USA
United States of America
But there are also important factors behind getting to know your new home from a practical perspective: transportation in the city, prices for utilities, internet access, and grocery stores.
USA
United States of America
But there are also important factors behind getting to know your new home from a practical perspective: transportation in the city, prices for utilities, internet access, and grocery stores.
Why study in the USA (United States of America)?
The economy is so big that the United States is often seen as an
economic superpower and that’s because it makes up almost a quarter
of the world economy. This country has no official language. In
addition to that, there are multiple Tourist attraction places in America
like Times Square, Golden Gate Bridge, Disney’s Hollywood Studios,
etc… which makes it one of the best countries to experience once in a
lifetime.
Millions of students leave their homes to study in America
due to America’s great infrastructure in all career fields. The
American education system is renowned around the world
for its high academic standards. The QS World University
Rankings 2022 lists 29 US Universities among the top 100
Universities worldwide such as Princeton University, Harvard
University, Yale University, Columbia University, and
Stanford University are some of those.
Every year, millions of international students are drawn
towards the United States as if it is a student magnet.
Studying in America automatically opens the ways for
students academically as well as professionally.
Exposure to university and campus life, acquiring a large
amount of knowledge, and working on developing various
skills ultimately orient students towards the career path of
their dreams.Gradskieez’s top 7 reasons to study abroad in
the USA. Not just this, but we have covered everything you
need to know for studying in the USA:
Study at some of the World’s Best Universities/Colleges
As we all are aware of this very fact, that many of us dream to study in
the USA, which is not only the home to the world’s most popular
Universities but also it contributes to every student’s education through
various aspects. It also enhances your student experience through
brilliant US educational approach. Moreover, it offers a wide set of
perspectives to international students that add great value to their
careers.
The programs offered in US Universities furnish you with the skills,
knowledge, and study experiences that you need to excel in your
desired career. One can find the best universities and colleges suitable
to your learning style and objectives. In addition to that, Professors in
the US universities have years of experience in their respective fields
and they use the most flexible teaching styles for the students to help
them succeed in their studies as well as on professional and personal
level.
America is considered a global leader with the most advanced and
innovative technology. Studying in the US universities offer you to be
eligible to become not just a part of great Internships while studying
but also prepares you to become a part as well as work in the leading
Big Giants of the world like Apple, Adobe, Microsoft, Google,
Amazon, Facebook, etc. In addition to that, the help of different skill-
set, and the amount of knowledge you gained throughout your
Graduation or Post Graduation studies, will ultimately open the career
doors for you anywhere in the world.
Not to mention, Universities holds a wide variety of educational fairs
and host workshops in which you get the chance to interact with
renowned guests like CEOs, Entrepreneurs, Public Speakers, from
famous companies which will help you to boost your vision and ensure
a smooth transition from your academics to a professional career.
Moreover, there’s a golden chance for students who get Optional Practical
Training (OPT), given as a benefit to F-1 students who are completing a
Bachelor’s or Graduate degree in the U.S. Its purpose is to provide an
opportunity for employment experience in a student’s field of study. Most
international students get inducted into the company that hires them during
their OPT period by sponsoring their H1-B or work visa.
The USA is known as a melting pot of different cultures. This country
provides you with an opportunity to open yourself up to new ideas as
well as to the new people that comes from all walks of life.
Acknowledging the fact, that the US welcomes a huge number of
International students belonging to a variety of cultures, countries, and
traditions. Basically, you’ll be learning about the world, as you would
be surrounded with people, which includes their unique lifestyle,
different cultural backgrounds, cuisines, and fashion, therefore making
it a rich and enjoyable education experience for you.Moreover, some cities also hold a variety of Cultural festivals that
celebrates International traditions, music, art, food and you can make
friends from around the world. Therefore, all of it involves you in the
part of life in the US.Moreover, some cities also hold a variety of Cultural festivals that
celebrates International traditions, music, art, food and you can make
friends from around the world. Therefore, all of it involves you in the
part of life in the US.
US Universities allows you to choose a major of your preference regardless
of your subject background whether its your undergraduate research or PhD
stage applications.
The USA is likewise known as an excellent vacation spot to begin your
profession in relation to exploring post-have a look at profession options. Not
only this but also, US University offers you with a lot of applications which can
be associated with your preferred course and eventually help you come
closer to your goals. In addition to that, you may simply pick top-ranked
applications for a few well-known majors which includes Business, Social
science, Biology, Communications, History, etc. along with specialized majors
like Video recreation development, Artificial Intelligence, Mechanical
Engineering, and plenty of more.
Every year, students from various corners of the world migrate to America
for their studies and as a matter of fact, migrating to another country is not
a simple and easy process ,there are a lot of hidden struggles which every
International student has to face during this whole process, and after
passing all the steps, they can move to another country. However, America
takes into consideration the struggles of International students therefore, it
holds different workshops, orientations programs, and regular training
sessions to provide appropriate assistance to the students.
Almost every university provides support to International students as well
as domestic students regarding their courses. In addition to that, there are
several International student clubs for students on campus, where
international students can meet students from the same background and
could feel more comfortable and homely for the initial days of their
University. Not to mention, there is also a student office for international
students which helps them regarding their issues and inquiries.
– Studying abroad allows you to see the world and travel to new places that you might
not have visited otherwise. During your free time from your studies, you can take a
guided tour of your new city. You will also get to know your area more intimately
than if you only visited it for a shorter period.
– Studying abroad helps you build valuable relationships with people around the
world. Develop your international relationships as you have the opportunity to meet
people who could become lifelong friends. Some relationships can even lead to career
opportunities, including internships, job openings, and business partners.
– The university you study at will often have a large community of students from both
domestic and overseas regions, giving you the opportunity to meet people from
different backgrounds and cultures. The larger your network, the more likely you are
to be connected with exciting career and social opportunities.
– As you engage yourself in another culture, you develop valuable life skills
necessary for personal growth, including independence and adaptability. These skills
can give you extra confidence in your personal and professional life.
– Studying abroad can be overwhelming, but the challenges you’ll overcome can help
you grow into a more mature person. You will find that you can often flourish in new
and unexpected circumstances and improve your communication skills by speaking
in a new language, thereby helping to further improve your self-confidence.
The most important factor that attracts international students is the
university’s research and training programs at the undergraduate level. A
student can assist a Professor by being a teaching assistant to them which
also helps in funding their studies as well as helps in broadening their
knowledge and skill set. Students can assist professors with research on
different projects and it also allows them to work with the best in their
chosen field of study.
The U.S. takes delight in its technological development and it has made
certain that each one spectrums of the education sector are properly
prepared with the brand new technology. This makes the lifestyles of the
student much less complicated with clean get entry to to facts and different
technology.
It is said that technology plays a pivotal role in research and development
and American universities have made sure they do not fall behind when it
comes to the advancement of their facilities and their students by
introducing new methods and skills to the learning curve.
While starting our planning to study in the U.S., the first and foremost
thing to be taken into consideration is selecting the right intake. An
academic year at American universities usually consists of two intakes,
namely Fall and Spring. Unlike India, American Universities follow a
bi-semester system where an academic year is divided into two
semesters. Most of the courses begin in the Fall semester.
There are some exceptions and applications for a few courses that are
accepted for the Spring semester as well. However, there are three
intakes which are categorised into Fall,Winter, and Summer:-
1.) Fall Intake – It starts in the month of August/September
The fall intake is the most popular intake amongst the Indian students, also
known as primary intake in the USA. This intake welcomes a great number
of applications every year.
Fall intake is the primary intake among the Indian/International students
and offers a huge variety of courses and degrees to international students.
Fall intake begins in September and remains open till December or the
initial days of January.
2.) Spring Intake – It starts in January (usually it’s best for you if
you miss the September/Fall intake)
The second most important intake in the USA is the January intake, which
is also the best intake if you missed the primary intake. To be eligible for
this intake you need to make sure to start sending your applications to the
universities by November. Although the drawback is this intake doesn’t
offer a wide range of courses.
Winter intake gives chance to those students to study in the USA who
missed to raise the application during the fall intake.
3.) Summer Intake:
The spring/summer intake is available from May to August. This is the
least popular intake amongst international/Indian students. The intake is
open for quite a few number of colleges and study programs only.
Scholarships available in the USA
The United States is known as one of the prime destinations for students
who are looking to benefit from a Top notch and widely recognised
universities/colleges. As an international student, you won’t be eligible for
funding intended specifically for US nationals.
Although that’s not a point to be worried about as the US universities also
encourage students from all over the globe through their international
scholarships to support them in order to afford their study expenses.
Following are some of the best scholarships recommended by Gradskieez.
Below are some of the best scholarships available for you to study in the US
The Fulbright scholarships program is one of our favourite scholarships as
it aims to provide opportunities to diverse groups of people in the United
States.The scholarships are granted to people from economically
disadvantaged groups, minorities and those from underprivileged
backgrounds.
This scholarship was initiated to help artistic, young and talented foreign
students to follow their graduate studies and conduct world class research
in the United States of America.
America has been providing Fulbright scholarships to thousands of
international students in 155 countries to pursue their studies in United
States Universities and academic institutions.
Scholarship Website Link – https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/
Yale University is the third oldest university in the United States and was
found in 1701, New Haven, Connecticut. Originally founded as a school for
the training of clergy, it soon converted to teach many other fields of study.
Many well-known students, Supreme Court judges, US presidents, and
Rhodes Fellow, have graduated from Yale University.
Yale University offers a variety of scholarships in the form of financial
assistance. Approximately 63% of undergraduate students, including
international students, received financial support. For graduate scholarships,
students must apply for the faculty of their choice, as each faculty has
different funding policies. Graduate funding is determined by the individual
faculty, not the university.
Scholarship Website Link – https://finaid.yale.edu/costs-affordability/types-aid/scholarships-and-grants#YS
The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship aims to offer this scholarship to the high-
performing international students who wish to study their Bachelor’s Degree in the US
and who are dedicated to positive social change. It is intended for students who will be
returning home to improve under-resourced, underserved communities in his/her home
country.
The scholarships are targeted at the worldwide college students from any united states
of America who’re not U.S. residents, U.S. everlasting residents, or twin residents of
the U.S. and every other united states of America.
The AU EGL scholarship covers all billable AU expenses (full tuition, room and board). The
scholarship does not cover non-billable expenses such as mandatory health insurance,
books, airline tickets and miscellaneous expenses (approximately U.S. $4,000).
It is renewable for a total of four years of undergraduate study, based on continued
satisfactory academic performance.
Official Scholarship Website: http://www.american.edu/admissions/international/egls.cfm
The Inlak Shivdasani Foundation has begun offering these scholarships to
Indian students who want to study in prestigious countries such as the United
States, United Kingdom and all over Europe. These scholarships can be
applied for courses such as Master’s, M.Phil, PhD, or some special courses.
Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships help scholarship holders by offsetting tuition,
living and air travel expenses.
Eligibility Criteria:
To get the Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships, the applicants require
an undergraduate degree from a recognized Indian higher education
institute.
Besides this, he/she must have 2 years of professional experience as well.
Moreover, visit the foundation’s website to obtain required information
such as eligibility criteria, terms, and conditions as well as the application
process.
Scholarship Website Link – https://www.inlaksfoundation.org/scholarships/
how-to-apply/
The Tata Scholarship is funded by the Tata Education Development Trust.
Basically, these scholarships are for Indian students who want to study at
Cornell University. The learning program offered at Cornell University
lasts eight semesters. In this way, scholarships will be available to students
through their research. As part of the scholarship, in addition to tuition,
living expenses, travel expenses, meals, and medical expenses will be
paid.
The applicant must hold an undergraduate degree. Also, he/she must be
able to produce need-based financial aid while applying for the Tata
Scholarships program. Further details can be found on the webpage of Tata
Scholarship on the Cornell University website.
Scholarship Website link – https://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/
international-students/tata-scholarship
The United States India Educational Foundation awards Fullbright Nehru
Scholarships to PhD students. Therefore, students seeking a master’s degree
or research at a US laboratory may find it worthwhile. Fullbright Nehru
scholarship holders no longer have to worry about tuition fees, airfares,
textbook costs, and scholarships.
Eligibility criteria:
The applicant must hold four years of bachelor’s degree.
Also, he/she must have work experience in the relevant field for 3 years.
Besides this, the qualities like leadership, community service,
communication skills, and motivation towards community building are
also evaluated while choosing the eligible candidate to acquire this
fellowship.
For further details, the students must visit USIEF’s website. It helps in
understanding the other areas which must be covered while applying for
this fellowship.
Scholarship Website Link – https://www.usief.org.in/Fulbright-Nehru-Fellowships.aspx
List of Entrance Exams accepted in the USA
Language tests
All educational institutions require evidence of your English language
proficiency. To prove so, you’ll have to take an English language
proficiency test such as IELTS and submit your test scores.
IELTS
TOEFL
SAT
ACT
PTE
Duolingo
LSAT
GRE
GMAT
MCAT
IELTS
IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world, that is required
to be taken by international candidates considering to study or work in a
country where English is the medium of communication. The most popular
countries where IELTS is accepted for university admissions are the UK,
Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada. IELTS test can be taken on a
computer or paper.
Test-takers who opt for the IELTS computer-based test take the Listening, Writing, and Reading sections on a computer or paper. Whereas, the Speaking test is conducted face-to-face with a trained examiner.
There’s also a new way of exam introduced by British council & IDP. You can now take IELTS exam completely online from the very comfort of your home, as per the IELTS guidelines.
Now you can prepare for IELTS Virtually with our online live coaching get more realistic experience about online test taking.
Test-takers who opt for the IELTS computer-based test take the Listening, Writing, and Reading sections on a computer or paper. Whereas, the Speaking test is conducted face-to-face with a trained examiner.
There’s also a new way of exam introduced by British council & IDP. You can now take IELTS exam completely online from the very comfort of your home, as per the IELTS guidelines.
Now you can prepare for IELTS Virtually with our online live coaching get more realistic experience about online test taking.
TOEFL
The TOEFL exam is one of the most popular English proficiency exams accepted at
American and Canadian universities and education institutions abroad.TOEFL is
mostly undertaken by students who are planning to pursue higher education abroad.
Appearing for the TOEFL test would also allow students to be eligible for several
scholarships and also help students and candidates looking for employment abroad
with their visa application process. It is accepted in over 11,000 universities and
institutions worldwide, including universities in Australia, universities in Canada,
universities in New Zealand, universities in the UK, universities in the United States,
and across Europe and Asia.
SAT
SAT is a standardized test administered by the College Board and is required to be taken by students
seeking admission to undergraduate schools.SAT has been developed to evaluate the written, verbal
and mathematical skills of the candidates. SAT is a pencil-paper test taken by those who aspire to
pursue undergraduate courses, particularly in the US and Canada are required to take the SAT exam.
ACT
The ACT is administered by the ACT, Incorporated. It is a standardized test that is required to be
taken by students looking for admission in undergraduate schools based in the US and Canada. The
ACT exam has been developed to evaluate the written, mathematical, verbal, and scientific skills of
the candidates. In 2015, ACT will begin to be offered as a computer-based test instead of the
traditional paper-based test. The test syllabus, total score, and multiple-choice format will not be
affected by this change as only the test-taking format changes.
PTE
The PTE Academic exam is a computer-based English language test accepted by educational
institutions around the world, and PTE-Academic is the English test undertaken by students and
aspirants who desire to go abroad for studying or immigrate to a major English-speaking country.
Students are required to take the PTE exam to prove their English language competency.
Duolingo
The Duolingo English Test is an online exam that candidates can take on their personal computers.
Candidates who need to prove English language proficiency can give the Duolingo English Test
which can be taken online from anywhere anytime. Like conventional study, abroad exams TOEFL,
IELTS, and PTE also test all the four language skills Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
Currently, the Duolingo exam is majorly used for admission to undergraduate programs in the US.
LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardised test administered by the
Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for prospective law school candidates. It is
designed to assess reading comprehension as well as Logical and Verbal reasoning
proficiency.
The test is an integral part of the law school admission process in the United States,
Canada (common law programs only), the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a
growing number of other countries. The exam has six total sections that include four
scored multiple-choice sections, an unscored experimental section, and an unscored
writing section. Raw scores are converted to a scaled score with a high of 180, a low
of 120, and a median score of around 150
GRE
The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardised test that is an admissions
requirement for many graduate schools in the United States and Canada and few in
other countries. The GRE is owned and administered by Educational Testing
Service(ETS).
The content of the GRE consists of certain specific algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and
vocabulary sections. The GRE General Test is offered as a computer-based exam
administered at testing centers and institution-owned or authorized by Prometric. The
importance of a GRE score can range from being a mere admission formality to an
important selection factor.
GMAT
GMAT is an adaptive computer test (CAT) intended to assess certain analytical,
written, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English to be used for
admission to a graduate management program, such as an MBA program. . It
requires knowledge of a specific grammar and knowledge of some specific algebra,
geometry and arithmetic.
More than 7,000 programs at approximately 2,300+ graduate business schools around
the world accept the GMAT as part of the selection criteria for their programs.
Business schools use the test as a criterion for admission into a wide range of
graduate management programs, including MBA, Master of Accountancy, Master of
Finance programs, and others. the GMAT is still the number one choice for MBA
aspirants despite the increasing acceptability of GRE scores.
MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a Computer-based standardized
examination for prospective medical students in the United States, Australia, Canada,
and Caribbean Islands. It is designed to assess problem-solving, critical thinking,
written analysis, and knowledge of scientific concepts and principles. The most
recent version of the exam was introduced in April 2015 and takes 7.5 hours to
complete. The test is scored in a range from 472 to 528.
Once you complete all the formalities and and admission tests, then the
last and the most important step left is to apply for your visa, that is
also known as a pass to move to another country. While applying for
the Visa, you would have to be more cautious as well as to act
responsible because it is mandatory to have a student visa to study in
the USA. Although, the visa process does not go very but you can make
sure to complete all the requirements related to visa and go genuine
while following the process.
Following are the types and the requirements you need to keep in mind
while starting your Visa process:
A.) The US Government offers three different student visa types:
1.) F-1 Student Visa: To study at an Accredited US College orUniversity or to study English at an English Language Institute
2.) J Exchange Visa: For participation in an exchange program,including high school and University Study
3.) M Student Visa: For non-academic or vocational study or training inthe US.
B.) There are three major steps to the F-1 Visa procedure:-
1.) SEVIS fee and I-20 form collection:
Once you pay the SEVIS fee, you are given an I-20 form from yournew school or college. Duly fill the form and bring it along for yourF-1 interview.
2.) VISA fee and Form collection:
Pay your visa fee at the designated bank and collect the visa form.Duly fill the form and bring it along for your interview.
3.) VISA Interview (the most important part of F-1 Visa):
Schedule a visa interview with the US embassy in your country. Thewaiting time may vary depending on the visa type. Once you completethe interview successfully, you’ll receive your visa 120 days inadvance.
C.) You will generally need the following for your US Student Visaapplication for US universities:1.) A valid passport with a validity date at least six months beyond yourperiod of stay in the US (unless exempt by country-specificagreements).
2.) Acceptance at a SEVP approved school and your Form l-20
3.) Application Fee payment for SEVIS
4.) Non-Immigrant Visa application and the Form DS-160 confirmationpage.
5.) Your recent photographs in the requested format and number.
D.) Additional Documents that might be required include:
1.) Academic preparation documents such as transcripts, diplomas,degrees, or certificates
E.) Evidence that you have sufficient funds to maintain your livingexpenses throughout the period of your stay in the US. This mayinclude:
1.) Bank statements
2.) Financial undertaking by a sponsor to cover your accommodationand living costs
3.) A scholarship program
F.) Evidence that you will leave the US once you have completed yourcourse of study. This can be in the form of an air ticket out of the US toyour home country
G.) You’ll have to apply for your student visa application online usingthe US Embassy and Consulates India website. You can apply up to 120days before your intended date of program’s start date. Remember,your application date is the date when your application fee is paid.
H.) F-1 Visa includes the following costs:
1.) F-1 Visa fees: $160 (INR 11,768)
2.) SEVIS fees through I-20: $350 (INR 25,743)