A number of people have asked me about studying in the USA thus I have tried to lists the main points, especially what I have seen as important, and what I have been specifically asked. Please note however that this is just meant as an amateur guide and you will have to do yr own research for more info. Any body else can also add on to it.
The first thing I would advise anybody thinking of studying in the US, (or anywhere for that matter) is do yr research. Visit the library or higher education/career resource center; there are a number of good books, (some good publishers include Barrons, Petersons), which are a good guide for studying abroad. So are certain websites e.g. www.coleggeboard.org, www.edupass.org. Also ask people who know, ask community members who have studied in the US, ask students who are currently there… The bottom line is you have to do the research yourself.
Q. Is A Levels necessary?
Necessary-NO, recommended-YES. A Levels will give you certain skills which will be useful, and will make you more independent and mature, however A levels is not necessary as you will repeat a lot of the stuff you learn in A levels in the First year courses. However if you decide not to do A Levels then prepare for a possibly hard and tough first year, as you might be learning new things, coupled with yr settling in/ culture shock stress. Many US universities give credit for IB courses. They can even give credit for A level courses, however from my experience, you have to really struggle to convince your professors and the registrar to give you the credit.
What is required though is your SAT exams. Get info from sat@ets.org. The top schools ask for SAT 1 and SAT 2, most schools however require SAT 1 only. The SAT 1 exam especially the verbal section is tough...so prepare for them like you are preparing for your Final Exams (e.g. A Level). There are SAT prep books available (barrons, petersons...) USE THEM. Try to memorize the high frequency word list for SAT verbal. International students are also asked to give TOEFL exams...if you speak English well, its a breeze, however you should also try to study the prep books.
Which university or college should I go to?
This is a tough question... let me just briefly go over the pre info needed to choose a school
Choosing a school There are literally thousands of places of higher education in the US, and choosing a place can be the most difficult. Broadly there are 1) Vocational schools/technical colleges 2) 2 yr community colleges 3) 4 year colleges and Universities. In order of status the best are the 4 yr colleges and universities. If you are an average student, who wants a recognized degree I would suggest you avoid the vocational schools/technical colleges, as some of them are usually not recognized throughout the US. A rule of thumb: avoid doubtful places that are not on the main websites like collegeboard.org, or have web addresses that end in .com instead of .edu.
Most college degrees in the US are 4 yrs, so if you enroll in a community college, which is 2 yrs, (a cheaper option if finances are important) you have to then transfer to a 4 yr college or University.
PS note that community college is not the same as college and it is a common misconception is to mistake the 2. Some 4 yr colleges, are very good universities of high standing, it’s just the name that’s college. To illustrate, the undergraduate school of what everyone calls Harvard University is officially called Harvard College.
If you are an exceptional student maybe you want to try applying to the Ivy league schools i.e. the most prestigious and recognized schools, which include Harvard, Yale, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania...however always also apply to other places at the same time also, because if you do net get into the college you want to... Advertise yourself well on their admission forms, especially any work you have done internationally e.g. Red Cross, UN…
I would suggest also try to locate a place where the community is not too far away, it is always advantageous to have a community nearby. The best thing then would be first choose a location where you want to study, then find schools there...you can use college board search engine for this. So if you chose a location, and you know community members there, ask them to guide you, with colleges in that area ...
Another thing that I think would be very helpful, is that group of friends (could also be 2 people) try to apply to the same place together.
PS to compare schools rankings, prestige...you can use the compare function on the collegeboard.org website; a rule of the thumb: the better the school the lower the percentage of applicants accepted, the higher the SAT scores needed and the higher the GPA (GPA stands for Grade Point Average, it runs from 1-4...4 being the highest/best i.e. if you get a GPA of 4 that would be roughly equivalent to an A in the UK system)
A final word of caution: Unlike the UCAS system, you have to apply to each individual school separately in the US and so it can be pretty cumbersome, however patience and perseverance is the key.
Can I get a scholarship?
That’s probably the most asked but hardest to answer question. I am quoting verbatim from dupes
"A US education is very expensive. Tuition, room and board at an undergraduate institution will cost from $15,000 to $40,000 a year, depending on the school. A graduate education can be even more expensive. There is very little financial aid for foreign nationals to study in the US, with the possible exception of citizens of Canada and Mexico. Most grants, scholarships, and loans from public and private sources are restricted to US citizens..." (and permanent residents) As a result, international students will find very little information about financial aid for international students.
However let this not discourage you. I know of international students on full scholarships. Financial aid and scholarships are there, but locating and searching for them is difficult and long. Again patience and perseverance is the key. In your package you will receive long and tedious financial aid forms, fill them out as meticulously, carefully, and truthfully as possible. Also access thewww.finaid.org site. Read all the info on this website and familiarize yourself with the terms used.)
The US system of education
The US colleges follow a credit system. Most undergrad degree programs are 4 yrs, however if you take more courses per semester than the minimum, you can accelerate your degree. (ps medicine and law and other professional degrees are graduate degrees, and u need a 4 yr pre-med or pre-law degree to enter medical/law school)
Each yr is divided into 2 main semesters (fall (Sept- December) and spring (roughly Jan-April) There are 2 summer sessions (May-August), most people don’t take classes/courses in summer, but if you want to speed yr degree you could...(you have to pay additional fees for the summer term)
Unlike the British system, in which you decide what yr career choice is before selecting a course, and then for the next 3/4 yrs or more you continue studying that, the US system is quite different. Each semester you register for a number of courses of your choice. (On average most people take around 4/5 courses in a semester). Guidelines are given on how to select courses…Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (4 or 5…). There are a number of required courses and some electives of your choice. To qualify for a degree (BS/BA) you should have completed a certain amount of credits, some of required courses. To illustrate, for instance if I want to do a BS in Physics, I have to have taken 5 required Physics courses, one Writing class, one calculus course… and the rest could be courses of my choice from philosophy to history…
PS First year students are called freshmen, second year: Sophomore, Third years: Juniors. And final year seniors.
How about expenses
When preparing a budget, you will need to account for the following costs:
The first thing I would advise anybody thinking of studying in the US, (or anywhere for that matter) is do yr research. Visit the library or higher education/career resource center; there are a number of good books, (some good publishers include Barrons, Petersons), which are a good guide for studying abroad. So are certain websites e.g. www.coleggeboard.org, www.edupass.org. Also ask people who know, ask community members who have studied in the US, ask students who are currently there… The bottom line is you have to do the research yourself.
Q. Is A Levels necessary?
Necessary-NO, recommended-YES. A Levels will give you certain skills which will be useful, and will make you more independent and mature, however A levels is not necessary as you will repeat a lot of the stuff you learn in A levels in the First year courses. However if you decide not to do A Levels then prepare for a possibly hard and tough first year, as you might be learning new things, coupled with yr settling in/ culture shock stress. Many US universities give credit for IB courses. They can even give credit for A level courses, however from my experience, you have to really struggle to convince your professors and the registrar to give you the credit.
What is required though is your SAT exams. Get info from sat@ets.org. The top schools ask for SAT 1 and SAT 2, most schools however require SAT 1 only. The SAT 1 exam especially the verbal section is tough...so prepare for them like you are preparing for your Final Exams (e.g. A Level). There are SAT prep books available (barrons, petersons...) USE THEM. Try to memorize the high frequency word list for SAT verbal. International students are also asked to give TOEFL exams...if you speak English well, its a breeze, however you should also try to study the prep books.
Which university or college should I go to?
This is a tough question... let me just briefly go over the pre info needed to choose a school
Choosing a school There are literally thousands of places of higher education in the US, and choosing a place can be the most difficult. Broadly there are 1) Vocational schools/technical colleges 2) 2 yr community colleges 3) 4 year colleges and Universities. In order of status the best are the 4 yr colleges and universities. If you are an average student, who wants a recognized degree I would suggest you avoid the vocational schools/technical colleges, as some of them are usually not recognized throughout the US. A rule of thumb: avoid doubtful places that are not on the main websites like collegeboard.org, or have web addresses that end in .com instead of .edu.
Most college degrees in the US are 4 yrs, so if you enroll in a community college, which is 2 yrs, (a cheaper option if finances are important) you have to then transfer to a 4 yr college or University.
PS note that community college is not the same as college and it is a common misconception is to mistake the 2. Some 4 yr colleges, are very good universities of high standing, it’s just the name that’s college. To illustrate, the undergraduate school of what everyone calls Harvard University is officially called Harvard College.
If you are an exceptional student maybe you want to try applying to the Ivy league schools i.e. the most prestigious and recognized schools, which include Harvard, Yale, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania...however always also apply to other places at the same time also, because if you do net get into the college you want to... Advertise yourself well on their admission forms, especially any work you have done internationally e.g. Red Cross, UN…
I would suggest also try to locate a place where the community is not too far away, it is always advantageous to have a community nearby. The best thing then would be first choose a location where you want to study, then find schools there...you can use college board search engine for this. So if you chose a location, and you know community members there, ask them to guide you, with colleges in that area ...
Another thing that I think would be very helpful, is that group of friends (could also be 2 people) try to apply to the same place together.
PS to compare schools rankings, prestige...you can use the compare function on the collegeboard.org website; a rule of the thumb: the better the school the lower the percentage of applicants accepted, the higher the SAT scores needed and the higher the GPA (GPA stands for Grade Point Average, it runs from 1-4...4 being the highest/best i.e. if you get a GPA of 4 that would be roughly equivalent to an A in the UK system)
A final word of caution: Unlike the UCAS system, you have to apply to each individual school separately in the US and so it can be pretty cumbersome, however patience and perseverance is the key.
Can I get a scholarship?
That’s probably the most asked but hardest to answer question. I am quoting verbatim from dupes
"A US education is very expensive. Tuition, room and board at an undergraduate institution will cost from $15,000 to $40,000 a year, depending on the school. A graduate education can be even more expensive. There is very little financial aid for foreign nationals to study in the US, with the possible exception of citizens of Canada and Mexico. Most grants, scholarships, and loans from public and private sources are restricted to US citizens..." (and permanent residents) As a result, international students will find very little information about financial aid for international students.
However let this not discourage you. I know of international students on full scholarships. Financial aid and scholarships are there, but locating and searching for them is difficult and long. Again patience and perseverance is the key. In your package you will receive long and tedious financial aid forms, fill them out as meticulously, carefully, and truthfully as possible. Also access thewww.finaid.org site. Read all the info on this website and familiarize yourself with the terms used.)
The US system of education
The US colleges follow a credit system. Most undergrad degree programs are 4 yrs, however if you take more courses per semester than the minimum, you can accelerate your degree. (ps medicine and law and other professional degrees are graduate degrees, and u need a 4 yr pre-med or pre-law degree to enter medical/law school)
Each yr is divided into 2 main semesters (fall (Sept- December) and spring (roughly Jan-April) There are 2 summer sessions (May-August), most people don’t take classes/courses in summer, but if you want to speed yr degree you could...(you have to pay additional fees for the summer term)
Unlike the British system, in which you decide what yr career choice is before selecting a course, and then for the next 3/4 yrs or more you continue studying that, the US system is quite different. Each semester you register for a number of courses of your choice. (On average most people take around 4/5 courses in a semester). Guidelines are given on how to select courses…Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (4 or 5…). There are a number of required courses and some electives of your choice. To qualify for a degree (BS/BA) you should have completed a certain amount of credits, some of required courses. To illustrate, for instance if I want to do a BS in Physics, I have to have taken 5 required Physics courses, one Writing class, one calculus course… and the rest could be courses of my choice from philosophy to history…
PS First year students are called freshmen, second year: Sophomore, Third years: Juniors. And final year seniors.
How about expenses
When preparing a budget, you will need to account for the following costs:
- Application fees average $50 to $75 per school.
- Academic entrance examinations will cost you about $100 to $200 per examination, and most students take at least two tests. Assume that you will be spending at least $500 on tests.
- Tuition and fees will cost between $5,000 and $30,000 per academic year (nine months), depending on the type and quality of institution. (w/o financial aid)
- Books and study materials will cost $500 to $1,000 per academic year.
- Travel costs to the US vary, but will be between $500 and $2,000. Travel costs within the US will be between $300 and $700. NOTE apart from the big cities, the public transport is not good at all. If you are staying off campus, you will sooner or later have to get a car...so learn how to drive and apply for yr us license after practicing. Plus include car expenses.
- Room and Board will cost between $3,000 and $7,500 per academic year. Allow an extra $1,000 to $2,000 for vacation periods when the dormitory might be closed.
- If you will be living off campus, the cost of renting an apartment will be between $300 and $600 a month, but could be substantially higher depending on the location of the school. Meals should cost about $2,500 a year, assuming that you do not eat in restaurants too frequently.
- Health insurance (mandatory) will cost $300 to $500 a year for one person,
- Personal expenses will cost about $2,000 a year.
Note: You can work part time while studying. On campus jobs may be the best to start with, as you can schedule them around your classes. Some jobs e.g. in the library are normally very easy.
Expect and prepare for Culture Shock:
The following is picked up from a website, and I think its quite good.
Expect and prepare for Culture Shock:
The following is picked up from a website, and I think its quite good.
Culture Shock The term, culture shock, was introduced for the first time in 1958 to describe the anxiety produced when a person moves to a completely new environment. This term expresses the lack of direction, the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do things in a new environment, and not knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate. The feeling of culture shock generally sets in after the first few weeks of coming to a new place.
We can describe culture shock as the physical and emotional discomfort one suffers when coming to live in another country or a place different from the place of origin. Often, the way that we lived before is not accepted as or considered as normal in the new place. Everything is different, for example, not speaking the language, not knowing how to use banking machines, not knowing how to use the telephone and so ! forth.
The symptoms of cultural shock can appear at different times. Although, one can experience real pain from culture shock; it is also an opportunity for redefining one's life objectives. It is a great opportunity for leaning and acquiring new perspectives. Culture shock can make one develop a better understanding of oneself and stimulate personal creativity.
Symptoms:
- Sadness, loneliness, melancholy
- Preoccupation with health
- Aches, pains, and allergies
- Insomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little
- Changes in temperament, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless
- Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others
- Identifying with the old culture or idealizing the old country
- Loss of identity
- Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new culture or country
- Unable to solve simple problems
- Lack of confidence
- Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity
- Developing stereotypes about the new culture
- Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness
- Longing for family
- Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused
Stages of Culture Shock
Culture shock has many stages. Each stage can be ongoing or appear only at certain times. The first stage is the incubation stage. In this first stage, the new arrival may feel euphoric and be pleased by all of the new things encountered. This time is called the "honeymoon" stage, as everything encountered is new and exciting.
Culture shock has many stages. Each stage can be ongoing or appear only at certain times. The first stage is the incubation stage. In this first stage, the new arrival may feel euphoric and be pleased by all of the new things encountered. This time is called the "honeymoon" stage, as everything encountered is new and exciting.
Afterwards, the second stage presents itself. A person may encounter some difficult times and crises in daily life. For example, communication difficulties may occur such as not being understood. In this stage, there may be feelings of discontent, impatience, anger, sadness, and feeling incompetence. This happens when a person is trying to adapt to a new culture that is very different from the culture of origin. Transition between the old methods and those of the new country is a difficult process and tak! es time to complete. During the transition, there can be strong feelings of dissatisfaction.
The third stage is characterized by gaining some understanding of the new culture. A new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced. One may start to feel a certain psychological balance. The new arrival may not feel as lost and starts to have a feeling of direction. The individual is more familiar with the environment and wants to belong. This initiates an evaluation of the old ways versus those of the new.
In the fourth stage, the person realizes that the new culture has good and bad things to offer. This stage can be one of double integration or triple integration depending on the number of cultures that the person has to process. This integration is accompanied by a more solid feeling of belonging. The person starts to define him/herself and establish goals for living.
The fifth stage is the stage that is called the "re-entry shock." This occur! s when a return to the country of origin is made. One may find that things are no longer the same. For example, some of the newly acquired customs are not in use in the old culture.
These stages are present at different times and each person has their own way of reacting in the stages of culture shock. As a consequence, some stages will be longer and more difficult than others. Many factors contribute to the duration and effects of culture shock. For example, the individual's state of mental health, type of personality, previous experiences, socio-economic conditions, familiarity with the language, family and/or social support systems, and level of education.
How to Fight Culture Shock
The majority of individuals and families that immigrate from other countries have the ability to positively confront the obstacles of a new environment. Some ways to combat stress produced by culture shock are:
The majority of individuals and families that immigrate from other countries have the ability to positively confront the obstacles of a new environment. Some ways to combat stress produced by culture shock are:
- Develop a hobby
- Don't forget the good things you already have!
- Remember, there are always resources that you can use
- Be patient, the act of immigrating is a process of adaptation to new situations. It is going to take time
- Learn to be constructive. If you encounter an unfavorable environment, don't put yourself in that position again. Be easy on yourself.
- Don't try too hard.
- Learn to include a regular form of physical activity in your routine. This will help combat the sadness and loneliness in a constructive manner. Exercise, swim, take an aerobics class, etc.
- Relaxation and meditation are proven to be very positive for people who are passing through periods of stress . * Reading Quran, duas, namaz…
- Maintain contact with your ethnic *religious group. This will give you a feeling of belonging and you will reduce your feelings of loneliness and alienation
- Maintain contact with the new culture. Learn the language. Volunteer in community activities that allow you to practice the language that you are learning. This will help you feel less stress about language and useful at the same time.
- Allow yourself to feel sad about the things that you have left behind: your family, your friends, etc.
- Recognize the sorrow of leaving your old country. Accept the new country. Focus your power on getting through the transition.
- Pay attention to relationships with your family and at work. They will serve as support for you in difficult times.
- Establish simple goals and evaluate your progress.
- Find ways to live with the things that don't satisfy you 100%.
- Maintain confidence in yourself. Follow your ambitions and continue your plans for the future.
- If you feel stressed, look for help. There is always someone or some service available to help you
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