collageA 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 U.S.?
You only need to look at the university rankings to see that U.S. universities dominate the lists of the best universities in the world. But, if you’re inclined to ignore these rankings, you can also be easily astounded by the sheer number of accredited universities the U.S. higher education system offers. In fact, according to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, there are 2,613 accredited four-year colleges and universities in the U.S.! Holy cow!
In the U.S., secondary schools are divided into different categories: research universities, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and vocational schools. Depending on your needs, these different colleges and institutions have something to offer you. Most commonly, however, if you’re looking for an international education and a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program, you’re probably looking for a research university or a liberal arts college.
At any university in the U.S., they are interested in welcoming students from everywhere in the world. The classes are all delivered in English, and the universities and graduate schools offer extra help and assistance to students who are travelling from other countries. And, though the majority of Americans speak English, there is no official national language in the U.S.
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 for an MBA in the U.S.
- Study International Relations in the U.S.
Major cities 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
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 run through some of the lesser-known favourites:
- The New School
- Columbia University
- California State University Northridge
- Georgia Tech
- Harvard Kennedy School
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Louisiana State University
- Mississippi State University
Practical Information
How to apply to universities in the U.S.Each university in the U.S. has its own system on their website that allows future studentsto 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 coursesA scan of your passportYour CVTesting scoresEvidence of scholarship or fundingLetters of recommendation (between 2-3)Portfolio and/or writing samples
Helpful ways to make sure you 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:
- 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.
Brown University awards more than 200 doctor of philosophy degrees annually. The Brown Ph.D. is primarily a research degree. Teaching is an important part of many doctoral programs, and many departments require candidates for the Ph.D. to have teaching experience.
Brown University offers substantial financial support to doctoral students. All incoming doctoral students are guaranteed five years of support, which includes a stipend, full tuition remission, health-services fee, and a health-insurance subsidy. (This support policy dates to the 2006-07 academic year.) All promises of student support are subject to students making satisfactory academic progress, as determined by their programs of study. Please see related links for additional details regarding the University’s commitment to doctoral education.
There are four general requirements for the doctor of philosophy:
- ADMISSION. The candidate must be formally admitted to his or her degree program.
- RESIDENCE. The normal residency requirement is the equivalent of three Academic Years of full-time study beyond the bachelor’s degree. Students who enter a PhD program at Brown already holding a master’s degree in a related field have a residency requirement equivalent to two Academic Years of full-time study upon entering the PhD program at Brown. Use of a previously earned master’s degree to reduce PhD residency requirements is contingent upon approval of the program Director of Graduate Study.
Graduate work done at other institutions and not used in fulfillment of the requirements for any doctoral degree elsewhere may, on the approval of the program Director of Graduate Study, be counted in fulfillment of up to, but not exceeding, one year of the residency requirement. A student who desires credit for work done elsewhere should file a timely application with the program Director of Graduate Study; transfer credit forms are available through the Office of the Registrar. - ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY. A student is advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. when he or she has completed satisfactorily all the requirements, departmental and general, requisite to beginning work on the dissertation. Candidacy is determined by the department or program of study and certified by the Registrar. Most departments require a preliminary examination before advancing any student to candidacy. Most departments also require a final examination or defense. The examination is conducted by professors in the department and by such other members of the faculty as may be appointed.
- DISSERTATION. The candidate must present a dissertation on a topic related to his or her area of specialization that presents the results of original research and gives evidence of excellent scholarship. The dissertation must be approved by the professor or committee under whose direction it is written and by the Graduate Council. All requirements for the Ph.D. must be completed within five years after advancement to candidacy.
If a faculty member working with a doctoral student leaves Brown for any reason before that student has completed his or her degree requirements, it may not always be possible for that faculty member to continue working with the student as an advisor. In such cases, departments will work with students to help them locate a new advisor.
Individual departments and programs may have additional requirements regarding the number of courses to be taken, proficiency in foreign languages, special examinations, and theses. The department should be consulted for specific information.
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