1. A Destination Popular Amongst Students:
With thousands of academic programs, world-class institutions, and unmatched flexibility, the United States offers a wealth of higher-education opportunities that you will not find anywhere else in the world. US has long been one of the favoured destinations for international students. A true land of opportunities, US has a number of competitive private and public institutions of higher education. It also houses the highest number of top ranked universities which offer a diverse range of courses. A home to diverse ethnicities, US proffers a unique cultural experience with a wide variety of ethnic groups, traditions and values. For students opting to study in the US, the country offers a great chance to grow academically, culturally and socially.
The choice of universities in the USA is the largest in the world. An American college is usually smaller and offers only undergraduate degrees, while a university also offers graduate degrees. In each US University or college you will find schools (or faculties) that specialise in a subject area like Business. No matter what and where you want to study, there is a course that is right for you.
For many of the 500,000 international students who study in USA each year, the freedom to choose and change subjects and schools is also big advantage. You can begin your studies in a smaller US college, complete a two-year associate degree, and then transfer to a larger USA university for further study.
2. Quality of Education:
U.S. colleges are known worldwide for the quality of their facilities, resources, and faculty. Accreditation systems ensure that institutions continue to maintain these standards. The schools have adopted curriculum standards or guidelines proposed by state departments of education, rather than by a national body. One exception is the influential set of national guidelines developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Many schools have used these guidelines to upgrade their mathematics curriculum and have enthusiastically embraced the NCTM guidelines. These guidelines describe the accomplishments that would be expected of students at various grade levels. In addition, a set of national education goals, known as Goals 2000, has served to provide goals to be attained by the nation in the next several years. By indicating, for example, that the nation should be number one in math and science by the year 2000, the goals function as additional guidelines for schools. It seems unlikely, on the basis of comments by teachers and parents, that the interest in improving standards for education will result in explicit sets of national guidelines or goals, but rather that such efforts will result in the adoption of voluntary standards prepared by nongovernmental organizations.
3. Large Number of Excellent Institutions:
Choosing universities from thousands of miles away presents some challenges— especially when there are so many great colleges to choose from in the United States. But if you plan ahead and do your research carefully, you will come up with a manageable shortlist of colleges that match your needs. Every student is different, and when making your choices you should consider carefully the factors that are important to you in both your education and your lifestyle. This chapter discusses what academic, lifestyle, and other factors to consider when putting together a list of around 10 to 20 colleges, and it offers guidelines on where to get further help and information. You should begin this process of reflection and research 12 to 18 months before you want to start studying in the United States. The United States Department of Education's Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System contains information on all 7,316 officially-recognized institutions of higher education in the United States. The following is a list of the thirty largest institutions of higher education by fall 2013 enrolment, meaning it is the number of unique individuals who were enrolled in at least one class on the 21st day of the fall 2013 semester. Whether a system of individual campuses is counted as one or multiple institutions depends on how that institution is accredited and chartered. All data can be verified on the IPEDS system website.
4. Advanced Research:
The President’s 2015 Budget embodies the Administration’s ongoing commitment to responsibly increase investments in job creation, economic growth, and opportunity for all Americans. To achieve this goal, the Budget calls for wise, targeted investments in science, technology, and innovation—sectors of the American economy that have a proven record of turning ideas into realities, and of generating new technologies, products, businesses, and jobs that in many cases were barely imagined a few years earlier. Scientific discovery and technological breakthroughs are the primary engines not only for expanding the frontiers of human knowledge but also for responding in innovative, practical ways to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Budget invests in research and development (R&D) to spur the kinds of discovery and breakthroughs that can fuel sustainable economic growth and job creation; improve the health of all Americans; move America toward a clean-energy future; address global climate change; manage competing demands on natural resources; and ensure the Nation’s security.
To accomplish these goals, the President’s 2015 Budget proposes $135.4 billion for Federal R&D, an increase of $1.7 billion or 1.2 percent from 2014. (All comparisons are to 2014 enacted funding levels and are in current, not-adjusted-for-inflation dollars.)
5. Large Number of Job Opportunities:
Current immigration regulations permit international students to work only part-time—up to 20 hours per week — and only on campus during their first year of study. By working 10 to 15 hours a week, you could earn enough to pay for incidentals such as books, clothing, and personal expenses, but your campus job cannot pay your major expenses, such as tuition or room and board. This income also cannot be used as a source of income for any official financial statements. Campus jobs may include working at the university’s cafeteria, bookstore, library, or health club, or within the university’s administrative offices. After the first year, you can also apply for employment as a resident assistant (RA) in a university dormitory. RAs serve as the first point of contact for students needing assistance or who have queries regarding dorm life. In return, RAs receive free accommodation and sometimes a small salary and/or meal plan.
Under current regulations, after your first year of study, you may apply to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for permission to work off campus for up to 20 hours a week. You should note, however, that there is no guarantee that this request will be granted. If you are married and are in the United States on an F-1 student visa (see chapter 11), your spouse does not have permission to work. However, if you are in the United States on a J-1 student visa, your spouse is allowed to request a temporary work permit.
6. Excellent Quality of Life:
A variety of organizations and activities await you on most campuses, and getting involved is a great way to meet new friends, including Americans. You may find student-run radio and TV stations, newspapers, sports teams, and social clubs that are looking for new members. U.S. universities usually have an international society too. Most campuses have a Student Activities Office that can tell you what is happening on campus. Student life in the United States is an incredibly unique experience, especially when compared to the experience that you may get in a country like the United Kingdom or Canada. This is likely due to the fact that many students who obtain a secondary school education in the United States end up going on to university, and it is considered a part of the process of “growing up” in American culture.
The independence and adventure associated with going to university is going to rub off on you, even if you are an international student in the United States. Many restaurants and pubs in college areas are open until late in the evening on the weekends, so you can go get a bite to eat with some friends if you wish. There are also a number of live events that occur on the weekends across college campuses and in college towns. Make sure to check out the websites for the area that you live in; you may be able to find fun festivals and other activities to check out during the year. Most states have a state fair that you may be able to check out as well. The activities may also change with the seasons; if you are in the northeast, you can ski in the winter, go to festivals in the spring, enjoy outdoor sports in the summer and go to the fair in the fall. In the south, you can enjoy beaches year round. The activities available to you are highly dependent on the region you live in and what time of year it is.
7. Scholarships:
In general, it will be a challenge for international students to secure financial aid at state-supported community colleges. Though you should check with the colleges about any scholarships they offer that are open to international students, almost all of the funds available to students will come from the federal government or local government, and are set aside specifically for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. There is a slightly better chance of acquiring financial assistance at private colleges. Other private institutions such as foundations, corporations, or associations may also have funds for grants and scholarships. The total number of full scholarships available each year to incoming international students in the United States is about 1,000, offered by only about 100 colleges. To get a full scholarship, you must be one of the top students in your country, usually with “A”s (excellent) in almost every subject, high SAT and TOEFL scores, and distinguished performance in other areas such as leadership and community service. There are 20 top students from all over the world competing for each scholarship, so you must distinguish yourself among a pool of outstanding students.
Housing:
Since all colleges have different housing facilities and policies, find out if housing is available for all four years of enrolment or if students are required to find off-campus housing. Investigate the price difference between on-campus and off-campus housing. Check the living arrangements for on-campus housing; students living in dormitories may be required to share a room with one, two, or three other students. Yet living on campus, at least for the first year or two, may help you integrate into American university life more easily and quickly. It can also save you the additional expense of buying a car or paying for daily public transportation, as well as the time needed to travel back and forth to campus each day. By your junior year, however, you may wish to move off campus into your own apartment. Be sure to find out the university’s policy on such a move, and also the cost and availability of local housing.
Location:
Every region of the United States offers both urban and rural settings. City-based campuses offer a variety of eating, entertainment, cultural, and shopping facilities. A rural university may mean a quieter, more college- centred environment. Climate is another consideration. From the four seasons in the Northeast to the desert in Arizona and a sub-tropical climate in Florida, the variety is almost endless. Also keep in mind accessibility to local facilities and services that could be useful to you in your studies. For example, if you wish to major in art history, does the school offer programs that involve students with nearby museums and art galleries?
Size:
Student populations on U.S. campuses can range in size from 200 to 60,000 students. Some universities resemble small cities with their own post offices, grocery stores, and shopping centres. Other colleges may be in large, densely populated urban areas but have a very small enrolment. Depending on your personal lifestyle, you may enjoy the independence afforded by being part of a very large student population on your campus, or you may prefer the more personal touch a small college may be able to offer you. You should not make assumptions regarding social life or access to professors based on the size of an institution. Determine what opportunities are important to you and read the catalogues closely with these in mind.
Higher education in the United States is an optional final stage of formal learning following secondary education, often at one of the 4,495 colleges or universities and junior colleges in the country. In 2008, 36% of enrolled students graduated from college in four years. 57% completed their undergraduate requirements in six years, at the same college they first enrolled in. The U.S. ranks 10th among industrial countries for percentage of adults with college degrees. Over the past 40 years the gap in graduation rates for wealthy students and low income students has widened significantly. 77% of the wealthiest quartile of students obtained undergraduate degrees by age 24 in 2013, up from 40% in 1970. 9% of the least affluent quartile obtained degrees by the same age in 2013, up from 6% in 1970.
Like high school, the four undergraduate grades are commonly called freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years (alternatively called first year, second year, etc.). Students traditionally apply for admission into colleges. Schools differ in their competitiveness and reputation. Admissions criteria involve the rigor and grades earned in high school courses taken, the students' GPA, class ranking, and standardized test scores (Such as the SAT or the ACT tests). Most colleges also consider more subjective factors such as a commitment to extracurricular activities, a personal essay, and an interview. While colleges will rarely list that they require a certain standardized test score, class ranking, or GPA for admission, each college usually has a rough threshold below which admission is unlikely.
The most common method consists of four years of study are:-
Five-Year Professional Architecture programs offer the
Professional degrees such as law, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry, are offered as graduate study after earning at least three years of undergraduate schooling or after earning a bachelor's degree depending on the program. These professional fields do not require a specific undergraduate major, though medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry have set prerequisite courses that must be taken before enrolment.
Graduate study, conducted after obtaining an initial degree and sometimes after several years of professional work, leads to a more advanced degree such as a master's degree, which could be a
After additional years of study and sometimes in conjunction with the completion of a master's degree and/or Ed.S. Degree, students may earn a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), a first professional degree, or other doctoral degree, such as
It is sometimes possible to complete the process more quickly, but you may have a much more limited choice of schools. Planning well ahead gives you sufficient time to make successful applications to the colleges of your choice.
12 MONTHS PRIOR to enrolment, complete the following (months indicated are estimates, based on fall enrolment
August:
September — December:
January — April:
April — June:
June — August:
Sports Scholarship:
Sports scholarships cover all or part of the cost of tuition and living costs for attending a U.S. college. This type of funding for study in the United States may also be known as an “athletic scholarship” or by its official title as a “grant-in aid.” Scholarships are available in a wide range of sports, though not all colleges offer every sport. Students with sports scholarships may take degrees in any field offered by the university; however, they must meet the normal university entrance requirements and then continue to obtain satisfactory grades in order to receive and maintain their scholarships.
Various sporting authorities have also set their own academic requirements for competing students. Sports scholarships are normally awarded on an invitational basis by coaches who tour the United States searching for new talent. Occasionally coaches visit other countries, see non-U.S. students at international events, or find out about potential students through the professional sports associations outside the United States. However, this is unusual, and you will probably have to do most of the work in obtaining a scholarship yourself.
Financial Aid:
In general, it will be a challenge for international students to secure financial aid at state-supported community colleges. Though you should check with the colleges about any scholarships they offer that are open to international students, almost all of the funds available to students will come from the federal government or local government, and are set aside specifically for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. There is a slightly better chance of acquiring financial assistance at private colleges. Other private institutions such as foundations, corporations, or associations may also have funds for grants and scholarships. The total number of full scholarships available each year to incoming international students in the United States is about 1,000, offered by only about 100 colleges. To get a full scholarship, you must be one of the top students in your country, usually with “A”s (excellent) in almost every subject, high SAT and TOEFL scores, and distinguished performance in other areas such as leadership and community service. There are 20 top students from all over the world competing for each scholarship, so you must distinguish yourself among a pool of outstanding students.
The most common student visa is the F-1, though a small number of students travel to the United States on an M-1 visa if they are completing a program of hands on technical or vocational training, or on a J-1 visa if they are on a sponsored exchange program.
Procedures for Your Country
Procedures and requirements for applying for a student visa vary from country to country, and inevitably they are more complex and demanding in some countries than others. There are a number of places where you can obtain more information on the visa application process in general and the specific requirements for your country.
There are several things you can do to increase your chances of a favourable visa decision:
When choosing colleges, students put a high priority on finding the best academic programs for their field of study. While this is obviously important, another factor that potential students should consider is the alumni network at each of their prospective choices. Alumni networks do more than help fund Alma Maters; they become a professional and personal community to aid graduates in advancement throughout the course of their lives. With this in mind, the university or college one chooses for undergraduate, and post-graduate work becomes more than only a place to garner an education. It is also a place to build the foundation for their future.
In compiling a list of the top 50 most powerful college alumni networks, a number of factors were considered. Alumni financial contributions are an important indicator because they show an ongoing level of loyalty. Monetary contributions also indicate financial stability derived from education and a willingness to help future students of one’s Alma Mater. Because financial contributions alone don’t give the full picture, other considerations include outcomes from MBA programs in regard to employment rate post-graduation, the percentage of employment through career services, student ratings of alumni network helpfulness, and the reputation of the school. Other data encompassed in these findings includes the size of LinkedIn alumni base and the proportion of that base included in senior positions. These figures compliment in-depth research and provide a picture of the importance of alumni networks in higher education. To find more : bestcollegevalues.org/top-alumni-networks
