Study in USA

Overview

With a population of more than 327 million, the United States of America is the third most populous country. Although no specific introduction is required for the US, attractions such as Hollywood, the Grand Canyon, the numerous famous American personalities in a vast array of fields, its entrepreneurship spirit, the many contributions of Americans to the world of music, among others, make the US stand out even among popular study destinations in the world. 

Ranked 7th in the list of Best Countries in the US News & World Report 2020, the US has earned an overall score of 92.4 based on categories like cultural influence, quality of life, open for business, heritage, adventure, and more. The country also continues to impress in terms of higher education providers with more than 150 US universities having made it to the 2021 edition of the QS world university rankings.

According to the 2019 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, the 2018-19 academic year recorded an all-time high number of international students for the fourth consecutive year with a total of 1,095,299 overseas students. Of the 1,095,299 international students, 202,014 students hail from India with 90,333 students enrolled in graduate programs and 24,813 in undergraduate programs. Besides, the country also boasts of no less than 84,630 Indian students who have been allowed to stay back after course completion. 

Home to two top-ranked global universities, Boston is undoubtedly the number one student city in the US. Other popular student cities in the country include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. 

Being a global leader in STEM innovation and literacy, a majority of international students pursue STEM fields (a whopping 51.6% in 2018/19) in the USA. Among a wide range of areas of study, other popular academic fields for overseas students include Math, Computer Science, Business and Management and Social Sciences.

 Covid-19 Response

• All individuals should abide by the state and local guidelines and practice good hygiene which includes using face coverings in public, disinfecting items, washing hands, using sanitiser and maintaining a physical distance.

• All educators, communities and families will be equipped with resources to continue with their education. This includes testing in higher education institutions, contact tracing, travel guidance, among others. 

• A number of higher education institutions are preparing to reopen their campus. However, many have decided to open in-person learning in the United States. 

• The Institutes of Higher Education (IHE) in the US, in response to the global pandemic, has been divided into four types based on their level of risk: Lowest Risk, Medium Risk, Higher Risk and the Highest Risk. 

• The mode of instruction adopted by IHEs would depend on the current state of COVID-19 spread in their community. Most universities, however, are delivering classes through the hybrid learning model.

• ISSO strongly recommends having a look at the risk level of the community issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) before returning to the US. 

• Regarding travelling from India to the US during the pandemic, the validity of OCI cards of those presently in India will remain and only limited international flights departing from India are available. After submitting an online application, visas and e-visas of Indian students stuck in India will be extended. 

Education System in the USA

The education system of the USA offers a rich field of choices for international students. The US higher education system can be broadly classified into three categories:

Level I – Bachelor’s degree or Undergraduate: In the USA, a Bachelor’s degree course is regarded as an UnderGraduate (UG) course. Usually, the duration of the UG courses in the USA is four years. The first two years of study comprises a variety of classes in different subjects. The most common subjects that are being taught in the first two years of UG courses are history, arts, literature, science and social sciences. May international students in the US choose a community college to complete the first two years of UG prerequisite courses. These students obtain an AA (Associate of Arts) degree and then transfer to a four-year university or college. Apart from the above mandatory courses in the UG, a ‘major’ is the specific field of study in which your degree is focused. In order to meet the degree requirements of the major course, you must take a certain number of courses in the chosen field. The major has to be chosen by the beginning of your third year of UG course. One of the unique characteristics of the American education system is that you can change the major course multiple times. In simple words, the American education system is very flexible.

Level 2 – Master’s Degree or a Graduate: International students from only a limited number of countries are allowed to pursue Master’s courses in the US. Usually, the duration of the Master’s courses in America is one year or two years. Most of the master’s courses are merely based on classroom teaching, and each student must prepare a long research paper called Master’s thesis or complete a Master’s project. For admission to a gradation program, applicants are required to sit exams such as GRE or GMAT, LSAT for law, and MCAT for medical programs.  

Level 3 – Doctoral Degree: Usually, the duration of PhD in America is three years. However, for international students, a Doctorate degree may take up to five or six years to complete. Students can enter Doctoral degree courses with a Master’s degree. The majority of universities in the US enrol new students during the autumn. Therefore, international students can apply for admission during this season.

Also Read: Countries With the Best Higher Education System in the World 

Types of Higher Education Institutions in the USA

The US higher education institutions are not organised at the central level but accredited at the regional level by independent bodies.

Here are the five types of higher education institutions in the US:

Colleges: Colleges are again divided into three types- community colleges, a college under a university and liberal arts colleges.

Universities: These are institutions offering undergraduate and graduate programs.

Community Colleges: Community colleges do open admissions and are often two-year colleges. Fees charged by community colleges are usually lower than that of private schools.

Liberal Arts Colleges: Colleges focused on the learning of liberal arts are liberal arts colleges in the US. They are usually based on interactive instruction. 

For-Profit Colleges: These are institutions owned by profit and profit organizations.

Also Read: Know All About January 2021 Intake to Study in the USA

List of US Higher Education Organisations

In the US, higher education-related organisations can be broadly divided into the following:

• Accreditation Agencies

• Ministry of Higher Education

• Rectors' Conferences or Councils

• University Associations

• Qualification Authorities

• Other higher education-related organizations may be local, regional, national or international.

Note: This list is not exhaustive

Why Study in the USA?

As per the records, the most number of international students are pursuing higher education in the USA than any other country. With over 4,000 universities across the country, the United States is home to some of the top universities in the world. The universities and colleges offer a wide range of degrees and courses in all academic fields. The benefits of studying in the USA are endless. Some of them are:

• One of the biggest advantages of studying in the US is that US education is recognised all over the world. Also, one of the reasons why students at US universities are so successful upon graduation is because they are educated in the 'liberal arts'. It leads to the holistic development of the students as it provides them with limitless opportunities once they have graduated.

• The US is at the first of scientific and creative innovation which makes studying in the USA all the more popular among international students. Large research institutions in the US offer great exposure opportunities for students to work alongside their professors and apply what they are learning in the classroom to the lab or workshop.

• American culture is a melting pot and studying in the USA can broaden one's mindset. Studying in the US can give students a wide range of opportunities to know and learn about other cultures and exchange ideas with peers from all around the world.

• The technology involved in the US education system is another reason to choose the US over any other country. Students ending up in the US are exposed to advanced technology and research in the area of study, expanding their horizons and knowledge.

• According to QS World Rankings 2021, 151 of the 1,003 top universities are in the United States, making it the country with the highest number of top-ranked universities in the world. 

Also Read: Top Universities in the US with the 'Happiest Students' 

USA On-Campus Student Life, Athletics & Extra-Curricular Activities

The United States is often called the world in one country with people from all over the world adding to the country’s multicultural environment. Student life in the US is a completely different experience primarily due to the independence and adventure US universities have to offer.

On campus, international students usually live in dormitories or residence halls that may be distinguished on the basis of year of study, language, theme-focused housing or more. The usual way of living is sharing rooms which undoubtedly is one of the easiest ways to make friends and adjust to a whole new world.

Many college towns in the States have an amazing nightlife that add to the fun on weekends. In addition, the US is also popular for live events, festivals and other activities happening across campuses. Opportunities like these make campus life in the US one-of-a-kind experience.

Unlike other countries, the US sees a lot of students engaging in on-campus activities and clubs after classes, of which sports and athletics are a huge part. Whether you are an international or a domestic student, joining college sports is not only a way to enjoy and boost your health but to also be actively involved on campus.

US universities also have clubs and organisations looking to welcome new students or volunteers interested in a myriad of extracurricular activities such as theatre, dance, volunteer work, community service, the Student newspaper, debate team and many more. Academic clubs are the most popular student organisations which may include clubs for engineering, aeronautics, English, entrepreneurship, psychology, etc. No matter what your interests are, US universities offer extracurricular opportunities in nearly any and every field.

Curriculum and Degrees Offered in the USA

Undergraduate Degrees in the USA

Two-year programs:

There are over 2,000 two-year colleges in the US, also known as junior or community colleges. They are either operated by local districts or a division of the state university. A two-year program route is opted by students in higher education study to obtain an associate or intermediate degree. An associate degree is granted by a community, technical or junior college for a program of study you have completed with concentration in a certain area and broad base in general education. Two-year associate degree programs can be divided into two - Associate of Arts (A.A) or Associate of Science (A.S) - which are designed for students to transfer into a four-year college or university.

Four-Year programs:

Every year millions of students in the US earn four-year degrees that are offered at over 2,000 colleges and universities. Also known as a “college degree”, an undergraduate degree in the US usually takes four years to complete and includes 120-128 semester credit hours. The four years are called freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years and the curriculum of almost undergraduate programs in the US are based on a liberal arts philosophy. The curriculum includes subjects such as social sciences, history, mathematics, humanities, natural or physical sciences and English composition. Students are asked to choose a specific field of study or major after they have met the core curriculum requirements.

The two types of bachelor’s degrees offered include B.A (Bachelor of Arts) and B.S (Bachelor of Science). However, there are other specialised bachelor’s degrees including Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (B.S.P.A), Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), Bachelor of Architecture Degree (B.Arch.) and Bachelor of Design (B.Des.)

Graduate Degrees in the USA

After completion of a four-year Bachelor’s degree, one may continue their learning and receive a graduate education which may lead either to a master’s degree or a doctoral degree. Commonly known as “grad school”, a distinction can be made between graduate schools and professional schools that offer advanced degrees in the fields of business, engineering, law, nursing, medicine or engineering.

• Graduate Degree: Although different types of master’s degrees are offered in the US, the two basic degrees are Master of Arts (M.A) and Master of Science (M.S) which may last one to three years. In general, a master’s degree requires a student to complete  six to eight advanced courses along with an intensive study project or a thesis. Some graduate programs may also include internships to offer knowledge and experience in the field of study.

• Doctoral Degree: This may include either an academic PhD, professional edD or Doctor or Education or DBA (Doctor of Business Administration). A doctoral degree in the US prepares students for research scholar or college faculty positions or other such roles. Doctoral coursework usually comprises three to four semesters done in small seminars. Students will then have to convert their original research into a book-length dissertation or thesis.

• Professional Degree: US universities also offer professional degrees in a specialised area of study. These include degrees such as LL.M, M.B.A, M.F.A, M.S.W and specialist in education (Ed. S).

Accredited Online College Degrees

These are online college degrees from an accredited online education provider that ensures that a student is earning an actual degree

Grading Scale in the US

Grading in the USA are usually letter grades, i.e. A+, A, A−; B+, B, B−; C+, C, C−; D+, D, D−; F; with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest. However, the grading system may vary from one university to another and between system, disciplines or status. Given below is the grading scale followed by US higher education institutions: 

Best Places to Study in the USA

Based on six indicators including student mix, employer activity, affordability, university rankings and affordability and student view, here is the list of top 10 student cities in the US, featured in the QS Student Cities Ranking 2019:

Also Read: Stanford, MIT, Harvard Among Top 10 in THE World Subject Rankings 2021

Cost of Studying in the USA

While the USA continues to be one of the most popular study destinations among Indian students along with students from all over the world, it may also be the most expensive choice. Following is a table giving an idea of the same:

Also Read: Things Nobody Tells You About Going from India to Study in the USA