Education System in the USA

Prior to advanced education, American schoolers go to primary & secondary school for a total of 12 years. These years are alluded to as the 1st through twelfth grades. Around age six, U.S. kids start "elementary school." After five-six years they go to "secondary school". The secondary school comprises: first is "middle school" & "junior first school" & second being "high school". A diploma or certificate is granted upon graduation from high school (12th grade). After this, they usually go on to college or university.

Levels of Study

1. First Level: The Undergraduate degree usually takes 4 – 5 years to complete with research papers, internships & world-class experience US universities offer.
2. Second Level: Master’s Degree is required in the fields with specialized knowledge. For getting into a master’s program, students are required to appear for the GRE (graduate record examination). Some master’s programs require specific tests, such as the LSAT for law school and the MCAT for medical school.
3. Third Level: Doctorate Degree is for students who want to gain an even deeper insight on a particular subject tends to pursue doctoral studies. There are no standard mandatory conditions, but depending on the universities, the undergraduate students can choose to go for masters before or prepare for entry into a doctoral program with some experience.

Top Programs to Study in the USA

The USA offers a host of learning opportunities for students from almost every background. Whether it be science, mathematics, or art, the USA is the perfect destination for students to pursue their Bachelor's or Master's studies. Some of the best courses to study in the USA are:

• Computer Science and IT
• Business Analytics
• Data Science
• Business and Management
• Health and Pharmacy

The USA has universities that offer state-of-the-art facilities for research and hence students who especially interested in research and innovation can opt to study in the USA.

Admission Intakes in the USA

Students can get admission in the USA during the following intakes:

• Fall Intake

It is the biggest intake for the USA universities and a majority of courses open admissions for this intake only. It begins in late August and ends in December.

• Spring Intake

It starts in January and ends in May. During this intake, a selected number of courses offer admissions.

• Summer Intake

This intake is only for special summer programs and is the shortest. It starts in June and ends in July.

How to Study in the USA?

USA is one of the most preferred study abroad destinations in the world. The admission process is fairly simple. For the students interested in applying to the USA, the following needs to be done:

1. Planning and Research: The students should research the availability of the courses and the universities that offer programs of their interest. They should also plan their finances well in advance.
2. Shortlisting Universities: Once the list of available universities is there, a student needs to shortlist a few courses that he can apply to as per his profile and preferences.
3. Appear for Eligibility Exams: The scores of eligibility exams and English proficiency exams shall be required when the students start their application.
4. Start Application: The student can then start gathering all relevant documents and start applying.
5. Student Visa Application: Once the admission offer letter is received, a student can start filing the visa application. It shall require documents such as identity and financial proofs. A visa interview is held and post that, it is decided whether the visa is approved or rejected.
6. Departure to the USA: Once a student's visa is approved, they can go on to make arrangements and depart for the USA and begin their studies.

Costs of Studying in the USA

The USA is one of those countries where the quality of education justifies the cost of studying there. The tuition fee differs based on public/private/state universities one chooses to go for. Usually, the state and public universities have almost similar costs but can differ due to states and locations. Private universities are generally always the more expensive choice, which also attracts most students due to brand name, extra activities & exposure.

You will usually need $8,000 to $55,000 (USD) for tuition which will differ in range for state/public and private universities.

• Average fees for UG – $20,000 to $40,000 per year
• Average fees for PG – $20,000 to $45,000 per year (MBA programs being most expensive)
• Average fees for community colleges – $6,000 to $20,000 per year
• Average fees for Doctoral degree – $28,000 to $55,000 per year

Apart from the tuition fee, the students also need to consider the cost of living which might include:

• Accommodation – $6,000 and $14,000 per year
• Books & Stationery – $500 - $1000
• Travelling – $500 - $1200
• Food – $2500
• Clothes and footwear – $500
• Miscellaneous expenses – $2000
• Health insurance – $1,500 - $2,500 for a year
• Monthly transport pass – $50 – $60

Depending upon the location of the university, one can also get their own vehicle if required.

Scholarships in the USA

Studying in the USA can be expensive and hence there are several scholarships that are available for Indian and international students. Some of these are:

• Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships
• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships – Scholarship Amount: Not more than USD 100,000
• Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships
• Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships - Lecturing, Research, Lecturing and Research (combined)
• Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
• ICSP Scholarship at University of Oregon
• Clark Global Scholarship Program
• PEO International Peace Scholarship For Women
• Obama Foundation Scholars' Program
• Fully Funded Rotary Peace Fellowships
• Civil Society Leadership Award

The scholarships available are both need-based and merit-based. The students can apply for these scholarships as per their individual timelines.

USA Student Visa

There are three types of student visas in the USA:

1. F1 Student Visa: The students who apply for programs that require 18+ hours of study in a week need to apply for the F1 visa. All undergraduate and postgraduate aspirants need to apply for this visa.
2. J1 Exchange Visitor Visa: This visa is for students pursuing an exchange program.
3. M-1 Vocational/Non-Academic Student Visa: The M1 visa is for students applying for vocational and technical schools.

USA Student Visa Application Process

The students need to complete the following steps while applying for the USA student visa:

• Visit the website and go through instructions: Students are required to get an idea of the instructions.
• Gather required documents: They should get all the documents that are required to complete the application process.
• File online application: Students should visit the website and complete DS-160 form
• Schedule interview: After completing the online application, a student is allotted a date for an interview.