Study in U.S.A: January 2013

Study in USA -

Meet institution representatives and submit applications

Looking for an education in the USA? Your search stops here. IDP, the world’s leading Student
Placement Company and the co-owner of IELTS, endeavours to assist and guide students in making their dream of an education in USA come true. We understand that the short listing Universities and application process can be an overwhelming challenge and therefore our well trained and experienced counselors guide and support you through all steps starting from personalized counseling right till safe arrival on campus.

Fair Highlights:

Apply to over 100 leading institutions for September 2013 intake
On spot* comprehensive & personalized education counseling
Detailed information on scholarships, ranking, visa, etc by U.S. education experts

                      Visa Applications
F-1 Student Visa (U.S. Student Visa)

                The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows an individual to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, or other academic institution. A student must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and the school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.

Steps for Applying for an U.S. Student Visa

                The visa application process commences with the receipt of an I-20. The I-20 confirms a students’ acceptance and enrollment at the university.

The visa process is long and looks difficult, but your personal counselor at IDP will assist and guide you every step of the way.

Step 1: Pay SEVIS Fee (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)
SEVIS is the internet based part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program that is developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the
Department of State (DOS).

SEVIS maintains current and accurate information of all F, M, J visitors and their dependents. Schools (universities, colleges, institutions) transmit mandatory information via SEVIS to all the relevant U.S. government bodies.

You cannot apply for your F-1 visa until you pay the SEVIS Fee.

Fee payable: USD 200

Payment option: Credit card at http://www.fmjfee.com

Step 2: Pay Visa Fee at HDFC Bank
You are required to pay the Visa Application fee at the approved HDFC Bank. The visa fee is also known as the MRV (Machine Readable Visa) Fee.

Fee payable:USD 140 + VFS INR 374

Payment options:

Cash
Demand Draft
HDFC bank cheque

The Visa Fee Receipt will have a barcode sticker with the identical number and must be kept safely. The barcode number will be activated in two working days from the date of payment.

Step 3: Complete the Visa Application Form :

The visa application form for your F-1 visa is completed online through the VFS website. The form that needs to be completed is:

DS -160

You also need to upload a recent (within the past six months) passport size photograph of size 50mm X 50mm (2" x 2") with a white background.

You should print the confirmation page with a barcode at the end of the visa application form.

Step 4: Book Visa Interview Appointment :

Once the barcode number on your visa fee (MRV Fee) receipt is activated, you can use this to login to the VFS website and book your appointment at the U.S. Embassy.

Step 5: Attend you Visa Interview :

On the day of your visa interview, report to the appropriate gate at the U.S. Embassy, 30 minutes before your appointed time. You will need to carry all the mandatory documents as per the checklist given by your IDP counselor.
F-1 Visa (Student Visa) Document Checklist:

Passport (at least 6 months validity required)
Photograph (recent photograph)
VFS interview appointment letter
DS-160 (Confirmation page with barcode)
HDFC visa application fee receipts
SEVIS receipt
I-20
Scholarship letter
Financial Documents
Academic Documents
Test Scores
Work experience certificates
Other relevant certificates

Step 6: Return of Passport by Courier :

The visa officer at the U.S. Embassy will retain your passport after the interview. Once a decision is made on your application the U.S. Embassy will deliver your passport to VFS, who will then courier the same to you within seven working days to the address provided in the visa application form.

Remember your personal IDP Counselor will help you from start to finish providing assistance in organizing documents, completing the forms and preparing you for the interview with the visa officer at the U.S. Embassy.

Study Costs

Student Expenses

In the U.S. the university or college costs vary between different universities and the accommodation and living costs depend on the city that you choose to live in as well as on your personal lifestyle. Tuition will be the most expensive component of your educational costs. The price of tuition can range from $10,000 to $55,000 per year.

Accommodation costs will depend hugely on personal preferences and the city you reside in. For example staying on campus will usually cost you more than staying off campus. Undergraduate freshman students in some universities may be required to stay on campus for the first year which may considerably increase the cost of living. Also whether you decide to stay alone or live with mates will impact your cost.

Accommodation cost will typically range from $3,000 and $8,000 per year. If you decide to hire an apartment, remember than the ancillary costs such as electricity, phone line, furniture and travel costs to and from the university are your responsibility.

Some of the other costs which you may budget for could be fees for student activities which amount to a few hundred dollars per year. Most students have to buy some reference books through the year which can cost between $500 and $1,500 per year. Personal expenses like clothing, entertainment, telephone bills, travel, groceries and the like will also need to be accounted for.

Expense                                                            USD (Annual cost) *
Tuition Fee     $ 10,000 - $ 55,000
Accommodation       $ 3,000- $ 8,000
Groceries    $ 250
Books $ 500- $ 1,500
Medical Insurance    $ 700 - $ 1,000
Incidentals (Travel, Electricity, Phone line)       $ 500

Living in the United States

The U.S. is often called a country of immigrants; it is a ‘melting pot’ of cultures, ethnicities, nationalities and religions which form this great nation.

The U.S. is spread over 9 million square kilometres and is home to over 275 million people. The American culture typically treats all people equally and follows the philosophy that every individual deserves respect, equal opportunity in life and should be treated fairly.

Being in the U.S. you are certain to experience varied climate, landscape, lifestyle, and culture. All you need is to choose a location which suits your needs the best. Once you do that you are sure to have an experience of your lifetime.

U.S. Education System
Post Secondary Education in the U.S.

Post secondary education in the United States refers to all formal education beyond secondary school.

For international students seeking higher educational opportunities in the U.S., post secondary education is typically divided into the following categories:

Associate's Degree
Undergraduate Degree
Graduate Education (Master’s and Ph.D.)

Types of U.S. Higher Education Degrees
Associat'e Degree
An Associate's Degree can be pursued after finishing 12 years of school education. These programs are usually offered by community colleges or junior colleges. These programs may vary from specialized technical programs to liberal arts degrees designed to lead to transfer into four-year Bachelor’s degree programs. Most public two-year colleges have articulation agreements with four-year institutions.

The Associate's Degree program is usually a two-year qualification in areas such as accounting, business, photography, interior designing, and the like.

Undergraduate Degree (B.A.)
Undergraduate education is pursued after finishing 12 years of school education successfully. It is offered in public and private colleges and universities as well as two-year institutions.

The curriculum of an undergraduate program generally consists of four general areas of study - major, cognates, general education courses and electives. The program is fairly flexible within subject groups, which enables a student to have numerous degree options, open in the year 1 and 2 of full-time study. In general, an undergraduate program can be finished successfully in four years.
Graduate Education (Master’s and Ph.D.)

Graduate education is pursued after successfully completing a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree. Master’s/Ph.D. programs of study are typically offered by universities and research institutes.

A graduate program could be research-based, coursework-based or can have a combination of both. In general, a Master’s program can be finished successfully in 1 or 2 years full-time. Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees are typically awarded in the traditional arts, sciences, and humanities disciplines. An M.S. degree is offered mostly in technical fields such as engineering, business and education.

Students who want to advance their education even further in a specific field can pursue a more specialized degree which is the doctorate degree, also called a Ph.D.. A Ph.D. degree can take between three and six years to complete, depending on the research area, the individual's ability, and the thesis that the student has selected. Doctoral level degree or Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) is the highest degree awarded in academic disciplines. Some other professional doctoral degrees are: Ed.D. (Doctor of Education), D.B.A.m (Doctor of Business Administration), and M.D. (Doctor of Medicine).

Monday, 14 January 2013