Transcripts of study you have completed must be sent directly by the schools or universities you have attended to the U.S. institutions. Your educational level will, to a great extent, determine which schools will accept you. To assess your level, schools look at your past grades, which schools you attended, what you studied, and your extracurricular activities. These tests are used for admissions decisions or for deciding if you qualify for merit based financial aid. Some schools require that you provide letters of recommendation from one or more people who know you well.
Recommendations usually come from teachers, guidance counselors, professors, and employers.
The recommendation forms are usually included in the application bulletin. Good recommendations may make the difference between acceptance and rejection, especially for graduate students. Most schools will include a form and instructions. If no form is included, you must explain in detail you or your sponsor's financial situation. Your sponsor could be a family member, your employer, your country, scholarship or grant-awarding organization or yourself.