Higher Studies » Study in USA
Why to Study in USA?
- World's Best Education
- Educational qualifications and institutions are recognised globally for their high quality and excellence.
- Graduates from USA are very successful in finding jobs and hold prominent positions worldwide.
- Scholarship opportunities are available for international students.
- Degrees and universities are recognized internationally as among the best in the world by employers.
- Australia has a safe, secure, vibrant, and friendly environments to live, study, and work in for international students.
- High quality, first class education with modern facilities, excellent teachers, support services and international recognition.
- Dynamic and energetic study environment with a choice of study pathways, entry points and study environments.
- Australia is a politically stable, safe and friendly country that welcomes international students and visitors.
Type of Education
Under graduate study
State Universities
State universities are founded and subsidized by U.S. state governments, to provide low-cost education to residents of that state. They may also be called public universities to distinguish them from private institutions. Some include the words "state university" in their title or include a regional element such as "eastern" or "northern." State universities tend to be very large, with enrollments of 20,000 or more students, and generally admit a wider range of students than private universities.
Private Universities
Private institutions are funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees, research grants, and gifts from their alumni. Tuition fees tend to be higher at private universities than at state universities, but there is no distinction made between state and non-state residents. Colleges with a religious affiliation and single-sex colleges are private. In general, private universities have enrollments of fewer than 20,000 students, and private colleges may have 2,000 or fewer students on their campuses.
Community Colleges
Provides two-year associate degree programs, usually called the associate of arts (A.A.) or associate of science (A.S.) degrees, as well as excellent technical and vocational programs. Community colleges can be public or private institutions and are sometimes called junior colleges or two-year colleges. A growing number of international students are choosing to study at community colleges. Tuition costs are often lower at two-year than at four-year institutions, and many have agreements to allow students on transfer programs to move easily into the third year of a bachelor's degree at the local state university.
Technical and Vocational Colleges
These institutions specialize in preparing students for entry into, or promotion within, the world of work. They offer certificate and other short-term programs that train students in the theory behind a specific vocation or technology, as well as in how to work with the technology. Programs usually last two years or less. There are several thousand technical and vocational colleges across the United States, and they may be private or public institutions.
Graduate Study
The two graduate degrees offered in the United States are the master's degree and the doctoral degree; both involve a combination of research and coursework.
Private and Public Institutions
Both public and private universities offer degree programs. Public universities may also be called state universities; state universities tend to be very large with enrollments of 20,000 or more students. Since public universities obtain a part of their support from the state in which they are located, the tuition they charge is often lower than that charged by private institutions. In addition, public institutions generally charge lower tuition to state residents (those who live and pay taxes in the state) than to students coming from outside the state. Private institutions are supported by student tuition, investment income, research contracts, and private donations. Tuition fees tend to be higher at private universities than at state universities, and they charge the same tuition to all students, both state and non-state residents. Colleges with a religious affiliation and single-sex colleges are private. In general, private universities have enrollments of fewer than 20,000 students, and private colleges may have 2,000 or fewer students on their campuses.
US universities offer two main semester intakes
Fall Semester (September/October): This is the main intake and almost all programs are offered at this time. More financial aid is also available for this semester and as funds are allocated for the entire year during this time.
Spring Semester (January/February)
This is the mid-year intake. There is limited financial assistance available for this semester as most universities allocate funds to projects in the fall semester Some universities also have a summer intake around July
Entry Requirements
The main requirements for admission to educational institutions in the United States are:
- A strong academic background.
- Demonstrated command of the English language.
- Scores on one or more standardized admissions tests.
- Adequate financial resources.
Under Graduate Study
- A secondary school diploma or secondary school examination results.
- Universities will not usually accept international students who are younger than age 17.
- A basic requirement for successful study in the United States is the ability to communicate in English. If English is not your native language, U.S. universities and colleges will ask you to take an English language proficiency test before admitting you to a degree program. Almost all institutions require that this test be the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Each college decides for itself what score is acceptable. In general, colleges consider a total score of 250 or above to be excellent and a score below 97 as inadequate.
- As a part of the application process, most American colleges and universities require scores from one of the U.S. standardized admissions tests. There are three main undergraduate admissions tests:
- SAT I
- SAT II
Graduate Study
- To be eligible to apply for a graduate level program, you should have completed, or be about to complete, a first academic or professional degree.
- Graduate school applicants should also have excellent grades, particularly in the chosen field of study.
- Proven research ability or relevant work experience also increases your chances of admission at the graduate level.
- Demonstrated command of the English language (TOEFL) Colleges consider a total score of 250 or above to be excellent and a score below 173 to be inadequate. Most institutions require a score of between 213 and 250 (550 and 600 on the paper-based test) for admission to a graduate program.
- Graduate Admission Tests: Most graduate departments require scores on at least one academic admissions test.
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or General Test (GRE Subject Test) or both.
- The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required almost without exception for applicants to business schools.
- The Miller Analogy Tests (MAT) may also be required in fields like education and psychology.
- The LSAT is the standardized multiple-choice test required for admission to law schools that are members of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
- The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a prerequisite for admission to nearly all the medical schools in North America.
- DAT - Dental Admission Test.
- PCAT - Pharmacy College Admissions Test.
- VCAT - Veterinary Aptitude Test.
- USMLE - United States Medical Licensing Examination.
- CGFNS - Council for Graduate of Foreign Nursing Schools.
- CPA- Certified Public Account Accountant Examination