Conversation with Nikta Hosseini - US Colleges

Hello everyone! Today, coming to this website, I want to introduce Nikta Hosseini from Iran, who has graduated from Youngstown State University in the US. As I am aware, many of my readers here have a lot of questions regarding studying abroad, especially in the US. Therefore, I hope that through this post you will be able to understand more about this process!

1) For your school, what does the college preparation process look like? Can you tell me a bit about deadlines and stuff?

So about the deadlines… Most colleges have two deadlines: one for the spring semester and one for the fall semester! Most international students apply for the fall semester which starts in the middle of August, but the deadlines are different, so you have to check the university website that you want to apply for.

2) As I know you're from Iran, right? For an international student (also me in the future), are there any policies/paperwork/requirements that you think I need to know beforehand?

And about the documents, there are a lot. And it is different based on your country residency, but the main ones are your high school GPA and transcripts, English proficiency test, and bank statement which shows that you can pay for the college. For now, your main steps would be choosing a few colleges to apply for (based on their tuition, the state, and the major they offer) and work on your English to take the English proficiency test. After that, you can check the college website to see the deadlines and all the documents they require. At this point, you'll have to apply as an international freshman; they have all the information about the steps you can take on their website from scratch! You don't need to worry or ask anyone because they have them all written on the website, and you can also email them if you have any questions!

3) What do you think of the US when you come here? Is it peaceful/clean/quiet/noisy/busy?

About the states, it is really different; it's like every state is a different country on its own, but in general, northern states are cooler, and southern states are hotter. The nature is great in all of them, and most cities are quiet except the crowded cities such as New York or Chicago, and people are usually kind.

4) How can I start preparing for college from scratch? Don't know if you have a college counselor, but what sites/resources do you use to navigate the process?

College counselors in the university are for the ones that attend the university. I don't think they have any services available for the ones that aren't a member of their college, but again, you can check their website because it's different in every college. As I said, I think you should look into the universities and the budget you are willing to spend, and the major you want to choose. After choosing the college, they have all the information available on their website!

5) Apart from grades and stuff, I heard that America also focuses on extracurricular activities. What things did you do, and do you think they matter after all?

Yes, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and these out-of-school activities are important. If your high school offers these kinds of programs, it's a good idea to join them. If not, it's still okay.

6) Is college much different from high school? I heard college will be so much more confusing in both the course part and also about the confusing schedules.

You see, how you view college is so much different depending on your high school; everybody has a different experience. You have to discover it yourself! But in general, studying abroad in any country is a great move!

7) Do you think 11th grade is too late to start preparing now?

And your age is fine, don't worry about it!