American educational institutions are selective in admission to overseas students due to the large number of applicants. Unless the choice of any university is pre-arranged, any student intending further studies in the US should approach the nearest office of the United States Education Foundation in India (USEFI) for guidance.

The USEFI will give the latest listing of select US universities in your area of specialization. You may also get to see, from the USEFI Library, catalogues of some of these universities which will give comprehensive details about the university, campus, cost of living, fees, curriculum, number of years of studies required for the given degree, library and research facilities, dormitory (hostel) facilities, etc. This will help you to choose some of the universities from this list. It is desirable that one should initially write to 10 to 15 universities for admission. Initially, you must correspond direct with the Director of Admissions of each American University you are interested in. Request for application forms must be accompanied by a brief account of your educational background and academic objectives. It is important that your application should be sent one year in advance from the time you plan to join the university.

The Director of Admissions at the college or university in the US, after reviewing the information submitted in your application, will either send you the appropriate application form for admission along with other forms and instructions, or, he will inform you why it is impractical for you to apply for the program indicated by you.

Actual process of application:
Applying to a University in the USA is a long process requiring considerable planning and research. This could entail initial expenses running between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

Following are some of the essential points for establishing a favorable student profile.
A professional approach to the admission process.
A good academic record, i.e. consistently above 55%, preferably above 60%.
Ability to read and write English fluently and understand spoken English without difficulty.
Ability to bear costs at U.S. University ranging between $10,000 and $30,000 per year for tuition and living.

Eligibility for, on completion of:
i) Std XII - HSC (10+2): First Year Undergraduate
ii) F.Y/S.Y. college: First Year Undergraduate
iii) B.A./B.Sc./B.Com. : Transfer Undergraduate/Pre-Professional Course Masters. (Masters only in Exceptional cases).
iv) B.E./B.Tech. /B.Arch./B.Pharm. : Masters

Parts I//II/Postgraduate Masters/Ph.D. First thing first before you start flying. Make a list of about 20 universities offering academics programs of your choice. Along with the top 10 universities, which are extremely selective, choose universities where there is a REALISTIC chance of your being admitted.

Brief information about courses and admission requirements of almost all the universities and colleges in the United States is given in -Peterson's 'Handbook for International Students' (Applying to colleges & Universities in United States).

Send pre-application (RAM) forms to the Admissions office of each of these Universities.

These forms can be obtained from USEFI at Rs five for a set of 10 forms. Or write directly to the University giving a brief and clear outline of the points listed in 1 above. The University will send the information and application if you appear to meet its broad requirements

Read carefully through the prospectus to access:
1.The Department's expectations Program (course) details.
2.Funds required for the course.
3.Financial assistance available for different courses.
4.Entrance tests and application fees in detail.

Select 5 to 10 Universities to which applications have to be actually sent.

Universities require your TOEFL result as well result of other tests. Ask for scores of these tests to be sent directly to the University to which you are applying.

Fill out the application forms as directed, neatly & legibly without spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Obtain letters of recommendation as required by the University. These should be generally been written by professors who can comment SPECIFIC aspects of your academic performance capability and potential or by someone who has supervised you .

Complete the financial certificate form and give thorough details - your sponsorer can be from India or abroad. At times, you may even have more than one. Remember that you cannot plan to work simultaneously as under the current U.S. law, you are not permitted to work off campus, nor can you take up campus jobs.

Both, the undergraduate and graduate student, will probably be asked to write an essay of approx. 250-500 words. The undergraduate may be assigned a specific topic. While a graduate student is usually expected to write a statement of purpose outlining his/her academic and career goals. The purpose of these essays is to enable the admission committee to assess you as an individual, hence their importance and value should not be underestimated.

Remember to complete and return an application form the college or university has sent you as quickly as possible with the inclusion of all forms and documents. You should also complete, as soon as possible, an English language test or, any other test, if required. The USEFI Student Advisers Office in India will give you information on taking these tests.

On selection the University sends the I-20 or IAP-66 certificates of eligibility as proof of admission. This form specific the program, its duration, required proficiency in English, the amount of funds required, etc.. This is needed to complete the pre-departure formalities. If you are funding yourself from India you can obtain a RBI exchange permit by showing your 1-20 or IAP-66 and original marksheets to the Exchange Control Department of the Reserve Bank of India. You can then apply for your visa.

USEFI, Mumbai conducts pre-departure orientation classes for students on various aspects that cover academic, personal and social life in the US.