Ever thought about studying in the United States? Welcome and join aboard!

The United States has the world's largest international student population, welcoming over 800,000 students per years - and the numbers keep increasing each year!!

As much scary and overwhelming that these numbers might seem, it is very exciting news because:

• One: You are NOT alone;

• Two: I am here to help you start this amazing journey of being an international student in the U.S. in 5 EASY STEPS:

1 - Get to know your options

There are over 2,000 higher education institutions (aka colleges and universities) in the United States. As long as you pay, you can apply for how many you want, but you can only choose one to go to. How to decide among over 2,000 schools, which one is the best for you? Explore. Research. Study. Communicate. As much as you can.

I would say that there are 2 main ways you can perform step number 1:

• Do it on your own - go on the university website and reach out to people  directly (Coach, Admissions Office, Dean of Students, your major of choice department, etc.). Most of the American universities' website are easy to browse on and offer a lot of information on the school, application processes, and contacts. If you have relatives or good friends that live on the United States, you can also ask them help with research and networking.

• Hiring a specialized company, or agents - if you have no idea how to start or fill out international documentations but you are willing to spend a little extra money to make your dream come true, this is the best option for you. Everywhere, there are plenty of companies and/or agents that are only on business to help you with the process of studying internationally. Reach out to many, but go with the one that you identify the most and believe you can trust. Ask your coach (if you play a sport), friends, or acquaintances that went through the same process for advice. Once you hire the company, they will assist and guide you through all parts the of the process - they will be of most help in university contact and the bureaucracy parts.

Also, to help you narrow your schools-of-choice options, make a list of all the things you are looking for in an university, such as size of campus, location, majors offered, facilities provided, etc. Just remember to keep your mind open for change. The small and not-so-famous universities would probably not be your first choice, but they are still pretty great and offer a lot more than you would imagine.

Here are some websites that will help you in getting to know your options:

• http://www.internationalstudent.com/study_usa/
• https://educationusa.state.gov/
• http://www.usnews.com/
• http://www.topuniversities.com/

2 - Know your financial resources

Studying in America is not cheap as some might think. You can finance your studies in the United States either by Athletic or Academic scholarship, but that does not mean you will have it for free - some do, some don't. Americans schools do provide a lot of financial support for students to take advantage - however there are a lot less opportunities in this area for international students. The key is to plan in advance by talking to your parents and knowing how much money are you willing to spend in your studies each year. That will help you narrow down the list of schools you should apply to. State schools are usually cheaper, but more competitive. Also, don't forget that scholarships help A LOT, and that is why there is step No. 3!

3 - Study, study, and study

There are 2 main test that international students are required to take in order to get accepted in an American university: SAT and TOEFL. The SAT is a globally recognized college admissions test, in which you have to prove your Math and English (reading and writing) skills. The TOEFL measures your ability to understand English at the university level. Your school acceptance and your academic scholarship will be based on the combinations of your performance in both tests AND your high school transcripts performance. The more you study and the better you do, the more and better schools will accept you and the more money you will be offered.

Studying is not just about preparing for the exams or knowing English and Math. Studying involves preparing for your sport as well - that if you aim to be an student-athlete. Practice, work out and play as much as you can because the life of a student-athlete is more busy than you would believe. You will most likely be required to record a video of yourself showing your technique in the sport, and also state your previous result records so you prove your good performance to your coach - he is the one that will decide on how much athletic scholarship you will receive.

4 - Applied and checked your documents? Almost there...

Once you are all set and done with your exams, videos, and applications it is time to actually set up your your mind and decide on THE school you will be attending for the next 4 (or more) years of your life. That involves a lot of paperwork and documentation being signed and mailed back and forth. 

In order to study in the United States you need to have an student visa (F-1 type). In order to get your F-1 visa approval when you do the interview, you need to have a document signed and approved from the university, which is called I-20. Besides those, you will need: a current and valid passport (in which your visa will be stamped on) and proof of financial support (bank statements, scholarship awards, etc.). Make sure you start off early so you don't get stuck behind later.

5 - Say goodbye to mom and dad because you are ready to go!

By now you're almost done with the first (and honestly less exciting - YES, it's going to get better!) part of being an international student. Make sure you spend some quality time and take a lot of pictures with your family and friends during the pre-boarding time - it will be very special for you and them! And make sure you stay tuned to the next post to see what you should and shouldn't be packing from your home country.

P.S.: Be prepared for stereotypes! Believe me, you will be very surprised (and somewhat entertained) with the amount of weird questions that you will be asked about where you are from. It can (and it will) be frustrating, but if you take it easy with your heart and mind open for some laughs, it will be fun, I promise you. Americans usually get pretty excited with international students and they are only trying to get to know you and your culture better. Besides being a great ice-breaker to meet new people and make friends!

This fun video of Oklahoma State University presents you some of the stereotype-questions you might face as an international student:

Enjoy and see you in the next post! 

Any special topics in your mind? Leave your comments below!

xx Isabela