Study in USA

• US $ 15,000-60,000 per year approx. for Private Universities
• US $ 10,000-30,000 per year approx. for Public Universities
• US $ 8000-12,000 per year approx. for Community Colleges

The Cost of living in US generally varies from US $ 10,000 to 12,000 per year approx.

Note: 1 US $ = INR 65.08 approx

For Bachelor’s degree: Admission to a college or university in the US requires a completion of 12 years of elementary and secondary education for an undergraduate and 16 years of education required (10+2+4) for graduate.

For Master’s degree: You can apply Masters in the US after completing 16 years of undergraduate education, though many Universities now have started accepting students with 15 years of education.Since most of the Indian Colleges have 3 year undergraduate program, it is advisable to do one more year of education, could be a diploma or a certificate program.

English Proficiency Exams

International students whose native language is not English may be required to take a test to establish their English language proficiency. Students should visit individual college websites for more information. Options include:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Minimum score of 80-90
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Minimum score of 6.0-6.5
• PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic)

US admissions decision criteria can be broken down into 4 broad categories i.e. Data, Talent, Voice and Others

STANDARDISED TESTS

The most commonly required tests are the following

SAT is a standardized test administered by the College Board and is required to be taken by students seeking admission in undergraduate schools. SAT exam has been developed to evaluate the written, verbal and mathematical skills of the candidates.

Applicants to undergraduate courses, particularly in US, are required to take the SAT exam. If the student is looking to get admission to a particular course, s/he can take the SAT subject tests to show his knowledge and understanding of that particular subject. Subject tests are offered in areas like Literature, History, Mathematics, Sciences and Foreign Languages.

GRE General Test

• If you are planning to apply to a Master’s or PhD program in a field other than medicine or law, you will most likely be required to take the GRE General Tes. This three hour, 45 minute computer-based exam includes sections on Quantitative Analysis, Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing. Some graduate programs may require GRE Subject Tests in addition to the General Test.
• GMAT- Most students applying for an MBA program will be required to take the GMAT.
• LSAT- For the three-year doctorate degree in American law, you will likely be required to take the LSAT.
• MCAT-The MCAT is required for entrance into most MD graduate programs in medicine. The MCAT is not required for post-degree medical residency programs in the U.S.
• DAT- The DAT is required test for most doctoral programs in dentistry.

The Department of Homeland Security has said that foreign workers will enrich the nation by extending their postgraduate training in the United States. Those with a degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM subjects) are classed as having theoretical and technical expertise that are in shortage in the US. If these graduates apply for jobs in the same field that they studied, they are able to stay in the US for on-the-job study and are given time to find a company willing to sponsor a longer-term visa application.

F-1 Optional Practical Training: The vast majority of international students in the United States have an F-1 student visa. The F-1 entitles you to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) at the end of your studies. This allows you to stay in the US for up to a year to apply the knowledge you have learned through work related to your major field of study. If you have a degree from the government’s designated list of STEM subjects you will probably be eligible to extend your OPT by another 17 months, meaning you can stay in the US for up to 29 months after graduation.

H1-B for specialised fields: H1-B visa is the most common work visa in the USA. It is initially granted for three years, but can be extended to six years.

Approximate pay scale in USA per annum in various fields

• Surgeons- $208,000
• Psychiatrists- $194,800
• Computer and Information systems manager $135,800
• Financial Managers- $119,800
• Computer Engineers -$115,100
• Mathematician- $105,800
• Chemical Engineers -$98,300
• Psychologists-$95,700
• Electrical Engineers-$94,200
• Lawyers- $133,260

There are various crucial factors which play an important role when we speak of study in USA for Indian students. The cost of studying in USA along with the tuition fees and living expenses is not a small figure. Scholarships in USA for Indian students have been a ray of light and hope for the ones who pursue their dream of study in USA. USA universities prioritise internationalization and the number of international scholarships to study in USA have increased.

• Avvo Scholarship Program
• Berkeley College International Student Scholarships
• Berkeley International Application Form
• CDTrader Scholarship
• College Week Live
• CollegeScholarships.org
• The BrokerFish Scholarship for University Students
• The Ultimate Scholarship Guide

Students considering scholarships are recommended to begin the application procedure 8-12 months prior to the intake. Scholarship deadlines vary amongst institutions

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Stanford University
• Harvard University
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• University of Chicago
• Princeton University
• Yale University
• Cornell University
• Johns Hopkins University
• University of Pennsylvania