Introduction

Studying in the United States is certainly a dream for many: the country hosts some of the best universities in the world and every year over a million students, teachers and researchers go here to study or to boost their career. In addition to the prestige, what attracts many students is certainly also the possibility of tailoring your study program to your unique needs and preferences: the American university system is characterized by the combination of compulsory courses (defined “core courses”) and other courses that can also be selected from different departments or subjects. This gives students a strong degree of flexibility in picking and choosing their own modules, making the experience of each student totally unique.

Structure of the university system

At the end of high school and after graduation, students face two types of choice: to study at a Community College or at a College/University, both at an undergraduate level.

The Community College is the most appropriate choice for those who wish to pursue a career as soon as possible while also obtaining a higher qualification. After two years, in fact, the student will have an associate degree and can choose whether to continue his studies at a four-year institution or immerse himself in the job market.
College/University: This type of institution is more suitable for those who wish to continue their studies in the future with a master’s degree or doctorate. Without an undergraduate qualification from a university or college, it is impossible to access masters and doctorates. The first two years of courses are more generic and allow students to have a flexible and variegated study plan. Third and fourth year courses are instead more specific to the chosen field of study. At the end of the undergraduate programme, students will be awarded with a bachelor’s degree.

After obtaining an undergraduate/bachelor’s degree, prospective students can undertake a postgraduate programme. Any international student with at least one degree can also access these programmes.

Master: the United States is characterized by different subject-specific ‘schools’ that operate independently from the university they are part of. Examples of these are the business schools (Mba) whose master’s courses last two years, the law schools (JD) that last 3 years, and the medical schools (MD) that have a duration of 4 years. Students also can pursue a one-year master’s course, though this depends on the research area in which one intends to specialize in.

Phd: students who already have a master’s degree and are interested in an independent research programme can pursue a PhD. The duration of a PhD varies, as it depends on the field of study and the student’s chosen independent research programme. Generally, American doctorates are longer than their European counterparts. A PhD in the US is generally attached to a more structured introduction to teaching practices, while in Europe teaching classes is usually not mandatory for doctorate students. The American system allows doctorate students to undertake appropriate teaching training, gain relevant experience in academia and receive a generally higher wage than in Europe, but on the other hand the duration of American doctorate studies is longer and usually takes 5-6 years to complete, as opposed to the 3-4 years that are the standard duration of a PhD in Europe.

The United States of course does not adopt the European credit calculation system, although some universities have started to indicate ECTS equivalents to their course list. The calculation of credits and equivalence with European ones remains quite arbitrary, so in case of transfer of credits, European students must negotiate individually their position and the amount of credits with the relevant American university. However, in recent years some universities have started to adopt the credential evaluation system, using reports from specific agencies.

How to apply to study in the USA

Compared to the European system, the time frame for admission to US universities is considerably longer. As is the case in most European universities, university courses begin in September, but applications must be submitted between December and February of the year prior to the start of classes. Each university differs in the admission procedures and it is therefore important to always rely on the official websites of the chosen university. Applications can be submitted online, and in some cases online interviews may be requested by the university itself during the selection process. Among the documents that are most commonly required in order to complete the admission procedure, we find:

Transcripts or school reports, degree certificates if you already have them, the grades obtained for completed study plans.
Statement of purpose that refers to a motivational letter that explains the reasons that lead the student to have chosen that precise course of studies and university. Often the statement of purpose is one of the central elements in the application of a candidate and it is therefore important to be very comprehensive and precise in its drafting.
Curriculum Vitae
Letters of Reference from professors or tutors
Certificates of knowledge of the English language
ACT/SAT: those are tests that confirm the degree of preparation of the student in certain subjects; there are also subject-specific standardised texts such as the GMAT, necessary for students intending to undertake a course of study with an economic focus; the GRE, necessary for doctoral students mostly in the Humanities; the MCAT, which is a requirement for medical students.
Financial Documentation that attests the possibility for the student to support himself during the period of study.

If the application is successful, the student will need a study visa to travel to the country.

Tuition fees

As is well known, the costs of American universities are very high and often inaccessible whether the universities are public or private. It is important to consider, however, that the United States is characterized by a rich donation of scholarships by the universities themselves.Grants may be awarded on the basis of merit or economic needs. At present, the most widely awarded grants are partial grants, covering between 40 and 50% of costs.

Several scholarships are also available for those who practice sports at a competitive level. Finally, the Fullbright scholarship programme is particularly interesting because, in addition to university costs, it also finances travel expenses, health insurance and visa costs. The call is usually published in August and expires in December. The application process for these scholarships and grants requires similar documentation as what is required to apply to an American university.

You can read more about sports’ scholarships in the US here: https://www.dreamando.fr/living-studying-abroad/being-a-student-athlete-in-the-usa-you-can/

Language tests

As previously anticipated in order to access a course of study in the United States, knowledge of the English language is fundamental: the language test most accepted by the various universities is the TOEFL. Some universities require a minimum score at each section of the test, others are only interested in the final score including everything. Again, it is important to consider the different requirements of universities as they vary from institution to institution.

Living in the USA

Visas

To be able to study in the United States you need a visa belonging to the category of Visa Non-immigrant; to obtain it you must contact an American consulate. The most common are:

B1-B2: Required for amateur courses at the end of which no certificate is issued.
F, M: required for students attending academic courses at universities (F), or for those participating in professional programmes (M).

Healthcare system

As is well known, the US healthcare system is private. It is therefore essential to take out private health insurance prior to arrival in the United States, by contacting any insurance company you prefer.
For what concerns the situation regarding Covid-19, all current information is available on this page of the US government: https://www.usa.gov/coronavirus

Costs of living

The costs of studying in the United States, in addition to the tuition fee itself, are quite high. By making an estimate including tax, board and lodging, medical insurance and other additional costs we speak of figures such as $26,000 per annum for an undergraduate program and about $30,000 per annum if we consider graduate programs.

For students doing their doctorate working opportunities are usually integrated in the 5-6 years of study programme, mostly focused on teaching duties, university administrative staff roles or working as laboratory technicians. For students at all levels there are also many chances to work part-time on campus restaurants, dormitories and libraries.