Introduction - Your International University Student Guide
You are standing on the threshold to the adventure of your lifetime. Taking the big step over to the United States is a life changing experience. University & College studies in the United States are much more than just getting an education. You will become fluent in another language, experience things you could only dream of, and make lifelong friends from all over the world.
This guide was written by former international students for future international students. Our goal is to pass along our experience to you - given what we now know and wish we would have known before we started our journey.
There is no doubt that tons of information could be found about universities in the United States. But how do you apply and what is the right choice for you? Piecing together information from different sources is time-consuming, not to mention confusing for international students.
This guide will take you through the information jungle. It takes a step beyond the dry and standardized material you will find elsewhere and actually gives you advice that you can use. Throughout our guide, you can read about other students’ experiences and what they recommend. We have also developed several tools to make it easier in your application and budgeting efforts, making your future experience in the United States the best endeavor of your life!
Studying in the Untied States has a number of exciting possibilities not found elsewhere. In Europe, getting into a popular education program is often very difficult with many students applying but only a few being accepted. This might force you to accept your second or third choice, specializing in a field that is of less interest to you. Education in the United States has several advantages:
Easier acceptance into the program that really interests you
You can focus on specific areas within your field, choosing only courses that you really like.
Students can change field or concentration at any point during their time of study, often without wasting any courses already taken. This is useful if you do not know exactly what you are interested in.
Additional degrees can be added along side your major concentration by taking more course work. In other words, you can graduate with two degrees if you plan correctly.
If you decide to move to another university, another city or even state, you can bring completed courses and continue in your new location.
Universities often have many sport teams often with thousand of active fans following the games. This creates a great atmosphere and community at the university.
Apart from the educational benefits, you will learn English fluently. For many students, English will become as natural as your mother tongue. After you graduate with a degree from a university in the United States you will have the option of working for up to one year. This is usually the best chance for anyone that would like to live and work in the United States after college. With a little luck, your one-year work permit can be turned into other types of longer-term visas allowing you to continue your stay in the United States.
Working in the USA
Salaries in the United States are often considerably higher and the income taxes are lower than many over parts of Europe. Earning anywhere from $40,000 to $80,000 US Dollars (USD) per year in starting salary in not uncommon.
After joining a company, your education does not stop. In fact, most companies invest a lot of time and money into developing you even further by offering training and support. On-the-job training is most common but other training could be designed to widen your knowledge, makiing it possible for you to take on other responsibilites and improve your career. Many companies offer you to attend graduate school while working and pay for all or a large part of the tuition cost.
Green cards is a type of working permit that will allow you to work in the United States. There are several ways you could be lucky enough to receive a green card. Read more about green cards here.
If you are successful, the United States is undoubtedly the land of opportunity! The table below shows average salaries for different professions in various parts of the United States.
Level
Years of Experience
Location
Profession
Salary
Newly Graduated
0-3
San Jose, California
Accountant 1
$47,000
Newly Graduated
0-3
Seattle, Washington
Financial Analyst
$52,000
Newly Graduated
0-3
New York, New York
Architect
$40,000
Mid Career
3-5
San Francisco, California
Education - Academic Instructor
$88,000
Mid Career
2-4
Miami, Florida
Application Engineer II
$60,000
Mid Career
2-5
Dallas, Texas
Attorney II
$120,000
Experienced
5 and up
Detroit, Michigan
Web Art Director
$100,000
Experienced
15 and up
Santa Barbara, California
PR Executive
$160,000
The top
15 and up
Los Angeles, California
Chief Executive Officer
$620,000
On top of your salary, the employer often offers you many other benefits including bonuses, retirement contributions, and money for college.
The chart above shows how your salary is only one part of your compensation. To get a better idea of how much you could make in your field, take a look at www.Salary.com.
