Studying abroad is a great opportunity to gain lots of new experiences. You get to know a new culture, you become fluent in a new language and best of all – you get build memoriesto last a life time and friends from all over the world. This information is for you who are interested in studying in the United States. To study abroad is a big experience and before you make up your plans it is important to have all the information you need to have a great time in your new country.
It can be difficult to find information about everything you need before you decide in which city to study, at what university and which education. Except this you need information about living, visa and costs to feel safe before you arrive in your new home.
Planning
It can take a long time for an international student to be accepted to a university or college in the US. It is a lot of paper work to fill in and a lot of choices to make. That is why you should start planning early, at least a year before you want to study abroad. Do not get scared when you realize how much research, work and efforts you need to put in before everything is in its place. It is worth it when you are there!
The education system
Different types of institutions
Education institutions in the US can be divided into three different types. Each college or university have a number of schools, for example school of arts or school of business.
- State Universities
State universities, or public universities, are founded and subsidized by US state governments. State universities often have a lot of students and the tuition costs are usually lower than those of private universities. International students pay the same tuition as the students from out of state.
- Private Universities
Private universities are funded by a combination of donations, tuition fees, research grants, and gifts from alumni. The school is normally smaller and the tuition fee is often higher than at the state universities, but all the students pay the same amount.
- Community Colleges
Community colleges, sometimes also called junior colleges or two-year colleges, are community-based institutions and work close to secondary schools, community groups, and employers. Community colleges can both be private or public and provide two-year associate degree programs. The tuition costs are often lower, and you can normally transfer from the community college after two years to the local state university to continue your bachelor degree.
Read more on http://educationusa.state.gov
Different opportunities of studying in the US
In the US you can choose between three different opportunities of studying.
1. Study Abroad – Here you take a few free standing classes, and you study at the school for one or two semesters. Not all the universities in the US have this kind of opportunity and the best is to contact the school to get more information. At some universities you apply to the classes when you apply for the school, but at most of the universities you choose your classes when you have arrived in order to start your education.
2. Undergraduate – You study for a complete education which normally is three to four years long. The degree you get after the graduation is called Bachelor Degree.
3. Postgraduate – this type of degree is aimed at those who are already a graduate with a Bachelor Degree. A Postgraduate or Master degree will allow you to study a specific topic of your choice in depth.The degree you get is called Master Degree. A master degree will usually take three to four semesters to complete.
Prerequisite
- Academic prerequisite
The different universities have different admission requirements. You normally must have graduated from the Secondary School or College. Except this you must fulfill the requirements for the education you are applying for. Some schools also require a result from a test like SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Second Language).
- Linguistic prerequisite
Some of the schools in the US accept that you have obtained certificates at sufficiently high standard in English, from Secondary School or College. Other universities require that you do a TOEFL or IELTS test to prove your English skills.
The semester system
Some schools in the US have a two semester system, where each semester normally is 17 weeks. The fall semester usually starts in August and the spring semester in January.
Other schools use a semester system called quarter system. Then you have three semesters, where each semester is 13 weeks.
The credit system
Each course you take at the university is counted as a certain amount of credits, sometimes also called hours or units. You normally need between 130 and 180 credits to graduate. Your academic advisor at the school will help you to plan your courses and credits.
Read more on http://educationusa.state.gov
A degree program is built up by different kinds of courses.
- Core courses are required of all students and are for example mathematics, English, humanities, physical science, and social science. Different schools require different amounts of core courses.
- Major courses are courses in the subject you choose to have as your major, meaning the subject you choose to concentrate in. A major can be in History, for example, and you need one-quarter to one-half of your total education to be courses of your major.
- Minor courses are courses in the subject where you choose to have the second greatest concentration. The number of courses required for a minor tends to be half of the number of major courses.
- Elective courses are courses you can choose from any department/school at your university/ college. You can choose to study a totally different subject than your major, or you can take a course that is close to your major.
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Grades
Almost everything you do for a class will affect your grade - examinations and tests, essays or written assignments, laboratory reports, studio work, class attendance, and class participation.
The grade scale is from A to F, and for each grade you need certain percentages. For example to get an A on a test you need 90 to 100 % correct answers.
Read more on http://educationusa.state.gov
Costs
The cost to study in the US varies a lot between different universities/colleges, educations and cities. The cost is usually between 5 000 and 25 000 dollars per year. Costs for food and living are normally between 5 000 and 11 000 dollars per year. Except this you need money for travelling, course literature, and personal expenses. We recommend you to do a personal calculation of all the costs to make sure that your budget is enough.
Work permit
As a undergraduate or postgraduate student you are allowed to work on campus the first year. After your first year you can apply for a Curricular Practical Training that gives international students the opportunity to do an internship outside school. The internship can not be more than 20 hours a week. When you are done with your education you can apply for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the US which gives you the opportunity to work there for one year after your examination. An OPT can be extended if the employer approves you to continue your work.
Living in the US
There are in the first place three living opportunities when you study in the US.
- On campus: you live close to school in a student room or student apartment. This living can be more expensive but you get to know a lot of students very fast. This alternative can be good for your first year at the school to become a part of everything new. If you want you can also include meals in your living on campus.
- Off campus: You hire a private/shared apartment outside campus. This is usually cheaper than living on campus. The International office at the university can usually help you with information about private apartments and where to look for them. It can be good to have a temporary living for the first weeks when you arrive.
- Host family: This alternative is only offered by a few universities. It is more expensive compared to living off campus but it gives you extra help and you become a part of the American culture very fast.
Visa
It is the American Embassy that issues your student visa. For more information about how to apply for a visa, please contact the American Embassy in your country.
For more information, go to:
http://educationusa.state.gov
Education USA’s webpage.
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