Study in the USA as a Freemover | Part 2

Note: this post is the second post of a multipart article. Click this link to go to Part 1.

What about the price?

Before you start applying it is advisable to make yourself aware of all the expenses that you will need to cover during your time abroad. Therefore, things you should keep in mind are:

· Tuition fees

· Housing

· Transportation

· Groceries

· Insurance

· Telecommunication

· Course materials

· Trips

· Leisure expenses

· Flights

Depending on where you decide to go, you should plan on around $14,000 to $35,000 for your time abroad. This range is so large because there are enormous differences in the cost of living and tuition fees in the U.S. So, always keep this point in mind when choosing for your university! You can easily check the tuition fees for the university of your choice on websites such as College Contact. To help you with calculating your expected living-expenses, this article published by Studyportals gives a good overview about costs of living as a student in different areas of the U.S., while this tool (LINK here) provides valuable state-level comparisons.

The application

Once you have chosen the university that fits all your desires and needs it is time for your application! If you have decided to make use of one of the various organizations I introduced in my last post, there are only a couple of documents that you need to provide for your application.

Language Certificate

Nowadays, there is a variety of opportunities out there to prove your English-skills. Ranging from language certificates issued by your home university to professional assessments like TOEFL, IELTS or DAAD. Depending on your chosen target university there are two things you should pay attention to. First, what kind of certificates they accept (some colleges might even accept a proof that you attended English-speaking lectures at your home university) and second what score you need to achieve. Especially with regard to the latter point, there are great differences between the universities. While some might already accept B1-level English skills (e. g. San Diego State University), others may require a C1-level.

Proof of Funds

Universities in the U.S. will want to make sure that you have sufficient funds to finance your stay abroad. At the same time, you are also protecting yourself, as nothing would be worse than having to cancel your semester abroad because you ran out of savings. As I said before, the amount of funds that you need to prove mainly depends tuition fees and general living expenses. For my semester at San Diego State in Fall 2022, I had to prove funds in the amount of $17,000. However, don’t worry if you don’t have enough money in your bank account at the time of application. Other sources such as Bafög or scholarships are also accepted.

Other things you need to provide

· Your latest transcript of records in English

· Valid travel ID

Other things you may need to provide

· Letter of motivation

· Letter of recommendation

The more prestigious your university of choice, the greater the competition. Therefore, some universities expect you to include a letter of motivation (1–2 pages), a letter of recommendation or even both with your application.

*Note: this post is the second post of a multipart article. Click this link to go to Part 1 and this to Part 3.