Admissions criteria vary significantly in U.S. colleges. Factors that are considered include grade point averages, achievement on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, and letters of recommendation. Most colleges will admit only students who have a high school diploma or equivalent (including the General Educational Development Test, known as the GRE). Consult the College Navigator (see Resources) for information on specific colleges and their admissions criteria.
Most U.S. colleges have a residency requirement, meaning you must physically reside in proximity to the college to take classes on campus. Online learning is becoming more and more popular, and most colleges offer at least some element of distance learning, but few offer completely online programs.
International students who wish to attend school in the United States must receive a student visa. There are several types of visas that will allow for study, but the most common is an F-1 Visa. International students must gain admission to the college, which can then issue an I-20 document that the student uses to apply for the F-1 visa at a local consulate or embassy.
Most U.S. colleges require English language proficiency, both in reading, speaking and writing. Students whose native language is not English are often required to take the TOEFL test and submit the results with their application for admission, although many colleges offer English as a Second Language (ESL) training as a prerequisite for more advanced academic work.