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Other Considerations
Beyond the Ivy League | Rankings
| Student Services | Internship
or Overseas Study Programs | Students
with Disabilities
Beyond the Ivy League
Although the Ivy League was originally a sports league for
several East Coast colleges, the term has become associated
with an exclusive, elite education. However, there are hundreds
of good schools in the United States. Do not dismiss a university
or college just because you or your family have not heard
of it before; you should consider your own needs first. Don't
confine yourself to "Ivies." Investigate all options
carefully to make sure you give yourself the best chances
to find institutions that suit your needs and interests.
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Rankings
There is no official list of the top 10, 20, 50, or even 100
universities in the United States. The U.S. government does
not rank universities. Rankings that you come across are usually
produced by journalists and are likely to be subjective. They
are generally based on a wide range of criteria that do not
necessarily include academic standards or general reputation
as a primary factor. Be particularly wary of rankings that
do not explain the criteria on which the ranking is based.
The more established rankings may give you a starting point
for your decision; however, the "best" college is
the one that is right for you based on factors such as those
suggested in this chapter.
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Student Services
U.S. universities offer students a variety of services such
as international student advisers, campus orientation programs,
counseling services, legal aid services, housing offices,
varied meal plans, health centers, tutoring facilities, English
as a Second Language programs, writing laboratories, career
counseling, and more. Prospective undergraduates can compare
facilities among universities to find services tailored to
their specific needs.
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Internship or Overseas
Study Programs
Many U.S. universities have incorporated into their curriculum
internship (voluntary or paid work placements) or overseas
study ("study abroad") programs that may be of interest
to you.
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Students With
Disabilities
If you have special needs, make sure that the university you
choose can accommodate you. Allow plenty of time to correspond
with colleges. It is advisable to begin your inquiries at
least two years before you plan to leave for the United States.
When you write for information from universities, give brief
details of your disability and request information about assistance
they offer to students like yourself. You may also want to
contact the office on campus that deals with the special needs
of students with disabilities to find out more about the services
they provide. This may be a specific office such as the Office
of Disabled Student Services or the Office of Disability Services,
or it may be housed within a general student services office
on campus.
Some colleges offer comprehensive programs for students with
learning disabilities, while others make a number of special
services available to such students. You and your family should
look at the services offered and compare them to your needs.
Find out which services are provided automatically and free
of charge, and which services need to be pre-arranged and
incur a charge. When you apply you will need to supply evidence
to support the existence of your disability. A campus visit
is recommended. If possible, try to contact a student at the
college who has a similar disability to yours so you can gain
a more personal perspective. Students with disabilities can,
with proper documentation, request special facilities or extended
time to take the SAT and ACT undergraduate admissions tests
and course examinations during the academic year.
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