Selecting a university

Feeling overwhelmed by the number of American universities? Here are some suggestions to make the selection process easier.

Create a short list

From the thousands of institutions in the US that offer programmes of study, you will need to create a short list of the universities you would like to apply to. We recommend you select about 15 universities to get more in-depth information about.

The following university search engine, provided by Hobsons' USAEducationGuides.com, is a good place to begin your search:

Your shortlist of universities should include:

1-2 schools at the top of your range - universities that you would very much like to attend, but you're not sure that your academic record and test scores meet their expectations;

2-3 competitive, but not extremely selective schools - universities where you're confident that your application will be given serious consideration;

and 1 safety school - a university that you are certain will accept you, because you more than meet their criteria

Criteria for choosing a university

Things to consider when comparing universities:

Undergraduates

• majors offered
  
• strength of programme
  
• selectivity (entrance difficulty)
  
• cost and availability of financial aid
  
• accreditation
  
• academic facilities
  
• type of institution - public or private, co-ed or single sex, etc.
  
• enrolment size
  
• campus setting and geographical location
  
• sports and campus life
  
• housing
  
• services for international students
  

Postgraduates

• be clear about what you want to study and know exactly what speciality within your field you are intested in
• look for a graduate programme that is recognised as being strong in your prospective field
• don't just research the famous institutions like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley and Princeton, as there are many other excellent schools in the US. The top universities are the most expensive and difficult to enter. Schools with good programmes in your field may not necessarily be the ones that are well known to you.
• note who is publishing research in your area of interest, and then find out where they are teaching
• seek advice from New Zealand academics in your field
• seek advice from US graduate students in your field who are studying in New Zealand
• use the internet for up-to-date information on US universities

Writing a personal statement

American universities want to get an idea of what sort of person you are, which is why they often ask you to include a personal statement in your admission application. For many students, writing the personal statement is the hardest part of the application process, but with the keen competition for admission to US universities, your personal statement often becomes a crucial element of your application package. It is your opportunity to distinguish yourself from the many other applicants with the same academic qualifications.

Make sure you tailor your written statement to the institution to which you are applying - the more specific you are, the more convincing you will be. Make sure your referees do the same for their references. References and personal statements need to demonstrate evidence of why you would be suitable for a particular graduate department.

More on selecting a university

Internet Searches	Fulbright Guides
www.collegeboard.com www.petersons.com www.usnews.com	The Peterson's Guide to Graduate Programs available at Fulbright New Zealand or your university library

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