Overview of the United States of America

The United States of America offers students the opportunity to get a world-renowned education from some of the highest ranked universities and colleges globally. More than 1,000,000 international students make the US their destination of choice to further their education. The majority of international students shared that receiving a degree from the US was a good investment, because of the returns both socially and culturally.

Get Globally Recognized Education

One of the biggest reasons students choose to study in the United States is the country’s reputation for renowned higher-education programs. Year after year, universities in the United States continue to dominate university rankings. More than half of the top 20 universities are in the US according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities, and the QS World University Rankings. Harvard, MIT, and Stanford University consistently take the top three spots in all university rankings.

Besides these well-known names, the US is home to many other prestigious universities and colleges that offer superior education and cutting-edge learning and research opportunities.

Choose from a Wide Range of Subjects

With over 4,500 US universities offering undergraduate degrees, students have a lot of study options to suit their interests and aspirations. Students at American colleges and universities can explore numerous different subject matters. In fact, they are expected to take different courses and explore their interests in their first two years of study before declaring their choice of major at the end of the second year.

• Double Major: In a double major, students combine two areas of study. They are expected to take the same number of courses in each respected major to qualify.
• Major-Minor: In a major-minor, students have a similar combination. The program with the lesser number of courses is considered the minor program.

Experience American Living

Covering 10 million square kilometers, the United States is the third largest country in the world. The US is home to four distinct regions; the Northeast, the Midwest, the South, and the West. Within those regions, students have the opportunity to visit one of 62 national parks spanning across 28 states. Some of the most popular ones to visit are Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Glacier, Sequoia, and Joshua Tree. Some of the most popular states people choose to live in are California, New York, Texas, and Florida. Whether students want to experience east coast charm, southern hospitality, or the bright lights of hollywood, international students can find an area to live that suits them.

The US education system consists of 12 years of elementary and secondary education before students can advance to post-secondary education.

In the US, the school calendar begins in August or September and continues through to May or June. The majority of students begin school in autumn. The academic year is composed of three terms also known as semesters. The first semester is from September to December followed by a short holiday break between semesters. The second semester is from January to May. The last semester is a summer holiday break. Post-secondary students can be on summer break from June to August.

Elementary and Secondary (K-12) Education

Elementary and secondary school is similar across the US. However, there are minor variations from state to state. Elementary and secondary education is divided into:

• Elementary School: Runs for 6-7 years starting in Kindergarten through to Grade 5 or 6
• Middle School: Runs for 2-3 years starting in Grade 6 or 7 through to Grade 8
• High School: Runs for 4 years starting in Grade 9 through to Grade 12

Once a student has completed Grade 12, they will receive a high school diploma. Students must complete secondary school (high school) to qualify for post-secondary education. Public education in the US is generally free, however, students may come across some fees including field trips, uniforms, books, etc.

Post-Secondary Education

The US has more than 4,500 post-secondary institutions. The US is unique as their institutions are not centrally organized but are accredited on a national or regional level. There are many different types of post-secondary education systems within the US. They include:

• State College or University
• Private College or University
• Community College
• Institute of Technology

Each type of institution provides students with a unique schooling experience, giving students the flexibility to choose the path that works best for them and their career.

Public and Private Institutions

Public or state institutions are supported by state or local governments. Each state has a minimum of one state university and college. With support from the government, students are provided with an affordable post secondary option.

Private institutions are privately run and receive no funding from the government. Notoriously, private institutions have higher tuition rates. They are also smaller in size and can have religious affiliations than their public school counterparts.

Types of Post-Secondary Institutions

State College or University

State colleges offer a more affordable post-secondary route. They have often have a wide range of degree programs available. Students also have access to a vibrant campus life, extra-curricular activities, and state of the art teaching facilities. The largest public colleges in the US have over 60,000 students enrolled. Some state colleges available include:

• University of Michigan
• University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA)
• University of Virginia
• University of California – Berkeley

Private College and University

Private colleges offer students with smaller class sizes, that helps the students build a relationship with their professors and advisors. They have a smaller list of the degree programs they offer but students have the option to customize their degrees and will be part of more discussion based classes. Among the private colleges are the prestigious Ivy League.

Ivy League

The Ivy League is one of the most well-known groups of universities in the world. It consists of a group of eight historic universities. They are all located in the northeast region of the US. The Ivy League was originally formed in the 1950s as an athletic association. To this day it remains an athletic association, as well as leaders on the intellectual side. The eight schools include:

• Brown University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth University
• Harvard University
• Princeton University
• The University of Pennsylvania
• Yale University

Community College

Community colleges are two-year associate degree programs/certifications. Throughout the years, community colleges have begun to adopt vocational oriented programs. There are two associate degrees students can take in community college. Students can enroll in an academic transfer program or direct to the workforce program. ESL or intensive english language programs are available to help prepare international students for university-level courses. Some community colleges available include:

• Green River College
• Miami Dade College
• Northern Virginia Community College
• Santa Monica College

Institute of Technology

Institutes of technology are universities that specialize in engineering, technology, applied sciences, and natural sciences. Students can attend a four year program to receive a bachelor’s degree. Some institutions have graduate programs and also offer short-term courses. Some institutes available include::

• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• New York Institute of Technology

Levels of Education Qualifications

The US has various qualifications students can achieve while they study stateside. They are grouped into associate degree, bachelor degree, masters, and doctoral.

Associate Degrees: Typically 2-year programs designed to provide students with basic knowledge on subjects. They prepare students for entry-level positions in fields including nursing, designing, and education.

Bachelor Degree: Taking 4 years to complete, these programs provide students with education and preparation for most careers paths. Students are able to accept full-time work in their respective field right after graduation.

Some examples of bachelor degrees are:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Science (BS)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)

Masters: Can take 1-2 years to obtain with students specializing in one area of study. Masters can be thesis or research-based depending on the student’s specialization.

Doctoral (PhD): There are different types of doctoral degrees that students can obtain. All are typically research-based and require students to have found a research supervisor at the university they’re applying to. Students looking to get into the medical field will need to obtain a Doctor of Medicine designation, which is different from other doctoral streams.

The Government of the United States offers international students three different types of visas depending on the level of schooling they apply for. Before a student can apply for the F, J, or M student visa, they must apply and be accepted by an institution in the US that is certified by the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP).

• F Student Visa: Reserved for students looking to study at a college or university in the US or to study English at an English language institute
• J Exchange Visa: Awarded to students looking to participation in an exchange program at the high school and university level
• M Student Visa: For students looking for non-academic or vocational study or training in the US

Once a student is accepted by a SEVP-certified school, they receive an I-20 or DS-2019 form from the institution’s international student office. These forms are important to present when the student applies for their visa. The Government of the United States has two separate government agencies involved in international student arrival and status while studying abroad.

The two agencies involved are: State Departments (responsible for issuing the visa) and the US Department of Homeland Security (responsible for monitoring student entry to the country).

Students applying for an F1 visa will have strict qualifications to prove including:

• Provide proof of intent to return to their home country upon their completion of studies
• Demonstrating they have sufficient funds to support their life in the US
• Valid passport
• English language proficiency 

Students are also required to complete a F1 visa interview. This interview determines whether the student is qualified or not. Some examples of F1 visa questions include:

• Why did you choose to study in the US instead of joining the workforce in your home country?
• Why did you choose this institution and why is it the best school for you?
• What are your test scores (GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS), your GPA, and your overall performance as a student in the past?
• How are you funding the entire duration of your education, including tuition, room and board, transportation, and all other expenses?
  After you graduate, will you return home or will you stay in the United States?

If a student is approved, they may be required to pay an insurance fee and have a digital fingerprint scan taken for government records. Students are required to provide their passport to receive the visa. Do not make any travel plans until the student has their visa approved. The visa insurance fee does not guarantee visa approval.

Students who wish to study in the United States may first need to attend a pathway program to help them meet the entry requirements to get into their desired program. This may include partaking in intensive english programs, bridging courses, and undergraduate and graduate pathway programs.

Intensive English Program (IEP)

IEP programs prepare international students of all levels of english. This program acts as a pathway to undergraduate conditional admission for students who want to attend an American institution. In some cases, students have the opportunity to get admissions without a TOEFL or IELTS score if an IEP is successfully completed.

Bridging Courses

Bridging courses are short courses that range from a few weeks to a few months in duration. These courses help students meet the subject-specific prerequisites and requirements for admission. Bridging courses are offered in a variety of subjects.

Other Pathways

Pathway programs help international students build their knowledge and qualifications required to apply for a bachelor or master program in the US. These programs are typically one year in length. By taking a pathways course, students are able to build the necessary language skills, narrow down a major, increase their chances of admission, and provide them with additional time to adjust to life in the US.

Travelling to a new and unknown destination can be daunting. Fortunately, academic institutions and other organizations offer great resources to help students adjust to life in the US more easily. Proactive research and planning can help students settle into their home, and have a safe and rewarding study experience. Here are a few tips and a checklist to make sure students are prepared before they board their flight to the US.

Please note that the following information are general guidelines. For the most accurate information, please visit the US Government website.