The USA is a ‘land of opportunities.’ It is one of the most popular study destinations for students all around the world. Due to its dynamic and welcoming environment, the USA attracts students all across the world. The country is home to some of the biggest universities and the technological hotspot ‘Silicon Valley.’

The USA has the most significant number of international students. According to data, most international students come from China, India and South Korea. So, now, let’s see why the USA is the best option for Indian students to pursue graduation. 

Essential Things You Need to Know Before Studying in the USA

Are you planning to study in the USA? You must keep the following factors in mind before applying to any university in the USA:

Economic Outlook

The USA has a highly developed mixed economy and the world’s largest economy in terms of nominal GDP. The United States of America has the world’s most technologically advanced economy. It has the fifth-highest per capita GDP globally, and the current GDP is $22.68 Trillion. 

Relations with India

The USA and India share a bilateral relationship and have evolved into a “global strategic partnership.” Both countries share an interest in developing global security, stability and economic success through trade, investment and communication. In 2019, the bilateral trade in goods and services between the United States and India reached $149 billion. Recently, the number of Indian students enrolling in colleges and institutions in the USA generated more than $8 billion in their economy. 

Career Prospects

If you are planning to study in the USA, you must be aware of the career prospects in the country. Employment in the USA is at an all-time high, with the unemployment rate being around 5.5%. As a graduate, you can get jobs in industries like IT, software, computer science, computer engineering, data analytics, datascience,healthcare and retail and earn upto $134,000 (INR 99.8 Lacs) per year.

Education Prospects

The United States of America has a multicultural and friendly environment. The tuition cost for international students usually depends on the type of course and university. The average tuition cost is between $10,000 (INR 7 Lacs) to $65,000 (INR 48.4 Lacs) per year. With a student visa, you can also choose to work part-time for 20-hours in a week aside from your college and 40 hours during weekends to support your living expenses.

The fabulous opportunities available for international undergraduate students in the USA include research work on the latest problems the world is facing or working on real-time projects with companies, getting involved in the latest technological advancements, internships, capstone projects, thesis, and many more.

The famous courses in the USA are medicine, accounting, engineering, business, agriculture, economics, computer science, psychology and architecture. 

There are a total of 5,300 universities and colleges in the USA offering over 2 million courses, from which 8 colleges are Ivy League research universities, including Harvard University. The colleges and universities are collectively called “The American Higher-Education System.” In the QS World University Rankings for 2022, the United States is home to just under half of the top 100 universities in the world (which has 26 representatives).The 4 universities of the USA feature in the world’s top 10 universities as per the latest QS Rankings, which are as follows:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Stanford University
• Harvard University
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

According to the Project Atlas by IIE, 10,75,496 international students enrolled in the USA universities, with over 1,93,124 students from India. 

There are six types of universities in the USA:

• Public Universities:State-funded that operate on public taxes.
• Private Universities:They receive private funding via alumni donations and tuition fees.
• Ivy League Universities:The most famous American universities formed with eight universities: Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown Universityand Dartmouth College.
• Technical Schools:They offer specialisation in engineering, science and research degrees.
• Liberal Arts Colleges:They offer courses in the humanities, sciences and social sciences. 
• Community Colleges:These colleges provide a two-year Associate Degree program that permits you to complete your bachelor’s degree from a different college or university.

Academic Requirements: A Copy of Passport | High School Transcripts| Sufficient TOEFL/IELTS Scores | Extracurricular Activities | Standardised Test Scores – SAT/ACT | LORs | Health Insurance | Essay/Personal Statement.

Fun Facts

The Missouri River is the longest in North America. It originates in Montana, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and runs for 2, 341 miles until joining the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri.

Las Vegas is the 28th famous city in the United States. This city is well-known for its nightlife, entertainment, casinos, shopping and excellent food. 

Local Cuisine

Some of the best traditional food you can get in the USA are apple pie, hamburgers, bagels & lox, deep-dish pizza, clam chowder, tacos, to name a few. 

Famous Travel Destinations

It is not a secret that the USA has some of the best places to discover, including Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Statue of Liberty, White House, Walt Disney World Resort and the list never ends. 

Final Words

According to reports, international students can stay in the United States for 60 days with an F-1 visa after graduation. 

Some of the most popular work visas are:

• Non-Immigrant H-3 Visa: This visa is for individuals who do not have appropriate education or work experience and want training. This visa is valid for 2 years.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT):  You can opt for this visa if it is related to your field of study. It allows you to work for 12 months under OPT employment.

After residing in the USA legally for 1 year after acquiring refugee or asylee status, an international student will be eligible to apply for a Green Card or Permanent Residence Permit. Moreover, STEM graduates get 24 months extension under OPT, essentially making it 3 years post-study stay in the US.

The USA is one of the greatest countries in the world, with a vast cultural hub and high standard of living. Students from different cultures can freely study and live here without the fear of racism. So, being an Indian, if you are planning to study in the USA, it’s the best choice you’ll ever make. Contact the UniVisory team to get more information.