spend most of your time studying and socializing with members of your department. The atmosphere of a department can greatly impact your experience. Consider what type of experience you're looking for – an academically rigorous experience in which you are constantly challenged and kept on your toes or more of a balance between your academic demands and extracurricular interests? Do you want a close-knit, small department? Do you want a competitive environment? Will you have support from fellow students and faculty? Would you benefit from a university with a strong graduate student associations or professional organizations for students to get involved and socialize, as well as special events throughout the year – social activities, lectures, poster competitions, etc.? As you consider a department, you may want to enquire about the size of the department and type of students it attracts to determine whether it would be a good fit. Departments will put this data on their website. The university may be willing to put you in touch by email with a current student who could be a good resource in determining what it is like to study there. Many departments have a link on their home page to the email addresses and the web pages of current graduate students. This is a great way for you to directly contact graduate students and pose questions about the department and the program.

Relationships between students and faculty

Ask about the opportunities to work with faculty and the type of support you can expect, particularly if you will be writing a thesis. Face-time with faculty to discuss your research and a supportive network of faculty are essential to ensuring a smooth progression through a research-focused master's or doctoral program. Often you can assess this criterion by contacting a current student or faculty member. Have a look at the faculty members' webpages. Are they allowing students to co-author papers or attend conferences with them? What kinds of projects are faculty members working on at present? Which grants and funds have they won for their own research? These factors will help you identify the resources and opportunities you can expect from the department.

Getting socialized into the academic profession through various opportunities

Opportunities to gain teaching or research experience are available through university assistantships. Some professional degree programs will also include internship or work placements. These types of experiences can set you apart when applying for further study or jobs after graduation. Attending professional conferences across the sub-fields of the discipline and in your major field of study will provide you with an opportunity to meet other professors, researchers, and potential employers. Serving as a teaching, research or graduate assistant will make you stand out in the job market and help you to acquire work experience during your studies. All of these opportunities will help you to strengthen your CV and gain future employment.

Location and Campus Setting/Size

"I'd very much recommend thinking about the area of the States that you would want to live in, as geographic regions vary dramatically. I chose the Northeast because I felt I'd fit in there culturally. Also, don't be afraid to talk to current graduate students. They're likely to be happy to answer any questions you have, and this can give you a feel for what each place is like before you apply." - Marc, University of Pennsylvania

The U.S. spans over six time zones, offering a wide range of geographic and cultural diversity, climates and ways of life. Location should be considered seriously because the U.S. is a continent-sized country, over three times the size of India.

Generally speaking, the East Coast has a temperate, cool climate, similar to parts of northern India. Expect mild summers and cold winters in the Northeast, snowfall in varying degrees. In the South, expect hot and humid summers with mild winters. The South and Midwest are known for their more laidback lifestyle, friendly atmosphere and lower cost of living than the Northeast and the West Coast. The West Coast is famous for its carefree and more liberal lifestyle. The region also generally boasts nice weather and beautiful outdoor scenery.

You should also consider the campus setting (urban, suburban or rural) and size: some universities are small (with as few as 1,000 students) while others are large (with as many as 30,000 students or more). Some students prefer the close-knit feel of a small university, whereas others appreciate the diversity of students and opportunities provided by a larger campus. Keep in mind that if you go to a smaller sized school you may need to invest in some form of transportation on your own. On the other hand, in a larger campus setting, it is likely that you will get greater access to some public transport. Explore these factors while short-listing universities so that you can maintain a certain quality of life while in graduate school.

Additionally, you may wish to consider the impact of the location in terms of your academic field. Some areas tend to be centres of excellence for particular fields and may therefore increase your options for completing off-campus internships and Optional Practical Training (OPT). You may also be more likely to meet professors who have industry experience and contacts. For example, Washington DC and New York City tend to be centres for non-profit, international and government organizations, while Silicon Valley in California and the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina tend to be centres for technology, science and engineering related fields. Texas is another noteworthy area of the U.S. with varying economic opportunities and higher investments in education.

Competitiveness of Admission

Some departments at top-tier U.S. universities have low admissions rates. To ensure you receive several offers of admission ensure that you have a well-rounded list of universities. Most departments will post their admissions rate online. We recommend applying to a maximum of 2-3 highly-competitive universities and pairing these selections with 2-3 universities at which you fall on the upper end of the average admissions exam scores and GPAs of last year's admitted students. This information should be published on the university website.

If you require university funding in order to be able to attend university in the U.S., you will want to read the section below. Most university funding is merit-based and will be reserved for top applicants and so consider applying to 1-2 highly-competitive universities and pairing these selections with 3-4 universities at which you fall on the upper end of the average admissions exam scores and GPAs of last year's admitted students.

Costs and Availability of Funding

Tuition and fees rates can vary significantly from university to university. There are no standard fees. The cost of living can vary drastically as well, by location. If college affordability is a key consideration for your university selections, you may wish to try some of these strategies for choosing universities:

Selection of U.S. colleges/universities: Ideally, you should start the pre-application process about 14-18 months before you plan to begin your studies in the U.S. It is advisable to select as many as 20-30 universities, although your final shortlist could be anywhere from 8 to 10 or more schools. Several factors should be taken into consideration while selecting universities. A comparison chart listing the differences among departments of universities with respect to field of study, area of research quality and areas of faculty interest, the thrust of the program, accreditation, student requirements, selectivity or level of competitiveness, costs, financial aid possibilities, geographic locations and so forth. will help you to shortlist your choice of university. Since not all factors are equally important, each student should list his or her priorities at the time of short-listing graduate programs.

Register for standardized admission tests: it is best to take the required standardized tests by October or November of the year before the Fall semester. If you are applying for the Spring semester, take the tests before June of the previous year.

Complete and send in application forms:You can either use the on-line applications or those that are mailed by colleges/ universities. Read the website carefully at the time of accessing online application forms. Almost all U.S. institutions charge a non-refundable application fee anywhere between U.S.$ 50 and U.S.$ 250. Application deadlines vary with competitive/selective institutions usually having early deadlines. Others vary from January to March and beyond. Some schools have rolling admissions with no fixed deadlines. Generally speaking, all parts of your application should have reached the university before the deadline as applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

You need to submit official records of your academic work called transcripts. Besides mark sheets, foreign students should ask their school to provide a list of the subjects they studied each year for their last four years of study along with the duration of the program. Detailed break-ups, if available, indicating the number of times the class met per semester should be included with the examination results. Ensure that official copies are procured from your academic institution in a sealed envelope. USIEF also attests academic documents for a fee.

Most colleges and universities include a Declaration and Certification of Finances form in their application packets. This must be signed by your parents, or whoever is meeting your college/ university expenses, and must be supported by a bank letter signed by the manager.

Most graduate institutions require a Statement of Purpose essay which is a narrative about your interests and academic goals. This may be about a page or two long, describing your background and achievements and further plans. This provides you the opportunity to communicate positive factors to offset any weaknesses and discuss your areas of interest and any educational or career goals. Some colleges or universities specify essay topics

Institutions generally ask for two to three letters of recommendation. A member of the faculty, head of the department, a project guide or your supervisor at work, may write these.

Send supplementary materials as appropriate.

Financial aid: Graduate financial aid is given on the basis of academic ability and merit. It is intended to supplement the amount provided by the student's family and other sources. Students and their families will be expected to provide detailed information regarding their finances. Students with a greater chance of obtaining financial assistance must therefore demonstrate: high academic achievement, high scores on standardized tests, exceptional talent or a record of meaningful involvement in co-curricular activities relating to the intended field of study, Individualized letters of recommendation enumerating his or her abilities, or strong professional background (if required as part of the admissions requirement) will help.

Finally, keep in mind that your application will be reviewed with respect to several strong applications received from all over the world. Everyone cannot be given admission. All colleges and universities have a set of institutional values and needs impacting admissions decisions each year. The process of getting into an American university or a college involves several factors, indicators and characteristics about you as an individual weighed against the goals and priorities set by each school and its respective departments. So, find the right match by selecting a university or a college well suited to your own needs and work hard on your applications.

When you receive a letter of acceptance, you are required to confirm your admission. A simple email confirming your acceptance should be fine. Some schools may require a deposit to confirm your admission. The International Student Office will later send you the I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility), which is required for you to apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy.

Paying for U.S. Education

The good news is that every year international students receive significant amounts of financial assistance toward their studies in the U.S. The most recent report produced by NAFSA: The Association of International Educators estimates that $7.223 billion was received by over 690,000 international students studying in the U.S. in 2009-10.

Since U.S. education can be expensive, you should research and consider financial matters. It is important for you to know what costs to expect and to develop a plan to cover these.

Generally speaking, there are four types of funding for study in the U.S.:

After assessing your personal and family savings, your best resource for funding will likely be from a U.S. university. The good news is that two thirds of students in the sciences and engineering and half of students in the humanities report receiving significant funding from their university. How do you become one of them? Read our handout on (http://www.iie.org/en/Students/Tabs/International/Funding-for-U.S.-Study)