USA
USA as a country is one of the best studies abroad destinations for international students. Every year, over 900,000 students enroll themselves in USA universities because of factors like quality education and unique academic structure. The country aims to offer education in an innovative way through 4000 unique courses and 4000+ universities. Apart from this, USA is home to top universities like Harvard, Stanford and Princeton and as per reports, 7 out of 10 universities in top universities are located in the USA.
Table of Contents
- Top Universities in the World
- Wide Curriculum of Programs
- Cultural Diversity
- Training and Work-study Programs
- Placements
Table of Contents
USA is home to some of the top universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, Princeton. And, as per reports of QS Top Universities Rankings 2022, 55 out of top 100 universities are from the USA. Additionally, another report from Times Higher Education suggests that 7 out of top 10 universities are American. Earning a degree from a USA university offers guarantee to students for employability across the globe. Therefore, American universities are known to have the best infrastructure, technology and offer excellent course curriculum.
Some of the top universities according to QS Top University Rankings 2022 are tabulated below,
| QS Ranking 2022 | University Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 3 | Stanford University |
| 5 | Harvard University |
| 6 | California Institute of Technology |
| 10 | University of Chicago |
| 13 | University of Pennsylvania |
| 14 | Yale University |
| 19 | Columbia University |
| 20 | Princeton University |
| 21 | Cornell University |
Apart from this, some of the USA universities are also equipped with the best industry and innovation. As per Impact Rankings 2019 by SDG, the best universities in the US for industry, innovation and infrastructure are tabulated below.
| THE Rank | Name | Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 92.2 | 90.6 |
| 15 | University of South Florida (Tampa) | 84.7 | 78.9 |
| 17 | Emory University | 81.8 | NA |
| 33 | University of Georgia | 75.1 | 77.1 |
| 40 | Ohio State University | 71.8 | 78.9 |
| 46 | University of Massachusetts | 65.2 | 64.6 |
| 55 | Stony Brook University | 62.1 | 78.1 |
Study in USA: Wide Curriculum of Courses
Students willing to study in USA have the opportunity to choose not only the program but also the structure of the program. Students enrolled at undergraduate level can find their interest by hit and trial method and after second year subject major can be taken. Similarly, graduate students can combine elective courses with degrees to customize their degree.
Apart from this, another feature that makes the US a preferred study abroad destination is transfer admission. Students can easily transfer their credits from one university to another. Processors at university maintain a healthy relationship with students due to which more and more Indian students prefer the USA.
USA is a diverse country and various cultures from different countries enhance the overall culture of university. American universities invite applications from various countries and accept their culture and tradition whole-heartedly. Hence, studying in USA as an international student opens various overall growth and personal opportunities. Employers in USA prefer students with multi-culture talent so that business across the borders run smoothly. The overall enrollment for 2020-2021 in USA universities for international students is more than 900,000. Therefore, out of all, China and India are top contributors with 317,299 and 167,582 respectively. Some of the top international countries with student enrollment in USA for the year 2020-2021 are mentioned below.
| Country | % of Student Enrollment |
|---|---|
| China | 317,299 |
| India | 167,582 |
| South Korea | 39,491 |
| Canada | 25,143 |
| Saudi Arabia | 21,933 |
| Vietnam | 21,631 |
| Taiwan | 19,673 |
| Brazil | 14,000 |
| Mexico | 12,986 |
| Nigeria | 12,860 |
| Japan | 11,785 |
| Nepal | 11,172 |
| Iran | 9,614 |
The country being a pioneer when it comes to the quality of education is one of the most prominent reasons to study in USA. More than 150 Universities in the USA are ranked among the top universities of the world by QS rankings 2020.
Overview of education in the USA
For Indian and international students, choosing to study in the USA might raise several questions. Several important aspects of pursuing higher education in the USA are briefly discussed below for overseas students:
Why study in the USA?
A wide range of colleges and universities in the USA provide uniqueness to the students that seldom can anybody finds in elsewhere.
Other advantages of studying in the USA include the abundance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses and the equal value placed on the study of the arts and literature. The main advantages of studying in the United States is that every culture: 1-Every culture and tradition has contributed to the improvement of the United States. This makes the atmosphere in the USA more diverse, which will make your experience there special. Once you are aware of the reasons, you will undoubtedly decide to pursue higher education in the USA.
Top universities in the USA (Update)
American universities have a stable and proven history of providing quality education programs and courses. There are a number of university ranking systems in use across the world which use the following parameters to classify institutions:
1- Academic reputation of instructors and programs
2-Ease of education for international students
3-Job opportunities after graduation
There are numerous prestigious colleges in the USA that excel in their teaching practices and support students’ entire growth. Let’s look at the top colleges in the USA:
Top courses in the USA (Update 2023)
There are numerous options for international students looking for the top programs to enroll in the USA. The US Universities are renowned for a few courses. Here is a short look at the top courses for international students to take in the USA 2022:
1-Engineering
2-Agricultural Sciences
3-Accountancy
4-Architecture
5- Management and Finance
6-Tourism & Hospitality Management
7-Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
The most popular programs that international students choose to study in the USA are:
Admission Process of Universities in the USA (Update 2023)
This part will explain the details of the admission process for international students to study in the USA. It will make your immigration process smoother if you plan how to apply beforehand. The following steps in the picture show the admission process to study in the USA
1-Choose the course you want to study, then begin looking for the top institutions that offer it.
2-Once you’ve narrowed down your selection of institutions, visit the official university websites to learn more about the qualifications and eligibility requirements.
3-Complete the application form and upload all the necessary paperwork. Pay the application fees.
4-Wait for the colleges to respond after you’ve submitted your application.
5-After being admitted, an I-20 form will be issued to you. You require it in order to obtain your student visa.
International students must know the admission standards for various courses in the USA shown in the below table:
Top cities for international students to Study in USA
The US has a wide variety of cities for you to pick from, with more than 50 states having internationally renowned universities. In terms of exposure and knowledge, they are all equally enjoyable. Here is a list of the top universities in the USA for students.
Student visa in the USA
With a very simple visa application process, International students can study in the US. You must carefully follow all the guidelines in order to receive your visa without any issues.
1-The DS-160 visa application form must always be submitted online. Decide where you want to apply, and ensure that you have all the information and supporting documentation required for the application form.
2-You will be sent an I-20 or DS-160 form after being admitted to a school with SEVP certification. To apply for a student visa to the USA, the form is required.
3-At least three days before submitting your US visa application, pay your SEVIS fee. You have two options for making the payment: online or on paper. You may find out more about them on the official US Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) SEVP website.
4-You can schedule an appointment with a US consulate or embassy in your country to apply for a US student visa after receiving your SEVIS form and paying the SEVIS fee.
5-Pay the application fee for a visa. It is often referred to as the “MRV fee,” or Machine Readable Visa Fee.
6-Set up and attend a US student visa interview is the last stage. Check the website of the embassy or consulate to see what documentation is needed for the interview.
7-You must always submit the DS-160 visa application form in an online format. Make your choice of where you want to apply, and ensure you have all the information and documents needed for the application form.
Required documents and personal information for DS-160 visa applications
1-Name and birthdate
2-Addresses and telephone numbers
3-Passport information
4-Information about the itinerary and the passengers
5-Information about prior US travel
6-Your American point of contact
7-Details about your family, job, and education
8-Background, security, and health information
9-SEVIS ID and the US school or program’s address that you wish to enroll in (as printed on I-20 or DS-2019 form)
Remember to arrive at least 30 minutes before the time of your scheduled visa interview.
Top Scholarships to study in USA for international students
Students can apply for a variety of scholarships and aids to study in the USA, which can keep them focused on their studies. Below are a few of the top scholarships available to Indian and other international students in the USA:
Job opportunities in the USA for international students
International students can work part-time in the USA without a student visa. The US Government enforces a 20-hour work-week limit for international students working part-time jobs there.
Student employment might be either on-campus or off-campus. The former refers to work done on a university or college campus. On the other hand, work associated with the university is considered to be off-campus. Students can work off-campus in one of four categories: Optional Practice Training (OPT), Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Economic Hardship, and International Organizations.
Some well-liked part-time positions for students in the USA are shown in the below table:
Job opportunities after graduation in the USA
The majority of foreign students studying in the US have an F-1 non-immigrant student visa. Depending on the degree, having an F1 visa allows them to work in the USA once their studies are complete. However, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has set certain recommendations and limitations. Here are some of the potential employment opportunities after your graduation
Work Visa & PR in the USA
Students are permitted to remain in the country after their F1 student visa extension expires with the acquisition of an H-1B USA work visa. Students can stay and work in the US for up to 6 years with this visa.
For permanent residency in the US, students who want to stay for more than six years may apply for a green card. The following are some methods for F1 students to apply for a green card in the USA:
1-Employment letter
2-Marry a US citizen
3-Participate in the US military service
4- Receive parent or child sponsorship
5- Receive parent or child sponsorship
Students who meet the aforementioned requirements will undoubtedly receive their PR in the USA. People can apply for all kinds of work possibilities in the USA if they have a PR.
Check USA Forum on the below link if you are interested in finding students’ experiences or discussing USA scholarships, grants, universities, countries, visa process, application, and even English exams.
Frequently Asked Questions: Study in the USA (Update 2023)
1-When does the US academic year start?
Typically, the academic year lasts from August through May. Most universities operate on a semester basis (two terms), but some also do so (three terms).
2-Can someone with a three-year bachelor’s degree apply for a master’s degree?
For universities in the US, this is a difficult question. Most elite colleges need a 4-year undergraduate program, but some (even strong ones) may accept a three-year program. The best course of action is to look up the eligibility requirements of the universities you’ve narrowed down.
3-How can I search here for the numerous US universities?
In the US, there are 4,500 accredited universities. Getting around them can be challenging. The Grad School Finder tool is accessible here. The results of the Grad School Finder can then be discussed with seniors or other students in Yocket forums, or you can read university reviews on Yocket. On the official government website, you should also examine the accreditation of the universities.
4-Which English test should I take to study in the USA?
You can take both IELTS and TOEFL tests. In many of the graduate studies in the USA, GRE is a mandatory exam.
5-How should I find on-campus jobs in the USA
When it comes to finding jobs, networking and volunteering become crucial. You should be proactive and also contact the university’s career department. Getting practical advice from Seniors also helps.