About Country

The United States of America is a country in North America. There are 50 states in the United States of America.
The US is the most preferred education destination among International students. The current 671,616 International students studying in diverse universities and institutions across US make it the number one choice of International student’s world wide. In totality there are 4276 Institutions in US out of which 1700 Universities & Institutions offer Master Degree & Ph D, 1700 Universities offer Bachelors.
The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.

Weather

As USA is a big country, its climatic condition varies from place to place. There will be temperate climate in most part of the country. Usually the southern and western half of the country will be warm than the other regions and extreme hot in summer. The eastern and northern half region will be extremely cold and heavy snowfall in winters and will be pleasant in summer. 
Places like Hawaii and Florida will have tropical climate, freezing in places around Alaska and semi-dry in Great Plains west regions of Mississippi River and dry in Great Basin of the southwest region.

Transport

Cars in the US are far more cheaper than anywhere in the world. Gas prices in the US, even with the current rising prices are only half of most of the European countries.
Other transport modes include: 
Greyhound Bus Lines
Amtrak Train Service
Flying
Sea

Some facts

CAPITAL : Washington, DC
CURRENCY: US Dollar ( $) (USD)
LANGUAGE Spoken: English is the de facto national language of the United States, with 82% of the population claiming it as a mother tongue, and some 96% claiming to speak it "well" or "very well". However, no official language exists at the Federal level. People speak many languages all over the country including English, Spanish, French, and German etc.
TIME DIFFERENCE: 11.5 hours behind IST

Top

Major Regions/ Cities

The United States is divided into five regions.
1. Northeast
2. Southeast
3. Midwest
4. Southwest
5. West
Some of the biggest city of USA are -

• New York City, New York
• Los Angeles, California
• Chicago, Illinois
• Los Angeles, California
• Chicago, Illinois
• Houston, Texas
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Phoenix, Arizona
• San Diego, California
• Dallas, Texas
• San Antonio, Texas
• Detroit, Michigan
• San Jose, California
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• San Francisco, California
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Columbus, Ohio
• Austin, Texas
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• El Paso, Texas
• Washington, D.C.
• Seattle, Washington
• Fort Worth, Texas
• Denver, Colorado
• Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee
• Portland, Oregon
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Las Vegas, Nevada

Top

Major Economy

The economy of the United States is the world's largest. Its nominal GDP was estimated to be $14.3 trillion in 2009, almost three times the size of the economy of Japan, the world's second largest economy. In purchasing power parity terms, it is more than twice as large as the economy of the People's Republic of China. Notwithstanding, the U.S. economy also maintains a very high level of output per capita.
In fact, the US manufacturing output is greater than that of the countries of China, India, and Russia combined. In 2009, consumer spending, coupled with government health care spending constituted 70% of the American economy. The US is by far the world's economic center and hub of global wealth, with Americans owning 40% of the world's entire wealth. About 50% of the entire world's millionaire population reside in the United States.
The US Dollar holds about 60% of world reserves, as compared to its top competitor, the Euro, which controls only about 24%.

Established Industries:

Main Industries:
Energy, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, International Trade, Petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, creative industries, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining and defense.

Top

Education System

Education in the United States is mainly provided by the public sector, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. Child education is compulsory.
Primary school
American children start school at the age of five years. The first year at school is called kindergarten. It is required of all American children enrolled in the American education system.
Secondary school
Upon completion of fifth grade (the last year of primary school), American children enrolled in the American education system advance to secondary school. Secondary school most commonly consists of a total of seven years, referred to as sixth through twelfth grades.
Undergraduate school
Students who have completed high school and would like to attend college or university must attend what is referred to as an undergraduate school. These are schools that offer either a two-year degree (called an associate degree) or a four-year degree (called a bachelors degree) in a specific course of study. That course of study is called the major.
Graduate school
Students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree can continue their education by pursuing one of two types of degrees. The first is a master’s degree. This is usually a two-year degree that is highly specialized in a specific field. Students are sometimes admitted to a master’s degree program only if they have a bachelor’s degree in a closely related field. However, there are many exceptions to this, such as with students who want to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree.
Students who want to advance their education even further in a specific field can pursue a doctorate degree, also called a PhD. A PhD degree can take between three and six years to complete, depending on the course of study chosen, the ability of the student, and the thesis that the student has selected. The thesis is a very intensive research paper that must be completed prior to earning the degree. It is always required of students pursuing a PhD, and may sometimes be required of students pursuing a master’s degree (depending on the school).
In the United States students entering postsecondary education typically have completed twelve years of primary and secondary education. Postsecondary (tertiary) institutions in the United States may be known as either a college or a university (but are also often informal referred to as school).
Undergraduate education commonly consists of two to four years of study at one or more institutions with the intent of completing either an Associates (two year) degree or a Bachelors (four year) degree. There are more than 4,000 postsecondary institutions in the United States from which students may choose.
Graduate or Professional Education in the United States typically follows the completion of a four year bachelors degree and may consist of a Masters, Doctoral, (PhD or EdD) or professional degree such as a JD (juris doctor, or law) degree.

Admission Timings:

INTAKE:

Fall – August/September
Spring – January/February
Summer – May/June

Top

Ranking

There is no as such official ranking of Universities. There has been much debate since the late 1990s about both the usefulness and political correctness of college rankings in the United States. Still, A 2010 University of Michigan study has confirmed that the rankings in the United States have significantly affected colleges' applications and admissions.
Apart from QS world university ranking, following rankings are referred.
U.S. News & World Report College and University rankings
United States National Research Council Rankings
Faculty Scholarly Productivity rankings
The Top American Research Universities
Washington Monthly College rankings
Forbes College rankings
Other organizations which compile general US annual college and university rankings include the Fiske Guide to Colleges, Princeton Review, and College Prowlr. Many specialized rankings are available in guidebooks for undergraduate and graduate students, dealing with individual student interests, fields of study, and other concerns such as geographical location, financial aid, and affordability.

Top

Part time work during studies

The student visa status allows students to work not more than 20 hours per week during semesters and not more than 40 hours per week during vacations with the permission of the international student office of the college or university in the U.S.

Top

Work opportunities after studies

US Employment Rules for F1 Students
Most international students in the United States hold an F-1 visa, which is the U.S. non-immigrant student visa. F-1 students are allowed to work in the United States, but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
Generally, all employment is contingent on remaining within the terms and restrictions of F-1 visa. There are several categories of employment during the term of your stay as an F-1 student in the United States. On-campus employment is the most freely available, and then there are four categories of off-campus employment: optional practical training (OPT), curricular practical training (CPT), severe economic hardship, and approved international organizations.

Top

Visa Requirement

• Good academics
• TEOFL/ IELTS /GMAT/GRE/SAT (As per the university requirement)
• Finance to support education
• Genuine Intentions to Study in USA

Passport
Visa appointment Letter and CEAC barcode I-20, SEVIS fee to be paid (you can choose to pay on-line and the receipt is good enough to present at the visa interview)
Visa processing time: Most of the time result or wait is suggested after the interview at visa counter.
Required Documents (US F1-Visa)

• Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students or Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students. You will need to submit a SEVIS generated Form, I-20, which was provided to by school.
• Completed Application Form DS-156, DS- 157, DS -158, DSP- 2019 (IAP 166)
• At certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad, nonimmigrant visa applicants are now required to apply for their visa using the new DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, instead of the nonimmigrant application forms DS-156, 157, 158, and other related forms.
• Passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States
• One colored photograph 2 X 2 inches square for each applicant, showing a full face, without head covering, against a light background.
• Original TOEFL scores and SAT/ GRE/ GMAT scores whichever is applicable.
• Spouses and minor children accompanying the student to the United States should bring marriage certificates, wedding photos, and birth certificates with them to the interview, to prove the relationship between themselves and the principal applicant.

Downloads:

• Visa Forms
• Checklist

Top

English Requirement

a) TOEFL score taken within the last 24 months with an overall Score of minimum 550 / 213 / 79 or above with the minimum validity of 6 months at the time of applying.
OR
b) IELTS score taken within the last 24 months with an overall score of minimum 6.0 (no band less than 5.5), with the minimum validity of 6 months at the time of applying.
If the student doesn’t satisfy the above criteria for English he will need to study ESL at AIC.

Top

Fee Structure

Tuition Fee Average $ 8,000 – $ 32,000 per year
Living expenses Average $ 8,000 – $ 12,000 per year

Top

Academic Requirement

Each USA application must be given individual attention. I-20 is processed with extreme care and student attention is needed from day one of the process. 
There is no fixed guideline for entry requirement in USA institutions. 
For admission following points must be addressed carefully. 

Documents required for Graduate Degrees.

1. Academics:
   a) Graduation Degree Certificate / Provisional Completion Certificate (4 Years).
   b) Graduation Mark Sheets (4 Years) – Mark Sheets for each semester or Consolidated Mark sheet for all 4 years.
   c) Exceptions to the requirement of a 4 year undergraduate degree from an accredited institution may be granted to students applying with three year degrees, in such cases the degree program will be evaluated for its equivalency as a measure of the individual’s preparedness for success in
   their desired graduate program.
2. Proof of English Proficiency:
   a) TOEFL score taken within the last 24 months with an overall Score of 550 / 213 / 79 or above with the minimum validity of 6 months at the time of applying.
   OR
   b) IELTS score taken within the last 24 months with an overall score of 6.0 (no band less than 5.5), with the minimum validity of 6 months at the time of applying.
   
   If the student doesn’t satisfy the above criteria for English he will need to study ESL at AIC.
3. Personal Statement (Essay)
4. Letter of Recommendation: Students are required to submit at least one recommendation letter preferably from a faculty member under who has taught the student in college / school.

Documents required for Undergraduate Degrees

1. Academics:
   a) Higher Secondary (10+2) Mark Sheet & Pass Certificate
   b) Senior secondary (10th) Mark Sheet & Pass Certificate
2. Proof of English Proficiency:
   a) TOEFL score taken within the last 24 months with an overall Score of 525 / 197 / 70 and above with the minimum validity of 6 months at the time of applying.
   OR
   b) IELTS score taken within the last 24 months with an overall score of 5.5/ 6.0, with the minimum validity of 6 months at the time of applying.
   
   If the student doesn’t satisfy the above criteria for English he will need to study ESL at AIC.
3. Personal Statement (Essay)
4. Letter of Recommendation: Students are required to submit at least one recommendation letter preferably from a faculty member under who has taught the student in college / school.
5. Test Score reporting for GRE/ GMAT/ TOEFL/ SAT I/ SAT II

The following documents are required in original for all students irrespective of program they are applying for:

1. Bank Balance Certificate – Bank Letter in English (Printed only),
   showing suggested amount for under graduate or Graduate applicant. 
   
   Bank Balance Certificate should not be
   more than 2 months old at the time of submission of the application.
2. Certificate of Finances: The certificate of Finance form has to be submitted by all students regardless of the program they are applying too. The Official Certification form is required to be filled, signed and stamped by the bank official incase the Bank Balance Certificate has not been submitted.
   
   Conditional Offer Letters and I 20s - The University can issue a Conditional Offer Letter & I 20 to the student under the following two circumstances:-
   
   (a) If the student is in the final year of study or has just completed the final year of study and is awaiting final term mark sheets and/or completion certificate.(Provided the student did not have any backlogs and has submitted all Seven semester m/sheets along with the bonafide certificate from the University / College)
   
   (b) If the student does not have proof of English proficiency (TOEFL / IELTS) or is waiting for the scores. In this case the student will need to fill in the American International College ESL for.
   
   Once the student has received the above documents, the same can be forwarded to process the request to waive the respective condition(s).

Points of Attention when submitting the Application

• The complete application form and the Bank Certificate should be submitted in original.
• The Student / Sponsor’s name to be in full and not abbreviated in any document.
• The bank certificate should be printed and not hand written and should not have any cuttings or alteration on it.
• The bank certificate should be submitted in original on the bank letterhead and should not be older than two months.
• The amount mentioned in the bank certificate should be both in INR and USD.
• The bank certificate and the Certificate of Finance should contain the bank’s contact details i.e. Address and Telephone numbers.
• The name of the sponsor should be exactly same on all relevant documents i.e. Bank Certificate and Certificate of Finance.
• If the student has more than one sponsor then the bank certificate and the Certificate of Finance should be submitted separately for all sponsors.

Admission Tests Details

Most colleges and universities in the US require scores from one or more of the standardized admission tests. Students should visit individual college websites for information on admission requirements.

All international students whose native language is not English are required to take the 'Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)'. Few institutions may accept scores from other English language examinations.

Students aspiring to pursue undergraduate studies in the United States will be required by universities to take:
SAT Reasoning Test
SAT Subject Tests
Most graduate departments require students to take one or more of the following:
GRE - Graduate Record Examination (General Test)
GRE - Graduate Record Examination (Subject Test)
GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Test

Programs in law, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine require:
LSAT - Law School Admission Test
MCAT - Medical College Admission Test
DAT - Dental Admission Test
PCAT - Pharmacy College Admissions Test
VCAT - Veterinary Aptitude Test

A few other tests:
USMLE - United States Medical Licensing Examination
CGFNS- Council for Graduate of Foreign Nursing Schools
CPA- Certified Public Account Accountant Examination

Certain courses like Fine Arts may not require any admission test scores (except TOEFL) but creative material would need to be submitted.

Top

Useful Links

www.vfs-usa.co.in
www.usief.org.in
www.collegeboard.org
www.ice.gov

Top

Scholarship/ Bursaries

The scholarship is made every year on the basis of the student's academic achievements and recommendations of his / her teachers - or coaches, if the scholarship in question is awarded for sport activity. It is also necessary to consider general financial situation of the institution, which can change with time and depend on the economic situation in the country.
It is most often very difficult for international students to obtain aid in any form at Bachelor’s level. Hence, it is imperative that students who are financially sound or have brilliant academic background (including top-level scores in TOEFL/IELTS and/or SAT I and II) to consider further education at the bachelor’s level.

However, at the Master’s level, aid in several forms is available for international students. Almost 78% of students at the Master’s level in US universities get funding in some form or the other.
Most Doctoral level applicants get a complete tuition waiver along with a stipend or scholarship while pursuing their PhD programs. It is also possible for some universities to provide just the admission and no funding at all, based on their financial constraints and funding availability.
Disclaimer: This guidance is for students interested in studying abroad in particular country. It is only a guide for which information is taken from various relevant websites. It aims to answer some common questions. Visitors are recommended to contact the office for most updated information.