Which exams you should take to study in the USA (Get Accepted to Your Dream University Part #5)

- Hey guys, welcome to my channel.

This video, I'm gonna talk about exams

that you need to take if you're going

to apply to a university.

If you're interested, continue watching.

(upbeat music)

I have created a table for you,

where on top, we have different types of programs.

We have Bachelors, we have Masters and we have PhD.

Some of you might ask, Marina, where's the MBA program?

And I would tell you that MBA is a Masters program

with concentration management.

So, the admissions criteria will be pretty much the same.

On the other side,

we have different rankings of the universities.

We have universities and colleges

that work with Pathway programs,

we have lower ranking universities that are average,

we have good universities

and we have top universities, Ivy League.

So let's look deeper into each category.

Pathway programs.

So Pathway programs are normally held at language schools.

So for example, you are an international student,

you are coming to the U.S.,

you don't want to take any exams,

you just want to brush up your language skills

and then get accepted to a college that you like.

Please note that not all of the colleges

work with Pathway programs

and if you're seeking admissions with financial aid,

if you're going through a Pathway program,

don't think about financial aid,

'cause universities and colleges

that work with Pathway programs

normally would not provide any financial aid

and on top of that, you would need to pay

for your Pathway program,

but if you have a budget,

the average Pathway program lasts 16 to 24 weeks,

you pay around 300 to 400 dollars a week

and then you don't need to take any exams.

You just go straight to university that you selected.

You might be asked to submit a personal statement,

accommodation letters, fill in the application,

but then that's it.

No TOEFL, no IELTS, no nothing.

Just go straight in universities.

They would also partner with some universities

for Masters programs like Florida International University.

For PhDs, I haven't seen a lot of Pathway programs,

but if you're interested, you can definitely find them.

I will leave a link below to our Pathway programs.

If you need more information,

you can just look and see how much it costs

and which universities they work with.

Line number two, average universities.

So, average universities would require

international student to take a language test

and that's basically it.

No other exams.

So for example, Temple University.

It has an acceptance rate of 56%,

but let's look at their minimum TOEFL requirements.

Their minimum TOEFL is 79, their minimum IELTS is 6.0

and this is basically it, this is what you need to take

to get into Temple University.

But please keep in mind that there are two different tests,

there's IELTS and TOEFL.

One tip from me, if you're looking to apply

to American universities only, I would suggest taking TOEFL

'cause not all of the American universities accept IELTS,

like some program in Harvard would not accept IELTS.

So, you're on the safer side

if you're taking TOEFL for American universities.

For British universities, take IELTS,

'cause British immigration system would not accept TOEFL

as proof of your language proficiency

when you're applying for a student visa.

So be careful here.

First, have a list of your universities

and then decide on which exams you would need to take.

So, average universities would only require a language test

for their Masters and PhD programs.

You take your language test and that's it.

You're good to go.

Now we're looking at a little higher ranking universities

that would require a standardized test.

If we're looking at Bachelors programs

in those universities, you either take SAT or ACT.

This is a standard examination that American students take

when they graduate from high school.

If you're from another country,

you would need to prepare for that exam

and take it in your country.

One thing to remember about SAT,

what is different from TOEFL and IELTS,

so SAT is held on specific days throughout the year,

like once a month.

You can only take it on those dates.

When we're talking about TOEFL or IELTS,

they would be held every single week in big cities,

so you are safe there.

The difference between SAT and ACT

is that SAT is more about critical thinking,

solving logical problems, so if you're good in maths,

I would definitely recommend SAT.

ACT is more of a strict knowledge exam.

So for example, knowing definitions of different terms,

knowing some formulas, so if you're not really good

at logical thinking, but really good

at like learning things, I would suggest ACT.

When we're talking about foreign students,

I would always say SAT 'cause in terms of language,

it's a little easier, especially again,

if you're good at maths,

but try both, see what works,

'cause major universities accept both SAT and ACT

for Bachelors programs.

For Masters programs, there are two types of exams

that people take: GRE and GMAT.

Again, GMAT is more analytical, logical,

more business related and programs that are about economics,

like MBA, Masters in Marketing, Masters in Finance,

will require you to take GMAT.

If we're talking about any other Masters degree,

like Masters in Physics, Masters in Chemistry,

Masters in Biology, they will require you to take GRE.

GRE is a little harder on English language side,

like they have really really academic terms

that you would only find in books,

but GMAT is harder in terms of like, logical stuff,

solving problems, etcetera.

For PhD, it's the same, it's either GRE or GMAT,

GMAT for economics, GRE for everything else.

And now, the hardest thing ever,

getting into an Ivy League or top-ranking university,

like for example, if we take MIT, Bachelors in MIT,

you need to take TOEFL or IELTS,

you need to take SAT and you need to take

at least two SAT Subject Tests.

So for example, for Bachelors in Mathematics,

you would need to take SAT Maths 1 and SAT Maths 2.

So basically, if you're applying

to a top university Bachelors program,

you would need to take four tests

and this is why I always tell people, like,

if you are targeting a top school,

make sure you start your preparation two years

before you apply, three years before you apply,

like, 'cause there are so many things you need

to take care of and personal statements

for top universities need to be like, super amazing,

but we're gonna talk about that later in this course.

Anyways, for top universities, Bachelors, four exams.

For Masters programs, if we take top economics programs,

Stanford MBA, Harvard MBA, Harvard Masters,

it's still just GMAT, but in some universities

with other programs, like Masters in Chemistry,

Masters in Biology, if it's really advanced,

there's also GRE Subject,

so like GRE in Chemistry, GRE in Biology.

If those Masters programs are so advanced

that they require prior knowledge,

you would need to take GRE Subject.

And last but not least, PhD, pretty much the same.

Sometimes they would require SAT Subjects,

but if we're talking about economics,

it's almost always just GMAT and that's it.

So now you know what kinds of exams you need to take.

Again, the more easy it is to get in,

like Pathway, no exams, etcetera,

the less financial aid there is.

For higher ranking universities,

it's harder to get in, but you have a lot of financial aid.

Like, Harvard, Stanford, MIT wouldn't even look

at what you have on your bank account

when making the decision about whether they admit you or not

'cause they have this rule, if you get accepted,

we're gonna help you with your finances,

we're gonna give you all means of financial aid,

so you can continue your education in our school.

That was it for me for today, guys.

If you're still working on your table,

I suggest that today, you fill in the column

with the required tests.

Oh, another very important thing

that I forgot to mention.

Like, TOEFL and IELTS, right?

For these exams, you would need

to hit the minimum the university requires.

Like, if the university says you need 79 on TOEFL

and you have 78, there's a good chance

they wouldn't even consider your application.

They would be like, ah, no, we require a 79.

So make sure you are above that minimum requirement.

For SAT, GRE, GMAT,

they wouldn't normally give you a minimum.

They would consider your application either way,

but look at the average score that students

who got admitted got last year, for example.

So, if the average GRE score is 320,

make sure you're 320 or above

or 310 like is your minimum

'cause otherwise your application would be really weak

and again, if you are applying with a hope

to get financial aid, you need to be higher than average.

Now this is it for me, guys.

Any questions, please comment down below.

This is like, so helpful when you comment.

This is so helpful when I hear your feedback

'cause, you know, it's not just me talking to the camera,

it's me teaching you.

Let me know what's your progress.

Like, have you found any universities

that provide financial aid.

If yes, comment down below.

What are those universities?

What are those programs?

Like, people are dying to hear what are those universities.

Okay, comment down below with the universities

that you found, this is your homework,

and I will see you in the next class.

Bye!