Things you need to know about studying in America

• Studying in the US is like a dream come true for many. According to a report, India surpassed China in sending more students to the United States in 2022. A record-breaking 125,000 Indians were issued US student visas last year, more than issued to any other nationality.

• With thousands of Indian students applying for their student visas (F-1 visa), the United States embassy opened more student visa appointments. They are now open for mid-July to mid-August across India, they announced.

• Students can visit ustraveldocs.com, to book their appointment, the U.S. Embassy India had tweeted.

Here are few things you need to prepare yourself for before making the big move to the States:

1. Documents

• While packing your bags, make sure that you have all the necessary documents before boarding your flight. Essential documents include passports, visas, multiple photocopies of all your documents, I-2o form, high school mark sheets, degree certificates, English proficiency test scores, fee receipts, letter of recommendation etc. You can also ask your university to provide a checklist of necessary documents they will be needing before enrolling for the semester.

2) Visa and insurance
– US offers three type of students visa:

F-1 visa:

• It is provided for academic studies.

J-1 visa:

• It is provided for courses that requires practical training and is not available in your home country

M-1 visa:

• It is given if you want to pursue vocational studies depending upon your visa type, you need to buy an international student health insurance plan. If you are on J-1 visa type, you will need to meet the specific insurance requirements guideline set up by the US State Department.

• According to the guideline for J-1 visa, your insurance should include $100,000 medical benefits per accident or illness, $25,000 for repatriation of remains, $50,000 for medical evacuation to their home country, and $500 maximum deductible allowed per illness or injury. Moreover, the plan must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above, or an Insurance Solvency International Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-I” or above, or a Standard and Poor’s Claims Paying Ability rating of “A-” or above, or a Weiss Research Inc. rating of B+ or above.

• For F and M visa type, you will have to meet your institution’s insurance requirement because most institutions decide the level of coverage a student must have to enroll in classes. You must find out if your school has a mandatory school-sponsored group program, or if you have the option to waive and select an insurance plan outside.
  
  

3) University structure

• The higher education sector in US can be broken down into four categories: associate degrees (AA, AS, AAS), bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and Ph.D. or doctoral degrees. Each level has different credit requirements to pass.

• There is a credit system that allows students to choose different subjects throughout their course. Students receive credits based on their performance at each semester’s end. A standard full-time course will come to about 30 credits each year. Most universities require 120-130 total credits for a bachelor’s degree and 30-64 total credits for a master’s degree to graduate.

• Each university requires potential students to apply directly, meaning that application requirements can vary.
  
  

4) Finances

• Studying in US can be expensive. Fees can range from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the degree of your choice. A four-year bachelor’s degree could cost $200,000 or more. However, fees can vary and many universities provide financial aid in form of scholarships, grants, work-study schemes etc. It is always recommended to check with the University for course structure and fee details.
  
  

5) Accommodation

• US universities provide several options for accomodations. You can choose between on-campus dormitories, off-campus housing etc. It is very crucial to decide on this before moving to have a place right when you land.

6) Employment

• If you wish to work and support yourself financially while pursuing your degree, you can do so if you are on the F-1 visa. This visa type allows you to work up to 20 hours a week during their degree programs and up to 40 hours during term holidays. All the work needs to take place on campus. If you wish to work outside your campus, you will need a special permission from your university.

• According to figures released by the US Embassy, this year more than 200,000 Indian students are studying at US academic institutions, representing more than 20% of international students currently in the United States.

Indian students comprise over 21 per cent of the total population of international students in the United States. During the 2021-2022 academic year, nearly 200,000 Indian students were studying in the United States.