Define your edge with a U.S. degree

When we are talking about higher education, it seems the preferred destination should be the United States. Perceptibly, the United States is the choicest destination among the students for higher education all over the world.  According to the Open Doors Report 2022, almost 200,000 Indian students chose the United States to pursue higher studies in the 2021-22 academic year.

U.S. higher education can also be expensive. Fortunately, there are a range of financial aid options that international students at U.S. universities and colleges can access.  With the right planning and research, students can access a range of financial assistance for higher education in the United States. Now, there is a need-based scholarship can be in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study

positions or loans.  For instance, the University of Southern California [USC], provides financial aid to international students in the form of merit-based scholarships and on-campus work.

"Trustee [full tution] and Presidential [half tution] are the top scholarships."  

Based in Los Angeles, USC has one of the largest populations of Indian students in the United States.  At USC, and many other U.S. universities, international students can work up to 20 hours on campus to supplement their scholarship and help cover the cost of their studies.  Campus jobs are available to international students, including jobs in the USC Bookstores, libraries, tech support, fitness center, and even tutoring for the athletic departments.

In Amherst College 2022-23 academic year, 79 percent of international students received need-based aid, with an average aid offer of $ 76,739.  Also, Education USA advisers can guide students to stand out in a highly competitive applicant pool to increase their chances of receiving financial assistance.  One can go to the websites and identify resources.  The links are given below:

USC                 : financialaid.us.edu                                                                                         Amherst College : amherst.edu/offices/financialaid                                                                         Penn State Law : pennstatelaw.psu.edu

Another option is the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarships, which provide a limited number of scholarships each year for post-graduate studies to outstanding students from certain countries including India, who have no other means of financing their studies.

If Indian women are looking out to launch a career, perceptibly a U.S. degree opens doors for them.  The high quality of education and diversity on campus cultivates creativity, independent thought, equal opportunity and can unlock amazing opportunities.  Be it prospective students or lifelong learners, studying in the U.S. offers unprecedented access to quality education.

Advantages of studying in the United States  

• Acquire immense knowledge and experience
• Studying will give you a great edge to move on your career
• Schools are proactive about helping international students connect with financial aid
• American degrees are recognised and respected around the world
• It leaves a huge impact and groomed personally, academically and professionally
• Studying here gives an opportunity to hone the business skills 

Safety and security in the perspective of women

• Safety is the main priority since many students are far away from their families
• Among other measures, the school offered free transportation at night, security officers and emergency, call boxes positioned all around campus, and even self-defense training from the Los Angeles Police Department

Go online

• USC : usc.edu
• Virginia Tech : vt.edu
• Mount Holyoke College : mtholyoke.edu
• UMass Amherst : umass.edu
• MOOCs: https://bit.ly/knowyourMOOCs
• Coursera : coursera.org
• edX : edx.org
• USIEF : usief.org.in 
• UFS career services : usf.edu/career-services
• USC career center : careers.usc.edu
• University of Houston career services : uh.edu/ucs
• University of South Florida : usf.edu
• Boston university : bu.edu/summer/high-school-programs
• Brown university : precollege.brown.edu
• The University of Chicago : summer-uchicago.edu/pre-college-students
• Resources for students : educationusa.state.gov/resources-students-disabilities
• Stanford's office of accessible education : oae.stanford.edu

Parents deal with many concerns when sending children abroad for higher studies.  The United States-India Education Foundation [USIEF] offers regular sessions for parents and prospective students on various aspects of life as an international student at a U.S. university campus.  Large American campuses usually have several communities for like-minded peers and students.  The North American Association of Indian students, a nonprofit organisation, connects a variety of Indian groups on college and university campuses to create better resources for Indian students.

Indian students planning to pursue higher education in the United States often come up with volleys of questions like:

• Should I pursue undergraduate studies in the United States or wait to apply for graduate studies?
• Who gets priority for graduate funding?
• Are extracurricular activities important for graduate school applications?
• How important are admission test scores for applications to U.S. universities?
• Why should I choose a U.S. education?

An Education USA adviser answers questions frequently asked by students.  They also guide students to stand out in a highly competitive application pool to increase their chances of receiving financial assistance.  

Flexi-options

• Flexible curriculum at U.S. universities allow students to make informed choices about their subjects and career paths.  
• The perks of flexible curriculums -- students can:
• Explore different subjects
• Deepen knowledge of majors
• Pursue independent research projects
• Enhance versatility
• Build critical thinking ability

U.S. universities provide a range of support services for international students with disabilities. The Office of Accessible Education regularly hosts community events and information-sharing workshops.  Generally, they share a building with the Disability Community Space [DisCo], a student-led place where peers can meet, network, share experiences and build friendships.

The United States is home to diverse types of higher education institutions to fit every academic and career goal.  One can go online:

• Brown university : brown.edu
• Princeton university : princeton.edu
• UCLA : ucla.edu
• Amherst college : amherst.edu
• Bryn Mawr  college : brynmawr.edu
• Pasadena city college : pasadena.edu
• Universal technical institute : uti.edu
• Green river college : greenriver.edu

Perceptibly, the students are encouraged to take the leap, if they get the opportunity to study in the United States.  Define your edge with a U.S. degree.  

Before embarking on, here is a food for thought -- ask yourself

1. why do you want to study in the United States?
2. where you will fit in best?
3. which colleges or universities will meet your needs?
4. will you need financial assistance?
5. what are application and financial aid deadlines?
6. where do you want to live in the United States?