Coming to America for Undergrad: Persie Edition

As a follow-up to Aubrey’s December 13, 2022 piece, “How did I come to the US for undergrad studies?”, this week’s post will outline my journey. Unlike Aubrey, I was not part of the United States Achievers Program (USAP), a program that provides members with expert one-on-one college application support, SAT prep and test fees, flight ticket to America coverage (in some cases), and assistance in securing scholarships to cover college room and board expenses. So how did I apply to and get into the number two college on US News’ National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings, Amherst College?

It all started with EducationUSA, a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. You can search for a US Education Advising Center (USEAC) in your country or region here to see their offerings, and the fees they might charge for membership. The one I utilized was in my hometown, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and the membership fee was $40. After paying the fee, I attended the introductory Info Session that walked me through the application process and timeline and explained how the Center would assist me at each step. Below is the basic process and what each step entailed:

1. Join the US Education Advising Center. I had already joined before the Info Session, but you can attend the Info Session before joining so you can decide if their offerings are worth the price. I had already determined this would be worth it if it worked out for me, and after receiving a scholarship worth over $240,000, I can say the return on investment was pretty darn good.

2. Book your SAT Test in Advance, then study hard to ace it. Unlike USAP members, USEAC members have to pay for their own SAT fees (as of writing, $60 registration fee plus regional fees you can review here), and if you need to attend SAT Prep classes, make sure you have the means to pay as well. I utilized the Center’s books and online resources for free to study for the SAT since I could not afford to pay for classes, but I found that those resources gave me a good foundation, and then coupled with studying hard, I got a decent SAT score in the end. Not all colleges require the SATs but most colleges that can offer good financial aid will require SATs, so getting a solid score will set you up for success. When I was applying back in 2009, we also had to write SAT Subject Tests to be more competitive for the top schools, but the subject tests have since been discontinued so you do not have to worry about them!

3. Seek 2-3 mentors who are already studying or have studied in the US in the past to help you through the process. I was lucky I had a brother already in the US, and a few friends from my high school, Kutama College, who had gone through the process, so I had a lot of mentors to choose from. This is very important as you will not receive the expert personalized assistance the USAP students get. These mentors can help by reviewing your application, personal statements, list of colleges you want to apply for, etc.

4. Start writing your Personal Statement ASAP. Having only studied Math, Physics and Chemistry for the last two years of my high school, writing compelling essays was not my strongest suit, so starting early was important to give me time to refine my essay and seek feedback. Additionally, if you are like me, you have not been preparing for the American college application process so it will be very important to give yourself time to acquaint yourself with the process and to write an excellent personal statement. This would also be a good time to engage your mentor for tips and tricks!

5. Create your CommonApp profile. You can apply to most colleges through the CommonApp so get started working on it soon so you have time to understand all the requirements and gather the necessary documents.

6. Get TOEFL and Application Fee Waivers. If your English proficiency level is high, there are ways to get the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) waived so you can skip having to take the actual test. Work with your Advising Center to find out the process for your situation. If you have financial need, also work with the Advising Center to work on an Application Fee Waiver so you do not have to pay application fees for all the colleges you apply to.

7. Select a solid college list. Identify colleges that can provide the kind of assistance you need. Your advising center may have lists, and you can certainly use any online search to get this information. Then review this with your mentor to make sure you are not missing anything.
So there you have it! This is the process I followed to apply to the U.S. At First Xperience, we understand this might be an overwhelming process. As such, we are happy to offer you one free one-on-one session to answer your questions. Feel free to reach out to us here or send us an email at [email protected] with the subject line: Free College Application Info Session and we will reach out to you to schedule a session. Looking forward to connecting with you and helping you in your college application journey!