All You Need to Know about Higher Education in the USA
Going to study abroad is a dream for many students all over the world. The USA often becomes the destination of their choice. If you are thinking about applying for an American university, you probably have had or will have a lot of questions about the educational system, student lifestyle and opportunities for graduates in the USA. That’s why I’ve selected the most popular questions of international students and share with you all the answers in this ultimate guide on studying in the USA.
Application process
To become an international student, you need to choose a programme, apply for it, and get accepted. The rules of entering university may vary from country to country so it’s important to clearly understand what you should know and do to succeed with your application.
How to Apply to an American university?
It’s a very simple and straightforward process: you visit the university’s website, open the page of the program you like, and hit an “Apply” button. It will take you to the application form and list of documents you’ll need to submit. Everything is done and processed online. If there is an interview stage (which can be the case for top-tier universities), you can always arrange it via Skype or another video-calls platform.
Any additional information regarding the average class profile, application deadlines, supporting documents submission guidelines, etc. you can find on the page of the admissions committee. If there is no answer to your question on the website, simply email admissions commission or course representatives and get all the answers you need.
What Should I Study?
It’s a very common question among high school graduates. I believe that you should study only the things that you are passionate about and that makes you happy. We all know that there software developers and medics can make more money than such professions as journalists or marketing specialists. However, it does not mean that you should rush into these fields.
Choosing the field that is not interesting for you, you risk spending all your life hating your job. And it’s not the right thing to do. There are many examples of people in every industry doing non-mainstream things and becoming successful. So find your passion and choose the degree accordingly.
Which Exams Do I Need to Pass to Study in the USA?
There are two major groups of exams you will need to pass in order to apply for an American university. One is language exams — TOEFL or IELTS. If you plan to apply only to the universities in the USA, choose TOEFL which is focused on American English. If you consider applying for universities in the UK, Canada, Australia or other countries all over the world, opt in for IELTS, which is an international English exam and accepts both American and British grammar and spelling rules.
To score high at the language exam, you need to clearly understand its structure, know your weak and strong spots, distribute time accordingly, and use little tricks to make your writing and speaking parts look stronger. We will cover all that and help you to get the best possible results at the exam with our IELTS or TOEFL preparatory courses.
The second group of exams you may need to pass is knowledge and subject exams. They test your understanding of basic scientific and historical facts, your analytical and critical thinking skills. Among these exams are SAT for Bachelor’s or GMAT and GRE for Master’s degrees. Learn more about each of them in my previous article.
By the way, we got a marvellous video about the exams:
What Is More Important: Academic Results or Scientific Publications?
Both do matter, however, when people look through your CV, they first pay attention to your scores at the exams. Ensure that your GPA is high, that the SAT / GMAT / GRE scores are at your best, and that your TOEFL results meet the level of English you claim to have. Focus on these things first.
Then, if you have some time left, go after the publications. They may add more weight to your financial aid application, for instance. However, they are not the first priority. At least, not for Bachelor’s or Master’s level.
How Hard Is It to Get into The Ivy League University?
Look at the acceptance rate in the university of your interest. On average, the acceptance rate for the Ivy League universities varies between 5% and 10%. From this, you can say that it’s really competitive.
The wise strategy here is to apply for a few different universities. Choose a mix of competitive, average and safe options to be secure when the results come.
Can I Get Accepted with the Low GPA?
Yes, you can. Many universities accept people with lower GPAs and it does not necessarily make them bad. However, you should not count on financial aid as these universities don’t really provide it.
To better understand if you have a shot on getting into the chosen university, have a look at their class profile. It will provide you with information about the successful applicants from the year before. Compare yourself and see whether you will make the cut.
Find more about assessing your chances of getting accepted in my previous post and remember, your application judged not only by your GPA, but also by your exams’ results, recommendation, CV and motivation letter.
Is It Difficult to Get a Student Visa?
If you’ve got accepted to a good university, there is a 99% chance you won’t have any trouble getting your student visa. However, if you applied for a very low-ranking, cheap and shady university, and you don’t have a strong travel history, you might be rejected.
Remember that each case is individual so assess your chances on your own and consult the university if they have previously assisted students with getting visas and if there were rejections in the past.
Studying in the USA
When you’ve got accepted, it’s time to get ready for a few years of studies ahead. However, the American approach to teaching can significantly differ from the way you’ve got used to being taught. For instance, there is a big focus on self-studies and independent research. Here is what you need to understand about the educational approach in the USA.
How Many Hours per Day Will I Study?
In the USA, you can often choose your subjects and decide how many of them you are taking each semester. There is usually the amount of points you can get completing each course and you have to score a certain number of points to complete your degree, so it’s up to you to decide how much of an additional workload you can handle.
Ensure that there is enough time for rest and self-studies. Remember that American higher education heavily relies on your independent research so keep enough time to read, write your essays, and work on group projects. Typically, you will spend up to 6 hours per day in classes and half of that time on your self-studies and written assignments.
How Hard Is It to Study in The USA?
As Frank Sinatra sang, “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere”, and these words are applicable to studying in an American university. It’s not easy to get in there, and not easy to keep your straight ‘A’s.
However, being a graduate from an American university, you have a higher chance of landing a job all over the world. Trust me, your studies are the investment in your future self, and it will pay off in the future.
How Do I Stay in The USA after I Graduate?
OPT (Optional Practical Training) allows you to work in the USA for 1–3 years after the graduation full-time (usually, one year after Bachelor’s programs and up to 3 years after Master’s).
During these years, you would need to find a company that sponsors work visas and convince them that they need to hire you. Many companies do not offer visa sponsorship to recent graduates, so always check it before investing too much time and efforts into working for them.
Alternative ways include getting married to an American resident or citizen, starting your own business and applying for the visa for entrepreneurs.
Living in the USA
When you move to a new country, there are always many expectations and fears about the community and social life. Here are the key things foreign students in the USA should know.
What Is Americans’ Relationship to Foreigners?
A lot of universities are super-international so don’t be scared to be the white crow. Especially if you are going to study in a big city, e.g. New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles.
Just make sure that your English is good enough so you can communicate fluently with people from all over the world. Overall, people in the USA are very friendly so don’t be shy and go out making some friends for life.
Is It Safe in the USA?
Safety can be a huge concern, especially for those who actively follow the news and regularly see the headlines about mass shootings, crime incidents and illegal immigration.
However, when we look at the statistics of the most common reasons why people die in the USA, we will see a cardiac arrest, heart disease, and car accidents. Looking through that list, you won’t see many cases of crime being the reason which means that it’s not as common as the media picture it.
There are open statistics on crime rates for all states, cities and towns in the USA. You can check it before making the final decision if this is something that worries you a lot. Also, you can always check the crime rate in a particular area when looking for accommodation in the big city. If you are too worried about your safety, stay at the student residence or on campus (wherever there is student accommodation of this type). There, you will have 24/7 security and you will be protected from any crime and violence.
Which US State Is The Best for Immigrants?
I have not experienced any real difference in attitudes towards international students in any of the American states. The USA has always been the country of immigrants and it celebrates the equality of all nations and promotes absolute tolerance.
However, if you divide them into two big groups of Republicans and Democrats, I’d say that Republican states are a bit more uneasy about immigrants. If you take a Democratic state, such as California, 50% of the population here are immigrants. So choose one of these states to be on a safe side if you are worried to be treated badly as an immigrant in the USA.
USA or Canada?
If we compare the USA and Canada in terms of culture and lifestyle, they are also completely different. Canada is more secure and relaxed. There are not so many top universities to choose from. In the USA, you find world-leading universities and employers, whose headquarters are based in New York, Washington, or San Francisco. The opportunities are more exciting but there is also more hustle and competition. So the choice fully depends on your personality and ambitions.
In terms of staying in the country after graduation, I’d say Canada. There, it is easier to get your first graduate role and then move into the permanent position with work permit within a year. After working there a year, you can also apply for a residency. In the USA, you need to find an employer, who is going to file for your visa. Most probably, you will be getting a H-1B working visa, which is highly competitive. They grant only 65 000 visas of this type every year and over 200 000 people apply, so it can be challenging to get sponsored in the USA.
Financial Matters
The last but not the least concern of many international students is the affordability of studying in the USA. I’ve selected key facts about student fees and financial aid opportunities for you.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
For Bachelors, you can find programs that are as cheap as $3000–5000 a year. However, these programs won’t be among the best and there is a high chance you can get a better education for the same price in your own country.
Prices for a good education in the USA start at $25 000 a year. The most prestigious programs at Stanford or Yale can be priced at $50000–60000 a year. However, there is financial aid so you can try to get a grant or scholarship to cover all or part of your tuition and living costs.
How to Get Financial Aid?
Every case is individual and your chances to get the financial aid strongly depend on your portfolio and the average profile of other applicants. The higher in the ranking you go, the more tough competition you meet. However, they also offer more grants and forms of financial support in prestigious universities.
Usually, you need to demonstrate either your academic or working achievement or a mix of both that proves that you will be a valuable addition to university’s community and thus you are worthy of this financial investment.
I managed to get the financial aid myself, being a straight-A student with very high scores at the exams (TOEFL and GMAT in my case) and a bunch of awards and prizes from national and international organizations. I had this very strong portfolio and my startup. However, some students got their financial aid thanks to their profound volunteering experience, or had a set of very strong academic achievements.
For more information about financial aid in the USA, the application process, and list of universities that offer grants and scholarships for international students, check out my book “The Step by Step Guide to Enter a University in the USA”.
Are There Any Scholarships for Sportsmen?
Yes, and to get one, you will need to prove your good share and your previous results. You need to be an active sportsman, you need to have footage from your latest competitions, and you need to win prizes at various competitions, preferable at the national or international level. When getting accepted with this scholarship, you need to be ready to represent their team at competitions and work professionally.
To get a shot at this scholarship, you need to approach the right person in your chosen university — usually, it’s a coach of the relevant team, and prove to them that you deserve a place in their team. If they get on board with you, they will assist you with getting a scholarship for sportsmen.
Can I Work While Studying in the USA?
On the F1 student visa, you can work up to 20 hours per week on campus. If your program includes an internship opportunity, you can apply for a CPT (Curricular Practical Training) programs off campus. Furthermore, when you graduate, you can apply for OPT — Optional Practical Training, that allows you to work in the USA for 1–3 years after the graduation full time.
Working part-time on campus will let you earn enough to support yourself during studies, for instance, to buy food, clothes and go out with friends. However, do not expect to make savings during your studies. This is time to focus on your education. With a good degree and strong knowledge, you will secure a higher paying job in the future.
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost?
Medicine in the USA is really expensive. Even having a private medical insurance, you still may have to pay for specialist visits or procedures on top of your monthly fee. However, having it gives you safety in case something really bad happens to you. In case of emergency, you will avoid astronomical bills by paying your medical insurance. Students usually get a special deal on the insurance. You can expect to pay something between $40 and $100 a month.
General Advice for Everyone Planning to Study in the USA
Be ready to work hard. It takes a long time to get accepted here: you need to have all your personal statements and recommendation letters, pass the exams, prepare necessary documents and evidence of your achievements, your English should be good enough, and you should have enough money to pay for your education.
If you are applying for financial aid, the list of documents you need gets even longer. Begin with research and assess the amount of work it will require and your chances of getting in before you start the application. This is something you need to think through and plan very well. With starting to plan your higher education abroad a year or two in advance, you will have plenty of time to choose the right programs and prepare all necessary documents.
Not sure where to start? Contact our higher education experts. They can assist you with selecting the universities in the USA, guide you through the application process, or even proofread and correct your motivation letter to help you stand out among other applicants. With our assistance, over 300 students have been accepted to American higher education institutions.
