The 5 processes for registering at a public university in the USA

,We will see together the processes for registering at a public university in the USA for foreign students to study in Bachelor’s, Master’s, engineering, medicine or Doctorate.

Indeed, foreign students (French, Belgian, Canadian, African) can go to study in the USA, in bachelor’s, master’s, engineering, MBA, medicine, nursing, pharmacy or doctorate in one of the best public universities in the USA.

For this, high school graduates and foreign students must follow formalities, steps and dates to enroll in an American public university.

The good news is that the process for submitting an application, gaining admission, and registering at a public university in the USA is the same for all international students.

Now you will see the formalities to follow to request and have registration in one of the public universities in the USA  :

1. Look for one or more public universities in the USA.
2. Select one or more study or specialty programs in the USA.
3. Prepare and send an application to several public universities in the USA.
4. Pass selection tests for public universities in the USA.
5. Obtain admission and registration at the US public university of your choice.

We begin.

The 5 processes for registering at a public university in the USA

The first information you should know is that the registration formalities for American public universities are the same for all foreign students.

The second information: all the stages of registration in American public universities take place online.

Depending on the requirements of each public university in the United States, the international student must use one of the following 3 platforms:

• The university’s personal platform.
• The Common site.
• The Coalition for college access site.

On the other hand, the third piece of information you need to know is that there is only one main academic year in the United States for public universities in August every year.

However, American public universities offer additional university admissions in January or February or June.

The fourth information, each foreign student must pay a registration fee when sending an application for registration to the American public university and pay the tuition fee after to finalize the admission.

The fifth information: each public university in the USA offers you a complete calendar of the entire registration process.

For the sixth information, the deadlines for registrations in public universities in the USA begin before one year.

However, other sessions may take place, depending on the strategy of the American public university, from November and January.

And, the last information: you must always consult the website of the public university in the USA for more information on the calendar and the specific formalities for registration.

In the following we will show you in general:

• The formalities to follow to register at a public university in the USA.
• Deadlines for enrolling in a public university in the USA.
• And, the documents required to apply for registration at a public university in the USA.

We begin.

1. Find one or more public universities in the USA.

The first thing to do to begin the process of enrolling in a US public university is to research the public universities available in the USA.

For this, you can explore the entire list of public universities in the United States available for international students.

2. Select one or more study programs in the USA.

The second thing to do is to select several public universities available in the USA that meet your needs.

Indeed, depending on the diploma and the specialty you want to study in the USA, you must choose or select one or more study programs in one or more American public universities that suit you.

3. Prepare and send an application for admission to several public universities in the USA.

The third thing to do is to prepare and send applications to the American public universities that you have selected.

This stage is considered the pre-registration phase for public universities in the United States.

A. The dates for sending applications for registrations at public universities in the USA.

In the following, you will see the overall deadlines for university registration or pre-registration at public universities in the USA.

However, you should check the enrollment calendar for each public US university you have selected.

For the fall academic year (end of August or beginning of September):

In general, the opening of pre-registration or sending of registration requests begins from the month of August or September N-1 (before one year).

Nevertheless, there may be two other sessions for sending registration requests which start from the month of December and January of year N.

And, in some American public universities, an extraordinary session which begins in the month of April of the year N.

For the start of the spring academic year (Beginning of January):

In general, the opening of pre-registration or the sending of registration requests to American public universities begins from November N-1 (before 3 months).

B. The means available to send the application to the American public university.

In undergraduate (license), foreign students must send their applications to public universities in the USA only online via one of the following platforms, depending on the requirement of each university:

• The American public university platform.
• The Common platform.

In masters and doctorate, foreign students must send their applications to public universities in the USA only online via the website of the American public university.

However, the US public university may ask you to pre-register or apply via:

• The Common platform.
• The Coalition for college access platform .

When sending applications for registration, the foreign student must pay a registration fee to the American public university.

C. The documents of the application for registration at the public university

In general, the documents to prepare to send an application for registration at a US public university are as follows:

• A CV and a cover letter.
• Your education diplomas and your transcripts.
• A certificate of English language level.
• Letters of recommendation from certain universities.
• A copy of the Passport.
• A photo.
• English level certificate.
• Placement tests like SAT or ACT.
• Other documents may be requested by the US public university.

4. Pass selection tests for public universities in the USA.

The fourth thing to do is to pass the selection interviews of American public universities.

Indeed, if you pass the main selection phase of American public universities, you can skip the international skills tests SAT and ACT :

• Skills tests.
• Psychological tests.
• And, written work.

Each foreign student will also be able to pass individual selection interviews with the administrations of public universities in the USA.

In addition, the means of communication will be determined by the American university.

5. Apply to the public university in the USA that you have chosen.

The fifth and last thing to do is to confirm your enrollment in the American public university you have chosen.

Don’t forget, during the process, you must begin the procedure for obtaining a study visa in the USA.

A. Complete the documents:

If you are admitted to a public university in the USA, you will receive a letter of acceptance from the public university.

Thereafter, you must complete your file with the documents required by the American public university via the university platform, the Common platform or the Coalition for college access platform.

B. Deadlines for finalizing registrations in the public university in the USA:

For the fall academic year (end of August or beginning of September):

In general (*), for the first session of registrations in Early Access or in advance to American public universities:

• The deadline for sending registration requests is the end of November N-1.
• The admission decision in the middle of December N-1.
• The foreign student must confirm his registration between the months of March and May N.
• The finalization of registrations begins between March and August in some cases.

(*) Each university can fix dates, and this, in the general interval.

For the first session of registrations in Early Access 2 at American public universities:

• The end of sending registration requests is the end of January N.
• The admission decision in the middle of February N.
• The foreign student must confirm his registration between the months of March and May N.
• The finalization of registrations begins between March and August in some cases.

For those for the first session of ordinary registrations at American public universities:

• The end of sending registration requests is the end of January N.
• The admission decision in the middle of April N.
• The foreign student must confirm his registration between the months of March and May N.
• The finalization of registrations begins between March and August in some cases.

In addition the start of the spring academic year (early January):

In general (*), for the registration session for American public universities:

• The deadline for sending registration requests is the end of September N-1.
• The admission decision in the middle of November N-1.
• Foreign students must confirm their registration between the months of November and December of year N-1.
• The finalization of registrations begins between December and January in some cases.

(*) Each university can fix dates, and this, in the general interval.

C. Pay US public university tuition.

Paying the US public university fee is the final step to finalizing your enrollment.

Therefore, find out the price of the public university in the USA.

Depending on your major, you must pay the amount of US public university tuition fees.

The conclusion

We have seen throughout this article the process, documents and formalities for registration at a public university in the USA for foreign students as well as for French, Belgian, Canadian, Africans to study for a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate via the ordinary path.

However, you should know that you can study for free in the USA in one of the American public universities via scholarships.

However, you can study abroad for free in countries other than the USA.

So, do not hesitate to contact universities for more information.