This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Education Report.

This week, in part seven of our Foreign Student Series, wediscuss the application process to get into an American college oruniversity.

Earlier, we explained how to begin your search by going to one ofthe American educational advising centers around the world. Wedescribed the rules for entering in the United States. And we talkedabout programs that let students get an education by computer.

But if your goal is to come to the United States to study, thenit is time to make a list of colleges or universities that interestyou. Be sure to choose more than one. Directors of foreign studentadmissions say students should apply to at least three schools.

You can request an application in the mail or, in many cases,find it online. For example, the Ohio State University providesinternational student applications on its Web site. You can answerthe questions by computer. In this case, you must use a credit cardto pay the application charge. Or you can print the forms and mailthem with payment.

Many colleges and universities have their catalog online. Or youcan request one in the mail. A catalog is the publication in which aschool tells all about its programs. Make sure also to ask for aninternational admission application.

Describe the education you already have. Explain what you want tostudy and what degree you are seeking. Tell when you want to begin.You should request application papers at least two years before youwant to begin studies.

Once you send in your applications, there is one more thing todo: wait for a decision. But there are other steps before yourapplication is complete. Next week, in part eight of our ForeignStudent Series, we discuss college admissions tests.

Internet users can find our series at voaspecialenglish dot com.The State Department Web site for international student informationis educationusa.state.gov.

And there is travel information at the Immigration and CustomsEnforcement site: ice.gov Click on the link for SEVIS, the Studentand Exchange Visitor Information System.

We said last week that SEVIS involves more than seventy thousandschools. The number is seven thousand. Our thanks to John Pluebellat Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco forcorrecting us.

If you have a general question for our series, send it tospecial@voanews.com.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by NancySteinbach. This is Gwen Outen.