U.S. Embassy in Syria

How to Apply

It is very important to begin the admissions process as early as possible. Syrian high school students who wish to pursue their university studies in the USA should begin the application process as early as 11th grade. Graduate students should also allow at least one year for the application process.

EducationUSA’s 5 Steps to US Study:

1. Research Your Options: 12-18 months prior to enrolling

• First, you should define your priorities and ask yourself what you want to study, and how much you can afford to spend per year.
• You will want to search for different universities and create a shortlist of potential universities. You will want to visit the school’s official websites to gather more info about deadlines, requirements, programs, etc. It is important to make sure you stay organized, so make sure you use this worksheet (PDF 73 KB) to keep track of all the important info.
• Prepare for standardized tests. You will definitely need to take the TOEFL. Undergraduate students will likely need the SAT, and graduate students will probably need the GRE or GMAT.
• Research financial aid: Scholarships usually need to come directly from the universities, as external scholarships are limited. Make sure to research scholarship opportunities for international students at each university. You should also check out IIE’s Syria consortium for Higher Education in Crisis as there might be additional universities available through the consortium that you could add to your list.
• Make a short-list of your top choices (6-8 universities).

2. Complete the Applications (6-12 months prior). Universities have different deadlines, so it is important for you to be aware of these. The deadlines for most undergraduate programs that begin in the fall will be in January. Each school has different requirements as well, but generally, most require the following:

• Online application
• Essay: An essay will be required for most universities Follow the instructions carefully.  U.S. universities take these essays very seriously because they provide personal information about students that may not come through in the regular application.  You should answer the questions directly, give specific examples and help the university get to know you as a individual.
• Transcripts: For undergraduate applications, original or certified copies or your high school transcripts along with your baccalaureate exam will be required. For transfer or graduate students, original or certified copies of your university transcripts are required. If they are in Arabic, you will also need to submit translated copies certified by a translator.
• Letters of Recommendation: 1-2 letters of recommendation will be required from teachers or professors.
• Standardized Test scores: You will need to have your test scores sent directly by the testing agency to the universities you are applying to.
• Application fee: Most universities require an application fee that is paid online via a U.S. based credit card. If you are unable to make such a payment, feel free to the contact the EducationUSA Advisor to see if there might be a fee waiver.

3. Finance Your Studies

• Scholarship applications: Some universities have separate applications for scholarships, and others will automatically consider you for one. Make sure you follow the directions and deadlines closely!
• Explore sources of funding: Speak to family members and friends who might be willing to sponsor you.

4. Apply for the student visa: Once you have received the I-20 form and an official letter of admission from a university, you are ready to apply for the student visa. Syrian students may apply for non-immigrant visas at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and the same standards under U.S. law and policy apply at each Embassy and Consulate where one applies for a visa. Please follow the appropriate link for more information about applying for a nonimmigrant visa in Amman or Beirut. For more information about student visas, please visit: www.travel.state.gov

Accreditation

Beware!  Not all colleges, universities and distance learning programs advertised in newspapers or provided in online databases are accredited by one of the regional or national accrediting associations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  When planning to study in the United States, it is important to know whether an institution or program is accredited. The United States does not have a central government office that approves educational institutions. Instead, it relies on a system of voluntary accreditation carried out by nongovernmental accrediting bodies to ensure that schools meet quality standards.

When researching colleges and universities in the United States, you should always verify accreditation. If you are unfamiliar with an American college, university or distance learning program, go the U.S. Department of Education and follow the instructions below.

1. Go to the homepage U.S. Department of Education: Database of Accredited Post-secondary Institutions and Programs website and click to the right of the first paragraph, on ‘Get data for one accredited institution’
   • Enter the name of the institution and the state and then click ‘search’. Be sure to spell the university name correctly.
2. If the university is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, it will be listed on this page. Click on the university to find details of its accreditation status.

If you are not able to check the accreditation status of a U.S. university or have questions, send an email to: educationusa.syria@gmail.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements for admission?

Individual institutions set their own admission requirements and application procedures.  Check college/university websites and/or printed application materials for details. You may be required to submit the following items before universities evaluate your application:

• A completed application form
• An application fee
• Official copy or certified copies of your academic transcripts stamped by the university or school. If the transcript is not in English, then it needs to be translated by a certified translator. You would need to submit both Arabic and English copies
• An application essay
• Two or three letters of recommendation.
• Certification of finances: financial documents proving you have adequate funds, or a scholarship, to study in the U.S.
• Official standardized test scores sent directly to the university from the testing company (TOEFL/SAT/GMAT/GRE, etc.)

What is a community college?

Community colleges provide two-year associate’s degree programs as well as technical and vocational programs. They can be public or private institutions and are sometimes called junior colleges or two-year colleges. Tuition costs are often lower at two-year than at four-year institutions, and many have articulation/twining agreements to allow students in transfer programs to move easily into the third year of a bachelor’s degree at a university. A growing number of international students choose to study at community colleges.

Are “colleges” and “institutes” in the U.S. as good as “universities”?

Degree-granting institutions, accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-approved accrediting organization, can be referred to by any of these terms. Colleges and institutes are not inferior to universities.  As a general rule, colleges tend to be smaller than universities and usually only offer undergraduate degrees, while universities offer graduate degrees.  Institutes often specialize in certain fields e.g. engineering, art, etc.

What are the deadlines to apply for admission?

Each institution/program has a different deadline. Deadlines can range anywhere from 3 to 9 months before classes start. In general, to apply to an undergraduate program of study, you should submit your application and materials by January 1st before the fall term of enrollment. Graduate deadlines will depend upon the program and department. Please note that it will take some time for materials to reach the USA, so you should send supplemental materials at least 2 weeks before the deadlines.

How much does it cost to study in the USA?

The cost of study in the United States varies widely among universities and the cost of living from one location to the next.  Comprehensive costs can range from US$15,000 per year to over US$50,000 per year. The figures listed below are designed to provide some indication of how much students can expect to pay for 12 months of study in the U.S.

Finances per Year

Tuition                         $3,000-$35,000
Room-board                $10,000-$15,000
Books-supplies           $400-1,000
Health Insurance        $500-$1,000
Personal Expenses     $1,200-$3,000
Travel to USA              $1,200
Total                           $15,000-$55,000

I need a scholarship, how can I apply?

Scholarships are limited, which means that they are very competitive and are awarded to the students with the highest grades, strongest standardized test scores, strongest essays, recommendation letters, extra curricular activities, and work experience. There are very few scholarships available from external organizations, so scholarships must typically come from universities themselves. The total cost of attendance per year (tuition+ housing, living costs, health insurance, books, and travel) ranges from $25,000- $50,000 per year. Living costs alone can range from $10,000-$15,000 per year. It is very rare to find full scholarships that cover everything. Partial scholarships are more common. On the graduate level, it might be possible to find an assistantship depending on the university department and field of study.

Some universities are offering scholarships specifically for Syrian students. These universities are members of the IIE Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis. Although the cycle for this fall 2014 semester is currently closed, it will re-open in the future. Students should check the online portal for updates at: www.iie.org/syriascholarships

I am currently enrolled in medical/dental/pharmacy school and would like to transfer my studies in the USA. Can I transfer?

In the USA, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and law school are all professional degrees that are NOT offered on the undergraduate level. Because of this difference in educational systems, it is not possible to transfer into medical, dental, pharmacy or law school. It might be possible to transfer to an undergraduate program, and complete a different major in another (similar) field. It is not likely that many credits would carry over, and this is something that would need to be discussed with the individual universities. Please note that there are no scholarship opportunities available for medical, dental, or pharmacy school for international students.

I already started university in Syria; how many classes will transfer? Will I have to start all over again?

After you apply, and if you are admitted, then each university will determine how many credits if any will transfer over by carefully looking at your transcripts. Sometimes, institutions might require you to get your transcripts evaluated by an outside agency. Providing the universities with a syllabus or course descriptions in addition to your transcripts could also be helpful.

All of the universities require the TOEFL or IELTS. However, I am unable to take it because of the crisis in Syria. Will the university waive this requirement?

The purpose of these tests is for the university to be able to evaluate your English language proficiency before admitting you. Universities need to make sure that your English is good enough in order for you to succeed in a U.S. classroom.

For Syrian students currently residing outside of Syria: These exams are available year-round in countries outside of Syria. You should register to take the next available TOEFL or IELTS exam in the country where you are currently residing. You can find information about test dates and registration info at: www.toefl.org or www.ielts.org

For Syrian students currently in Syria: The TOEFL PBT is offered in the ALTC in Damascus several times per year. To register for this exam, please contact the

ALTC at: 333-7936. Only the PBT test is available in Syria and universities in the USA will accept it.

I already started my studies in university in Syria, but I don’t mind starting over. Can I apply as a freshman?

If you completed any post-secondary work on the university level, you should apply as a transfer student.

I am unable to obtain original transcripts from the university, what should I do?

Some universities may initially accept scanned copies of your transcripts. However, an original or certified copy of your transcript will most probably be required from universities in order to make an official admissions decision and send you the appropriate forms for a visa. You will need at least scanned copies of your documents. You should work on obtaining these documents right away as this can take some time.

How do I apply for the visa since the US Embassy in Damascus has suspended operations?

In order to apply for the student visa, you must first have received an official admission letter from the university as well as the official I-20 form. Students living outside of Syria can apply in the US Embassy or consulate where they are currently residing. Students inside Syria can apply at the U.S. Embassies in Lebanon or Jordan. If you have received your I-20 form, and need guidance on the U.S. student visa application process, feel free to contact the EducationUSA Advisor for Syria at: educationusa.syria@gmail.com