O S E A S * E U R O P E
Click here to see a photo!

US University Admissions Policies and Procedures: Guidelines for European Students and Scholars

Minutes recorded by:

Chair: Sibelien Felix, Educational Adviser, Netherlands-American Fulbright Commission, Amsterdam.

The Chairperson introduced the panelists and their topics.
Remarks by Dr. Alice Gail Bier, Director, International Programs, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio

Alice talked about admission requirements and procedures used by her university when admitting international students for undergraduate studies.

Alice stressed the importance of U.S. admissions officers and overseas advisers working together and talked about the importance of new computer technology in regards to obtaining information and requesting application materials from U.S. universities.

She pointed out that despite tightening of economic resources, schools are looking for new ways to have international students and that the trend was toward internationalization.

She said that applications from international students were either received by the International Office or the Office of Admissions of the University.

At universities where application deadlines were flexible, it would be better to avoid rush time by sending in the application as soon as possible. She stressed that it was important to send the application and requested documents all together in one enve lope.

A complete application would most likely consist of the following:


Additional material such as a portfolio and video-tapes, when applying for admission in the field of the arts.

An interview might be required, and in the case of the international student, it could be conducted by telephone.

Regarding financial aid, Alice explained that aid might be available either in the form of need-blind aid or based on the academic quality of the student. She said that, although there were work opportunities on campus, the international student could not count on it being available since any position that an American student could fill wouldn't be given to the international student.

She also said that the student could not be sent visa immigration documents unless he/she could prove his/her ability to finance the cost of the first year of study.

After the university received an application, a file on the student could be created, and when all application materials have reached the university, everything would be reviewed in the Office to make an evaluation as to whether the applicant should be gr anted full admission status.

In the case of a pending scholarship, the student could ask to be given deferred admission status, which, if granted, could be used to notify the scholarship office.

And in the case of a student not meeting the stated TOEFL score requirement, Alice explained that an open admission university was more flexible in granting such a student admission than a university with more difficult entrance requirements.

Alice emphasized the importance of sending in a complete application since applications missing accompanying materials could not be processed.

Remarks by Zara Oganessian, Educational Adviser, American University of Armenia, Erevan, Armenia

Zara said that every day in Armenia she met with students who planned to start their studies in a month and wanted her to find them a placement at schools such as Harvard or Yale Universities. She said that she would have to tell them that, although she w ished, she did not have a magic wand, and that at pre-orientation meetings she would explain to them the lengthy step by step process of applying to American universities.

She said that to students from Armenia and many of the NIS regions, the time-table needed to complete the process of applying was close to three years, due to slow postal services.

And she stressed that if the universities' e-mail addresses were easily available, students could e-mail their requests for application materials, which would speed up the application process considerably.

She pointed out that students had problems with getting their home institutions to send certified copies of their transcripts to the universities to which they were applying. In most cases the home institutions were not at all willing to render that servi ce. She pointed out that in such cases the advising center could be contacted to verify the transcripts.

Also, students had difficulties when being interviewed by phone by admissions officers due to the harsh circumstances under which these students were living. Phone-lines were generally bad and electricity was only on for a limited period of time during ea ch day.

Again, Ms. Oganessian pointed out that the advising center could be contacted for the interviews to be scheduled there, where phone lines were better and electricity was available.

Zara said it would be helpful if universities could let the advising center know which students were being admitted so that the center could invite them to attend an orientation meeting.
At the center the students could get assistance with certain practical things such as housing deposits, and he/she would be helped in regards to the culture shock to be expected when arriving in the United States.

She also pointed out that it would be useful if the advising center could be notified when a student had completed his/her studies so that the center could invite the returning student to visit the center for advise on job opportunities.

Zara emphasized the important role of the advising center as a mediator to facilitate communication between the applying student and the admissions officers of the universities.

Remarks by Mr. Ken Stevenson, Dean of University Admissions, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York:

Ken talked about U.S admission policies and procedures used by a highly selective university when processing graduate applications.

Mr. Ken Stevenson said that at his university, a highly selective university close to New York City, students could either fax or e-mail their requests for application materials.

He said that a highly selective university was looking for serious students and emphasized that when applying for admission, it was very important that the student send in everything the university asked for. The university officials would not look at an application that was not complete.

When applying for an advanced degree in the arts, a student would be asked to send in tapes, videos, slides etc. which would not be returned to them.

He pointed out the importance of the statement of purpose part of the application. The university looked at how focused, prepared and committed the student seemed to be, as well as at achievements and extra curricular activities in the student's field.

He said that his university was more and more interested in international students, and that great effort was being made in recruiting international students. A promising student might be offered a full stipend, graduate assistantship or company-sponsored grants.

There was an international house on campus and the university was located near New York City, which in and of itself was an international community.

Regarding the University's admission policies, Mr. Stevenson explained that on the doctoral level, faculty members had a large influence on applications, whereas on the undergraduate level, faculty members would make recommendations, but would not be deci ding who was admitted.

Back to Athens Conference Minutes
Back to OSEAS-Europe Conferences
Back to OSEAS-Europe home page