USA

Education System in The USA

Before advanced education, American students spent 12 years in elementary and secondary school. The first through twelfth grades are used to refer to these years.

Elementary and Secondary Education

Elementary School- Starts in Kindergarten and lasts 6-7 years, from Kindergarten to Grade 5 or 6.

Middle School - Lasts 2-3 years, beginning in Grade 6 or 7 and ending in Grade 8.

High School - Lasts 4 years, starting in Grade 9 and ending in Grade 12.

Post - Secondary Education

Students in the USA attend colleges and universities to seek further education after high school. International students will find the school system in the USA to be quite diverse. In the USA, there are around 4,500 approved higher educational institutions.

Degrees Offered in the USA

The US provides different qualifications to its students. They are divided into four categories -

Associate Degrees

An associate degree is a bachelor's degree earned at the undergraduate level. It is offered by community colleges in the United States and is comparable to a diploma. It lasts for two years.

Bachelor's Degree

These four-year programmes give students education and training for most job opportunities. Students can begin working full-time in their chosen area immediately after graduation.

Master's Degree

With students focusing on one field of study, a master's degree takes 1-2 years to complete. Depending on the student's expertise, master's degrees might be thesis or research-based.

Doctorate Or PhD

PhD study in the United States is divided into three parts. The first is a course of study that takes 1-3 years to complete, followed by preliminary, comprehensive, or cumulative examinations. It takes 5 to 8 years to acquire a PhD degree.

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.

Grading System in The USA

The grade point average, or GPA, is a measure that ranges from 0.0 to 4.0 that is used in the United States to assess students.

across all subjects for a Bachelor's Degree to complete your course.

120-130 Credit Hours

across all subjects to complete your Postgraduate Degree

30-64 Credit Hours

Top Universities in the USA

USA is home to some of the world's most prestigious universities and programmes. Let's take a look at top ten universities in USA -

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT
• Stanford University
• Harvard University
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• University of Chicago
• University of Pennsylvania
• Yale University
• Columbia University
• Princeton University
• Cornell University

Top Courses to Study in the USA

Students looking for a suitable course to study in the USA are presented with a wide range of options. Here is a curated list of the best courses the USA is known for -

1. Business Management

Business Management is the most popular course for higher education in the United States, with almost 20% of all overseas students enrolling in American colleges choosing it. The United States has the world's largest economy, meaning overseas students who choose to stay in the country after graduation will have plenty of job prospects.

2. Engineering

According to US News, the engineering industry in the United States is flourishing, with as many as 62% of all overseas graduates enrolling in US colleges taking engineering degrees. The breadth and depth of research opportunities and funding in engineering and STEM areas in the United States are simply unrivaled.

3. Mathematics and Computer Sciences

This category of disciplines is part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects, which are becoming increasingly popular among overseas students due to the increased need for STEM graduates in the IT sector.

4. Social Sciences

Humanities and social sciences attract over 75,000 international students, making it one of the most popular courses in the country. Journalism, international relations, economics, and anthropology are all popular disciplines in this area.

5. Medicine and Health Sciences

Biology and medicine have always been popular fields of study in the United States. Medical education in the nation is regarded as one of the greatest in the world, and graduates have a very lucrative profession.

Other popular courses in the USA include - Liberal arts, Law, etc

Admission Process

The USA is one of the most popular studies abroad locations. The admissions procedure is straightforward. The following steps must be taken,en by students who wish to apply to study in the USA -

STEP 1 - Research

The first step is to do research and create a selection of courses and universities that will fit your needs. It is vital to do considerable study. You should choose at least 3-5 colleges where you want to further your education.

STEP 2 - Eligibility and Documents

It is always essential to make sure you fit the needs of the universities you shortlist when it comes to their eligibility criteria as well as their fees. Make sure you collect all your documents, including your Academic Transcripts.

STEP 3 - Give your Entrance Exams

To be qualified to study in the USA, you must pass a set of eligibility examinations, depending on your speciality.

STEP 4 - Start applications

Once you have all your documents together, it is time to start applying. Fill out the application form and attach all eligibility documents and certificates. Pay the application fee and submit your application

STEP 5 - Wait for your Offer Letter + Sort Your expenses.

Now all you have to do is wait for the university to respond. Organising all the finances you will require to study abroad is essential. If you need financial assistance, now is the time to search for the finest financing choices and scholarships.

Step 6 - Visa Application

Once you have received your offer letter, it is time to apply for a USA student Visa, and you're all set to go to your dream university!

Entrance Exams Required to Study in The USA

Entrance Exams for UG

SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Test

ACT - American College Test

Entrance Exams for PG

GRE - Graduate Record Examination

LSAT - Law School Admission Test

MCAT - Medical College Admission Test

GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Test

OAT - Optometry Admission Test

English Proficiency Tests

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language

IELTS - International English Language Testing System

PTE - Pearson English Test

Visa

Visa Requirements

Current Passport Valid up to 6 months

I-20, issued by SEVP. You'll have to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee for SEVP to issue your I-20 form. That form should then be signed by you and your institution granting you an admission offer.

DS-160 confirmation

Recent Photographs

Digital Fingerprint scans before F-1 interview.

F1 Visa fee - application payment receipt

Educational Certificates

Proof of Financial Stability

Details of your health insurance policy (Overseas Student Health Cover)

Process

Step 1 - After you've been accepted to your preferred university, your institution will issue you a letter of confirmation of enrollment. Now, you are eligible to apply for an F1 visa.

Step 2 - Visit the USA Visas and Immigration website and fill out the online visa application, i.e. Form DS-160

Step 3 - Upload Photographs – on white background (taken within 6 months of applying)

Step 4- Pay the application fee - $160

Step 5 - You will receive the Reference Number once the fee is paid. This will allow you to keep track of your trips to the visa centre.

Step 6 - At the visa centre, you will be required to provide your "biometric information" as part of your visa application.

Step 7 - According to university policy, you must attend a visa interview.

Step 8 - Wait for your visa. The visa application procedure might take anywhere between 3 and 4 weeks.

Post-Study Work Visa

The F1 visa allows students to work in the United States after completing their studies, depending on the course.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows overseas students to stay and work in the United States for a complete year if they have an F1 visa.

OPT comes in two types -

Pre-Completion OPT - This programme allows overseas students to work while they study.

Post-Completion OPT- Allows overseas students to work after they have completed their degree programmes.

It is required that your first employment following graduation be relevant to your subject of study. International students have 90 days following graduation to find work.

Visa Extension for STEM Courses

Students who have completed STEM courses, i.e. science, technology, engineering, and math, can extend their stay in the US for an additional 2 years, extending their total stay in the country to 3 years.

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

Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral 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

Top Cities to Study in The USA

New York

New York City, often known as 'The Big Apple and 'The City That Never Sleeps,' is placed 20th in the Best Student Cities ranking. New York has a plethora of great universities, including Columbia University, New York University, and many others.

Boston

5 of Boston's institutions are among the top 400 in the world. Employers know Boston's reputation, as evidenced by the city's ranking as the second-best in the index for 'employer activity.' It's also known for its pubs and clubs and its love of sports.

San Francisco

SF is another legendary US city, located near California's famed tech innovation hub Silicon Valley. The Bay Area is home to hundreds of creative enterprises, notably in the technology industry, and is one of the world's top ten financial hubs.

Chicago

Chicago, a fast-paced, high-rise business metropolis, is known for being the home of the world's most prestigious institutions, the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Chicago ranks highly for 'employer activity.'

Los Angeles

The brilliant Californian sun and the beautiful beaches may come to mind when you think of the city. Los Angeles is home to several notable universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).\

Top Careers in The USA

An essential aspect of a student's journey to study abroad is finding a well-paying job afterwards. The USA is known for its high employment rate among overseas students; many jobs pay well and are stable there.

Here is a list of the top-paying jobs in the USA -

Health Care Workers - 208,000 USD

Nurse Practitioners - 183,580 USD

Software Developer - 103,560 USD

Front-End Engineer - 105,240 USD

Finance Manager - 120,644 USD

Data Scientist - 107,801 USD

Physical Therapist - 71,483 USD

Social Media Strategist - 110,080 USD

Business Development Manager - 78,480 USD