
CHOOSING WHERE TO STUDY
It is essential that you spend time researching all the options for study in the USA, as your decision will affect your education, quality of life and future career. Remember you may be spending several years in your new home, so choosing the right institution in the right location is very important.
Your decision should depend on a number of factors including location, course and institution. Establishing your main reason for wanting to study in the USA is a great starting point. For example, have you always wanted to study in the USA regardless of your subject choice? Or is your decision based on a particular institution specialising in your chosen subject area?
Choosing a course
There are many subject choices and different types of course available. Some are academic, whereas others are more vocational and work-based (such as nursing). You should make sure you know exactly what a course covers, as often courses of the same name will cover different areas; what’s included varies greatly and depends on the institution’s facilities and strengths.
You may have a specific course in mind, in which case you can narrow your search down to those institutions that offer it. However, if not then you should consider what kind of course you are interested in and may want to ask:
- What type of qualification is it?
- Is it a recognised qualification in your home country?
- What are the entry/language requirements?
- What topics are covered?
- Will it help you with your future career?
- What are the teaching methods and course structures?
- How is the degree assessed?
- How many students are on the course and how big are class sizes?
Choosing a location
Your chosen course may be offered at a number of different institutions in various regions of the USA. Deciding on a location to study can be a difficult choice, especially in a country as large and diverse as the USA. You should consider what kind of environment and lifestyle you would prefer. If you’d like to, and are permitted to, work whilst studying you may also want to consider what job opportunities there are, and also consider what your options after study will be. You may also want to consider:
- Does the area cater for any particular hobbies or interests you have?
- Do you want an active, country life or prefer a city life?
- How many international people are there in the area?
- What are the living costs like?
- What is local transport like?
- How easy will it be to travel to and from your home country?
Choosing an institution
There are many different higher education institutions throughout the USA and choosing the right one for you is important. As well as researching courses and areas, there are other things you should think about when considering your options, such as:
- What facilities and social/extracurricular activities does it provide?
- What are the entry/language requirements?
- Are there a large number of international students?
- Is the university large or small?
- Do you like the location (see above)?
- Is it on a campus?
- What are the course fees and are there any financial aid possibilities?
- Is there any accommodation offered?
For links to useful websites that allow you to search for colleges and universities by subject, please visit EducationUSA.
You can use our free, online matching service, i-studentenquiry, to find universities, colleges and English language schools in the USA that match your preferences. Just fill out a form about what and where you would like to study and we’ll send you a list of institutions that match your requirements. Click here to visit i-studentenquiry.
Last updated: 15 December 2011