How can I study in USA after SPM

Research and Choose a Program

When you consider studying in the USA after your SPM, choosing the right program is essential. Firstly, take into account what you are passionate about and your career goals. Use college websites, U.S. News & World Report rankings and student forums to discover information about their programs. What are the specific requirements in each program? Engineering schools might ask for more mathematics and science courses, whereas Art schools may focus more on the portfolios or auditions . Our research shows that competitive programs in highly sought-after fields such as computer science might accept only around 5% of international students at top universities, including MIT and Stanford. This makes preparation and early application critical factors.

Secondly, consider the practical aspects of the programs you are interested in. The tuition fees in individual universities and fields of study may vary considerably. Public universities charge international students much less than private colleges . For instance, the average tuition fee for international undergraduate students in 2018 was around $25,000-$35,000 in public universities, whereas private ones cost over $45,000 . Moreover, budget planning and applying for financial aid or scholarships is a prominent factor in tackling the financial burden of higher education.

Thirdly, look for the community and support systems that universities offer. You may want to find a larger, vibrant community of students from your country or region that makes it easier for you to transition, given that you share the same language, culture, and culinary habits.

Fourthly, reach out to students who are currently enrolled or alumni on social networks and university forums. On such occasions, you will learn from experience what the university does not feature in its program description or community life, such as the size and the nature of workload, the opportunities for practical learning in the form of internships, or opportunities for student life in general.

Meet Academic Requirements

To pursue higher education in the USA after SPM, Malaysian students need to adequately meet the academic requirements. As per the U.S. standard, most U.S. universities require high school completion equivalent to 12 years of schooling. That being said, one may need to complete A-Levels, American high school diploma, International Baccalaureate, or a recognized pre-university program in Malaysia such as the Matriculation or STPM. Choosing the right pre-university qualification may affect one’s admission chances greatly. For example, A-Levels are known for their rigor and will most likely benefit one’s application to top universities.

As for the language proficiency requirements, students will need to sit for the TOEFL or IELTS exams. The minimum score requirements may also vary, although a TOEFL score of 90/120 or an IELTS score of 6.5 is generally considered the minimum for highly competitive programs . Therefore, it is essential to start preparing for the exams in advance since they test a broad range of different abilities, from listening to writing. Furthermore, to maximize one’s chances of acceptance, standardized test scores should not be the only thing in focus. For instance, schools will consider one’s high school GPA, as well as extracurricular activities. For elite universities, the acceptance rates for competitive programs can go as low as 5-10%, and the institutions will be looking for candidates with leadership skills, commitment, and a well-rounded character. Therefore, one should also think about the Extracurricular profile and especially focus on collecting recommendation letters. It is important to choose teachers or other university staff who knows one well and can say something more than just repeating their academic achievements and courses. The letters should place some emphasis on the characteristics each recommender noticed about one’s personality and what one could bring to the university in addition to grades and test scores.

English Proficiency Test

Mastering the English proficiency test is one of the most critical steps for SPM leavers who aim to study in the USA. Most of the universities in the USA, highly demand from international students a good command of English, which can be certified by such standardized English tests as Toefel or IELTS. Toefel or IELTS is better to be opted on the basis of the following criteria: the type of the test that you are most comfortable with; the requirements of the university

Toefel, which is conducted on the internet , is more widely acceptable in the United States; the minimum cutoff for the competitive programming is from 80 to 100 out of 120. IELTS is most commonly used in English, UK, Australia, and other countries; the minimum cutoff in IELTS is from 6.5 to 7.5 out of 9 . Accordingly. it is crucial to raise the accumulative level of English reading, writing,-listening, speaking skills . Such activities as reading on a daily basis and becoming perfectly ready to discuss an academic topic in English, listening to lectures, and writing essays will help to get a better grade on the test. By the way, it is essential that many students who were preparing for this test note that taking the preparatory courses can greatly help. The reason for that is that the teachers preparing students for the test also give lessons on the strategies of solving the questions within a new time test, specifically to solve question in a limited time span, which is needed on the test itself. Another important aspect to prepare for the testing is to take it on time. In fact, there are time gaps for between individual tests, when the application process group of the time is growing fast. It is highly recommended to take the test at least a few months ahead of the application deadline to ensure that you receive the test mark at the time when you send it. Do not forget, the best marks will help to increase a chance for a scholarship as a high level of proficiency in English will highly benefit when applying for financial aid.

Standardized Tests

Standardized testing is an integral part of the process for SPM students who aspire to attend U.S. universities. The SAT and ACT tests are recognized by U.S. institutions and significantly impact college admissions. Deciding between the SAT and the ACT is based on your strengths and preferences: the SAT is more focused on reasoning and problem-solving skills, while the ACT includes a science section and is often simpler in terms of questioning style. Success in these tests requires preparation and understanding of their structure. The SAT consists of sections on Reading, Writing and Language, Math, and an optional Essay, and the ACT contains English, Math, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing section. Scoring is on a scale of 400 to 1600 for the SAT and from 1 to 36 for the ACT. Most universities have their own criteria of competitive scores, but as a rule, most universities accept a score of 1200 on the SAT or 25 on the ACT as good. However, more selective schools have required scores significantly higher than the average.

It is recommended to start preparing for these tests by taking practice exams to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. Additional practice materials can be found on the official SAT or ACT websites, and some publishers – Kaplan or The Princeton Review – offer preparation books specifically designed for these tests. Many students also opt for tutoring services, where a professional coach will work with the student to help understand their personal patterns and ways to improve their score. Registration for these tests should also be done months in advance, to secure a date and a testing location. Since many universities require you to submit the exam scores along with your application, planning ahead is essential, especially if you need to retest in order to achieve a better score. Finally, because many students do apply to several universities, an improved test score may increase not only your likelihood of college admission but also your eligibility for academic scholarships, many of which require meeting a certain SAT or ACT score.

Gather Application Materials

Gathering the correct application materials is a vital step for SPM graduates who are planning to study in the USA. It allows you to demonstrate the different aspects of your person and thereby improve your chances of being admitted to the university of your choice. Some of the necessary documents include:

transripts: you will have to upload official transcripts from your secondary school and any other post-secondary institution you have attended or are currently atteinding. The transcripts allow the university to see your academic history and determine whether you are prepared for serious studies or not. Since U.S. universities typically require your documents to be in English, you will also have to enclose a translation of your transcripts to the application materials. Although many institutions do not require the transcripts to be official, it is a good idea to ask your school to place them into an envelope and seal it with the school stamp;

standardized test scores: attach copies of your TOEFL , IELTS, SAT or ACT scores with your application. These documents are important for your admission as they serve as a reliable measure of your academic and language proficienscy;

letters of recommendation: U.S. universities require you to present three recommendations from the teachers, advisors, or mentors. They usually have to be sealed and signed. When making the request make sure that the person who is going to write the recommendation letter is familiar with you, and can provide specific examples of your personal qualities, extracurricular achievements etc.;

personal statement and essays: along with your application you will probably have to write a personal statement and additional essays. The personal statement should reflect your personality and motivation, explain your reasons for choosing this speciality, your career goals and vision of the program you are applying to. That is where you can show the university your uniqueness and potentially committe them to you. There is no particular structure that you have to follow: the main point is to tell your story in your own words. If there are any debiliating circumstances which disrupeted your studies you have to explain the reason for the gap in your education;

proof of support: this includes the financial documentation which certidies that you will be able to afford your stay in the USA. Proof of support can be certified by any of the following means: bank statements, proving you or your family has enough funds for your education, your scholarhip certificated or guarnatees. Tuition at U.S. universities can be rather high, from $20,000 to over $50,000, and you will have to make these expenses;

resume: present a resume with all your education, work and volunteer experience, achivements, papers, and other information. It should not be long, but contain only the most crucial information;

portfolio or audition tapes: some specilities, such as music, arts or architecture will require you portfolio or audition tapes. Make sure that your portfolio is the right length, and the tapes have the right quality and are howing you on your best.

Apply to Universities

The process of applying to universities in the USA is a strategic one that requires a lot of planning and attention to detail. For Malaysian students who have taken the SPM, it is important to start the application process well before the deadlines to ensure that all the necessary documents will be submitted in time. Thus, the essential steps that you need to consider include the selection of universities, understanding the application requirements, using the Common Application, keeping track of deadlines and fees, understanding the interview requirements, tracking your application, and responding to offers.

Selecting Universities

You have to start by looking for universities that offer the programs related to your career goals. You can identify these universities by examining the information available on the websites of the institutions, looking through the rankings, and reading the review of the students. Moreover, you should also identify your “ambitious”, “safe”, and average” schools, at which your chances to be admitted are rather high, medium, and low, respectively.

Understanding Application Requirements

Different universities in the USA might have different requirements, but most of them also ask for transcripts, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and proof of English. In addition to those documents, they might also require specialized forms or essays.

Using the Common Application

Many colleges in the USA use the Common Application, which is a platform that allows you to apply to multiple colleges at the same time. It collects most of your data in one place and is accompanied by step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the application form and what additional materials you need to submit.

Deadlines

You should track down the deadlines for each application, as generally, you have to apply by January 1 to start a fall semester. However, some colleges offer early action or early decision, with the deadlines as early as November 1 of the previous year. Missing the deadline means you have to wait for another year to enter the university. Similarly, other schools might not offer entrance at that time.