The United States of America is one of the most popular countries for students who want to benefit from studying abroad. The universities in the USA have excellent reputations, the geography and climate are diverse, and there is a long tradition of welcoming overseas visitors for education and employment.
The flexible system of majors and minors means that you can broaden your horizons and discover where your true strengths and talents lie over the 4 years of your degree. Postgraduate and MBA students have some of the highest quality courses in the world to choose from, and the ability to remain in the country to work for up to 3 years after completing their studies. This is also extended to undergraduate students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or maths.
Help and support
Contact me today if you would like to receive comprehensive help on choosing courses, universities and career options, including support on preparing for examinations, the admissions process and student visa applications.
General Information
The USA is the leading international education destination in the world. The best students from around the world are attracted here, and it’s home to some of the most famous academic institutions with household names: Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, and many more.
A major benefit to the higher education system in the USA is its tremendous course flexibility, especially at the undergraduate level, and the ability to combine majors and add in diverse minors can give you a competitive advantage with future employers looking for candidates with a breadth of experience as well as the depth of knowledge.
The Application Process
Almost every institution will require you to fill in an online application form and pay the admission fee by credit card.
Essay and/or Statement of Purpose: This is your opportunity to talk directly to the Admissions Committee and share what’s important to you including your detailed career goals. It’s just as important to know what not to include as what you should. If in doubt, seek professional advice.
Resume: In a one-page document, list your work experience, extracurricular activities, volunteer work and achievements. A description that tailors the relevance of the experience to the course you’re applying for will be valuable.
Test score sheets: SAT/ ACT/ GRE/ GMAT/ TOEFL/ IELTS/ PTE. You must send your official scores with your admission form. Undergraduate students should show SAT or ACT and the SAT Subject tests along with the TOEFL. MBA students must submit GMAT scores when applying to ‘top’ institutions while postgraduate students applying for non-business programs should submit the GRE scores.
Recommendation Letters: These letters should be from relevant people who know you well, including professors or previous employers.
Transcripts and Mark sheets: Issued by your school and college, a transcript explains your country’s grading system to foreign institutes
How much will it cost?
On average, tuition fees are around USD $30,000 per year and the average living expenses are about USD $10,000 per year. However fees can vary widely from college to college, and course to course. Prestigious MBA or other postgraduate courses can be substantially higher. When planning your finances for overseas study makes sure you factor in all possible costs to avoid not completing your course for financial reasons.
Funding, Scholarships and Loans
Scholarships, grants, and bursaries are available for international students for both undergraduate and postgraduate study. Graduate students are also eligible to apply for Graduate Assistantships (Research or Teaching Assistantship), whereby they can work for, or research with, academic professionals. These awards offer a full tuition waiver and also provide a monthly stipend to cover living expenses. Competition is extremely tough and you will need to be well-prepared to succeed in winning a place.
Some private institutes offer need-based financial aid which can be obtained by following the Foreign Student Financial Aid (FSFA) process. The scholarship committee considers the overall profile of students including the past academic record, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and past achievements in assessing funding levels
Students from India can get education loans from state banks for up to Rs.2.5 Million. Security of up to 100% of the loan amount will be needed and the repayment period varies from 5-7 years. Do make sure you have taken appropriate advice and understand fully the implications of any loan agreement before entering into it.
Student Employment
The US is one of the few countries in the world which issues Work Permits for students attending US academic institutions, as well as having ample job opportunities. After completing your studies you may be able to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) of between 12-29 months, depending on the course you have studied. After this, students can apply for a work visa (H-1) which is valid for 3 years, renewable once, making the total work visa validity 6 years. Students can also apply for permanent residency (a “Green Card”) when they start working in the US. Make sure you seek advice before applying to maximize your chances of success with your student and post-student visa applications.
Do you need tailored advice?
If studying in the USA is your goal then I can offer personalized guidance, support, and counselling to help you achieve this. I have extensive personal experience of studying and working in the USA at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including working in Admissions for a major US University.
