My involvement in the educational field often has me communicating with students. I’ve been asked questions about a million things related to college admissions, campuses, college selection, accommodation, you name it. One of the recent questions that I have received on Twitter came from a student who lives in Spain. She intended to apply to a university in Boston (home to the second largest concentration of foreign students in the U.S.) and asked me about his chances to be accepted.
Given that she had limited proficiency in English, she obviously thought that she would be out of consideration even if she sent an application. Well, I’m not used to giving up so early, so I decided to help her and collect all information which has proved very useful.
Scholarship
Most of Boston Universities such as UMass, Boston College, and Boston University offer a number of different scholarship options for international students. Also, you can check out a website called Unigo, it has an impressive list of Massachusetts Scholarships for international students (they average from $500 to $20,000).
Also, don’t forget about international scholarship opportunities. There are some good offers to study in Boston and other smaller cities of Massachusetts on the Institute of International Education page. The listing of international scholarships on Scholarships for Development might be worth a look as well.
Admission Process
From the very first day of my research on Bostonian universities, I realized that there was no concrete formula for gaining admission and being accepted. In all of them, the process of admission is highly selective, and only an average of 30 percent of students actually make it. Using admission-service is a good idea for those who only have limited English proficiency to have better chances to be among those 30 percent.
The first and the most important thing that international students need to remember is that they require TOEFL examination because their native language may not be English. Even though you can always use Сollege papers you should have a required English level to write academic works.
Work
Another good option is to get a part-time job, either on or off-campus. Check out this awesome Employment Guide for International Students from Boston University (the requirements for other states are very similar). It has all rules and procedures for employment established by the institution and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
If you were unable to find an on-campus job, there are also plenty of opportunities in the city. Visit popular job hunting sites like Snagajob and Indeed to find something in your area. These sites are perfect because they have sophisticated filters that can provide excellent results for a specific city, area, job type, and experience level.
Another important thing to know: if you have decided to go for off-campus jobs, start applying no earlier than 4 weeks before you are actually able to work. The employment process may take some time, so be patient. Most employers tend to arrange in-person interviewing, so begin applying when you arrive in the U.S. Skype interviews and promises are not going to work here.
Health Insurance
There are three primary ways to get insured for international students in Boston. First, they can apply for government sponsored programs funded by your native country. Second, the insurance may come from a parent/guardian health plan offered through a U.S. employer; and third, the students may buy insurance through local agencies. In Massachusetts, they can contact MA Health Connector and fill out forms provided by the institution (here are Boston College forms).
Accommodation
There are many considerations to take into account when looking for rent in Boston and other U.S. cities. Before arrival to the U.S., all international students need to arrange temporary accommodations. Boston College and Boston University offer help in this department (like any other major educational institution in the country). However, if you want to contact landlords for yourself, be prepared for a long process because you have no credit and no history, so they might be reluctant to rent to you.
Many international students rent apartments with their friends after the first year living on campus. The cost of living alone in a rented apartment is high (up to $1,500) while renting with friends may cost around $400-$600 a month. The apartment can be found in local newspapers or using special services like At Home In Boston. The process is similar in other states.
Check out this fresh International Student Apartment Hunting Guide from Northeastern University in Boston to get started.
My Work is Done
This has been a fun research and I hope and provided answers to all major questions an international student may have about studying and living in Boston. Everything is in your hands now, apply wisely and study comfortably!
