Study in the USA

The USA is the choice of many when it comes to studying abroad. The USA offers a holistic view of things, from cultural diversity to international educational institutions, one can study almost any major in the country. Students from all over the world prefer going to the USA to pursue their dream studies and grab that career opportunity they have always dreamt of. 

Why Study in the USA?

There are countless reasons why students choose the USA as a study destination. Let’s discuss the reasons below. 

• Brilliant Support Facilities

 One of the good reasons to choose the USA as your study destination is because the USA offers amazing support facilities to students going there to study. Several universities have programs that make it much easier for the students to get enrolled in the universities. Workshops, exchanges to orientations, English language courses, extracurricular activities, and campus activities being offered, the colleges try to make the work of students easier. Foreign students are offered much help and support so they could participate in the college activities fully. 

Studying in the USA is also helpful as the students have the advantage to stay in the country even after graduation and can work wherever they want. 

• Culturally Diverse USA

Another reason why students globally choose the USA is because it is culturally diverse. Every year, the USA encourages students to come there to continue their studies in America. The USA’s one of core values is to respect the diversity there and they are teaching its students to do the same. 

International students are the witness to the reality of the number of students who come from all over the world to study in the USA. Students learn about the other cultures, religions, and nationality from each other. Thai leads to an enthralling interaction between the students from all over the world. 

• Opportunities for Career and Research

The USA is known to offer great careers as well as research opportunities to students studying there. Students get more exposure and guidance in this country and have better chances to excel in their desired career path. 

If you are studying in the USA, you have the opportunity to study at world famous universities and widen the scope of opportunities, career wise as well.  

The educational institutions of the USA allow its students to carry out research in several fields of study. This allows the students to receive amazing training from the teachers. 

• Earn more than One Degree

Did you know that the USA offers subjects for degrees that sometimes don’t even exist in other countries, which means, by studying in the USA you can basically study any subject you want plus you can also choose subjects that you were not even aware of! 

Subjects such as international relations, engineering, or computer science have the ability to transform your life. However, the subjects having the power to change lives aren’t just these, there are many more subjects like these. Choosing a study path and then excelling in it can help you in making your career in the USA and then you can start working in America. 

• Community Colleges 

Community colleges are the universities that come at an affordable option. They offer less expensive tuition fees and admission into them is much easier. They have formed partnerships with top universities so that the students who can’t get into a university have the option to join a community college for 2 years and then they can continue their education at the university they have always wanted to. This 2 year period of time is known as the “associate’s degree”. 

• Self reliance 

The USA’s one of the main core values is self reliance. Students learn the art to be independent and rely on themselves by studying in the USA. Students become more diverse, independent and, and motivated compared to students studying in any other country. They also become more outgoing and communicative.

Cost of Studying in the USA 

The universities of the US are divided into two sectors: private and state. State university offers cheaper tuition fees than the privately owned ones. The tuition fees also depend on the chosen degree, since some majors are costlier. 

To say it simply, the studies may cost around $10,000 to $55,000 a year. Tuition for English language costs around $700 to $2,000 per month. However, community colleges only cost around $6,000 TO $20,000 for a whole year. 

The study cost of undergraduate bachelor’s degree for foreign students is from $20,000 to $40,000 for a year while the graduate degrees cost around $20,000 to $45,000 annually. 

MBAs and other medical programs, or the programs that are in law or some engineering areas cost more than other degrees. Students wanting to go for a PhD or other Doctoral Degree can expect the tuition fees to be around $28,000 to $55,000 annually.

Living in United States

Living in the USA can be a bit expensive. Annually it takes around $10K to $18K per person. Breaking this down we find out that the average living cost per month is almost $1250. The costs include spending money on accommodation, groceries, textbooks, travel, entertainment, and clothing. Below we will be figuring out how much it costs to live in the USA. So stay with us to know it all! 

Accommodation

Accommodation is the main portion of the whole cost of living. It takes more money than any other criteria. Foreign students have many options when coming to the USA and choosing to study here, within the budget too. 

Private Rentals

Private rentals are a good option chosen by many international students. Private rentals basically mean you would be renting a one-bedroom apartment, a studio, or an apartment and you can share it with other students or family members so the cost is split. 

Private rentals offer privacy and the option to choose with whom one wants to live with. However, there is a downside too, you need to take care of every small thing. From the responsibility of remembering the bills to buying groceries and fixing anything that breaks in your own apartment.

On-Campus Student Accommodation 

Students usually go for cheaper accommodations since they are not an average earning part of the society and have to think twice before spending money recklessly. Among fresh people, on-campus student accommodations are one of the most affordable options. 

These housing accommodations are located on the campus as it is pretty acknowledged from their name. This gives the students an advantage to pay the minimum travel costs. Mostly, their rent is quite affordable too. International students can choose dorms or shared rooms on the campus. 

The cost of living here is around $10K upon choosing a public university and $11,250 for a year for the private colleges.

Homestay

Homestay is another option one can go for. If you are okay with living with a family, then this option is for you. The student would usually be given a separate room but they are expected to help the family in matters regarding the meals and other miscellaneous activities. 

The student will be living rent free, actually they are to pay some minimal rent fee that will depend on the family taking the family in. Helping out with the house chores may get the students a discount.

Student Hostels 

Student hostels are good options if you are looking for a place to stay in between shifting from one place to another. These hostels may be used as a temporary accommodation for students needing to sort themselves out. 

These hostels are usually safe and have lockers too, but you should still make sure by reading reviews of the hostels before settling on one.

Other costs of living

Other living expenses should cost around $900-$2K a year which will help the student with books and study materials. These will cover electricity bills, calls bills, food bills, etc. If the student is trying to save money, they should mostly go for food available at home as eating out is costlier. 

Famous Universities of United States

It is known globally that the US is home to not one but many magnificent universities and that is one of the main reasons why students from all over the world prefer to study here. Universities such as Stanford, Ivy League, Princeton, Harvard, Oxford and many more are all in the USA and offer top-notch education. 

Universities in the USA

Not sure which university is the one for you? That’s fine, we have this blog to help you out. The thing is that the USA offers many degrees and subjects, sometimes even those that are not available anywhere else. Let’s discuss some of these universities below. 

Schiller International University

This is one of the top ranking universities in the US. Schiller International University is located in Florida. It is a private university, named after Friedrich Schiller, the German playwright. It provides a global experience to students choosing that university. One can get an enriching experience on how to conduct oneself in their professional life. 

All students alike receive both theoretical and practical knowledge of the world which will surely help them after graduation.

Nexford University

This university is just another top-ranked university of the USA, located in Washington, DC. It is one of the online universities from where students globally can get a degree. Nexford University takes pride in providing the full reigns of the degrees into the hands of the students. This means students can choose how to study according to themselves rather than letting the studies take over their lives. 

Nexford University is famous for its providing studies by crossing borders. Along with that, they have excellent programs at both Bachelors and Masters levels. This university also offers scholarships to worthy students so they can continue their studies with much enthusiasm. 

Degrees available

There are a lot of options available to choose in which subject one wants a degree in the USA. The bachelors degrees take around four years, where in the first two years the students have more courses. However, for the next two years, they can choose their majors and continue with that. 

USA universities allow students to choose a minor subject or a double major so that the subjects students are more passionate about can be accessible to them. 

Masters degrees take 2-3 years to complete, but the USA also has some degree programs that let the students complete programs in only a year. Usually a master’s degree is divided into professional master’s programs and Academic programs. 

Academic master’s degree programs help out students when it comes to pursuing a doctoral degree while the professional master’s programs have their focus on preparing students for future employment.

Examples of other universities

Other universities in the USA would be to go for Yale University, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, or Columbia University. These are the most known and top-ranked universities. Studying in these universities will no doubt enhance one along with teaching them many valuable skills. 

Student Visa

If the international student doesn’t have US citizenship or permanent residency of the country, then they need a study visa to be able to study in the USA. A study visa lets a foreign student stay in the USA for a limited period of time and study at any school they wish to. 

This means the student is allowed to stay in until they graduate. After graduation the student has to leave the country unless they apply for another visa (work visa) or extend the previous one.

Student Visa- Types 

Students wanting to stay in the USA for full time study programs have the option of at least three kinds of visas. 

• F1 Visa- It is the most common type of study visa and applies to undergraduate and postgraduate students alike. The students applying for this type of visa can also take language courses. 
• M1 Visa- These are for students going for non-academic studies in the USA. M1 visas are more focused professionally and are shorter than F1 visas. 
• J1 Visa- These are for the exchange students such as au pairs and study abroad students, along with other exchange students. These visa timings are also shorter than F1 visas.

Requirements of a Study Visa 

Students applying for study visas need a few things such as a passport, financial resources, and passport photos. Students need to pay a processing fee of $160 for the visa. A few nationalities may even be required to pay an extra visa issuance fee. 

Students opting for F1 or M1 visa are required to submit a nonimmigrant visa electronic application form. Students should make sure that their passport for the US has a validity of at least six months after the period they are staying in the US. If the country they belong to has other exemptions then that is a different case. 

The passport photo taken should not be older than six months, preferably only a few months. Among other things, you are required to have an interview appointment letter which will confirm your appointment for the interview. Lastly, the student can check what other documents are needed.

Supporting Documents Needed

For the interview, the student is required to have some supporting documents with them. These documents should prove your relationship with your home country so you would  be forced to go back once the study degree is completed. 

Other documents should prove that you are financially stable enough to pay for your tuition as well as living fees in the first year of studies. Students with M1 visas should be financially stable enough to cover their entire stay. 

If the student has brought their bank statements, they should also bring its photocopies with it to have the visa approved. 

Academic documents such as school transcripts should preferably be the original copies, exam certificates needed like the SAT scores or TOEFL and IELTS should be brought along as well.

How to apply for the study visa

Applying for your study visa is going to need to follow many steps. Let’s take a look at those steps. 

• First step- Paying the visa fee that is required and completing the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application form.
• Second step- Make sure the interview is scheduled. Passport number, CGI reference number from the visa payment receipt and the 10 digit barcode found on the DS-160 confirmation page.  
• Last step- Go to the US embassy at the time of the interview. Get a copy of the appointment letter to attend the interview. Also bring your DS-160 confirmation page and bring it with a photograph taken recently, at least within the last six months. To get your application considered, you are required to bring your current and your old passports with the receipt of your original visa fee.

Applying in the University- United States

To study abroad, the most important thing to know is which university to apply to. After deciding on a university, select the courses and the degree program you would wish to study. To make sure the student gets selected, they should apply to more than one university and choose more study programs. 

Filling out the Application Form

After the student is done choosing the programs and institutions, they can directly go to the college’s website to apply themselves. However, before jumping onto the application, read all the requirements. 

A few universities take standardized tests, especially if the student is enrolling in the postgraduate programs. If the degree requires a writing sample or a portfolio, the student is required to bring them as well. 

The application fee depends on the university one is applying for.

Prepare Needed Documents

It is time to get all the required documents in one place. The specifications will depend on the program so the student needs to make sure that they meet the requirements beforehand. 

Most of the universities in the USA generally require these documents: high school, university transcripts, grades, CV, standardized test scores, proof of the level of English language. Motivation letter, writing samples are also needed. 

Lastly, the application fee, payment confirmation, and passport photos are needed too.

Language Proficiency Requirements

Students from non-English speaking countries, need to give a proof of their English language proficiency. This is done so the student can participate in classes properly. 

The US universities accept tests like IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT exam, the PTE Academic, or the C1 Advanced. Check the university you are applying to needs which of these tests, so you could prepare yourself.

Don’t Forget Application Deadlines

Remember the deadline of the application for the course you are applying for. Students going for bachelor’s degree will have two deadlines. First, early admission deadline, and second, regular admission deadline. 

Students opting for the master’s or PhD degree, will have their deadline depending on the semester they are applying in.

Scholarships in United States

For international students, scholarships can be life saving. Studying in the USA can be expensive, hence why we called scholarships life saving. Below, we will discuss how to get these scholarships and from where to get them.

Eligibility Requirements

There are several scholarships for foreign students. However, each has its own requirements to be fulfilled. The student should make sure they fulfill the eligibility requirements before applying for the scholarship. 

Meeting Deadlines

Do not forget the deadline of the scholarship. Even if you have written the best essay but forgot the deadline and didn’t fill the scholarship application, then all your efforts went to waste. 

Financial Aid Office 

Aid offices in schools fund the scholarships. They can be found on the company’s website under the section of financial aid or the office of financial aid. After finding the section, search for the scholarship for foreign students. 

Each scholarship will be different, so there arises a need to check each scholarship for their requirements and eligibility, etc. 

Academic Departments

Scholarships can be found under the academic departments of the schools. Some schools focus on research scholarships while others may focus on a specific major. 

The University 

The student can also ask the university itself for the scholarship if the other options are not working. The university will let you know about the eligibility requirements and all the details needed to fill the scholarship as well. 

Other Scholarships Sponsor’s Programs

Some scholarships also sponsor programs different from the ones in the university. Sponsors as in the US government or other institutions fund scholarships, etc for foreign students. 

Institutions Funding International Scholarships

There are a few institutions that fund students who wish to study in the US.  

Scholarships Provided by the Government 

One of the US government scholarships is the Foreign Fulbright student program. These are for postgraduate foreign students who go for master’s or doctoral degrees. They will cover the students’ tuition fees, textbooks, health insurance, air tickets, learning materials, and other expenses too.