United States of America -The land of opportunities—also happens to be one of the most diverse nations in the world where every state has something unique to offer. The country is ranked 2nd in the world when it comes to access to higher quality teaching and 5th in the world to experience a new culture or lifestyle. United States continues to be a popular study abroad destination among students, and reasonably so, after all it has some of the most prestigious institutions in the world that include the likes of Harvard, Stanford and the Columbia University. Thousands of Indians apply to American Universities every year to fulfill their American dream.

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1)Why study in America?

The United States of America is a top destination for pursuing your higher studies. As it hosts the maximum number of international students from every other country in the world, it offers a variety of factors that are unique to the States. A thriving multicultural cosmopolitan culture with people coming from different countries gives you an opportunity to interact and cohabitate with diverse people.

 

2) University and College Rankings-

USA keeps the quality of education at utmost priority, thereby leading to several of their universities being listed under QS Rankings year after year.

Harvard University tops the list, followed by Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California (Berkeley) and University of California (Los Angeles).

 

3) Demography-

Chinese, Indian, South Korean, Saudi Arabian and Canadian students remain the top contributors to the international student community in America.  

All in all, the international student community in America is given a lot of assistance to in order to adapt to the new culture in America keeping in mind that it may be difficult and nerve-recking for the new students. Workshops, Orientations and clubs are conducted to ensure they smoothly integrate themselves.

 

4)Education System-

A four-year undergraduate program at a community college or a four-year college/university is the starting point for college. You will study a broad range of subjects in the first two years to set the basis for the subsequent studying. Every degree program concentrates on one subject, which is referred to as your "major." A journalism major earns a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. You can pick your major in the third year of your degree program.

The American system is adaptable, and you may change your major at any time, however this may incur additional expenditures. Transferring from one university to another and earning a degree in a fair amount of time is possible.

After graduation, you can consider enrolling in a master's degree program, especially if you want to advance your career in a certain profession. Scores from certain examinations, such as the GRE or GMAT, LSAT (law school), or MCAT, may be required for admission (medical school).

You might apply for a PhD program with a master's degree, which could take three years or more. Some colleges will accept students with only a bachelor's degree into PhD programs.

 

5)Eligibility Criteria and minimum requirements (Standardized Tests to be taken)-

Under Graduate/Bachelors

US generally requires 12 years of education for Associate Degree and Bachelor’s Degree

Academic Percentage: 58% and above

Acceptable Scores: TOEFL 71 to 80, IELTS 6.0,Duolingo Minimum 85

SAT: A good score would be 1150+ out of 1600

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Post Graduate/Masters

US Universities accept 16 years of education. (12+4)

Academic Percentage: 58% and above with minimum backlogs

Acceptable Scores of Standardized Tests: GRE- 300+, GMAT- 500+, TOEFL- 79 and IELTS- 6.5 overall band, Duolingo Minimum 95.

Other factors that are looked into are the extra-curricular activities that the student has been involved in. Documents, such as Resume, Letters of Recommendations & Statement of Purpose need to be drafted well as they play a crucial factor.

 

6) Top courses to study in USA-

Engineering, Math & Computer Sciences, Business, Data Science and Social Sciences are some of the top courses to pursue in America.

 

7) Average Tuition Fee-

Average annual tuition fees in the USA range from USD 15,000 to 35,000 for UG and around USD to 18,000 to 42,000 for PG.

However, several in demand courses such as Law, Medicine, Computer Science are a bit on the expensive end.

  

8) Scholarship Opportunities-

Scholarships in the USA are of two types: Need based and Merit Based. Most Universities in US require SAT scores for Merit based financial aid for Undergraduate programs.

 

For Masters, Tuition fee reduction/waiver is available in the form of Assistantships such as Research Assistantship, Teaching Assistantship and Graduate Assistantships.

 

9) Average Living Costs-

 Average living costs differ from state to state and city to city based on the life style and the standard market costs. On an average it comes to around USD 12,000 to 15,000 per year.

 

10) Part Time Work Opportunities & Hourly Wage Rates-

The hourly wage rates differ from state to state in America. International students have certain limitations while taking up part time jobs. They must strictly follow the rules or they may have to follow the consequences which can even lead to deportation. That being said, some of the part time jobs that students take up are Teaching Assistantships, Library Assistance, Barista, Tutor or Peer Mentor, Receptionist etc.

 

11) Full-Time Work Opportunities & Annual Median Salary-

Every Field has a range of different jobs and the occupations are endless.

After completing your master's degree, you may expect to earn between $50,000 and $75,000 annually in the United States. However, the average wage following a master's degree in the United States is heavily dependent on the specialty that you pursue.

 

12) Visa Types-

You'll need to apply for a US student visa whether you want to study in the US for a full degree or for a shorter amount of time. F Visas are issued to international students which are further divided into 3 types.

F-1 visas are for full-time students while J-1 is for exchange program students.

 

13) Post-Study Work Permit and Visa Type-

International students with an F1 student visa can work for up to a year in a job that is closely connected to their primary subject of study.

After you finish your degree, you must acquire a job that is closely relevant to your subject of study. Within 90 days of graduation, you must obtain a job.

On an F1 visa, you are allowed to stay in the United States for one year after completing your course.

A new law provides for a 24-month extension for students taking STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This implies you can stay in the United States for another three years after finishing your studies.

 

This process is called Optional Practical Training.

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The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that permits individuals to work in high-skilled jobs for a limited time. Immigrants seeking for an H-1B visa must have specialized expertise as well as a bachelor's degree or higher or its equivalent. The majority of H-1B jobs are in sectors such as science, engineering, and information technology.

 

14)Permanent Residency Options-

You can be sponsored by your company if you work while studying. Request that your employer file an application for you for an EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based green card.

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Post this, you will become eligible to apply for a Permanent residency or Green Card.