Post-Admission Preparations

Updated: March 2001

Now that you have got the admissions from one or more universities and the long wait seems to be over, what are the next steps?

1. Determine which of the offers you will accept. 

If you have admission form 1 university only, then this is a none-issue. However, you may be surprised by the number of admissions you may get; some with financial aid package some with out. So which one do you accept and which ones do you decline? 

Our rule-of-thumb advice is to think in terms of your long-term interests. If Purdue offers you admission for MS program with no aid and an un-ranked small college offers you a complete tuition waiver with TA (teaching assistantship), we think you should probably take Purdue's offer. Your long-term interests are better served by going to a highly ranked school. If the rank between the programs is not that different, then accept the offer from the program that offered you some kind of financial package.

2. Campus visit

If you live within a reasonable distance from the university you were accepted from, then it will help if you pay the campus a visit for a day or two. Look at the dormitories or rental apartments. You may also send out e-mails to faculty members and ask them if you can stop by their offices when you visit their campuses. Generally, faculty members are expected to honor your request. 

3. Visa

If you are one of the estimated 2.5-3.5 million international students traveling across continents to pursue advanced studies, then there are few requirements that you have to satisfy:

Which visa should you apply for?

Except in few cases, the vast majority of visa students apply for what is called F-1 visa. Such students receive I-20 form from the institution that offered them admission. 

Students sponsored by their employers or under scholarship from their own government or US government generally are required to apply to J1 visa. Such students receive Form IAP-66 form from the institution that offered them admission. 

J-1 visa holders are required to have a mandatory return to their country of origin and work there for 2 years before they could come back to the US on another visa.

Spouses of F1 and J1 holders are granted F2 and J2 visa categories respectively. 

What do you need to apply for F1 visa?0

- I-20 
- Admission letter
- Financial Support Affidavit including bank account statements of sponsor or self.
- Valid Passport
- 2 passport-sized photographs 
- TOEFL scores, It does not hurt to carry GRE/GMAT scores.
- Proof of Intent to Return Back [property, employer letter, bank account]. 

Of all the above, the proof of intent to return may be the most important and difficult document. The legal premises under which US consular officers work is that any visa-seeking person is ineligible to obtain a visa unless he/she proves to the officer that he/she has no intention of staying in the US. This is purely subjective and puts the pressure on the applicant to demonstrate, through proper documents, that he/she intends to return to their country after completion of study.

We feel this is an outdated and archaic law that was written long time ago and is inconsistent with the rapid globalization of education and economy. However, until it is changed, it is still the law and applicants should prepare to address it.

Which consulate office should I apply?

You should apply in your country of origin. If you can help it, never apply for F1 visa from a third-country because doing so will prejudice the visa official to thinking that you do not possess enough attachment to your country of origin and hence highly likely candidate to staying in the US. There are of course exceptions; but if you can help it, make sure you apply from your own country.

How about Dress Code?

- No need to over-dress; but look sharp and professional.

How about general Dos and Don'ts?

- Answer only what is asked. 
- Be courteous but confident.

Good Luck

4. Travel

Internal - It always helps if you arrive before school officially opens for the semester.
Inter-continental 
- Shop around for tickets. 
- Avoid breaking your trip inside the US. For example, if you are traveling to Cornell at Ithaca, New York from Beijing or New Delhi or Nairobi, Kenya, do not buy a ticket that will let you stop in New York city for 2-3 days so that you can visit a friend or relative. Such extended stop-overs inside the US will cost you a lot of money. 

5. Room and Boarding

You may start advertising or look for networking. Edulix is a good place to start. 

6. Miscellaneous 

- Carry some cash on you when you arrive in the US.
- As soon as you can, buy medical insurance. 
- Upon arrival, work on money transfer and opening bank accounts. 

Good Luck.

Sultana Akkan
Edulix Advisory Board

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