Requirements for International Students in US
For pursuing an undergraduate degree program in the US, an international student needs to complete 12 years of pre-university education from a recognized institute. Students whose mother tongue is not English need to qualify in either TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Tests Systems). The required scores of the test for getting admission generally vary from one institute to another.
Colleges In United States
By Location:
By Type:
| Business Schools | Medical Schools |
Top Colleges In United States
As per a survey done by the US News and World Report in 2011, the top ten medical colleges in the United States are -
- Harvard Medical School
- University of Pennsylvania Medical School
- Johns Hopkins University - School of Medicine
- Washington University in St. Louis - School of Medicine
- Duke University School of Medicine
- Stanford University School of Medicine
- University of California - School of Medicine
- Yale School of Medicine
- University of Washington - School of Medicine
- Columbia University - School of Medicine
Some other top colleges offering courses in law, engineering, business management and acting are as follows:
- The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (New York, Los Angeles)
- Purchase College-State University of New York
- Tisch School of the Arts
- American Conservatory Theater
- Harvard Law School
- Stanford Law School
- Columbia Law School
- University of Chicago Law School
- University of Pennsylvania Law School
- University of Virginia School of Law
- UC Berkeley School of Law
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of California-Berkeley College of Engineering
- California Institute of Technology
- Georgia Tech College of Engineering
- University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
- University of Michigan College of Engineering
- Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
- Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science
Universities In United States
Top Universities in the United States
According to the survey done by U.S. News College Rankings, 2011, the leading US universities are as follows:
- Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
- Yale University, New Haven
- Columbia University, New York
- Stanford University, CA
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
- University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Duke University, Durham, NC
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Washington University in St. Louis, MO
- Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
- Brown University, Providence, RI
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Rice University, Houston, TX
- University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
- Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Some more universities offering online associate degrees are –
- University of Phoenix
- The Art Institute of Pittsburgh -- Online Division
- DeVry University
- University of Liverpool (Masters Degree)
Scholarships in USA
USIEF (The United States-India Educational Foundation) offers the following scholarships and fellowships to Indian students:
- LearnHub Dream Study Abroad Scholarship
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships for Leadership Development
- International Fellowships Program (Ford Foundation Graduate Fellowships)
- Ambassadorial Scholarships by the Rotary Foundation
- International Fulbright Science and Technology Award
- East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship Program
Educational Expenses in US
Tuition fees in the US vary from one institute to another. Expenses for other areas like health insurance, accommodation, food, transportation, stationery will also differ from one person to another, depending upon the location of residence, medical history, and other important factors.
Students' Visa to Pursue Education in US
Students are required to furnish the following documents:
- I-20 visa application
- A valid passport
- Financial documents
- Offer letter from respective American institute
- Recommendation letter
- Academic documents
- Work experience documents (if applicable)
Education System in the US
Education system in the US is a bit different from that of India or Europe. In USA a student has to complete 12 years of elementary and pre-university education before he/she can apply for the university or college programs.As in many countries, there are several types of schools. "Public Schools" in the U.S. are those supported by taxes and are free to attendees. "Private Schools" are those for which the attendee must pay tuition. Private schools further subdivide into those that include lodging and where students live full time on campus and those that do not have student housing; students must commute on a daily basis to these schools.
The US education system is divided into 4 basic layers:
- Primary School: Primary school education in America generally starts at an age of 5. The first year in school is known as kindergarten and the year following that is considered as the 1st grade. Primary School, also known as Elementary School, generally lasts 7 years and encompasses grades K-6. In some school districts, Primary School includes grades K-5.
- Secondary School: Secondary education in US generally consists of 6 grades, of which ninth to twelfth grades generally are considered as high school. Upon completion of 12th grade, students are awarded diplomas. Sometimes schools or school districts have different grade groupings. For example, some Junior High Schools or Middle Schools cover grades 6-8 or grades 7-9; usually they include grades 7-8. HIgh Schools generally include grades 9-12 but may only include grades 10-12.
- Undergraduate School: After completion of high school, students can either opt for a bachelor’s degree, which is a 4-year program, or an associate degree that is a 2-year program, in his/her chosen field of study. The area where a student looks to specialize is known as a major and along with it there are several elective subjects. Associate degrees are typically issued by a Community College or Junior College. Such colleges typically also offer an option of taking the first two years of studies for a bachelor's degree with assistance in transferring after two years to a University. This can be a financially attractive option, as Community Colleges can be much less expensive than their four year counterparts.
- Graduate School: After completing the undergraduate degree program, a student can pursue the master’s degree programs, which have duration of 2-3 years, or a Ph.D. or other doctoral program. If a student is pursuing a doctoral degree, that student generally need not pursue a master's degree first; but it may be convenient to get a master's degree as part of the course of study.
