The US is an excellent place for you to study. From the high standards of education, to the wide range of institutions, there will be a lot of options and opportunities for you to extend your knowledge and develop as an individual.
In 2002/03, 586,323 international students chose to study for a qualification at a US college or university, making it the most popular destination in the world for overseas study. The reasons why such a large number opt for the United States are not hard to find.
A lot to offer
The United States has one of the largest (more than 3,600 colleges and universities) and one of the best higher education systems in the world. At first-degree level, a wide variety of high-quality programmes is on offer in the traditional disciplines as well as in the professional fields. At postgraduate level, many US institutions have attracted the brightest and the best minds from around the world to teach and research at this level, and students often have the opportunity of working directly with them. At all levels, US institutions will expose you to a variety of perspectives, and cutting-edge technology, research and training.
There is a great variety of higher education institutions in the US, including vocational and technical schools, two-year colleges (also known as community colleges), four-year colleges, universities, and professional schools, like law and medical schools. Their size varies greatly, from fewer than 1,000 to more than 50,000 students. Remember that ‘college’ and ‘university’ are often used to describe the same institution.
However, there are differences: a college awards first-degree qualifications (usually Bachelor’s degrees) only, while universities award both first degree and postgraduate qualifications (eg Master’s and Doctoral degrees). What this means in practice is that you will find a wide variety of institutions of different sizes and locations offering an equally wide variety of programmes to choose from. It means that you should be able to find the right programme for you. You will end up with a qualification that indicates quality and excellence, and will mark you for life.
Improve your English
If English is not your first language, then the United States, as the largest English-speaking country in the world, is a good place to come to brush up your English language skills. Not only will most US institutions give you extensive ‘English as a second language’ support to help you when you arrive, you will also benefit from living and working in an environment where English is used all the time. Most linguistics experts agree that this is the best way to get to grips with a language.
Most institutions will require a minimum International English Language Testing System (IELTS) grade or a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score that has to be met. Before applying, it is therefore important to check the English language requirements with the institution you have chosen and make sure you can meet these.
After studying in the US, your English language skills should have improved no end.
High standards of education
Although there are no US government standards for the quality of education at universities in the US and no US government-appointed agencies to oversee them, accrediting organisations like the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, which are private non-profit corporations, set minimum standards for education in universities. Most US institutions are affiliated to one or more of these organisations, ensuring that certain standards are maintained.
Market pressures also ensure high standards by driving them up. For instance, most US institutions are quite selective about who they take on their programmes. This means that you will have to be able to demonstrate that you have achieved certain minimum standards and have the potential to progress before you will be allowed on to it.
Although this means that you will have to be careful about which institutions you apply to (ideally, ones with requirements that match your academic background and interests), this selectiveness protects the quality of the programme. As a result, US higher education programmes are among the best in the world.
Affordable study
Studying in the US might seem dauntingly expensive, costing anywhere between about $10,000 and $40,000 per year for tuition fees and meals, etc. Postgraduate qualifications can be even more expensive. However, there are great variations in costs between institutions and regions of the US. Also, the US is not one of the most expensive countries in the world in which to study.
With a bit of research, therefore, you should be able to find affordable options from the vast number on offer. For instance, state universities, which receive public funding, are generally cheaper than private or religious schools, which do not. This means that you might not necessarily have to pay the highest levels of fees if you know where you can study most cheaply for the course you want to do, and this will be an immediate benefit to you.
There are also many ways in which you can find help in reducing or meeting these costs. There are some scholarships, grants and loans open to students from overseas that can help to reduce the financial burden. Although this aid is limited, you do have options.
Another way of reducing the cost is to spend the first two years of a four-year degree at a community college to earn an associate degree at a much lower cost than a normal four-year degree. You can then use this qualification to transfer directly to another institution for the final two years of the degree.
Finally, the costs can be balanced against the end result: the prestige and quality of a US qualification and the impact this will have on your future prospects. Many have found this a most compelling trade-off.
An international outlook
The US has been a ‘melting pot’ of hundreds of different nationalities for over 150 years. Step out of the campus and you see many different cultures, races and religions going about their business in a tolerant, multicultural society. Even on campus, you will meet students from all over the world, not just the US, as there are more international students here than in any other country in the world. Many students have used their US experience to create a global network of friends and contacts that has served them well.
Lots to discover
As well as providing you with a world-class qualification, the vast expanses of the US will be there for you to explore. There is a huge variety of experiences open to you, including fall in New England, the Civil War battlefields of Virginia, the shopping experiences of New York, the largest trees in the world in California’s Yosemite Valley, the Badlands of South Dakota, a journey of discovery down the infamous Route 66, the blues in Chicago, Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and the Niagara Falls.
Whatever your choice, you can be sure of a memorable experience that will kick-start your career!
To download the list of universities accepting A level, O level, GCSE and IGCSE qualifications, select the relevant handbook below.
A level
O level, GCSE and IGCSE