Practical tips

Leave well-informed!

English

As a general rule, the standard tests requested by the universities for international students are the IELTS (International English Language Training System) and the TOEDL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The former is a face-to-face examination that seeks to evaluate all the skills of the candidate in Shakespeare’s language (written, oral, reading, listening). It is possible to pass this test in France. The latter can be taken on a desk or on a computer at a registered testing center. Do not hesitate to ask us for more information.

Budget and Employment

The cost of living in the United States can at times be rather high. Despite the attraction of the larger cities, try to focus on more modest destinations as these are in general more affordable. Although tuition costs are usually quite high, you will save on costs (housing, food, outings, etc.) by focusing on medium-sized cities or the famous college towns (small towns that revolve around a higher education institution). Your visa will not allow you to seek employment, so be sure to arrive with the necessary funds. On average, it is possible to live comfortably in the United States with 12,000-14,000€ per year (that is about $1,250-1,420 per month).

Tuition Fees

As for tuition costs, like in most Anglo-Saxon countries, students do pay tuition in the United States. The cost of tuition varies depending on the institution and the duration of studies. University education is somewhat more expensive than a College or University College education. Depending on the institution and the curriculum, an academic year can cost between 8,000€ and 25,000€ at the undergraduate level (from bac to bac+4). Do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Accommodation

It is easy to find housing in the United States. To begin with, we advise students to turn to on-campus housing or student residences, if the university offers these options. This is an excellent way to discover the country and to easily mix with the student population. Some prefer to stay with a family, which also has its advantages: three meals per day, integration via the local family, etc. Whatever your choice, we do advise that you seriously consider these three options (on-campus housing, student residences, or family housing), for your comfort and prompt integration, before rushing into a roommate arrangement.

Transport

It is rather simple to move around the United States. The various public transportation systems are generally quite good. Do inform yourself with your university and local residents as to the best option available (in some cities one must be careful when traveling on bus or subway). This is one of the reasons, among others, why most Americans prefer to move around by car.

If you wish to travel across the country from East to West or north to Canada, you can either rent a car, on your own or as a group, take the Greyhound bus lines that are very popular with Americans, or travel by train with AMTRAK (affordable but frequently delayed). Moreover, do not forget that Americans do a lot of air travel and that the sector is hypercompetitive and offers low cost travel if you book early. Some local airline companies allow you to cross the United States rather quickly, or even to make a tour to Hawaii. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Visa

Once you are admitted in a higher education institution in the United States, the university will provide you with an I-20 form. With it you can request your student visa (F-1) at the embassy. But beware, the process can be rather long, so try to start as early as possible.