Study in USA from Philippines

There are five levels of education in the USA, including post-high school. Almost all international students come to the USA for postsecondary education. As a foreign national with an F-1 visa, you can pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree at a US university or college.

Earning an undergraduate degree in the USA requires three to four years of study. Bachelor’s degree programs at most academic schools in the USA take four years to complete. These are called freshman year, sophomore year, junior year, and senior year. The USA is famous for its bachelor’s programs in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

On the other hand, earning a master’s degree at a US college generally takes two years of study. The humanities, sciences, and arts are among the most popular fields of study for master’s degrees in the USA. Most US universities require four-year bachelor’s degrees for admission to master’s programs, but there are some colleges accepting three-year bachelor’s qualifications as well.

Then there is a PhD in the USA, which generally takes four to six years to complete, including dissertation or thesis work for a couple of years. You complete a PhD in the US under a faculty advisor’s supervision and after defending your research work amidst the academics who evaluate it.

The USA also has an academic credit system based on the number of contact hours that you complete each semester. Completing a bachelor’s degree in the USA generally requires 120 or more credit hours; for almost every master’s degree, it is 40 credit hours.

Some universities also describe the word “intakes” as “semesters”. There are three intake periods at universities in the USA: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

The fall intake in the USA usually begins in August, and it is the main intake here. It gives you a lot of time to be ready for the upcoming academic year and allows you to experience the year in its entirety. Further, there are more scholarships and courses to choose from in the fall intake.

The spring intake is for those who cannot join a university in the fall season in the USA. With classes for spring joiners starting in January or February, the intake is ideal if you need a bit more time for preparation for the rest of the academic year.

The summer intake is a lot less common than the other two intakes, but it offers many advantages to those who seek more academic flexibility. The environment for summertime classes is often more collaborative and relaxed. Besides, unlike in the fall or spring, the summertime intake may allow you to access research projects or internships.

At the end of the day, the right intake for you hinges on your requirements, academic goals, and preferences. It pays to research deeper about the topic and compare your available options to determine the best intake for you.

There are a large number of colleges in the USA, which means you have many course options to pick from. STEM education in the USA is an attractive prospect for thousands of international students. This is primarily because STEM graduates in the US can extend their F-1 visa through the Optional Practical Training program. For the uninitiated, the acronym STEM stands for the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) is another popular educational strand in the USA. Here is a full list of popular courses for your reference: 

• Computer science
• Business analytics
• Data analytics
• Mechanical engineering
• Medicine
• Electrical engineering
• Business management
• Biotechnology
• Finance

However, the best course for you may be different from the right program for someone else. Therefore, please do not decide using the following options alone.

The USA has many top-tier universities with innovative research, famous graduates, awards, and academics and students from across the globe. But which universities in the USA outrank the others?

Here, we will look at some of the best American universities based on the rankings from QS and Times Higher Education. However, it is important to note that there are also other service providers, such as US News & World Report, with credible university rankings. All the ranking service providers rely on each institution’s independent presentation of information and data and do not corroborate or standardise the information.

The aforementioned list contains some of the best universities in America, but it pays to think about other options too. The institution that best suits your portfolio, interests, and preferences may have a lower rank than the above-mentioned schools in the USA, but this does not make it any lesser.

Do you find it tricky to determine which school is best for you to study in USA? If so, contact an AECC counsellor today and avail yourself of our FREE counselling on how to choose the best school for higher education in the USA for international students.

Do you plan on pursuing a degree in the USA? If so, it is important to understand the criteria for admission that apply to the level of study you plan to pursue. Read further for some general information about USA university admission criteria for the three main levels of study in the USA.

Bachelor’s Level:

• Higher secondary pass, with some of the best US-accredited universities requiring an overall score of 80% or above
• English language proficiency
• Statement of purpose

Master’s Level:

• A qualification that equals a US bachelor’s degree, with a GPA of 3.0 on average
• English proficiency
• Statement of purpose
• Work experience (only for select programs)

Doctoral Level (PhD):

• A master’s degree, with a GPA of 3.0 or above, or 16 years of education that includes a four-year bachelor’s degree
• English proficiency
• A score of 310 to 330 in the GPA or a GMAT score that equals it

The other factor that affects the cost of education in the USA is living expenses. There are many different elements that play a role in determining the cost, including your accommodation type, lifestyle, and mode of transportation. If you consider these factors, it is safe to assume that average living expenses in the USA range between $10,000 and $20,000 a year.

The USA is such a desirable place to study and work. Almost every International student who chooses to study in America wants to be in this culturally, technologically, and economically rich nation. It is possible to apply for a US work permit through an F-1 visa. Foreign nationals also need the visa to qualify for higher education in the USA.

You can stay in the USA for 1 to 3 years with an F-1 visa under the OPT program. The F-1 visa is a pathway to a US post-study work permit. As a holder of an F-1 visa, you can apply for OPT, a program that allows foreign nationals to live and work in the USA for a year. It is a temporary employment arrangement directly associated with the major study area of an F-1 student visa holder.

Eligible candidates can apply for the 12-month-long employment authorisation through OPT before or after they complete their academic education. Usually, international students apply for it as they are about to finish their education in the USA. If you have a degree in a STEM field from a SEVP-authorised university, you can also apply for a two-year OPT extension. If the government approves it, you can work for three years in the USA.