Study in the USA, Search Top USA Colleges, Universities and Schools

Get information from top USA universities, colleges and schools sent to you, a free service for international students wanting to study in the USA. These top USA universities, USA colleges and USA schools are actively recruiting international students.

Why Study in USA? 

Why do so many international students choose to study in the USA? This section explains what the USA education system has to offer each international student and why you should study in the US. Discussed are common misconceptions about USA study. Why are there so many top schools, colleges and universities in the USA education system?  There even is a list of some famous international students who obtained a USA education at one of the many top USA universities, USA colleges and USA schools. A must read for those considering US study.

 

USA Education System
Want to study in the US but confused about the American education system? This section includes international student info on USA universities, USA colleges, ESL schools, USA high schools, vocational schools, boarding schools, etc. Get info about the USA education system and how it works. What is the difference between a bachelors degree and associate degree? What are the differences between universities in the USA, USA colleges, and USA community colleges? Detailed information on associate degree, bachelor degree, masters degree, and PhD degree programs, academic credits, elective course options, types of USA schools, types of USA universities, what a liberal arts college is, and general USA education and graduation requirements for the international student.

US Education Offers Unbeatable Benefits

Every year, around one million international students enroll to study in the United States. Regardless of general impression about abysmal visa approval rate, the rates of visa approvals have actually gone up to a whopping 80% as reported in an Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State in its September 2005 edition. It was slightly lower for Indian applicants though–an estimated 60% applicants from India received their student visa in the year 2006-2007. An estimated 620,000 international students are annually enrolled in American Colleges and Universities and roughly another 300,000 go to US as a part of various academic exchange programs every year-nearly 1 million!

Academic excellence, wide choices of programs, and great flexibility in customizing and designing courses of study are some of the great features of US education system. In addition to world-class instruction, the higher education programs in the United States promote the practice of thinking independently and logically. You can choose to join a traditional school or a modern one for a two year associate program, four year Bachelors Program. Likewise, you can opt for a two year Masters, or a four year PhD Program for your Graduate Level course work in USA. At undergraduate level, majority of students opt for co-education but single gender schools are still in vogue. As per the College Board, there are a total of 49 all female schools and 65 all male schools in the US offering four year Undergraduate Programs! Whatever academic experience you are looking for, there is no dearth of options to choose from 3,700 Colleges and Universities in USA.

Invest in Yourself! Financing your U.S. Education

Is studying in the U.S.A. part of your plans? Does paying for study abroad seem like an impossible task? It’s not!

You are probably a little bit worried about how you will pay for your studies in the U.S.A. Don’t let this ruin the exciting plans you have made. With a little planning, you will come out ahead. Plus, the money isn’t all going towards boring lab fees and library late book charges! You are going to be having fun and spending money on things like ski trips and nights out on the town, eating sushi with your new friends!

Make an accurate estimate for overall cost of your study in the U.S.A., and create an accurate budget. There will be many components to your budget that you need to take into account. Note that many U.S. colleges and universities require that international students pay for their first year’s tuition in one installment. In order to pay this sizable amount, you and your family will likely need to start saving well in advance.

Despite this, do not let the cost of an education in the U.S.A. scare you off! If you are feeling overwhelmed by the cost, consider what an education in the U.S.A. will mean to your future. Education is one of the best investments you can make—an investment in yourself! A U.S. education and proficiency in English paves the way to more secure and higher paying jobs. In the end, your U.S. education will pay for itself many times over.

To finance your U.S. education, you will have to rely on financial aid packages, which include grants, scholarships, loans and work/study options. Make time to research the funding opportunities available to you.

Free money: Scholarships, financial aid and other monetary sources

Scholarships

Very few U.S. colleges or universities are able to offer financial aid to international students, so it is critical for you and your family to be responsible for all of your education, personal housing and food needs. Those scholarships that are issued only cover a small portion of the total amount necessary for an academic year in the U.S.A.

You can write the school of your choice to ask for a scholarship consideration form, but please check first with your family, government, home institution, and any other organizations you belong to as a source for funding your studies. Consider working extra hours while still in your home country, before visa restrictions in the U.S. reduce the number of hours you are able to work.

Loans

Loans can make it possible for you to study in the U.S.A. There are certain types of loans which are available to international students. Compare interest rates and terms at several different financial institutions to find the best deal. In order to keep a handle on your expenses, it is best to use a loan for a maximum of 35% of your total costs.

Work/ Study

An estimated 75% of all full-time students studying in U.S. colleges and universities hold at least part-time jobs. If you are coming to the U.S.A. for more than a short course or exchange, it is likely that you will have an F-1 visa. With this type of visa you may qualify for work/study programs at your college or university.

Be sure not to stress yourself out too much by overloading your schedule with lots of work and a full load of classes. You have come to the U.S.A. to study and you want to be able to enjoy, and succeed in, your classes. The advantage to holding a part time job, however, is the extra money as well as the practical work experience.

Undergraduate Scholarships to study in US

US Education at Undergraduate level is a costly affair, no doubt. Indeed, the big question is money. And US education does mean big money. However, a little research and understanding of the US system can help a great deal. Many institutions award merit-based assistance; whereas others offer need-based aid – assistance proportionate to applicants’ financial need. However, majority of institutions take a middle-of-the-path approach and make a mix of both need and merit while awarding financial assistance. Harvard, Princeton, Brown and Yale are the only four Ivy-League Universities that follow absolutely need-blind admission policy. The admissions office of these Universities even do not know whether an applicant is looking for funds and has applied for it. So the applicant’s paying capacity (or lack of it) has absolutely nothing to do with the admissions outcome. Once admitted, admission offer will come with full assessed financial assistance as needed for all the four years.

USA is perhaps the only country that supports a large number of international applicants interested in studying in America at undergraduate level. The financial assistance policy of American universities and colleges can be broadly categorized into two main categories—Merit Based Scholarships and Need-based Financial Assistance. There are various avenues of financial support as described below:

Merit-based Scholarships: Merit-based Scholarships are awarded by the very College or University which offers you admission. Out of more than 3,800 Colleges and Universities offering undergraduate programs around 950 Universities and Colleges do offer merit-based scholarships to an International student and usually there is a keen and fierce competition for relatively fewer numbers of awards. The range of merit-based scholarship is quite wide and can be as little as 500 USD or as high as the full cost of attendance. Check with the Individual Colleges or Universities regarding availability of this type of financial assistance.

US Education Offers Unbeatable Benefits

Every year, around one million international students enroll to study in the United States. Regardless of general impression about abysmal visa approval rate, the rates of visa approvals have actually gone up to a whopping 80% as reported in an Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State in its September 2005 edition. It was slightly lower for Indian applicants though–an estimated 60% applicants from India received their student visa in the year 2006-2007. An estimated 620,000 international students are annually enrolled in American Colleges and Universities and roughly another 300,000 go to US as a part of various academic exchange programs every year-nearly 1 million!

Academic excellence, wide choices of programs, and great flexibility in customizing and designing courses of study are some of the great features of US education system. In addition to world-class instruction, the higher education programs in the United States promote the practice of thinking independently and logically. You can choose to join a traditional school or a modern one for a two year associate program, four year Bachelors Program. Likewise, you can opt for a two year Masters, or a four year PhD Program for your Graduate Level course work in USA. At undergraduate level, majority of students opt for coeducation but single gender schools are still in vogue. As per the College Board, there are a total of 49 all female schools and 65 all male schools in the US offering four year Undergraduate Programs! Whatever academic experience you are looking for, there is no dearth of options to choose from 3,700 Colleges and Universities in USA. Much more information is available at http://www.mentorsindia.org/