A list built for you
A balanced list of reach, match and likely universities that fits your record, budget, goals and the kind of place you want to live.
For International Scholars and their families
Your path from Shanghai, Tokyo or Dubai to a university in the United States
The William H. Douglas Foundation counsels international students through the whole American college process: choosing universities in Los Angeles, across California and in other states, building a strong application, and understanding the student visa steps that follow.
Our forms and advising sessions are currently in English. A parent or guardian signs with any student under 18.
Why should an international student work with an international counselor?
Because applying from abroad is a different process, with different documents, deadlines and risks, and a counselor who knows those differences can keep small mistakes from becoming lost years.
American admission can feel unfamiliar if you grew up with a national examination or a system where one score decides your university. U.S. colleges read a whole person: grades over several years, the difficulty of your courses, essays, activities, recommendations and, at some schools, test scores. Nobody publishes a formula, and every university sets its own rules. A family can work very hard and still spend that effort in the wrong place.
International applicants also carry a second layer of work. Transcripts may need translation or evaluation. English proficiency may need proof. Financial documents must show how study will be paid for. After admission comes the Form I-20, the SEVIS fee, the visa application and the interview. Each step depends on the one before it, so a late document can affect everything behind it.
A WHD international counselor stands beside the student and the family through that sequence. We specialize in international students within our wider college access work, and we bring the same advocate model that the Foundation uses with every scholar: one relationship, a written plan, and steady follow up. We explain what an American admissions reader is looking for, help the student find their own voice in English, and make sure the family understands each decision and each date.
The benefit continues after the acceptance letter. Choosing a college is also choosing a city, a community, a cost of living and a campus support system. Knowing how to meet advisors, how to use the international student office and how to stay within the rules of a student visa can shape a student's entire experience in the United States.
Your story, in your voice
We help you find what makes your story matter and coach your writing. We never write your essays for you, because they must be yours.
One calendar
Application dates, testing, translations and financial papers tracked in one plan, adjusted for your time zone and school year.
Family included
Parents get clear explanations of how American admission works, what things cost and where they can help.
Visa literacy
General education on the F-1 process, so you know the steps, the documents and the questions to ask. Legal questions go to a licensed attorney.
Support after arrival
With the year of follow-up, your advocate stays in touch through decisions, departure and your transition to campus life.
How does a counselor help across the educational journey in the United States?
Good counseling does not stop at one application. It follows the student through four stages.
1
Discover
We assess where you stand today: your transcript, courses, English, interests and goals, and we write the plan.
2
Apply
We organize the list, essays, recommendations, testing and documents, and we keep each deadline in view.
3
Decide and prepare
We compare offers and real costs, then walk through the I-20 and visa steps in general terms and prepare you for arrival.
4
Arrive and thrive
We help you settle in, connect with campus resources and communities, and build habits that support strong academic progress.
Applying from China, Japan, Dubai and the UAE
Every education system prepares students differently. Here is what we usually focus on for families in each place. Open a guide for the details.
Shanghai · Beijing · ShenzhenChina
Moving from a gaokao or international school pathway to a holistic American application, with careful attention to transcripts and English.
Tokyo · Osaka · KyotoJapan
Bridging the April school calendar with American fall admission, and building confidence in self-presentation and English writing.
Dubai · Abu Dhabi · SharjahDubai and the UAE
Translating British, IB, American, Indian and other curricula for U.S. admissions, for Emirati families and for residents of many nationalities.
Everywhere elseOther countries
Wherever you are applying from, we can help. Choose your country on our contact form and tell us about your school system and goals.
Where can international students study in Los Angeles and California?
Los Angeles and California offer public universities, private research universities, liberal arts colleges and community colleges. Requirements below reflect each university's published guidance when we checked in November 2026, and they can change, so always confirm on the official admissions site.
University of Southern California (USC)
A private research university in Los Angeles that accepts the Common Application. USC describes itself as test optional for the SAT and ACT, and it publishes English proficiency requirements for international applicants. Its top applicants often score well above the minimums.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
A public university that uses the University of California application rather than the Common Application. UCLA does not consider SAT or ACT scores, and it asks some international applicants for proof of English proficiency based on their schooling.
Other California options
Other UC campuses, the California State University system, private colleges and community colleges with transfer pathways can all be strong choices. We look beyond famous names to the place where you can do your best work.
Do you only work with California universities?
No. We are rooted in California, and we also work with students applying to universities in multiple states. The right campus for you might be on the East Coast, in the Midwest, in Texas or somewhere you have not yet considered.
Harvard, for example, is in Cambridge, Massachusetts rather than California, and many families ask about it alongside USC and UCLA. Harvard uses its own requirements, including standardized testing rules, which we check with you for the year you apply. WHD is an independent nonprofit. We are not affiliated with any university named on this page, and nobody can honestly promise admission to any of them.
Will I find my community?
Los Angeles and other American cities are home to long established Chinese, Japanese and Middle Eastern communities, along with campus cultural groups and places of worship. Your counselor will help you think about community and belonging when you compare colleges, because feeling at home helps you study well.
How do international students apply to U.S. universities, step by step?
Start 18 to 24 months before you hope to begin, if you can. Starting later is still possible, but you will have less room for mistakes. Here is the usual order.
Understand your starting point
Gather your transcripts, course descriptions, activity list and any test results. The Academic Success Assessment turns these into a written plan.
Build a balanced list
Choose reach, match and likely universities. Compare location, size, programs, support for international students and total cost, not only rankings.
Plan your English and testing
Check each university's rules. Some ask for TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. Some require the SAT or ACT, some consider it optional, and some do not use it at all. Book test dates early and leave time for a retake.
Prepare records and translations
Ask your school how it sends transcripts. Find out whether each university needs an English translation or a credential evaluation, and use only the services it accepts.
Write your essays
Most applications include a personal statement and shorter questions for each university. Start months ahead. Your advocate coaches you, and the writing stays your own.
Request recommendations
Ask teachers who know you well, and give them time and clear instructions. Explain what a U.S. letter normally contains if they have not written one before.
Submit before each deadline
Use the right platform for each school, such as the Common Application or the University of California application. Watch the time zone: a U.S. deadline is often a different day for you.
Organize your finances
U.S. federal student aid is generally not available to international students, and institutional aid varies widely. Look at each university's published policy, and prepare the bank or sponsor documents that a Form I-20 usually requires.
Compare offers and commit
Compare net cost, program fit and support. Then accept one offer and follow that university's instructions for the Form I-20 and next steps.
What should international students know about the F-1 student visa?
Most full time degree students use the F-1 visa. The information below is general education to help you understand the order of events, checked against U.S. government pages in November 2026. Immigration rules change, so rely on the official sites and, for your own case, a licensed attorney.
Important change: duration of status has ended for new admissions
Under a Department of Homeland Security final rule published on July 17, 2026, with a listed effective date of September 15, 2026, F-1 students are admitted for a fixed period tied to their program dates, up to four years, instead of open ended duration of status. Students who need more time may have to apply for an extension. Older websites may still describe the former rule, so check Study in the States and ask your international student office how it applies to you.
1. Admission and Form I-20
You apply to a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. After admission, and after showing your funding, the school issues a Form I-20 with your SEVIS ID.
2. SEVIS I-901 fee
You pay this fee to the government after receiving your I-20 and before your interview. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement listed it at $350 for F-1 applicants when we checked. Confirm the current amount at the official site.
3. Form DS-160 and visa fee
You complete the online visa application and keep your confirmation page, then pay the visa fees that apply to you. Fees change, so use the current figures published by the State Department.
4. Visa interview
You schedule through a U.S. embassy or consulate, usually in your country of residence. Bring your I-20, SEVIS receipt and the documents the post requests. Be ready to explain your study plan and your funding in your own words.
5. Arrival
You present your documents at the port of entry. New students generally may not enter more than 30 days before the program start date on their I-20.
6. Staying in status
Keep a full course load, keep your documents current, and never work without authorization. Your school's designated school official is your first contact for status questions.
This is education, not legal advice
The WHD Foundation is not a law firm, and our counselors are not attorneys. Nothing on this page or in our advising is legal advice, and we cannot represent you before any government agency, prepare legal filings or predict a visa decision. For a question about your own immigration situation, we will refer you to a qualified immigration attorney, who works independently and charges separately.
Official sources
What does international student counseling cost?
Two services, priced in U.S. dollars and labeled International Student on your account, your forms and your receipt. You use the same forms and scholar profile as every WHD family.
International Student
International Student Academic Success Assessment
$1,500 USD
One time
A full review of where you stand, leading to a written pathway to the universities you want. Paying it opens your scholar account.
- Review of your intake form and academic records
- An advisory meeting with your family
- A written plan with target universities and next steps
- Your secure WHD scholar account
International Student
International Student Year of Follow-up
$5,000 USD
For one year of counseling
Your advocate follows you for the year, working through the plan from your assessment. It is offered only after your assessment is delivered, so you decide with the plan in front of you.
- Scheduled sessions with your advocate
- University list, essay coaching and deadline tracking
- General F-1 visa education, with attorney referrals when needed
- Preparation for arrival and campus life
Offered from your dashboard after your assessment is delivered.
These are fees for services, not charitable donations, and they do not guarantee admission, scholarships or a visa. University fees, test fees, government fees and attorney fees are separate. Your bank may apply its own exchange rate or international card fee.
How do you get started with WHD?
1
Complete the form
Fill in the International Student intake form. Save it and return any time.
2
Pay the assessment
Pay the $1,500 USD invoice online. Your scholar account opens when it clears.
3
Complete the assessment
Answer the questions online, then meet with a WHD Advocate.
4
Receive your plan
Read your written plan and talk through the results with your advocate.
5
Continue for the year
If it is right for you, begin the $5,000 USD year of follow-up.
International student questions, answered
Does the WHD Foundation counsel international students?
Yes. WHD specializes in international students as part of its college access work, and advises students and families from China, Japan, Dubai, the wider UAE and elsewhere.
How much does international student counseling cost?
The International Student Academic Success Assessment is $1,500 USD, one time. The International Student Year of Follow-up is $5,000 USD and is offered after the assessment is delivered.
Can WHD get me into USC, UCLA or Harvard?
No one can honestly promise that. Those universities make their own decisions. WHD helps you build the strongest honest application you can and a balanced list of schools, and it has no affiliation with those universities.
Is Harvard in California?
No. Harvard is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. WHD works with students applying in multiple states, so a list can include California schools and universities elsewhere.
Do you only help with colleges in California?
No. We are based in California and we also work with students applying to universities in multiple states.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
It depends on the university. UCLA does not consider those scores, USC describes itself as test optional, and other schools may require them. Check each school's current policy for your application year.
Do I need TOEFL or IELTS?
Often, but not always. Many universities require proof of English for students whose schooling was not in English, and some accept other tests or have exceptions. Your counselor checks each school on your list.
When should I start?
Ideally 18 to 24 months before you want to begin at university. Students who start later can still apply, with less time for testing and essays.
What is a Form I-20?
A Form I-20 is the document a certified U.S. school issues after you are admitted and show your funding. You use it to pay the SEVIS fee, apply for an F-1 visa and enter the United States.
Can WHD give me legal advice on my visa?
No. We provide general education only. For advice about your own case, we refer you to a licensed immigration attorney.
Has the duration of status rule changed?
Yes. A Department of Homeland Security final rule published in July 2026 moves new F-1 admissions to a fixed period of up to four years, with a process to request an extension. Confirm how it applies to you with your school and official sources.
Can international students get financial aid?
U.S. federal student aid is generally not available to international students. Some universities and private funders do offer aid or scholarships, and their rules vary. You can also search our free scholarship listings, but check each one's citizenship rules.
Can my parents join the advising sessions?
Yes, and we encourage it. A parent or guardian must sign for any student under 18. We schedule sessions with your time zone in mind.
Are your sessions available in my language?
This page is available in six languages, but our forms and advising sessions are currently in English. Tell us your language needs on the intake form so we can discuss them with you.
Begin your American education with a guide beside you
Tell us about the student, the goals and the timeline. A WHD Advocate will take it from there.