Study in U.S.A

US education is eminently affordable, if done the right way. Unlike other parts of the world, where self-funding is the only way to pay for your education, the US education system offers an array of scholarships and loans besides earn-as-you-learn opportunities.

Study in US - Explore 

The greatest advantage US universities offer is the flexibility to choose your own program at the undergraduate level. High school students at the age of 16 and 17 should not be expected to make a career choice. In India, if you chose engineering and after a year decided that you do not like engineering, you will not be able to change your major and if you do, you will lose a year. In US, you can apply for a major called ‘undecided’ and after two years of taking classes in various streams, you can declare specific major. If you choose engineering and then change your mind and decide to study Philosophy, you most likely will not lose any time and will graduate in the same time period. Remember, this flexibility is available mainly at the undergraduate level only.

Similarly, if you like two streams, say engineering and psychology, you can major in both and get two degrees in the same time period, which is not possible in India.

The US attracts students from all over the world and you will get to study with international students and will learn about different cultures and societies. Hence, your overall learning experience cannot be compared to what you will learn in an Indian institution.

Of course, a US education is expensive and you will have to look at funding for four years, since bachelor degrees in the US are of four-year duration. If you are an academically bright student, score well in your SAT exams, and have a strong application, you may qualify for funding from US universities. If you are applying for a master’s degree you will need funding for two years and will require the GRE or GMAT exams for admission. The TOEFL is usually required from international students to prove proficiency in the English language. The average tuition fee for bachelor’s degree is around $25,000 per year and around $30,000 for master’s degree courses. An MBA may cost you an average of around $35,000 per year.

While studying, The US Immigration Officials allow you to work for only 20 hours per week on campus. You can take up jobs such as laboratory assistant, library helper, or work in the dining halls. Whatever the case, you cannot exceed 20 hours of work per week. However, during vacation time you can work for upto 40 hours per week.

• Education System
• Types of Programs
• Duration of the Programs
• Admission Criteria
• Admission process
• INTAKE
• Expenses

Education System

The U.S. educational system is very different from its Indian counterpart. U.S.A. has more than 3,300 accredited colleges and universities, which offer a wide range of graduate and undergraduate programs. There is no central ministry of education in the U.S. and each institution can determine its own programs and admission standards. There are private as well as state funded colleges.

Types of Programs

Undergraduate programs (Bachelor degree) :
This is the first level of post-secondary education that begins after 12 years of primary and secondary schooling.  It includes at least 4 years of education and earns a bachelor’s degree (Most Indian graduation courses are of 3 years duration).  There are also two-year programs which earn an Associate degree. A student who has an associate degree has to study further for a minimum of 2 years to earn a bachelor’s degree.  

Graduate Programs (Master’s & Doctorate degree) :
This is the same as post-graduate education in India.  It usually involves one year or more of education depending on the subject or course, and earns a master’s or doctoral degree like MBA, MS or PhD. Admission to a graduate program usually requires a minimum of 16 years of formal education. That is, 12 years of primary and secondary schooling and further 4 years of college education.  

Duration of the Programs

• Associate Programs:
  Generally two years
  
  
• Bachelors:
  Four Years
  
  
• Masters:
  Two Years
  
  
• Ph.D.:
  Three to Six Years

Admission Criteria
Each University in USA has different percentage requirement. Admission in both UG and PG programs depend on the scores the student gets in SAT, GMAT & GRE tests.

Equally important is the quality of the supporting documents attached with the application like the letter of recommendation letters and the essays.

Admission process
At least 18 months in advance of your intended date of enrollment at a U.S. university. For example, if you wish to enroll in August/September 2006, you should start the process around April 2006.

Cost of Admission Process
Approximately, Rs.50,000 for applying to an average of 7 universities. This includes test fees, application fees, communication, and mailing expenses

INTAKE

US universities offer two main semester intakes:

Fall Semester (September/October):
This is the main intake and almost all programs are offered at this times. More financial aid is also available for this semester and as funds are allocated for the entire year during this time.

Spring Semester (January/February):
This is the mid-year intake. There is limited financial assistance available for this semester as most universities allocate funds to projects in the Fall semester.

Some universities also have a Summer intake around July.

Expenses: Tuition Fees & Living Cost

US Universities fall under two major categories: public (state supported), and private (independent) institutions. International students’ tuition expenses at state schools are based on nonresident costs, which are still usually less expensive than those of private universities. It’s important to note that the cost of a program in a US school does not necessarily affect its quality. A brief idea can be got from the following table:

The tuition fee is different for different universities and varies widely with courses. It can vary from as low as $ 5000 a year for state universities to as much as $ 30000 per annum for some private universities. For more specific details, please contact the universities.

Living Expenses

The approximate annual living expenses are about $10,000, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. However, the expenses are different for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea. The main expenses can be split up as:

So, about $1000 per month is a good estimation.  Most people can survive with $700-$1000 a month. The key here is to share apartments/houses so that you save on the utilities, fixed charge portion of phone and to some extent on groceries.