Educational Advising
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What factors should I consider when choosing a school?
Base your decision on attending a school by its size, location, services, financial aid, housing, environment, safety, retention rate, alumni success, work study availability, among other considerations.
2. How can I obtain financial aid to pay for school?
Funding your university education consists of compiling effective applications; assessing personal funds; identifying sources of financial assistance; and reducing your educational costs. The best place to begin researching both schools and financial aid is http://educationusa.state.gov. Click on the “Financial Assistance” link for a great list of financial aid resources, like http://iefa.org and www.fastweb.com. In addition, graduate students should contact the school that they wish to attend and the department of their major for information about positions on campus, such as a research assistantship, teaching assistantship, etc.
3. How do I register for a standardized test, such as the TOEFL?
You can register for some standardized tests online, like the TOEFL (www.ets.org/toefl), the GRE (www.ets.org/gre), and the GMAT (www.mba.com). You cannot register for the SAT online in Cameroon; you must use the paper registration found in the test bulletin and submit it with payment made to "The College Board" by a check drawn on a U.S. bank, U.S. Postal Service money order, international money order, UNESCO coupon, or a bank draft. No credit cards are accepted. Note: The paper registration must be RECEIVED by the international registration deadlines.
You can pick up a test bulletins for all of these standardized tests from the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy, American Language Center in Yaoundé, or the American Language Center Douala (Akwa). or you can download and print a form from the inter
4. Where can I take the TOEFL, GRE and SAT in Yaoundé?
The TOEFL, GRE and SAT are offered at the American Language Center located on Bastos Road in Yaoundé (It has moved to a new location near Laboratoire Meka.)
5. Where can I take the GMAT?
The GMAT is offered at Microlog located at ancien Sonel de Mimboman Yaoundé.
6. I obtained my degree at a university in Cameroon, but I want to study in the United States. Do I need to start over again and get my degree in the U.S.?
You could, but it is not necessary. Instead, you could transfer your credits earned at university in Cameroon to a 4-year university in the United States. Credits may be applied toward completion of a 4-year degree in the United States. The U.S. university will determine whether your transferred credits will be accepted and/or if you need to take additional classes that will allow you to graduate.
7. How many times can I apply for a visa?
You may apply for a visa as many times as you wish. However, unless there has been a significant change in your circumstances it is unlikely that a second application will result in visa issuance.
8. Why did the Consular section deny my visa request?
Under U.S. immigration law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas are presumed to be intending immigrants. In order to be approved for a visa, applicants must satisfy the interviewing officer that they are entitled to the type of visa for which they are applying and that they will depart the United States at the end of their authorized temporary stay. This means that before a visa can be issued, applicants must demonstrate strong social, economic and/or family ties outside the United States.