Peterson's Applying Successfully to Top U.S. Universities is a unique guide that assists highly ambitious Chinese students to get accepted to one of the top-ranked higher-education institutions in the United States, to both undergraduate and graduate programs of study. The book starts out with a general overview of what to expect from receiving a higher education in the United States, from earning a degree to financial aid, from campus life to the academic calendar. You will find an entire chapter dedicated to the rankings of schools and universities: who creates the rankings, how to read them, and what to do with the information provided by them. This book also offers extensive information about the language proficiency and admittance tests you may have to take and advice on how to handle the financial aspect of a U.S. education, with a list of scholarships and financial aid available. You will find valuable strategies for building a strong and successful application, with special emphasis on creating an outstanding essay or statement of purpose and securing strong letters of recommendation. The book concludes with extensive advice from admission officers and successful international students.