
USA
Capital
Washington DC
Population
333 Million
Language
English
Currency
US Dollar

More than 1,000,000 students from around the world choose to study in the United States. China and India together accounted for 67% of the increase in international students and they now constitute nearly 45% of the total number of international students in US higher education. The growing numbers of Indian students in the US have now also begun to influence other broad trends in international enrolment. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Indian students are enrolled in graduate programs and this is contributing to a shift in the undergraduate-graduate mix in US institutions.
There are multiple reasons why one should choose US as the study destination. Few are as mentioned below.
- Worldwide recognition of U.S. degrees, where 6 of the top 10
universities of the world are in US as per the recent World University Ranking.
- Employers favor U.S. degrees, all the global companies are
hiring talent from well-known institutions of US
- Diverse range of educational courses/programs& extended
scope for research
- As per 2013 OECD data, U.S. universities spend $27,924 per
year on each student as compared to $25,744 in Britain, $18,337 in Australia,
$14,585 in New Zealand on higher education.
- Outstanding facilities, libraries, laboratories& superior
quality faculty
- Diverse student body and cultural enhancement
- Opportunity to spend additional year in the U.S. getting
valuable, relevant work experience
The education system in US very flexible, students may choose to study a specialization as per their area of interest. Each institution determines its program and admission standards. Top-notch higher education institutions in the US come in all shapes, sizes, and types. Successful alumni graduate from community colleges, liberal arts colleges, research-oriented universities, public and private institutions – not just the most elite, Ivy-League schools. Excellent programs are found across the country.
The US education system are very different from the Indian
system. Reflected in a chart, it looks like as drawn below.
Accreditation:
The U.S. uses a rigorous and complex system of monitored self-study by regional accrediting bodies to determine whether an institution is "accredited." This is the word used in the U.S. to connote "recognized" or "approved." There are few benefits listed below when an institution is accredited
- Credits are
more transferable between accredited institutions,
- Financial aid is available only from accredited institutions,
- Degrees and
diplomas from accredited institutions will be recognized not only in the US but
also internationally.
College and
University:
Public and Private Universities: The U.S. has a great variety of strong public and private universities. The oldest universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton) were and still are private. Funding comes from tuition, grants for research, and voluntary contributions. Public institutions are state-controlled and give preference to in-state students. They tend to be less expensive, but usually assess added out-of-state fees to students from other states and countries.
Whether U.S. institutions are public or private does not tell anything about their quality - excellent colleges and universities are common in both categories.
Credit System: Progress toward graduation in the U.S. is measured through the accumulation of credits, rather than in years as in many other countries. Each course/class you successfully complete is worth a certain number of credits and a determined number of credits is required for graduation.
Ability to transfer from one university to another: The credit system allows students to "take their credits" from one undergraduate program to another, or from a two-year college to a four-year college, and not have to begin over again at the beginning. However, each university determines how much credit they will grant for previous work and how much of that credit will fulfil their requirements.
Ability to change major fields of study: "Changing majors" after enrolment is a common practice among undergraduate students. Changing a major may mean more time is needed to complete the requirements of the new field before being eligible to graduate, but it does give students the opportunity to move into the program best suited to their needs and abilities.
While there are many universities that will be able to give you a degree, it is well worth your time and effort to find ones that truly match your ability, personality, budget, and goals.
TYPE OF
DEGREES
Bachelor's
degree: Most bachelor’s degree programs can be completed in four years of
full-time study. Each year, over one million bachelor’s degrees are granted at
almost 3,500 colleges and universities across the United States, in many
different fields of study. The two types of bachelor’s degrees typically
offered by these institutions are BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BS (Bachelor of
Science). Students always pick a “major” at a certain point as they are working
toward such degrees.
Master's
degrees:
Doctoral
degrees:
Professional
degrees:
Associate's Degrees: Associate's degrees mainly offered by community colleges, junior colleges, business colleges, usually of two years (60 credits). The demand for these shorter programs has increased substantially.
The U.S. academic year begins in late August or early September, and many universities will also accept applications for January admission. The following is the preferred timetable for applying to U.S. universities, beginning the year before an August entry. Though US universities have four intakes (Fall, Winter, Spring & Summer) but the major intake happens in Fall. So, it is advisable for a student to plan early and start the application process 8-10 months in advance.
- University application –each university has its own application
form.
- Application fee – these range from about US$25-$150 and are
non-refundable.
- Official transcripts – grades must be provided as original
copies from the schools/universities you have attended (otherwise provide a
certified true copy of the originals), with a translation in English.
- Statement of financial resources – proof that the student has
the financial resources to attend the institution.
- Proof of English proficiency – this condition is usually met
by the results of the IELTS/TOEFL/PTE exam with test results sent to the
college or university directly from the testing agency.
- Personal essay – this is the opportunity for the student to
express himself/herself in English (specifically personal goals, background,
etc) in a way that goes beyond the test scores and transcripts that the student
submits. Essays and personal statements MUST be written by the student, though
s/he can ask others to read the drafts and provide comments to help in
revising.
- Additional standardized test scores – undergraduate students are often asked to submit test scores from the SAT; graduate students are often asked to submit scores from the GRE; MBA candidates are usually required to take the GMAT test.
- Letters of recommendation – universities generally provide
forms to give to teachers, professors, or counsellors. Business schools,
especially, may also be interested in letters from employers focusing on the
professional skills and accomplishments of the student.
While it is expensive to study in the United States, please remember that
- The value of your U.S. degree is worth the investment
- There is no correlation between the level of tuition and the
quality of an institution
- Costs vary widely from university to university and place to place
- Planning for financing your study should be done before you
submit your applications to the university
Pay attention to deadlines for admission as well as university-sponsored scholarships.
Tuition Fee: The cost of instruction is generally charged as a single amount for the term (semester/quarter). Some universities, and many graduate programs, based their fees on the number of credits students take.
Depending upon in which university you are studying at, average tuition fees or cost ranges as mentioned below:
Private Universities: USD 15,000 - USD 30,000 approximately per year
Public
Universities:
Community
Colleges:
Hence, the average cost of studying in US varies from USD
8,000 to USD 50,000 approximately per year depending upon the course. The cost
of education in US is high for MBA and Medicine courses in comparison to
Engineering courses.
Living
Costs: Room and
board (normally ranges from $3000-$8000 per year), transportation, books, and
supplies. The living expenditure would add up to another 8,000-10,000 $ per
year, depends on the student’s lifestyle and the location.
Most
campuses need students to pay for the medical insurance to allow them to use
on-campus medical facilities for check-ups, basic testing, and prescriptions
for common illnesses (for example, head cold, fever, etc). This insurance
typically ranges from $500 to $1,000 per year.
Financial
Assistance from U.S. Colleges and Universities
Many students may also be eligible for scholarships, which must be earned, whether through academic merit, athletic talent, or civic performance. While the terms "scholarships" and "financial aid" are often used interchangeably, there is a technical difference.
A scholarship is a financial award based on merit, special talent and/or leadership qualities. Financial aid is based on financial need that must be documented. In most instances, colleges and universities only offer scholarships to outstanding students.
Only the most prestigious, competitive, and wealthy U.S. universities are able to offer significant funding for outstanding students.
Most public universities do not offer scholarships to
international students. You must submit all documents (application, test
scores, etc.) BEFORE the deadline.
Graduate
Awards
Graduate awards come directly from the departments rather than the university and they fall into three categories:
- Merit Awards - for students with exceptional academic ability
- Research Assistantships – for students who will conduct research during their stay
- Teaching Assistantships – for students who will teach
sections of undergraduate courses. For these awards, the ability to speak and
teach American students in English is essential.
Reduce Your
Educational Costs:
- Look for "best buys"; i.e., colleges and
universities that offer a quality education at a reasonable cost.
- Consider public universities
- Earn transfer credit locally and shorten your stay in the U.S.
- Study in the Midwest and/or in a rural part of the country
where the living costs are significantly lower than urban areas and the east
and west coast.
Citizens of other countries who are willing to study in the United States are required to obtain a student visa. This visa will be issued by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. To obtain a student visa, the student must demonstrate that, the student:
- Has the ability and intention to pursue a course of full-time
study. This can be demonstrated by official acceptance from the college or
university that the student wishes to attend. Visa officers will also want to
see transcripts and test scores or discuss your plans further. The student
should be prepared to tell the visa officer what s/he wants to study, where to
study, how s/he is going to finance the stay in the United States, and what the
student intends to do with the degree upon returning to the home country. The
student should be prepared to do this clearly and quickly.
- Should possess adequate funds to cover all the costs listed
by the university on the I-20 form that the university sends upon acceptance.
These costs include tuition, fees, living expenses, and incidental expenses. As
a rule, the visa officer would like to see the documentation for first year’s
expenses and documentation showing how the money will be funded for future
years.
- Has sufficiently strong social, economic, and other reasons to leave the United States upon completion of the projected program of studies. Such reasons can be shown during the visa interview
- can articulate the reason for studying at a specific institution.
Documents
Required (original)
- Original Passport
- Visa Application Form
- I-20 issued by the University
- Non-immigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation
- SEVIS I-901 Fee receipt
- Interview appointment letter
- All academic records including IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT etc.
Score sheet
- Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools/colleges/universities attended
- Evidence of financial resources
Timing
Applicants for U.S. student visas must apply for their visas no earlier than 120 days before the date when they must report to the school in the United States. You will, however, want to apply as early as possible to allow time for processing your application.
Procedures
A listing of
US Consulates and their web sites can be found at
https://www.usembassy.gov/india/.
Information regarding visa rules and processes for international
students coming to the US may change; for the most up-to-date information
please check the official website of United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) at https://www.uscis.gov/
Q. How good
must my English be to study for a degree in the U.S.A.?
A. Very
good! Particularly for a four-year bachelor’s or undergraduate degree, Business
and Management students must have exceptionally good English skills to succeed
in an American university. Even in an Engineering, Computer Science or
technical field, students must be able to analytically read and write English,
do laboratory reports, and speak clearly because students are expected to
participate in all classes actively and orally. Many of the non-major courses
required to graduate from an American university are courses like Sociology,
Philosophy, College Composition and Political Science which expect the student
to write library research papers.
Q. What
English test scores must I have to be admitted?
A. All
schools have different admission requirements. Minimum scores differ from
school to school. Most schools require a minimum score in IELTS/TOEFL/PTE.
Remember, a minimum score is never a good score, it is a minimum score, which
means many other international students will have scores much higher than the
minimum requirement when admitted. The student will be competing with them as
well as native English speakers.
Q. How long
does the admissions process take? Are there admission deadlines?
A. This
varies from college to college. At large schools, it may take six months to a
year to complete the entire admissions process from application to acceptance
and start of classes. At smaller schools, it may take six months. In any case,
start early. Deadlines at large schools sometimes occur in November for
admission the following September. In many other places, deadlines occur in March
and acceptances are sent in April for September enrolment.
Q. When
should I begin to apply to schools?
A. Start
early! Start now! Because the complete admissions process is long, begin the
application process soon. Do not wait until the required IELTS/TOEFL/PTE score
is obtained. The student can apply and be admitted as a "conditional
admit" at many schools. This means that the school has admitted the
student on the student's past academic record from the student's home country
and is waiting for the student to obtain the minimum test score.
Q. Can I
enter the college/university program only in September?
A. No. Most schools will accept students at the beginning of
every semester (fifteen-week session) or term (ten-week session). Semesters
begin at most schools in the U.S.A. in early September and in late January.
Schools on term systems also have a session beginning in mid-March. Most
schools also have sessions during the summer months of June, July and August.
Q. Who can
help me complete the application process?
A. ACHIVIA
can help the student from A to Z of the admission process. Remember, there are
over 3,100 accredited colleges and universities across the U.S.A. and the
student will need professional advice and guidance to decide where and what the
student should study.
Q. What
tests do I need to take to be admitted to a degree program in the U.S.A.?
A. Each school has different requirements, but most require the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) to determine the student's English ability. Undergraduate degree programs may require the math portion of the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). Graduate degree programs may require the GRE (Graduate Record Exam), the GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) or other standardized tests given by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Good luck!