Study in USA Requirements
There will be some basic requirements of Colleges in Universities that you should fulfil in order to secure your place in Top USA Universities.

  • A valid Passport

You will be in need of a valid passport to pursue your study in the USA. Universities in the USA ask international students to submit their passport numbers on their applications. Without a passport, the institution will not be able to issue the essential forms for a USA student visa.

  • Academic qualifications

Verified copies of all academic certificates, mark sheets and transcripts. should have good grades in previous academic studies which are equivalent to the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) for entry into a selected university or college.

  • English Language Proficiency

Universities in USA are English-speaking Universities. Therefore, it is mandatory for international students who are coming from a non-English speaking country to prove their proficiency in reading, writing listening and speaking in English. Most of the Universities in USA will ask for IELTS or TOEFL scores before admissions.

  • Entrance Exam

Entrance exams like GRE, GMAT, SAT, etc. are required for special coursed. The test to be taken depend upon the individual’s choice of course and University. GRE is taken for general admissions, while GMAT is a specialisation test for management students who want to apply for an MBA in management programs. SAT is asked for undergraduate scores.

Specialisation Tests:

Specialisation Required Tests
Undergraduate Studies SAT
Graduate Studies GRE (General or Subject)
Graduate Studies (Management) GMAT
Fine Arts TOEFL with portfolio
Medicine MCAT
Pharmacy PCAT
Dental DAT
Veterinary VCAT
Law LSAT
Public Accountant CPA (Certified Public Account Accountant Examination)
Medical Licensing USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination)
Foreign Nursing School CGFNS (Council for Graduate of Foreign Nursing Schools)
  • Letter of Recommendation (LOR)

The people who have been in contact with you professionally write Letters of Recommendation for you. It is written by the professors of your last academic institution, or your immediate supervisors from where you had worked. Teachers will write a LOR for bachelor’s degree aspirants. If you are pursuing a Master’s or MS, it will be written by the professors of your college/university.

 

  • Statement of Purpose / Application Essay

The College/university you have applied to can ask one of these two. Both of them serve one purpose: An introduction about yourself and the reasons why you have applied to study in that particular institute. Statement of Purpose contains information about yourself, your long-term and short-term goals and your passion.

Monetary Funds

Even after the university and college you have applied for have been accepted, there will be an intimidating process to prove to the university and the visa officials that you have enough monetary funds to sustain your studies and other expenses for one year without any other financial help.

How to Apply for Universities in the USA

The most important thing to consider when applying for a Study permit in USA is the timing. Start with your preparations at least a year before you are planning to go. The application starts with shortlisting and choosing a program and a university that suits you the best. Go to their website and go through their admission criteria thoroughly.

  • The next thing is to prepare for the entrance or subject exam you are required to take for the university or the college you have chosen. It may be English Language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or the specialisation tests like GRE and GMAT.
  • After you have shortlisted your scores, and you have the transcripts required for all the exams, start applying to the colleges of your choice. This is the time you might also want to start the documentation process. Start working on your Letters of Reference and Statement of purpose, and start writing your application essay if required.
  • Once that is done, you should line up the funds required. You will be asked to prove sufficient funds with the visa application. Complete your application process with the college.
  • You should start working on a student visa for USA process 3 months before the departure. With the visa process, research health insurance options for yourself. Start making travelling arrangements for your departure and make a pre-departure checklist for yourself.

Study in USA Cost:

Universities in the USA aren’t exactly known for their affordability. In fact, USA is known to be one of the most expensive places for international students. However, compared to the quality of education and opportunities that come with studying in USA, the investment is worth every dollar.

Private universities, as is the case everywhere else in the world, are more expensive than state universities in USA. According to the US Department of Education, undergraduate studies at public universities will cost students around 17000$, whereas private universities will cost around 43000$ per year.

Here’s How You Can Reduce Cost of Study in the USA in 3 Easy Ways

  1. Advanced Placement Exams & Credit Transfers:

For most of the subjects you will study in your freshman and sophomore years, you can apply for AP exams while you are in your home country, most probably when you are in your +2. Not only that, the credits from the AP exams can be transferred to your course in USA. This will save you both time and money, as you will not have to appear for the same subjects and exams ahead. However, it is very important to ask the university you are applying to if the credits are at all transferable. Students can save as much as 4000$ for a course, by taking the AP Exams.

  1. Study in the USA with a Scholarship:

As we have mentioned before, there is a number of scholarships available for international students looking to Study in USA. While some of them are from universities, some of them are from the government, and some are from the entities that provide the scholarships. They can be merit-based or need-based. Every year, thousands of students successfully apply for these scholarships which help them not only with the tuition fees but also their day-to-day living expenses depending on the scholarship.

  1. Other ways to Help Yourself with the Cost of Study in the USA:
  2. a) Assisting at the Universities:

The best way to earn some money on campus is by being a teaching or research assistant. These parts can earn you up to 4000$ for a course. You can be a teaching assistant for 2 to 3 courses and pick one topic of your interest in assisting for Research.

  1. b) Work While Studying:

After a year of study in USA, students are allowed to work for 20 hours per week in the field of study. Working while studying is one of the best ways to support yourself. It helps you with your tuition fees and can help you with day-to-day expenses.

  1. c) See where you can cut down:

Rent books from the libraries, cook your own food rather than eating out, and live a slightly down-scaled lifestyle. As we mentioned, the cost of living largely depends on the place you decide to stay in. Be smart about your finances, and by setting small goals and little modifications, you can save big

 

How to Apply for the USA and Required Documents

When you are accepted by the university or college, they will send you the I-20 form to be filled out and apply for the student visa.

  • In the next step, apply for an online DS-160 form for a USA visa.
  • Fill out that form carefully and take a printout of the confirmation page to carry to the visa interview.
  • Pay the Fees for the Visa.
  • Schedule biometrics (a photograph is taken, fingerprints are scanned) and interview appointments.
  • Valid passport for at least 6 months beyond the period of stay
  • Recent passport-size photographs
  • Documents to show sponsorship (if needed)
  • Documents to show the availability of funds
  • Give the interview. It will consist of questions related to the choice of your college, course, and intent to come back to your home country. If you pass the interview, the passport will be taken to get the Visa Stamped.