#  Components of the US College Application 

 



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1. **Common Application:** [**Application Guide for First-Year Students**](https://www.commonapp.org/apply/first-year-students)
    - **This website contains information on the Common Application, the required materials for your application, and the steps to create your account.**
2. **Financial Aid: Most private and Public colleges offer students financial aid.** 
    - **You must research what financial aid each college offers to international students and the deadlines to turn in materials to get it.**
    - **For many colleges financial aid applications are done using the**[ **CSS profile**](https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/international-applicants)**.**
    - **You can find a list of the participating colleges**[ **here**](https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx)
    - [**Application Guide for International Students Completing the CSS profile**](https://www.proprofs.com/training/course/?title=completing-the-202223-css-profile-as-an-international-student_612d141eb69b9)**.**
3. [**Possible Application Requirements for International Students**](https://www.pacific.edu/blog/2024/05/29/how-to-apply-to-college-in-the-usa-for-international-students/)**:**
    - **Take your English language proficiency tests. Most universities will require an English language proficiency test like the**[ **Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)**](https://www.ets.org/toefl.html) **or**[ **International English Language Testing System exam (IELTS)**](https://ielts.org/take-a-test)**. Determine which test your schools require and figure out what their minimum score requirements are.**
    - **Take any standardized tests required by your schools. Undergraduate applicants may need to take the SAT, ACT or SAT subject tests.**
    - **Determine if you need to have your transcripts evaluated. Some international students are required to provide an evaluation of their academic records which must be derived from official transcripts. This evaluation ensures that subjects studied in another country align with those recognized by universities in the United States. There are several third-party agencies like**[ **World Education Services**](https://www.wes.org/) **and**[ **Educational Credential Evaluators**](https://www.ece.org/ECE/Credential-Evaluations) **that offer credential evaluation services.**
    - **Ask for recommendation letters. Some universities may ask you to submit letters of recommendation. These documents help round out your application and speak to your skills, academic performance and unique personal qualities. These letters are typically written by someone who has worked closely with you during your academic journey, like teachers, mentors, coaches or someone from your community.** 
        - ***“Round out”*** **definition: to bring to completion or fullness**

**4. Writing Application Essays**

- **Most American college applications require an essay or multiple essays.** 
    - **A college essay is your unique opportunity to introduce yourself to admissions committees who must comb through thousands of applications each year. It is your chance to stand out as someone worthy of a seat in that classroom.**
- **Here are**[ **12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay**](https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/12-strategies-to-writing-the-perfect-college-essay/)
- [**Free Essay Writing Workbook for High School Students**](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VgwR-HwOYgaRMaYvJb2wjxYm1rRV5K76/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108412717167627010031&rtpof=true&sd=true)
- [**Examples of College Essays with Analysis**](https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#M)
- **Essays can be an**[ **Opportunity to Explain any Hiccups on Your Transcript**](https://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/admission/blog/how-be-competitive-college-applicant/)
    - **Very few students submit a flawless transcript. That’s why Stefanie D. Niles, Vice President for Enrollment and Communications at Ohio Wesleyan University, says if you have any blemishes on your high school transcript, such as a low grade in a particular class, you’ll definitely want to take the opportunity to explain what happened and what you learned from the experience.**