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How to
choose the right school? |
Pinpoint the
college of your
choice by
reflecting upon
your own needs
and on what the
respective
school can
offer.
Choosing
universities
from thousands
of miles away
presents some
challenges —
especially when
there are so
many great
colleges to
choose from in
the United
States. But if
you plan ahead
and do your
research
carefully, you
will come up
with a
manageable
shortlist of
colleges that
match your
needs. Every
student is
different, and
when making your
choices you
should consider
carefully the
factors that are
important to you
in both your
education and
your lifestyle.
This section
discusses what
academic,
lifestyle, and
other factors to
consider when
putting together
a list of around
10 to 20
colleges, and it
offers
guidelines on
where to get
further help and
information. You
should begin
this process of
reflection and
research 12 to
18 months before
you want to
start studying
in the United
States. You
should begin to
consider,
research, and do
the following:
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What are your reasons for wanting to
study in the United States? |
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Consider your reasons for studying in
the USA. Without any motivation, you may
not be able to commit yourself to the
efforts and expenses that are required
for going to USA for studies. Many US
schools and universities are
prestigious, and degrees earned in the
US are respected worldwide. Many schools
have strong links with industry,
business and commerce. On the other
side, education in the US is quite
expensive if you don't get scholarships
or manage for education funds. |
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Understanding the US education system
[top] |
Undergraduate programs (Bachelor
degree) :
This is the first level of
post-secondary education that begins
after 12 years of primary and secondary
schooling. It includes at least 4 years
of education and earns a bachelor’s
degree (Most Indian graduation courses
are of 3 years duration). There are
also two-year programs which earn an
Associate degree. A student who has an
associate degree has to study further
for a minimum of 2 years to earn a
bachelor’s degree.
Graduate Programs (Master’s &
Doctorate degree) :
This is the same as post-graduate
education in India. It usually involves
one year or more of education depending
on the subject or course, and earns a
master’s or doctoral degree like MBA, MS
or PhD. Admission to a graduate program
usually requires a minimum of 16 years
of formal education. That is, 12 years
of primary and secondary schooling and
further 4 years of college education.
There is
no central ministry of education in the
U.S. and each institution can determine
its own programs and admission
standards. There are private as well as
state funded colleges.
Universities are
academic institutions that include one
or more undergraduate colleges, as well
as any number of graduate and
professional schools, i.e. schools
offering study for a single profession
such as law.
Four year colleges are
undergraduate institutions offering
academic programs leading to a
bachelor’s degree. Community colleges or
junior colleges are undergraduate
institutions offering upto two years of
academic instruction beyond secondary
school at a relatively low cost. These
offer certificate programs that last for
a few months to a year as well as
associate degrees.
Institutes of technology
or polytechnic institutes offer
specialized programs in sciences and
engineering, in addition to basic
sciences, humanities and the social
sciences, at both the graduate and
undergraduate levels. |
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Which universities will meet your
needs?
[top] |
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Think
which universities will meet your needs
in terms of educational and career
goals, expenses, cost of living, social
life, geographical location (if the city
is the same or near your family or
friends), weather, chances of getting
financial aid from schools, facilities
for international students needs, degree
program structure, academic standing,
and teacher-to-student ratios. Each
student has different needs,
requirements. A lot of it depends on
your reasons for studying in the US.
Visit
advising centers in India, get in
touch with them!! Visit the libraries,
search on the internet (the most
powerful resource these days) and get
started.
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Will you need financial assistance?
[top] |
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You should begin researching which
universities give scholarships/
financial aids and which universities
don't. For many cost is the factor in
choosing a school. Do the research about
the costs involved in various schools.
Evaluating your abilities to study in
USA. |
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College
websites and emails of the current
students
[top] |
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Almost every U.S. university and
college has a Web site that offers a
wealth of information about degree
programs, application procedures,
academic departments, facilities on
campus, and other topics. In many cases
you will also find a copy of the college
catalog, which you can study on-line or
download to read later. Don't forget
that many sites also give e-mail
addresses for current students,
including international students, who
are often more than happy to answer your
questions about applying to the school
and about life on campus. Once you have
narrowed down the colleges and
universities you are interested in, you
may wish to e-mail professors and
admissions personnel to have specific
questions answered before you finally
decide where to apply. |
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Get information from advising
centers in India
[top] |
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Get in touch with
EducationUSA
information and advising centers . They
are the ideal starting point for your
research. Centers usually have a library
with directories, university catalogs,
introductory guides such as this one,
handouts, and reference books to assist
you in applying to study in the United
States. Many centers have developed
guides, videos, and websites
specifically tailored to students
applying from your country. Many also
have computer-based college search
packages to help you choose the best
colleges for you. Most important of all,
they have trained staff who can answer
your questions in person or by mail, by
telephone, and, in most cases, by
e-mail. |
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College Searches
on the Web
[top] |
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Some Web sites are independent of
colleges and universities and allow you
to search for institutions by the
subject you are interested in studying,
by geographic preference, or by a range
of other criteria that you specify. This
website provides links to a number of
different college search engines such as
Peterson's,
The College Board,
U.S. News,
The
Princeton Review. |
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U.S. College
Fairs and Visits
[top] |
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If you cannot visit the United
States, colleges may come to visit you.
Your nearest U.S. educational
information or advising center can tell
you about any upcoming U.S. college
fairs or other types of visits where you
can have the opportunity to talk to
admissions officers face-to-face. Many
of these take place in the spring or
fall of the year before you intend to
start your studies, so it is important
to start your research early. |
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