Placement Procedures — Academic Studies

There are several steps to preparing an application for academic studies in the United States and CBIE encourages students to begin to consider the options soon after arrival. Some programs are offered at many universities across the United States, while other programs have limited enrolment. Admission can be competitive, so it is important that applications are submitted early.

• During your first year of an Intensive English Language Program, you will work closely with your CBIE Academic Manager to select potential universities based on your assigned major, location, length of program, and your examination qualifying scores (TOEFL/IELTS and GRE/GMAT).
• It is suggested that you take the TOEFL and GRE early – this will increase your chances of gaining conditional/full admission. CBIE recommends that you take the TOEFL test within the first 2-3 months of your arrival to obtain a baseline score from which you will improve over the upcoming months.

• In consultation with your CBIE Academic Manager, consider taking a GRE preparation course to help improve your score. For information on the GRE, including recent changes to the test, visit: http://www.ets.org/gre.
• Master’s of Business Administration programs require the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) (http://www.mba.com/mba).
• As an international student, you will also need to provide results from a recognized English language test, such as the TOEFL or IELTS. Before starting the application process, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Test registration information is found on the TOEFL website (www.toefl.org). Although TOEFL requirements will vary at each school, as a general rule you should aim for a minimum score of 79-80 on the Internet Based Test, or a score of 6.5 – 7.0 on the IELTS (www.ielts.org).
• To improve your chance of academic admission apply to at least five different universities of various rankings, keeping in mind that your CBIE Academic Manager is available to assist you through the application process. Please share your Libyan transcripts/diplomas with your Academic Manager, and be sure to mention any specific criteria you are looking for, such as a particular area of research, a certain region of the country, etc. You can utilize resources such as the US News & World Report: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools, http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-universities-rankings.
• The application process will vary at each university. In general, an application will consist of a form, essay/personal statement, recommendation letters, undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts and diplomas (official, translated documents are required), and entrance examination scores. For admission to a graduate program in the United States, you must have a four year bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Please remember that your scholarship covers reimbursement for five (5) test fees (any combination of TOEFL, IELTS, and GRE/GMAT), as well as reimbursement for five (5) application fees. The reimbursement form and instructions can be found on the CBIE website at: http://www.cbie.ca/data/libya/US1/CurrentStudents/forms.htm.
• Application deadlines depend on the university and the program to which you are applying, but typically application deadlines for fall term may be as early as February/March, and applications for spring term often must be submitted as early as September. Additionally, admission to a graduate program is competitive, leading some institutions to accept students only once a year in the fall.

It should be noted that CBIE will communicate with students on a regular basis throughout the placement process. We look forward to working with you towards your goal of acceptance at one of the United States' finest universities.