I am shooting for the schools in Louisiana (not anything especific, but my gf is going there too). I am intending for LSU or LA Tech.

1.About the essay--the purpose letter--whatelse do you all recommend to put. One more thing I do not have any work experience, so the recommendation letters from faculties are just straight forward recomm letters. What big of a deal is it?

2.And what does your chances of getting assistantship depend on?  

3. How does the assistantship appointment process work? (in experience of the ones who have gotten one)

Because at LA tech , they said they would not start looking @ application for assistantship until b4 a week to the beginning of the semester. Does it mean the first semester you will end up paying the whole tuition and fees?

4. Are there any 2-, 3- tier universities in anywhere that would be affordable to nepali students with high probability of assistantship chances? How about NM Tech??

last but not the atleast thank you so much to the originator of this valuable thread.