Universities in USA

 It's about time! As I was transitioning from working with final year students to pre-final year students in the spring, it seemed like a good time to blog about what is happening in the world of international education for international students interested in studying in American universities in 2023. and beyond.

If you don't have time:

What does the latest research say about the success of international students after studying in the USA?

What is the real cost of university in the USA?

How do you know if applying to a university in the USA is for you?

Want to know where international students studying in the US come from? Check out this SEVIS tool.

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The US is facing a huge competition for university applications as we expect. Recent studies have shown that China and India still account for about 30% of all international students who go abroad for higher education. In the USA, counselors hear more and more that students are interested in applying to universities in the UK, Canada, Australia, Europe, and other countries. The huge price difference keeps students feeling they have to "consider other options", even if the USA is their first choice.

Although the US offers many options and what is often known as a unique university experience, which includes degrees to pursue degrees, extracurriculars, on-campus living, and a sense of community that is more difficult to find in other countries, the price you have. they continued to increase. Most universities in the US have annual price tags of $80 dollars (or more) for tuition and room and board programs. It takes four years to complete a bachelor's degree and add to it that foreign students cannot apply for a student loan in the US without a cosigner. This makes the process difficult even from the beginning.

So the question remains a hot topic as the cost of education continues to rise - why do international students choose to study higher education in the USA?

Here are my personal thoughts from experience (but you will read the same on studies by Interstride and World Education Services, as well as general articles by Times Higher Education and the Economist):

They are considering a long-term return on investment in education from the USA - lifelong learning still ranks an American university degree as one of the most important opportunities you can get for a lifetime.

Students/parents understand the importance of the cultural skills, applied learning, and real world practical application curriculum that the USA is famous for - students not only earn degrees through theory and study-based courses, but they also immerse themselves in international travel, internships, jobs, and building cultural connections with others of various organizations in the country.

Experienced learning opportunities are hard to beat - the USA offers the largest selection of top schools in the world, as well as world-class laboratories, professors, and both international student support systems and student life opportunities that expand to beyond. only clubs and other extracurriculars. They work together to create well-rounded and curious students who are ready to take on real career opportunities after university studies are completed.

In my personal experience, I have seen students make changes in secondary or post secondary programs that I truly believe cannot happen in other situations. The experience of studying in the US for education continues to bring out strengths in international students that make them competitive in various industries around the world. I believe that they are adaptable, flexible, responsible, mature, solution-oriented, and young enough to bring more to the table than a student educated in their own country.

Despite that, most students cannot afford the cost of a US education. So if you're not:

The top athlete is likely to be drafted to NCAA Division I or II sports

The most outstanding student (top 1% in your class in one of the top 10 schools in your country) is awarded the coveted ONE full-time scholarship.

It is fully supported by your parents or the government of your country

…what can you expect to pay?

As the cost of university in the US increases, so do the scholarship opportunities. That being said, top students from the US and other countries can expect to spend $30,000-$40,000 USD each year on a university degree - AND OTHER schools. While merit scholarships, or scholarships that are awarded automatically when a student applies (they are usually offered by private rather than public universities), they are usually up to 50% of the tuition fee. There are full tuition scholarships or sometimes honors programs (which usually require an interview or other steps from

I regularly discuss with students who want to consider only the top US universities for their high school education.

A few trends in recent years for these top schools (let's say the top 50 universities, which are a miniscule 1% of all university choices in the USA) are:

More resources, thanks to things like test options, mean that these schools can be more selective than before

Top universities get a lot of international applicants. They are not the ones who are hurting the students to keep the doors open, so they can see all kinds of things they want, from the parts of the men they have received, to other student players they want to fill the places of the sports team, not to accept. like many students from another area of the country because students from there do not do well - in short - these top universities do not want your applications and want to give you a scholarship.

They are suffering from the recent epidemic of small liberal arts universities. These universities not only have the budget to meet student numbers, but they value diversity and want more of it! These are the schools that mainly provide international students with higher education.

With all of these processes comes the need for counselors and advisors to be honest and open with international students as they go through the application process.

My top tips for students thinking about applying to a US university next year:

- Consider more tuition fees. Try not to rely only on government money or family money or your savings. You may need more than one source of income for these high price tags.

- Do your research - find a university that wants international students on their campuses.

- Look for other scholarships at the university that you may qualify for - think about talent, honors programs, or anything related to international students like the #youwarewelcomehere scholarship.

- Consider community or state colleges. They have low price tags and some can support international students well.

If you take anything away from this blog, it's that international students should look into small, private (well placed) professional universities for their studies. Of course, this depends on your field and exactly what you are looking for, but know that these are the schools that offer the most flexibility to students.

If you are wondering where to start, there are many blogs on this site to help you learn about how to study in the USA. In addition, Shorelight, a global education company, has put together a comprehensive guide on all aspects of learning in the USA.