1. Select your program: What do you want to study?
Many people intend to study at high-level universities around the world. However, not all of them exactly know what their intentions are. Therefore, the first step is to choose the degree and the field of study you want to pursue. If you want to have an academic position in the future, it would be better to apply for a PhD position. Provided you intend to be engaged in the profession, you should apply for a master’s degree.
2. Where do you want to study?
The second stage is to choose your destination. There are some factors contributing to your choice. First of all, it might be important for you to be somewhere not far from your homeland. This short distance would not only reduce the cost of your transportation when you want to travel to your hometown but also help you to see your family and friends more frequently. The second factor is the weather conditions. For instance, if you hate cold weather, Canada or some Scandinavian countries would not be an appropriate choice for you. Finally, the culture can contribute dramatically to your selection. If you want not to be showered under with a lot of tasks, you’d better go to a European country for your education.
3. Review the requirements carefully
Now that you have chosen your degree and destination you must carefully select a university and review the requirements for your targeted program. These requirements vary from one university to another one. For instance, there are some universities and programs, especially in the US that require GRE but the majority of the programs in Europe do not need it. If you apply for a PhD degree, having a publication or a strong sample writing can boost you chance because it will show your ability for research projects, which is important for the majority of faculty. To write an excellent academic paper you should have a great range of knowledge in English grammatical structures. Such proficiency requires you to learn English grammar step by step.
4. Get prepared for the English Proficiency Test
Although there are some differences between the requirements of various programs in institutions, all of them require international candidates to provide a certificate that shows their proficiency in English. IELTS, TOFLE, and PTE are some of the tests that show your English level. Among these tests, IELTS is accepted by all the institutions around the world. There are some online IELTS courses by which you can prepare yourself for the exam. One of the most reliable online courses that does this very well for you is POC English. This website contains both online IELTS courses and general English courses. POC English also has a YouTube channel with around 2 million subscribers, in which you can find useful and fantastic English lessons. This channel teaches you a huge range of collocations and expressions on various topics.
5. Request a letter of recommendation
All institutions require you to provide them with two or three letters of recommendation. These letters, which must be written by your instructors at university or your employer, will prove your competence and eligibility for the position you apply to. So be careful about choosing the most erudite and reliable person who can boost your profile with a letter of recommendation. Although the majority of candidates underestimate this document, it can contribute dramatically to your profile.
6. Apply to various institutions
You might be interested in one or some specific, top-level universities. However, you should not put all your eggs in just one basket. If you want to get the position by just one shot, apply to various universities at all levels. For high-level universities admission is so competitive, it is quite logical to consider some other universities. If you are ambitious and want to go to MIT or other top-level universities, it is your call!
7. Get ready for the interview
In the process of application and even after you are included in the shortlist from the pool of candidates, you must attend some interviews in which you are going to explain your ideas in more detail. In such formal interviews, you must be confident and speak English fluently. Otherwise, other candidates might grab the position. So it seems vital to improve your speaking to a high level. To do this you can take an online English course available on the Internet. By practicing with these online courses you can improve your formal style of speaking which is appropriate for this situation.
8. Translate your documents
After you are formally admitted to your targeted program you need to provide the institution with the official transcripts of all your academic records and certificates. So you need to translate all of the required documents at this stage.
9. Request a student visa
Now, you must apply for an F1 visa. You should reserve a time in the embassy of your destination country and attend there for an interview with the officer. Hopefully, you will get it.
10. Begin looking for accommodation
You might think that it is so hard to find accommodation in a country far away from us. However, with the available realtor websites, you can easily find an appropriate place for yourself. By doing so before your arrival at the destination you can save a lot of time for yourself.
11. Purchase the airline tickets
Now, you can purchase your ticket online and get ready for take-off. There are some specific expressions you need to know at the airport. POC English provides you with these expressions.
Best wishes!
