Study in USA

Being a diverse country, the United States is the safest place for students, particularly from India, and there is no need for any fear of racism. So in that sense, the US is a safe country for Indian students. If you have decided to study in the US, your choice of destination country needs no validation as the US is considered the best study abroad destination.

Study in the USA for Indian Students

In 2016, Indians were the top-recipient of the high-skilled H-1B visas and were also the second-largest community of international students staying in US. The US government records claim that immigrants from India are better educated, more likely to have strong English language skills, arrive on employment-based visas, and are less likely to live below the poverty line than the overall immigrant population. Many Indians work in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. Almost one-third of all Indian immigrants reside in just two states: California and New Jersey. More than one-quarter of all Indian immigrants live in three major metropolitan areas: New York, Chicago, and San Jose.

How to apply to US universities from India?

Those looking to pursue higher studies from abroad, generally prefer going to the USA. However, students are not aware of the appropriate application process for applying to universities in the USA. The application process will be the same for most of the universities, however, there must be a separate element for the application process for each of the universities. It varies between different study programs and levels.

Before applying students should know when to start the application process for US Universities? When are the deadlines? What are the intakes for US universities? When a student can go for studying there? These are some of the important things which students should know before applying to US universities. There are two main intake seasons of US universities fall and spring. Unlike India, universities in the USA follow a bi-semester system where an academic year is divided into two semesters. Students should decide which intake season they want to choose – fall or spring? Those students who are planning to go to pursue undergraduate or graduate level courses should know the timelines for September 2019 intake.

These vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Along with that a minimum academic record of 65% and above for humanities stream in class XII, and 70 – 80% and above for Science/Commerce stream in class XII will also be required. Foundations and Diploma programs are available for students who have secured below 60%. The student should have completed 18 years of age before joining a degree program. (It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purpose, the actual numbers may differ from university to university.)

Cost of living in the USA

Living expenses

On average, a student spends approximately $12,000–$15,000 per year. But the expenses also depend on the place where a student stays. If a student stays in a metropolitan city like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, etc. the expenses could go up to $18,000 in comparison to a student studying in the suburbs where the expenses would be around $10,000-$12,000 per year. Students looking to travel to the United States can also calculate the total.

The cost of living depends heavily on what part of the US will you be living in along with how much you will socialize. Some of the basic elements for living as an international student in the US are:

• Accommodation rent ( on campus or off campus )
• Groceries and food
• Utilities like electricity, water, gas, internet
• Phone bills
• Text and reference books
• Airfare for traveling back to India.

Cost of Studying in the USA

The tuition fee varies according to different universities, courses, and the city. The tuition expenses in the US might be up to $10,000-$30,000 per year for an undergraduate course. And if you are thinking of applying for a post-graduate course, the cost would be $15,000-$55,000 per year approximately. It’s important to note that the cost of a program in a US school does not necessarily affect its quality. It can vary from as low as $10,000 per year for state universities to as much as $50,000 per year for some private universities.

The following documents also need to be submitted:

• Attested copies of mark sheets of class X, XII, and the Bachelor’s degree (if applicable)
• At least, two academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently. (Number of reference letters depends from university to university)
• If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation from the employer/manager who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Resume
• Essays (If demanded by the university)
• Photocopied score reports of GMAT / GRE / IELTS / TOEFL
• Portfolio (in case of students applying for art and design courses & architecture programs)
• Others (certificates/achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
• Proof of funds

Documents required for USA Visa Process

The VISA Requirements for a US Student Visa include the following. If you want to attend a university or college in the US you will need a student visa called F1 visa. And requirements for a US Student Visa include:

Study Visa Requirements for USA

• Valid Passport – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the US.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application – Form DS-160 confirmation page
• Application fee payment receipt – as you are required to pay before your interview
• Photo – The US consulate will upload your photo, and for the same purpose you will have to fix an appointment with the consulate. You will have to visit the Consulate center. A digital photograph of yours will be taken and along with that, all your fingerprints will be scanned. You’ll have to carry an approval receipt given by the consulate after successfully taking your photograph and finger scan.
• Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status – Your school will send you a SEVIS-generated Form I-20 once they have entered your information in the SEVIS database. You and your school official must sign the Form I-20. All students, their spouse, and minor children if they intend to reside in the United States with the student, must be registered with the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS).

Note: Additional documentation may be required. During the personal interview, additional documents may be requested by the interviewer. These may be documents to prove evidence of academic or financial status. These include:

• Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended
• Scores from tests that your US school required, such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, or GMAT
• Your intent to depart from the United States upon completion of the course of study
• How you will pay all educational, living and travel costs