The United States of America (USA) boasts the largest population of international students globally. A multitude of reasons drive the desire of international students to pursue their education in the USA, such as the provision of high-quality education, a unique and diverse curriculum, a multicultural environment, and abundant opportunities.
Eligibility & Test Requirements:
In the United States, universities typically do not accept three-year bachelor’s degrees from Bangladesh, such as BA, B.Sc., or B.Com, for admission to their master’s programs. The basic requirements for admission to MS programs usually include sixteen years of formal education, which can be achieved through a four-year bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree (MA/M. Com/MSC) with excellent grades (high first class or above). For bachelor’s programs in most US universities, twelve years of education (HSC or equivalent) is required. In addition to TOEFL, which is widely accepted (though some universities also accept IELTS and PTE), students are also expected to excel in competitive exams like GRE or GMAT to secure admission and financial aid at reputable US universities and to facilitate visa processing without complications.
TOEFL:
TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, and it is administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) with a test fee of $170. TOEFL scores are valid for two years, and ETS provides the option to send scores to four universities free of charge at the time of the exam. There may be additional fees for sending scores to universities at a later time. For more information, please visit the official websites at www.toefl.org or www.ets.org.
GRE:
GRE stands for Graduate Record Examinations and is also administered by ETS. Candidates seeking admission to master’s degree programs in fields other than management are typically required to take the GRE. Most universities also require GRE scores for PhD programs. GRE scores are generally valid for five years, and ETS offers the opportunity to send scores to four universities at no extra cost when taking the GRE. Additional fees may apply for sending scores to universities later.
Admission & Application Procedure:
Since many US universities have early application deadlines, it is strongly recommended that you apply as early as possible. Applications can be initiated during the final year/semester of your course. For instance, students pursuing BSc/B.Com can begin applying as soon as they receive their S4/S5 mark lists, and B.Tech students can start the process as soon as they obtain their s6 mark lists. High school students (Higher secondary) can commence their applications with their 11th-grade results or projected 12th-grade grades.
Our experienced application team will guide you through all the necessary formalities, such as Letters of Recommendation or Statements of Purpose, according to the specific requirements of each university, in order to maximize your chances of admission.
Scholarship
One of the most attractive aspects of US education is that majority of the students pursuing higher education in USA is successful in securing financial aids in the forms of research/graduate assistantships, tuition fee waivers, fellowships etc. There are several international organizations, such as the Fulbright Commission, who grant aid to students all over the world to Study in USA. Some of the organizations that offer aid are:
- The United Nations
- AMID-EAST
- World Council of Churches
- Sores Foundation
- World Health Organization
Job Opportunities
Students are permitted to work 20 hours per week on-campus during the first years of study. In the second year students are allowed to take part-time jobs or co-op/internships off campus to fulfill academic or financial requirements. The on campus jobs do not pay much and certainly not enough to finance a university education. This kind of jobs can only be a supplement to other funds.
Along with the acceptability and recognition of education, USA also offers the best in terms of future job prospects and immigration possibilities after studies. All students are entitled to stay back and work for one year period in USA under OPT (Optional Professional Training). For STEM Graduates (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) the OPT can be further extended to another 24 months (Total 36 Months). Students who are successful in finding a suitable placement can apply for H1B (Job Visa) during this period.