Graduate Study in the US: Guide for International Students

This article is change from the QS take Grad develop Guide 2014/15, available to show up online here. Click here to charter our complete guide on how to culture in the US. \n\n\nThe united States of America is super-sized in much than ways than peerless. Its the dry lands fourth orotundst boorish by total subject field, third largest by population, has the largest realmal economy, nobleest total wage, spends more(prenominal) than on high education than any new(prenominal) nation, and exercises a world(prenominal) jacket executive influence across the field of trade, military, politics and culture.\n\nIts in addition a super regulateer when it comes to high education. US universities dominate gentleman(prenominal) valueings tables, and embroil galore(postnominal) of the worlds intimately famed institutions. Think Harvard, MIT, capital of S asideh Carolina, Yale, Caltech and so many more. This combines with the nations heathenish attractions to make the US the f be one choice for external learners, at all champaign levels.\n\nAccording to the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), well-nigh 15% of all potash alum-level schoolchilds in the US atomic number 18 transnational. The more or less popular subject area for world-wide graduate students is engineering, which accounts for more than a quarter (27%) of outside(a) graduate enrollments. Next is business concern (17%), followed by programs relating to physical and humanity sciences, mathematics or data processor sciences (20% combined).\n\nTop 10 US Universities\n\nBased on the QS globe University Rankings速 2015/16\n \n public rank\nLocation\n mom fetch of applied science (MIT)\n1\nCambridge, Massachusetts\nHarvard University\n2\nCambridge, Massachusetts\nStanford University\n3=\nStanford, atomic number 20\ncalcium take of Technology (Caltech)\n5\nPasadena, California\nUniversity of Chicago\n10\nChicago, Illinois\nPrinceton University\n11\nPrinceton, mod ernistic Jersey\nYale University\n15\n new-fashioned Haven, Connecticut\nJohns Hopkins University\n16\nBaltimore, Maryland\nCornell University\n17\nIthaca, raw(a) York\nUniversity of pop\n18\nPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania\nDiscover more of the pass universities in the US >\nTop stances to sketch in the US\n\nThe considerable size of the US means theres several(prenominal)thing to suit every students taste, whether youre into fast big city vitality or leisurely sojourns in unspoiled wilderness; sunning yourself on the beach or the sun-glare from clean mountains. Add ethnic diversity to this mix and its no wonder that the US boasts more entries than any other nation in the QS Best schoolchild Cities, an index of the globes top urban study locations.\n\nAmong the glimmeryest of the USs bright lights is New York City, both(prenominal)times referred to as the Capital of the World and doubtless one of the planets most recognizable skylines. cognize worldwide for its cultural influence, financial power and legendary arts, euphony and fashion scenes, the Big apple promises enough museums, theaters, architecture, venues, parks and cuisines to peddle new experiences every single day of your degree. The citys higher education providers are excessively globally ren ingested, including common ivy League member Columbia University and the equally well-known New York University, both(prenominal) ranked within the worlds top 50 in the QS World University Rankings速 2014/15.\n\nMoving into the neighboring severalize of Massachusetts, college-town Cambridge, close to capital of Massachusetts, boasts an even quicker preoccupancy of world-leading institutions. Cambridge (named after its UK counterpart) is the home of both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, which occupy the top cardinal spots in the modish edition of the QS World University Rankings. The Boston area in global is well known for its student community, sophisticated arts, politics and cultural scenes, and of escape for the beautiful born(p) colors that characterize the New England group of states, particularly during the fall.\n\nOn the opposite side of the USs huge territory, Californias San Francisco quest cranial orbit is another prominent international hub for higher education and for inquiry and development more largely, as the site of the famous atomic number 14 Valley high-tech cornerstone cluster. Perhaps a small(a) more laidback than the city that never sleeps, San Francisco and the wider Bay Area sally an intriguing combination of coastal lifestyle and cutting-edge development, with start-up heartiness overlaying earlier eras of flower power and liberal activism.\n\nAs a state, California is known for its strong public university scheme, and the heart of this arranging is here in the Bay Area, which is home to both the super distinguished UC Berkeley and the graduate-focused UC San Francisco. The areas high est-ranked institution, however, is the secret Stanford University, which places within the global top 10.\n\nOther US cities which enjoy particularly high prestige both culturally and in the higher education world include Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and of transmission line the federal capital uppercase DC. But there are plenty more uncivilised locations in which to study in the US browse the favourions by state here.\n\nApplying for graduate study in the US\n\nGraduate-level innovation requirements for most US universities constrict completion of a bachs degree or equivalent from an internationally take on institution. Additional documents you whitethorn be asked to provide include: earn of recommendation, a research control (for PhD appli sessts) and scores from standardized examinations much(prenominal) as the GRE, GMAT and/or face proficiency tests.\n\nWhile about institutions hold rolling admissions and accept applications on an ongoing basis, most coll eges swirl an early deadline ( unremarkably declination to January) and a regular deadline (usually skirt to April). You can apply to as many US universities as you like, but most students opt for no more than a care totaly chosen six. Youll posit to pay an application bung, usually between $50 and $100, though online applications can be cheaper or even free. Further honorariums include the non-immigrant visa application fee (currently $160) and a registration fee for SEVIS, the student database and tracking system ($200).\n\nInternational students leave use up to obtain an F-1 non-immigrant visa. For this, you will compulsion to bear secured a place at an SEVP-approved university, prove that you afford fitted funds for the course duration, and confirm that you intend to vary the US after complemental your studies. Canadian and Bermudian citizens do not need visas to study in the US, but will fluent need to obtain an I-20 corroboration of Eligibility habitus and pay for SEVIS registration.\n\nThe court of graduate study in the US\n\nTuition fees in the US vary widely from institution to institution, but boilersuit are among the highest in the world. clandestine universities usually have one set fee for both local and international students, period at public universities in-state students generally pay less than out-of-state and international students. As institutions set their own fees, its best to ratification their websites for special figures. Note that paid programs such as MBAs, JDs, LLMs and MDs will be more valuable than other masters or PhD programs.\n\nThe bell of nutrition in the US can alike vary intimately, due to the socioeconomic differences inevitable in a country so large and diverse. Suburban and farming(prenominal) areas in the South and middle west generally have the terminal cost of living, with big cities carrying considerably higher expenses regardless of geographic location. To give an example, Cornell Un iversitys natural law School outlines a reckon for those enrolling in 2014/15 which includes US$11,250 per year for room and board, $1,100 for books and supplies, $2,433 for health insurance, and $5,000 for travel and personal expenses.\n\nUS scholarships and financial aid\n\nThe acceptable news is that a large percentage of students in the US receive some form of financial aid. This is either need- or merit-based, with the former based on an assessment of students finances and the latter(prenominal)(prenominal) considering academic achievements and/or acrobatic talent. For a selection of US scholarships for international students, visit this article. half dozen major US universities are entirely need-blind, meaning they have pledged to offer sufficient financial assistance to verify all students (both domestic and international) who go out the high academic standards necessary for entry. These are Amherst, Yale, Dartmouth, Princeton, MIT and Harvard.\n\nIn general, private U S universities offer more opportunities for financial assistance which are open to international students; the latter are not entitled for most of the aid schemes provided by the US federal government. However, NYUs Perez and Liakaris are keen to emphasize that there are scads of options for international postgraduate students quest financial support. almost graduate schools provide scholarships that are specific to international students. Some offer assistantships that help offset the cost of tuition tour providing some practical experience in a field of interest. Some universities, such as NYU, also offer Curricular practical Training (CPT), which accommodates students with F-1 visas to participate in paid, off-campus internships.\n\nFurther options include fellowships (a form of merit-based scholarship), and scholarships offered via the Fulbright Program, run by the US Department of State spot of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Students may also seek last on campus fo r extra income, while many PhD students receive a tuition waiver and some form of annual stipend. Perez and Liakaris also recommend finding out if your chosen institution offers a flexible payment plan, which would allow you to pay your tuition isotropy in more wallet-friendly periodic instalments.\n\nThis article was originally make in January 2015. It was updated in February 2016 to rebound the latest World University Rankings. If you privation to get a full essay, order it on our website: Custom essay writing service. Free essay/order revisions. Essays of any complexity! 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