How does an international student go to college in the US?
Zoe & Natalie Talk About Coming to College in the U.S.
Hi there! I’m Zoe, I was born in Latin America and I’m so happy to be studying in the U.S. now. But before I got here, when I was living in my country, there was a lot I needed to learn—especially about choosing the right college.
Same here! A lot of people think you just pick the first school you hear about, but that’s not a good idea. It’s really important to take your time, explore your options, and choose the school that fits you—your goals, your budget, and what you want to study.
Exactly! There are hundreds of colleges across the U.S., and they’re all different. Some have big campuses, others are small. Some focus on science, others on art or business. Before applying, I looked at different places, programs, and what kind of support they offer international students.
And don’t forget to check the costs! The price of school and living can change a lot depending on where the college is. I looked into scholarships, housing, and which places had jobs for students.
Once I found a few schools I liked, I checked to make sure they were certified to accept international students. Then I sent in my applications. I also had to take the TOEFL, an exam that showed my English level.
I didn’t apply from outside the U.S. like you—I actually came to the U.S. when I was a little kid. But my immigration situation was complicated. I wasn’t sure if I could even go to college. What helped me was being honest with the admissions staff. They helped me find a way to enroll.
That’s really good advice. I also had to get a student visa after getting accepted. My school gave me something called an I-20 form, and I used it to apply for the visa at the U.S. Embassy. When I traveled, I carried my passport, visa, and I-20 with me—and made copies too!
Once you’re here, you have to keep following the rules. That means staying in school full-time and going to classes in person—not just online. And if you want to work, you can only work on campus at first. After one full year, you might be able to work off-campus, but only if you get special permission.
By the way, don’t worry if your English isn’t ready for college-level classes yet. Some colleges offer ESL classes to help you improve while you start your studies.
Yes! And some schools even have courses in Spanish and other languages that you can take at the same time. So don’t feel like you have to be perfect in English to apply—there are ways to start now and build your skills as you go.
And don’t forget that some students who studied outside the US can transfer their credits to an American college. They had to get their transcripts translated into English and then reviewed by a special service that tells the college what the classes were equal to.
Yeah, that’s called international credit evaluation. The college looks at the report to decide which classes they’ll accept.
It’s a bit more work, but it can be worth it. If you already studied in another country, you might not have to retake the same classes here.
The big lesson? Keep track of everything you’ve done—classes, jobs, training—and talk to your college advisor. They’ll help you figure out what counts.
One thing I tell students back home is to also check for scholarships in their country—especially if they’re applying to graduate school. Some governments have programs to help you pay for your education in the U.S.
That’s a great tip. And remember—start early, ask lots of questions, and talk to the International Office at the school. They’re there to help.
Applying to college in the U.S. takes time, but it’s worth it. If we figured it out, you can too!
Now that you’ve learned the questions worth asking, it’s time to explore how colleges work in the U.S.
Learn about how colleges work in the U.S.!
If you’d like more information, feel free to reach out to Kean University. (Kean and NJCU signed an agreement to merge the two universities by July 2026. More information here).
Questions Worth Asking
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