Documents required for filling Applications for Universities in the USA

The USA continues to be a top destination of choice for study abroad aspirants. It is more so in the cases of Indian students. With nearly 1 lakh students travelling every year to the country, India is the second largest contributor to international students for Universities in USA. The Universities in the USA continue to be ranked top amongst all universities in the world. No matter which field you choose, American University would feature in that list for sure. So be it bachelors, masters or even a doctorate, when the admissions open, students start with the lengthy process of applying. And in case you are planning to do the same, here is a hygiene checklist of documents you must have before you start the application process for American Universities.

1. A Valid Passport

Ideally, you should have a passport that is valid till about 6 months after your intended course completion date. For instance, if you are applying for a 2 year course, starting August of 2016, which would end by August 2018, then your passport should be valid at least till February 2019.

2. Academic Transcripts

You would need your marks/ result for all classes from class 9 and upwards. If you are still in class 12, then you would need the result of class 9, 10 and 11. If you are applying for PG courses, you would also need the mark sheets or your bachelor degree (all year scores as well as a cumulative score would be required). A student need not worry about getting the marks converted to GPAs as per the American Credit System.

3. Standardized Test Scores

While many universities might accept application in case you are still intending to write your SATs/ ACTs or GMAT/GRE for your undergraduateion or graduation studies respectively, it is always advisable to have your score ready with you before you start your application process. You might have to share the reference number of your score card with the University.

4. Proof of Funds

This is a rather important aspect of your application. While you need not provide actual proof, you would still need to fill rather detailed financial information about your family. This information is used by University for determining both your eligibility (sometimes of a scholarship) as well as the ability to afford the education. So, you need to have all the relevant information like Tax Returns, etc. handy as well as a clear understanding of how much funding you would be looking forward to.