As any student can vouch for,
studying abroad ensures that they get to absorb a life changing cultural
experience as well as the chance to enjoy one of the best standards of living
internationally. This post aims to elaborate on various study options in the
USA.
Once students have applied
successfully for courses and completed payment formalities post receiving their
i20 visas, they will need to arrange for their accommodation in the US.
Contrary to popular belief, the overall costs for tuition and living varies
considerably between different universities/colleges, courses and cities that a
student chooses. In addition to paying tuition expenses, students will also
require financial support for travel, personal computing devices, course literature,
and personal expenses.
These expenses may be daunting,
but there are a number of support systems in place for students to get
financial assistance. It is also possible to get assistance through educational loan with
your financial service provider or through securing grants, and scholarships
from the university. It is always preferable to start smart with an assessment
of the options available for financial assistance. Most students opt for one of
the three accommodation options in the United States:
1. On-campus accommodation/ university hall residence: This is a
feature that turns out a bit more expensive than other options since students
choose to gain accommodation near the school’s classroom, libraries and other
facilities. Dormitories allow students to live on the school’s campus and
students get to know a lot of students very fast. Quite a few U.S. colleges and
universities offer flexible meal-plan programs, and students can choose to pay
in advance for breakfast, lunch and dinner by depositing a certain amount of
money at the beginning of the semester to buy food from designated places.
Did you know that once students
are enrolled for admissions in US academies, the Admissions Department or
International Student Office will most likely send them a “pre-departure
orientation” packet which also includes options for accommodation in the US.
2. Off-campus accommodation/private housing: In this scenario,
students can opt for a private/shared apartment outside of campus, on rent
which is usually at a lower price than living on-campus. Before renting an
apartment, it is recommended to spend some time in the neighborhood to analyse
the safety and convenience of the location. Usually students can save on costs
by preparing their own food and sharing.
Did you know that many local
landlords will not take responsibility for personal possessions if they get
stolen or destroyed so it is recommended that students should buy purchasing
appropriate insurance.
3. Host family accommodation/ Home stays: This alternative is only
offered by a few universities. It is more expensive compared to living
off-campus, but offers students the support of a family, care, comfort and
helps them get integrated with American culture quickly. If these are short
courses then do consider using alternatives like AirBNB.
Did you know that American rules
mandate that most universities will require that parent or legal guardian sign
the housing contract as well as the health form allowing medical treatment for
students under the age of 18.
A new directive passed by the
Obama administration has mandated that students with STEM (Science Technology
Engineering Math) degrees can stay on in the US for a total of six years under
the Optional Training Program (OPT) – three years after finishing an undergraduate
program, and then if need be, another three years after a graduate program.
This would give them as much work time in the US as foreign guest workers get
under the H1-B program. It’s indeed time to start smart with planning your stay
in the US
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