This document provides information to help students research their options for studying in the United States. It outlines the 5 main steps to study in the US: 1) research options, 2) finance studies, 3) complete applications, 4) apply for a student visa, and 5) prepare for departure. The document then gives tips for choosing a career, such as considering motivations, values, interests, abilities and work style. It discusses various degree options in the US including bachelor's, master's, PhD and professional degrees. The document also provides information about majors, minors, concentrations, and gives examples of less common fields of study. It highlights resources for research and advises taking the application process seriously.

2. EducationUSA can help you every step along the way.
5 Steps to U.S. Study
1.Research Your Options
2.Finance Your Studies
3.Complete Your Application
4.Apply for Your Student Visa
5.Prepare for Your Departure

3. Let’s Begin

4. Find Your Purpose!

5. What Should You Consider
When
Choosing a Career?

6. Motivations
Realities
Values
Natural
InterestsAbilities
Work Style
Personality
Academic patterns

7. Forge your own path.
How do I decide my career?
Begin looking into possible careers early
• Choose based on your motivations, values, passions
abilities, aptitude and goals - not someone else’s.
• Take part in volunteer opportunities, internships, part-time
jobs, and free courses.
• Observe or mentee under someone you admire.
• Go through the resources available at EducationUSA.
• Understand what the day-to-day work involves; and look
deeper than the surface level glamour.

8. Forge your own path.
How do I decide my career?
• Median Pay
• Requirements (education, training, certification)
• Projected number of jobs and job market (Jobzella, Bayt,
Wuzzuf)
• Growth Rate within chosen field
• Needs Assessment of Your Country or Community
• Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov/oco/

9. Aptitude Tests

10. Career
Professional
and Personal
Development
Work and
Volunteer
Experience
Degrees
Attained
and
Licensing
What goes into building a career?

11. How Have You Limited Your Choices in
the Past?
How have you made educational
and career choices?
What are the messages you have been
told about age, gender, other factors?

12. Your choice of majors and concentrations are endless.
Study Outside the Box in the U.S.
Some majors you may not be familiar with
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Women and Gender Studies
• Urban Planning
• Linguistics
• Middle East Studies
• Public Administration
• Design-Your-Own Major

13. Gain your degree from a U.S. institution.
Degree Options in the U.S.
UNDERGRADUATE
•Bachelor: 4-year college or university
•Bachelor: 2+2 Plan (attend community college first)
•Bachelor: Transfer into a U.S. college from Egypt
•Associates (2 year degree which could also be professional
development for an international graduate): nursing, radiology,
auto, tourism, air traffic control, hospitality, culinary, etc.
GRADUATE
•Masters
•PhD
•Professional – medical, dental, pharmacy, law, business

14. What is a major/minor or concentration?
• Field of study in which a student specializes.
Majors/minors are for undergraduates.
Concentrations are for graduates, for example
Masters in Arts Management with a concentration
in Music Business.
• Some majors and concentrations lead more
directly to specific careers than others, for
example Computer Science versus History.
• Elective courses help tailor general programs.
• Professional Tracks are more specified, regulated,
and less flexible. Many are terminal degrees,
MBA, DMD, PharmD, JD, etc.

15. Liberal Arts Curriculum
• A well-rounded undergraduate education that develops skills
in speaking, writing, and reasoning.
• Students gain a broad foundation in many areas of study,
including mathematics, science, history, literature, arts,
humanities, and more.

16. Choosing a major or concentration is NOT the
same as choosing a career
• An engineering major can become a
teacher; an education major can
become a journalist.
• Seek to gain transferable skills.
• Sometimes a career change will
require extra study, but many times
it will not.
• In the U.S., professional fields are
not offered for undergraduates.

17. Not All Programs With the Same Name
Are the Same (No National Curriculum)
• Academic Major Requirements
• Department Requirements
• General Education Requirements
Examples:
http://www.utdallas.edu/epps/degree_plans/ug/2014%20PSCIBA.pdf
http://www.polisci.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/u167/psCheckSheet%20(1).pdf

18. All Students on F-1 Visas Are Also Eligible for
Internships with U.S. Companies
• CPT (Curricular Practical Training) – required by your program
• OPT (Optional Practical Training) – you find yourself
• OPT/CPT must be related to your studies, with approval from the
International Student Office at the university.
• 12 months total, during and/or after your degree study
• 17 month extension available for anyone studying STEM (science,
technology, engineering or mathematics)

19. Every little piece counts. And every university is different.
The “Application Package” for the U.S.
• Application Form – Your answers to questions and lists.
• Application Fee
• Statement of Purpose and other Essays
• Recommendation Letters
• Official Academic Records/Transcripts
• TOEFL iBT Results (or IELTS)
• Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT, GRE, GMAT)
• Writing Samples, Research Papers, Portfolio
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Financial Aid Form and Documents as Proof
• Interview

20. Brand New Website!
Educationusa.state.gov

21. Take your research seriously. You have many free tools to help.
Search Tools and Resources
Global network of centers and thorough
website/app.
EDUCATIONUSA
AMIDEAST
Information on testing, test prep, and fields of
study.
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Unofficial rankings for graduate programs in the
United States.
PETERSONS
Fantastic tools and resources for graduate study,
incl. GRE.
CHEA
Database of accredited American education
institutions.
NACES
Information on credential evaluation.
NUMBEO, FOREIGN CREDITS,
ETC.
Cost of Living comparison, GPA calculator, and more.

22. Our Slideshare Account
EducationUSAEgypt

23. Our Facebook Community
EducationUSA Egypt

24. www.youtube.com/EducationUSA
Thank you and Good Luck!
EducationUSACairo@amideast.org
EducationUSA-Alexandria@amideast.org
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25. Q&A
Ask your questions about
GRE or GMAT exams.