A young experiment with democracy and a shared national love for fried food, the United States has a long, unique history, especially with producing some of our favorite films and television shows. Add in an enthusiastic love for baseball and (American) football, and you’d come close to arriving at the image of American culture.

The U.S. is a massive place, with each state containing its own history; and when you’re going from one side to another, it feels as if you’re going from planet to planet.

International students from all over the world look to study in the U.S.A., and travelers and explorers are often looking to find out whether Americans are as loud and silly as they are on television (spoiler: they are). Being a student, though, brings you in contact with the top-ranked and largest universities in the world, and they are ready to welcome students like you every year.

Why study in the US?

1. American universities are second to none

When you think about universities in the US, Harvard, Stanford, Yale or MIT might come to mind. But these are only the tip of the iceberg, the crème de la crème. There are over 150 American universities and colleges that earn their place in the international rankings created by Times Higher Education, TopUniversities, and others.

For those interested in academic excellency, studying in the US should be at the top of the preference list. There's something for everybody and you can enrol in any specialisation (or major) you can think of.

2. Tuition fees for anyone's budget

The higher education system in the US is notorious for high tuition fees and an even higher national student debt. Still, you'd make a mistake by thinking studying at an American university is always expensive.

With a simple search on our portals, you'll discover thousands of affordable courses, with annual tuition fees of 5,000 USD or less. At the opposite end, you can find study programmes at Ivy League universities that easily jump over 50,000 USD/year.

3. Academic flexibility

The flexibility students enjoy in America isn't common in many other countries. In most cases, you don't need to declare a major until the second year of study; keep in mind numerous undergraduate degrees (Bachelors) take 4 years to complete.

What does it mean? It means you can try out various subjects and classes, see what interests you, learn what you don't want to focus on, and only then make a decision.

4. Unique student life and on-campus experiences

Although most Hollywood movies exaggerate things to make us laugh, don't think there isn't some truth behind the on-campus student life, which can be described anywhere from vibrant to wild or even over-the-top.

If parties aren't your thing, don't worry. You can always take up sports, enrol in clubs (e.g. drama, music) or volunteer and support a cause that's meaningful to you.

5. Travel and explore amazing sights and tourist attractions

While living and studying in the US, you'll be presented with the opportunity to see some of the most impressive and beautiful natural and man-made attractions in the world.

From the Yellowstone National Park to the Grand Canyon, from the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge, from the Mount Rushmore National Memorial to Alcatraz Island — these and many other unique sights and structures are ready to leave you speechless.

Which universities to attend in the U.S.?

Although the Ivy League universities, plus Stanford and M.I.T., are all major, world-renowned universities to pick from, there are literally hundreds of universities all over the country. Below we’ll list some of our recommendations:

• Columbia University
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of San Francisco
• Northeastern University

What is it like to study in the U.S.?

The American university system is known for being quite casual, and students at the university level are given quite a level of flexibility with regard to attendance, course requirements, and assignments.

However, students still have to abide by the classroom rules set by their individual instructors, and understand what the expectations are for each course.

Generally, courses are discussion-based, seminar style classes, where it’s a smaller group of students debating or questioning different topics. You’ll also find the normal lecture-style classes, especially for topics that have a lot of students (Computer Science, Medicine, Business, etc.). The way courses are structured really depend upon the content or the subject being taught.

What to study in the United States?

All over the U.S., universities offer a lot of topics and degree programmes that you can choose from. Some of the biggest names, at the biggest Ivy League schools, teach programmes in the subject you’re most interested in. Here are some of the subjects you can consider:

• Study Biotechnology in the U.S. 
• Study Entrepreneurship in the U.S. 
• Study Health Management in the U.S. 
• Study an MBA in the U.S. 
• Study International Relations in the U.S. 

Where to study in the U.S.?

In every major city in the U.S., you’ll find a large, diverse community of people that live nearby the university of your dreams. Take a look at some of the big cities to choose from:

• Study in Chicago 
• Study in New York City 
• Study in Los Angeles 
• Study in Boston 
• Study in San Francisco 
• Study in Atlanta 
• Study in Seattle 
• Study in Tampa 
• Study in Miami 
• Study in Charlotte 
• Study in Minneapolis

How to apply

Each university in the U.S. has its own system on their website that allows future students to apply for and enrol in their degree programmes. So, once you select the university of your choice, you can go through their application and submit your materials there.

Here are some of the basic requirements you’ll need for every application:

• A scan of your diploma (high school or Bachelor’s degree)
• A transcript/record of your previous courses
• A scan of your passport
• Your CV
• Testing scores
• Evidence of scholarship or funding
• Letters of recommendation (between 2-3)
• Portfolio and/or writing samples

How to qualify for an American university?

Take Preparation Courses

These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.

Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course

If you’re attending a degree programme in the U.S., you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

To apply to study in the U.S., you’ll need to provide proof you have a diploma for your English proficiency.

The certificates generally accepted by the universities in India are:

• PTE Academic
• TOEFL
• IELTS
• C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency

Still, you should always check on your university’s website, just to be sure what the exact requirements are.