I am living in jamaica can i apply for spelman college?

Question

i donot leave high school as yet, this is my last year but i want to be ahead of my game.....

Answer 1

Absolutely. You'd be an international student. If you are a resident of Jamaica, then, apply for a student visa early. Sometimes they can take awhile.  

Answer 2

Non-US citizens/International students can apply to any college in the U.S. You will not be able to receive a student visa, however, until after you have been accepted and decided which college to attend, as the state department will need to verify that you have been admitted.

However, here's the catch: if you need financial aid to attend college, not all colleges in the U.S. offer financial assistance to non-US Citizens/International students. So, I would suggest that you contact the admissions office of any U.S. college that interests you to determine the availability of financial aid early in the process if you need financial assistance.  One common misconception that international students have is that there are a lot of "full rides" available at U.S. colleges. In truth there are very, very few available, and competition for the few that exist is extremely tough. So, if you need financial assistance, plan carefully, and do your research by contacting college admissions offices directly (if you go to their websites, you will find the email addresses for the admissions office - look for the person who handles international admissions).

Most U.S. colleges also will require you to take standardized college entrance exams, either the SAT or the ACT, and it is a good idea to start planning for those now, while you still have time. They are offered in numerous locations outside of the U.S.  You can find out about the SAT at www.collegeboard.com and the ACT at www.actstudent.org

Another very useful website for international students hoping to study in the U.S. is http://www.educationusa.state.gov/ -- it offers a good overview of the admissions process and the steps necessary to get a student visa for study in the U.S.

Good luck!

Carolyn Lawrence, AdmissionsAdvice.com, the blog about college admissions