Study in USA

USA has the world’s largest international student population, with more and more students choosing to study in USA. It is no surprise that the USA tops the list of the most popular study abroad destinations. USA is home to diverse ethnicities, the highest number of top-ranked universities, and picturesque landscapes. Choosing to study in this land of boundless opportunities offers you a wonderful avenue to grow academically, culturally and socially. With world’s largest international student population, there is an endless number of students choosing to study in the USA to broaden their education. The USA is known to be the most flexible study destination.

Top Reasons to Study in US

The United States is home to many colleges and universities, boasting at least eight times as many campuses as in any other country. As a result, the education system in the U.S.A. has something for everyone.  Some U.S. colleges and universities emphasize broad educational principles; others may focus attention on practical, employment-related skills; and others specialize in the arts or technical fields.
World-Renowned Academia
According to the World University Rankings 2020 by Times Higher Education, seven US universities are in the top 10 list. Student satisfaction, quality and research focus are some of the reasons that help American universities rank higher. The US universities are said to have the best of faculties experienced in their respective fields adding value to the US degrees.

Academic Flexibility
US education system gives flexibility to its students to structure programs according to their convenience. They also allow the students to choose from a wide array of subjects for their majors.  However, many degree programs require a certain number of classes in a discipline but also allow its students to choose and plan the rest of their schedule. The decentralized system of education allows each university to decide how they want to teach their students.

Industry Focused Studies
Universities in the US emphasize and utilize close ties with industry professionals to keep up with the changing times and role of universities in society. They lay focus on preparing students to be job-ready. Universities and colleges regularly adapt to the demand for relevant, real-world, industry-based research training and education by updating their programs at all levels. In a work-integrated learning environment, programs are industry-focused that provide skills and knowledge to students, which is directly applicable in the workforce later.

The Education System in US

US has more than 4,000 institutions and some of the world’s top universities in the US include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Harvard University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and University of Chicago are a few world’s top universities in the US. With more than 4000 institutions here are the types of higher education institutes in the US:

Public colleges–They are also termed as state universities that are large, state-funded institutions with lower tuition fees but more students.

Private colleges–These are smaller universities funded by private donations, tuition fees, and grants.

Types of Higher Education Institutions in the US

Ivy League Schools (Universities): The eight universities in this group focus on undergraduate education of liberal arts, and also have associated professional and graduate schools under them. Admission here is highly competitive. Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, Brown, Columbia, Pennsylvania and Dartmouth are the universities in this group.

Small Liberal Arts Colleges: With stress on undergraduate courses, these colleges offer humanities, sciences, and social science courses. They have high admission standards. Swarthmore, Manhattan, Amherst, etc., are some of the colleges under this category.

Technical Schools: These schools offer engineering, science, and research programs. Graduate-level students with a strong background in science and maths can attend these colleges. Some schools under this category are Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Polytechnic Institute, and Georgia Institute of Technology.

Community Colleges: These colleges offer higher education, granting certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, and lower-level tertiary education. De Anza College and Bellevue Community College, among others, fall under this category.

Types of Qualification

Degree offered at undergraduate level includes:

Associate Degree
The degree usually takes two years to complete. Associate degree programs may be “terminal” programs, which lead to specific careers upon graduation, or “transfer” programs, which correspond to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree.  Associate degree programs are offered at two-year colleges known as junior or community colleges.

Bachelor’s Degree
The degree usually takes four years to complete. Students study a variety of subjects before deciding on which to focus on, known as a ‘major’. Students may also gain a ‘minor’ qualification by completing classes in an additional subject alongside their ‘major’.

Four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degree programs in a range of streams and subjects to choose from to take up a general or an honors bachelor’s degree. Most colleges and universities in the United States require standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT for undergraduate admissions.

Degrees offered at Postgraduate/Master’s Level 
Master’s degrees generally take two years to complete, but the time period may be shorter or longer depending on how the degree program is structured. The most common academic master’s degrees are the Master of Arts (MA), Masters in Business Administration (MBA and Master of Science (MS).Business, Education, Health and Medical Fields, Engineering, Public Administration and Social Services are a few popular subjects.

 Types of Graduate Degrees:

Academic/research – This kind of degree is usually completed in two years duration (some courses may only take one). Academic graduate degrees generally lead to a career in academia or research.

Professional – These are designed to prepare students for particular professions and usually take two years to complete.

Master in Business Administration
MBA remains one of the most sought after postgraduate-level courses in the US.  Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship, Agri-Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Energy and Management, Environmental Management, and Information Security Management are a few to name.

Doctoral Degree
A Doctoral Degree usually takes four to six years to complete. To be awarded a Ph.D. a student will have to pass comprehensive examinations and produce original research, usually in the form of a dissertation. Successful completion of doctoral degrees is awarded in the field of Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Industrial Technology, Nursing Science, Public Health, Social Work and more.

Intakes & Deadlines

US universities have three intakes, Fall, Spring and Summer. However, Fall and Spring are considered to be major ones as very few colleges offer summer intakes.

Fall semester starts in September and ends in December
Spring semester starts in January and ends in May
Summer semester starts in June and ends in August

The deadlines for each intake are usually a few months before the start date hence, it is recommended to apply early.

The ideal time to begin applications is 9-12 months prior to the intake. Universities generally take about 8-10 weeks to process the applications.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fee in the Unites States will primarily vary on the type of college and course one is enrolled in, study duration and college location. On an average fee range for –

Undergraduate degree is $20,000 to $30,000 per year
Postgraduate degree is$25,000 to $35,000 per year
MBA course is $50,000- $75,000 per year
Doctoral degree/ PhDis$28,000 to $55,000 per year

Work While Studying

The Department of Homeland Security outlines four ways for international students to legally work in the U.S. on an F1 (student) visa:

On-Campus Employment
Off-Campus Employment
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) 

Posts Study Work Rights 

On the F-1 visa, a student can only stay in the United States for 60 days after the graduation date.

Post-completion OPT: Students can apply for this option after completing their studies. Those who are authorized for post-completion OPT can work either part-time or full time. OPT allows students to stay and work in the United States for 12 months.

STEM OPT Extension– STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) students or graduates may receive a 24-month extension of stay. However, this extended program only has a certain number of spots available.

Manya Advantage

Manya Education holds an exceptional track record of guiding more than 2 Lakh students since its inception in 2002. It is the largest partner of The Princeton Review (TPR) globally. We offer end-to-end guidance and solution for all the overseas education requirements.

With 44 centres across the country, Manya Education focuses on foreign university admissions and test preparation. Professionally certified staff and faculty guide students through the entire journey covering:

• Short-listing of Universities
• Test preparation
• Building a competitive application strategy
• Interview preparation
• Visa services

Admissions Consulting Services
At Manya Education, we understand the importance of right counselling & guidance when it comes to higher education abroad. Students and parents have multiple concerns related to studying abroad, pertaining to course requirements, application processes, career advice, visa policies, financial aid and other adjustment challenges when staying abroad.

Our expert education advisors have years of experience in servicing study abroad aspirants. They ensure appropriate support is given to all students by guiding them through every step of the application process. They conduct in-depth screening and discussions to help students identify their exact needs and follow it up by finding the best match for them.

Profiling
Our team will engage in conducting a comprehensive profiling exercise with you, which will help you analyse your overall profile and current status with respect to your future study goals.

Our team will:

• Assess your academic & professional background

• Provide you profile enhancement tips based on your preferred course of study
• Help you understand the suitability of various program options, based on your current profile

Shortlisting
Based on a check of your academic performance, test scores, credentials, and work experience, our team will compare your profile with other applicants. Based on the results, the team will shortlist best-fit universities and suggest courses & majors. The final university shortlist list will be classified into:

• DREAM – Universities where you have less than or equal to 50% chances of receiving an admit
• REACH – Universities where you have 50-80% chances of receiving an admit
• SAFE – Universities where you have more than 80% chances of getting an admit

Financial Support
Finance is a crucial factor in making a decision on higher studies. Our team of advisors will provide you information on the financial support options available for higher studies abroad. They will help you get detailed information on various foreign educations loans and other financial aid options. All your queries related to scholarships and grants offered by overseas universities and the governments will also be answered in detail.

Admission Test Support
Our advisors will assist you with all the necessary information concerning admission tests required for programs of your interest. They will support you with information on the eligibility criteria, test preparation, tips on acing the tests, fee and duration. Once the test results are shared by you along with the shortlisted universities, the advisors will follow up on your application with the next steps in the process.

Application Assistance 
Did you know that incomplete university application files or incorrect application forms lead to rejections?

Admissions Editing
A crucial step of the admissions service is editing your application essays/statements of purpose, resume, letters of recommendation, etc. These documents give the university admissions committee an extensive insight into your personality, abilities, achievements, and goals. Our team of editors will assist you with the following:

• Connect and brainstorm with you to thoroughly understand your profile and clarify the requirements of the university with respect to the written documents
• Edit your resume to highlight your strengths and achievements
• Edit your written documents so that they stand out, above and beyond your scores

Admission Review
Manya Education admissions team will closely collaborate with you to ensure that your application forms & documents are complete as per the college/university requirements. Our expert application analysts along with advisors will provide you the required checklist of College/University-specific documents. All the filled-out forms will be duly checked to ensure an error-free application submission.

Interview Guidance
Once your profile and application is shortlisted by the university, the admissions committee may invite you for a round of interview, either via telephone or Skype/Zoom. Manya-The Princeton Review’s exclusive interview preparation services are rendered by our experienced interview trainers who conduct mock sessions with applicants and share incisive feedback & tips, suggest necessary improvements to enable the applicants to ace their actual interview(s).

Student Visa Assistance
Securing a student visa is the final step towards realising your dream of studying abroad. Our experienced visa advising specialists will help you with documentation and conduct mock sessions to prepare you for the visa interview. Based on your performance, they will suggest the necessary improvements required to enable you to successfully clear the actual interview. Our visa experts will assist you with:

• Checklist and formats required for student visa
• Information on financial documentation requirements for you & your immediate family
• Review your filled visa forms and visa file to identify any errors

Pre-departure Orientation
The journey of studying abroad is an exciting one in many ways. One has to be prepared for many changes and learn new ways of life. Before you embark on your journey abroad after obtaining the student visa, it is essential for you to have an insight into how to comfortably adapt and adjust life in a foreign nation.

At Manya Education, pre-departure orientation sessions are conducted by our well-travelled academic team where you will receive first-hand ‘Pre-Arrival’ and ‘On-Arrival’ information. The sessions share inputs and advice on important aspects of foreign culture, education systems, currency, and insurance, to name a few. These sessions ensure you make a smooth transition into a new culture and lifestyle.