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Heading to the US to study?

A step-by-step roadmap from planning to settling in, then find your college for tips on roommates, banking, food and community.

Your roadmap

0 of 39 steps done
1

Plan and shortlist

12-18 months before you go

Decide what you want to study, where, and what it will really cost - before you spend money on applications.

2

Apply and get admitted

8-12 months before

Applications, essays and offers. Deadlines are the thing that ends dreams here - put every one in a calendar.

3

Proof of funds and your I-20

4-6 months before

The I-20 is the document everything else hangs on: your visa, the border, your bank account.

4

Get your F-1 visa

3-5 months before

Fees and rules change, so use the official US government pages for the latest - the steps below are the order things happen.

5

Before you fly

1-2 months before

Get the first night and the first week sorted before you leave, and pack the paperwork in your carry-on.

6

Arrival and your first week

The first 7 days

Land, report in, and get the basics done. Your school's international office is your best friend this week.

7

Get settled

Days 7-90

Bank, housing, phone, ID - and the status rules that keep you in good standing.

8

Build your life here

Semester 1 and beyond

The difference between surviving and enjoying it is community. Find yours in the first month.

Popular colleges

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, MD
Columbia University
New York, NY
New York University
New York, NY
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ
Boston University
Boston, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Northeastern University
Boston, MA
University of North Texas
Denton, TX
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX
University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

Colleges known for strong aid to international students

Be realistic: almost every school below is extremely selective, and only a small number of international students win a full scholarship each year. Most aid is need-based, so it depends on your family's finances. Policies change - always confirm on the school's own website.
Need-blind + full aid They admit you without looking at your ability to pay, then meet 100% of your demonstrated need. Not a free ride for everyone - your family's finances decide what you pay.
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
Brown University
Providence, RI
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA
Yale University
New Haven, CT
Meets full need If you are admitted, they meet 100% of your demonstrated need. But these schools are usually not need-blind for international students (see each school's note), so asking for aid can lower your chances of getting in.
Colby College
Waterville, ME
Denison University
Granville, OH
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
Tuition-free No tuition for any admitted student, international students included.
Berea College
Berea, KY
Full-ride merit scholarship A named scholarship that can cover the full cost - but only a handful of students win it each year.
Centre College
Danville, KY
Clark University
Worcester, MA
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
This is a community guide, not legal or immigration advice. Rules and fees change. Always confirm with your school's international student office (the DSO) and official US government websites before you act.