Why study in USA?

Studying in the USA offers international student’s numerous advantages that make it a top choice for higher education. USA is having world class education system with top ranked universities, diverse academic programs and research opportunities.The USA is home to many prestigious institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and others which are consistently ranked among the best in the world. As per the interest of students, he or she can choose from a vast range of major, minors and interdisciplinary programs. Students get opportunity to work on cutting edge projects because universities here prioritize lots of research and innovations. The degree form USA universities have high global recognition which enhances student’s employability and career prospects. Degrees from universities consistently ranked high in global indices (e.g., QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education) carry weight and prestige in international job markets and academic communities. Students studying in USA gets good exposure to cultural diversities. They get chance to study, work and socialize with people from all over the world. This further broadens their perspective and help in building global networks. Advanced facilities and resources like state of art labs, libraries and learning resources at universities in USA support student to succeed. As studying in USA is expensive, many universities offer good scholarships to lower some financial burden of the student. After studying in USA student gets post study work visa of 1-3 years.

Types of Universities in USA

Public Universities: These are state funded universities which generally have low tuition fees. These universities have wide range of degree program available. For example, Arizona State University (AZU), George Mason University (GMU) etc.

Private universities: These are organisation funded universities with comparatively high tuition fees. These universities have comparatively smaller range of degree programs available. For example, Suffolk university Boston, Hofstra University, Drexel University etc.

Community University: These universities generally have low tuition fees and low admission criteria. For example, Green River College, Santa Ana College etc

Ivy League: These are group of 8 prestigious universities of USA. They are generally known for their academic excellence and selectivity in admissions. These are also known for their business programs. Names of these prestigious universities are

1. Harward University (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
2. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)
3. Princetown University (Princetown, New Jersey)
4. Columbia University (New York City, New York)
5. University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
6. Dartmouth College (Hanover, New Hampshire)
7. Brown University (Providence, Rode Island)
8. Cornell University (Ithaca, New York)

Intakes

There are typically three main intakes for international students in universities in the USA. Fall Intake (September), Spring Intake (January) and summer intake (May/June).

September intake is generally known to be the most common and the largest intake for international students. Most universities have their academic year begin in the fall. It is considered to be the best time to apply for most of the courses and scholarships. Spring intake usually starts in January and is having typically smaller intake than September. Summer intake (May/June) is the least common intake and its often limited to specific programs.

Popular courses to study in USA are

• MBA (Business Administration)
• Computer Science
• Engineering and Technology
• Medicine
• Biotechnology and Biomedical Science
• Forensic Science

Some Popular Universities

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• University of California
• Princeton University
• California Institute of Technology
• Yale University
• University of Chicago
• Columbia University
• University of Pennsylvania

Cost to study in USA

Part time work

International students in USA can work part time for 20 hours per week during the study time and can work full time (40 hours per week) during holidays. Part time jobs are available both on-campus and off-campus. Students can work through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (CPT).

CPT is an integral part of establish curriculum which is actually a work authorization that allows international students to gain practical experience in their field of study while they are still studying in US. To be eligible for CPT students must be on F-1 visas and have completed 9 months in USA. CPT can be full time (more than 20 hours per week) or part time (less than 20 hours per week).

OPT is a work authorization provided to international students who are on F-1 visa in the USA and it allows a student to gain work experience related to student’s field after completing the academic program. The duration of OPT is up to 12 months after completing degree and student gets OPT extension of additional 2 years if the student has pursued STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) related program

Post study work visa

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a work authorization available to international students on F-1 visas in the U.S. that allows student to gain hands-on work experience related to his/her major after completing academic program. It is a great opportunity to apply the knowledge student have gained during their studies to a real-world setting, while also giving student a chance to build a professional network in the U.S.

OPT allows F-1 visa students to work in the U.S. in a job that is directly related to their field of study. Student can apply for OPT either during your program (Pre-completion OPT) or after student have completed their degree (Post-completion OPT).

Key features of OPT;

1. Duration:
   • Standard OPT: Student can work for up to 12 months on OPT after completing his/her degree.
   • STEM OPT Extension: If student is in a qualifying Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field, he/she can apply for an additional 24-month extension, bringing the total possible OPT period to 36 months.
2. Eligibility:
   • Student must be in valid F-1 status.
   • Student must have completed at least one full academic year of study (two full semesters).
   • The job must be directly related to student’s degree program.
   • Student can only participate in OPT once per degree level (e.g., once at the bachelor’s level, once at the master’s level, and once at the doctoral level).

Scholarships

There are numerous scholarships available in the USA for international students to help with tuition, living expenses, and other costs associated with studying abroad. Below are some of the popular scholarship programs that international students can apply for:

• Academic Advantage Scholarships at Full Scale University for scholarship amount up to $15000
• Merit based Scholarship at Colorado State University for scholarship amount up to $12000
• GEO award at Southern Illinois University for scholarship amount $9488
• International Awards at New York Institute of Technology for scholarship amount from $17000 to $23000
• International Scholar Award at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for scholarship amount up to $10000
• Merit based Scholarships at New Jersey Institute of Technology for scholarship amount up to $4000 per year
• International Undergraduate Scholarships at Lewis University for scholarship amount up to $15000 per year
• National Scholarship Program at Eastern Michigan University for scholarship amount up to $ 10,792 per year
• International Student Scholarship at California State University for scholarship amount up to $ 1000 per year
• Panther Fund Merit Scholarship at Florida Institute of Technology for scholarship amount up to $ 10,000 per year
• International Merit Scholarship at Missouri University of Science and Technology for scholarship amount up to $ 15,000 per year
• International Undergraduate Scholarship at Lewis University for scholarship amount up to $15,000 per year
• John Marshell Scholarship at Marshell University for scholarship amount up to $14000 per year
• International Achievement Scholarship at Portland University for scholarship amount up to $ 10,000 per year
• Merit Based Scholarships at University of Albany for scholarship amount up to $17500 per year