Studying In the USA

The United States is often seen as a place where dreams come true, with top-notch quality, great opportunities, and a chance to live the life you want. Studying in the U.S. is one of the easiest and most respected ways to be part of the American dream. The good news is that U.S. education is quite affordable when you do it the right way. Unlike some other parts of the world where you have to pay for your education yourself, the U.S. education system has scholarships, loans, and work-study options. You can find more information about all of this on this website.

U.S. universities want their students to be good at English because they want to make sure they can handle the challenges of college-level studies. But don't worry if your English isn't perfect. Many international students need a bit of help to reach the required English level. Study Group has special programs to support you and help you succeed in your chosen U.S. degree. To prove your English skills, most U.S. universities and colleges ask for TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores. These scores are the most common language requirement. Many North American universities accept both TOEFL and IELTS exams as evidence of your English ability. You can take these tests at centers all over the world.

Work while study

The current rules for international students say that in your first year of study, you can only work part-time, which means up to 20 hours a week, and only on the university campus. This job can help you earn some money for things like books, clothes, and personal expenses, but it won't cover big costs like tuition or housing. Also, you can't use this income as part of your official financial documents. Campus jobs could be working in the university cafeteria, bookstore, library, gym, or in administrative offices. After your first year, you might be able to apply for a job as a resident assistant (RA) in a dormitory. RAs help students and might get free housing, a small salary, or a meal plan in return.

Once you've been studying for a year, you can ask for permission to work off-campus for up to 20 hours a week from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). But keep in mind that there's no guarantee they'll approve your request. If you're married and in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, your spouse can't work. However, if you're on a J-1 student visa, your spouse might be able to get a temporary work permit. Before considering any type of job, it's a good idea to talk to your international student adviser.

Temporary Accommodations

When you first come to the campus, you'll need a place to stay while you find a more permanent home. Some schools offer temporary housing for international students who arrive before the semester starts. You can check with the foreign student advisor or housing office to get information about this option.

If you know another student at the school, you can also ask them if you can stay with them for a few days. New graduate students, in particular, might find someone in their department who can host them temporarily. It might mean sleeping on a couch, but at least you'll have a place to stay and someone who knows the area to help you with your questions.

Permanent Accommodations

There are a few choices for where you can live, like renting an apartment or renting a house. But most international students can't afford to buy a house, so we won't talk about that option.

In the United States, many university students stay on or close to the campus. If they live off-campus, it's usually just a short distance away, like a mile or two. This is convenient for going to and from school, and a lot of social activities happen on campus. Studying in the US is not just about what you learn in class; you'll also learn a lot from your fellow students, so being near the campus helps with that.

Moving In Utilities

If your rent doesn't cover things like gas, electricity, and phone, you'll need to set these up when you move in. Your landlord can give you the names and phone numbers of the companies that provide these services. You might be able to arrange this over the phone, or you might need to visit their offices. If you don't have a good credit history, they might ask for a security deposit. This deposit will be given back to you with interest after a year if you pay your bills on time.

Gas and electric companies usually offer two ways to pay. One is to pay the full amount each month, and the other lets you pay a set amount each month, with any extra or less money settled at the end of the year. Some people like this second option because it evens out your bills, especially during hot and cold months. Many utilities have a program where they automatically take the money from your bank account each month, so you don't have to worry about mailing in a payment and buying stamps.

Education System in the USA

The education system in the United States is quite different from the one in India. In the USA, there are over 3,300 accredited colleges and universities, which offer a wide range of graduate and undergraduate programs.

• Types of Programs
• Types of Institutions
• Accreditation
• Semester System

Undergraduate programs (Bachelor's degree):

This is the first level of education after you finish 12 years of school. It usually takes at least 4 years, and when you complete it, you get a bachelor's degree (In India, many undergraduate courses are 3 years long). There are also shorter 2-year programs that give you an Associate degree. If you have an Associate degree, you'll need to study for at least 2 more years to get a bachelor's degree.

Graduate Programs (Master's & Doctorate degree):

This is similar to what's called post-graduate education in India. It typically takes one year or more, depending on the subject you're studying, and you can earn a master's or doctoral degree, like an MBA, MS, or PhD. To get into a graduate program, you usually need to have completed at least 16 years of education. That means 12 years of school and an additional 4 years of college.

Types of Institutions

In the United States, there isn't a central education ministry that sets rules for all schools. Each school can decide its own programs and admission requirements. There are both private and state-funded colleges. Universities are educational places that have one or more undergraduate colleges, along with graduate and professional schools, like law schools.

Four-year colleges are schools where you can get a bachelor's degree. Community colleges, or junior colleges, offer up to two years of education after high school at a lower cost. They also have short programs that last a few months to a year, and you can earn associate degrees. Institutes of technology or polytechnic institutes focus on science and engineering, along with other subjects like humanities and social sciences, at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Accreditation

Accreditation is like a quality check for universities and their programs. It's a way to make sure they meet certain standards of performance and quality. Accreditation is usually done by organizations that aren't part of the government, called accreditation bodies. There are two types of accreditation: regional and professional. Regional bodies check if the entire college or university meets specific educational quality standards.

In addition to that, there are professional accreditation bodies that focus on specific fields like Business or Law to make sure the education in those areas is of good quality.

Importance of Accreditation:

• Ensures that universities meet minimum standards.
• Only national and international forms of evaluation for US universities.
• Increases the recognition of degrees by employers and schools.
• Helps in case the student wishes a transfer to another university.
• To check out the list of accredited US universities, go to www.chea.org

NOTE: The government of India recognizes only accredited U.S. universities.

It's a good idea to only apply to universities that have been officially recognized for their quality.

Semester System

US universities offer two main semester intakes:

Fall Semester (September/October):

This is the main time when most programs are offered, and you can get more financial help because the funds are set for the whole year during this period.

Spring Semester (January/February):

This is the intake that happens in the middle of the year. There isn't as much financial help available for this semester because most universities put their funds into projects during the fall semester.

 Some universities also offer a summer intake in July.