American colleges expect you to have qualifications that would admit you to higher education in your own country. Students from the UK should have at least two A levels, and five GCSE's in academic subjects. It is usually also necessary to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which is held in Britain every year in November, December, January, May and June. More information on this is available from the Fulbright Commission's Educational Advisory Service.

Tuition fees vary widely in the USA: generally, fees in state universities range from $5,000 to $13,000, and in private universities from $8,000 to $18,000. As a foreigner you will not be able to get financial aid from the state, but the universities themselves offer scholarships. See Scholarships for Study in the USA and Canada published by Peterson's and available in the UK from Vacation Work.

Living costs also vary from state to state. They are highest in the big cities in the Northeast and in California. You should expect to meet living expenses of between $7,500 and $12,000 for an academic year, unless you live with family.

It is advisable to start thinking about which colleges you would like to apply to at least 18 months before you want to enroll. It is also essential to meet the various deadlines for fees, financial aid and other parts of the application process. There is no clearing system in the USA and a missed deadline could mean having to wait another year to enroll.

When choosing a college, take into account the location and size of the school -- do you want to be in the center of New York on a campus with 60,000 new intakes a year or with 1,000, or in rural Missippi with 1,000 students? You also need to be sure that you can meet the costs, and that the university offers exactly the subjects that you want to study.

The SATs should be taken before applying: find out the application deadlines of the colleges of your choice, then contact the Fulbright Commission for information on taking the tests. It is impossible to give all the information necessary for applying to an American college. The Fulbright Commission has an Educational Advisory Service which provides comprehensive information on all aspects of education in the United States. They have qualified advisors, organizise lectures and information sessions, and also have a comprehensive reference library with information on all aspects of the American secondary and higher education system. A useful publication is Peterson's Colleges and Universities in the USA.