TASA ASIA | USA – United States of America

Listed below are a few features that make the US as the preferred study abroad destination. The US offers a very diverse range of higher education options compared to any other country in the world. With such wide options for learning opportunities, no matter what the applicant’s ability or ambitions are, there will be some perfect course that fits the bill of every aspirant. Many of the universities customize a few of their courses for international students as well.

Student-friendly through flexibility

In America, it is very common to change university after two years of study during undergraduate courses within the same faculty. Most institutions accept credits from other universities to the same course. So students are not required to complete all four years of study in the same college to finish their degree. This flexibility allows the students to transfer their credits to a higher-ranked institution if they have the required grades to do so.

A mix of diversity and variety

Students can opt for a large public university or college or a small private university depending on their preference. Along with the natives, there is a diverse cultural mix of Mexicans, Asians, etc. This experience will enrich a student’s understanding of the world. There is a strong Indian community in the US, which is an added advantage to the Indian students.

Extension of network

This applies to all study abroad destinations. Networking is the key to a successful career and finding the right connections accelerates one’s career. Those who have international living or work experience and are multilingual will have a huge advantage over others in the job market. At American universities, the chances of getting a glimpse of industry big wigs through lectures, felicitations, etc are very high. This is an added advantage to the students studying in the US.

Job opportunities

The expanding job market in the US is very lucrative for career aspirants. Indians were the top-recipient of the high-skilled H-1B visas and were also the second-largest community of international students staying in the US. Such a big increase in the total student numbers accepted at the universities reflects the US government’s policy of taking on more skilled workers in the future. Looking at these trends, the chances of securing a job after graduation is high for international students in the coming years.

There is no single and specific educational system in the US. The Federal government’s influence on education is limited to the funding it offers. Unlike the CBSE, ICSE and State board examinations in India, there is no national high school graduation examination. However, state graduation examinations are a must for the students. At the higher education level, students have a wide range of options while choosing a college or university. The GPA (grade point average) of the admitted students is the deciding factor. It is the average of all grades received by the student. For students wishing to pursue higher education in the US, the majors offered, location, the number of students enrolled, and campus culture form the factors that influence their decision. The college can be public or private funded.

Higher education in USA

State School/college/University

The US comprises of 50 states, each state runs at least one university or college for providing quality higher education to students at low rates. These universities are funded by the respective state governments and are equipped with state of the art facilities.

Private university/college

These institutions are run privately and are considered costly as compared to the state schools.

Community Colleges

Community colleges offer a two-year certification or transferable associate degree. Generally, Community college graduates transfer to universities or four-year colleges to complete their degree. They are allowed to transfer the credits which they have earned in the community college. Community colleges offer ESL(English as a second language) or EFL (English as a foreign language) courses or other programs that prepare students for studying university-level courses.

Technology Institutes

These are the institutes that provide four-year courses related to science and technology. The top universities in the US are Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, and Stanford University. The area of New England on the east coast of the US is the center of all its renowned academic institutes. Some of the best colleges in the country are situated in cities like Boston, New York, Cambridge, Old Saybrook, New Haven.

International students who are planning to pursue their higher studies in the USA need to clear some competitive exams like SAT, TOEFL, GMAT, and GRE. Apart from these, some subject-specific studies also have qualifying exams like PCAT, VCAT, MCAT, and DAT.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue an MBA or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.
GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Also, many business schools accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.
LSAT - The Law School Admission Test is a standardized test and is taken by students who want to take admission in law schools. The students are evaluated based reading and verbal reasoning skills.
SAT - The Scholastic Assessment Test evaluates the aspirants based on literacy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in higher education. This test measures the problem-solving skills learned in school which they will be using further in college. The SAT exam is generally taken by students who have completed their schooling or students in high school looking for admissions in UG courses.

Language Exam

TOEFL – The Test of English as a Foreign Language It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by a majority of the American universities. The TOEFL tests the students’ usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and set the test paper.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in the USA.
Letter of recommendation – Students also require Letter of recommendation (LOR) while applying to different universities. The LOR should be from a faculty member from your previous education institute.
Statement of Purpose – Apart from the LOR, students also need to submit a Statement of Purpose highlighting your achievements and learnings.
Essays - Some of the universities demand Admission Essays in place of Statement of Purpose. Essays are generally required for pursuing a specific course like MBA.
Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut-off for various exams which students need to obtain for securing admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut-off marks for GMAT, GRE, SAT, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

The cost of studying and the cost of living in the US form the major factors that determine whether the USA is a feasible destination for higher studies. The tuition fee varies according to the universities, courses, and cities within a country in the US. Colleges in the US that offer undergraduate programs for a longer duration could cost students more than the usual one-two years of postgraduate study, however, the tuition fee does not vouch for the quality of education being provided in the institution. Students aspiring to study in the US should remember that the tuition fees of government-funded institutions are much lesser than private universities.
Business Management, Computer Science, Finance and Accounting, Economics, Communications/Media are popular courses that Indian students pursue in the US. The location of the accommodation plays an important role in the costing for the students. A student residing in the metropolitan city will be spending more on accommodation as compared to a student who resides in the sub urbanpart of the city.

Cost of Living in the US

The living expenses generally include accommodation costs, food, travel, textbooks, weather-appropriate clothing and entertainment expenses. Other expenses that are taken into consideration under living expenses include, travel expenses between India and the country of choice during vacation time, lifestyle needs such as PC, furniture, or even a rental car; medical expenses not covered by health insurance, e.g. dental care, eye care, cosmetic treatments; social outings, weekend trips, personal and variable expenses.

Education Loan

Studying in the US could prove to be an expensive affair. The biggest challenge one always faces while studying in the USA is to arrange for funds for studying in the US. The cost of living and studying in a country like the USA can be exorbitant and cannot be affordable for all aspirants. However, the aspiration to study abroad and make it big in life always drives one to overcome these hurdles. Arranging funds form a crucial part of studying abroad. Various banks provide financing for higher education in the form of education loans for studying in the US. However, candidates are required to adhere to their guidelines, submit the required documents for their loan approval by the banks.

Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education-related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications.
The students need to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backward. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of application and approval of the same.

USA – United States of America

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