Management Education in USA America US Study in the United States of America MBA in USA MBBS in USA Engineering in USA Study Computer Science in USA Universities & Colleges in the USA

It is talked of as the land of dream fulfillment, of cutting edge quality, of mega bucks and of life as you want it to be.

Whatever you have heard about the U.S., it's true. And getting an education there is probably the simplest and most reputable way of being a part of the great American dream. It's also eminently affordable, if done the right way.

U.S. boasts of top Business schools like Harvard, Stanford and Wharton which are respected worldwide. Information on all this, and lots more, is available here.

Almost all US universities require 16 years of undergraduate education. That is, four years of education after High School/Junior College.

If you have a three year degree from an Australian, Indian, New Zealand university or such similar three year degree programs, you will not be eligible for admission to most MBA programs. You would require a professional four-year degree like engineering or other such courses.

Three year Graduates
If you have completed a three-year degree program like BSc, BA, BCom from an Australian, Indian, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Sri Lankan universities, the advisable plan of action to maximize eligibility for US business schools is to do a Post Graduate degree like MSc, MA or Mcom, before applying to business schools in USA.

A one-year university affiliated program will make up for the fourth year required. The key point is to ensure that the program that you do is a recognized university program.

Most US universities recommend/require a minimum of two to three years of work experience. Though some universities may accept you without any work experience, preference will be given to candidates with work experience.

GMAT is required for almost all universities in US. It is also one of the most important criteria for admissions. If you are planning to study in a US business school, you must score high in this exam.

This is required by almost all universities in US. It is a fairly simple exam for most students who have studied in English medium throughout. The minimum scores required for most universities range from 550 to 600 on the paper based TOEFL and 213 to 250 on the computer based TOEFL.

Application Requirements
Academic Record
Standardized Tests
Work Experience Details
Letter of Recommendation
Essays / Statement of Purpose
Interviews

Send enquiries at least 15 to 18 months before the proposed date of admission. There are two ways to get application forms.

Academic Records & Transcripts
Your past academic record is one of the most important deciding factors in securing admission to a business school in USA. Most business schools require you to have a reasonably good academic record. Each university has its own minimum requirement for its MBA programs, which are flexible depending on the candidate’s profile.

Universities in USA have their own marking and evaluation systems, which are considerably different from the marking system in other countries. They follow the GPA (Grade Point Average) system which is based on the 5 points scheme " A, B, C, D & F.

It is advisable not to convert your marks in your education system of grading to the American Grade Point Average system or any other system since the conversion may not be accurate. You may attach an explanatory note from your college to indicate your rank in your class and/or university.

The letter may also indicate your relative place in the class and the university average, along with the number of students in the class and the number of colleges and students in the university. You may also provide any other information or documents that you feel may help you in the admission process.

Students applying to the MBA programs are required to submit an official transcript (mark-sheets) from each college or university that they have attended after secondary school with complete details of the subjects/credits involved (for each year) and other details like correspondence courses, diplomas etc.

Most universities ask for the transcript (mark-sheets) to be sealed in an envelope and signed and attested across the seal by the registrar. This procedure is to be done for each and every college that you have attended. Some universities may ask for more than one copy of the transcript.

If the transcripts are in a language other than English, they must be translated into English only by the issuing authority or university.

Standardized Admission Tests

GMAT:
The most important test for admission to the MBA program in a US business school is the GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Test. GMAT is required by almost all business schools in US.

You have to report your GMAT scores to the university along with your applications.

For complete information about GMAT, check out: GMAT Test.

For more information on GMAT Prep resources & books, check out: GMAT Preparation

TOEFL:
In addition to GMAT, most international students from non-English speaking countries have to take TOEFL exam.

Work History
Admission to most good business schools and MBA programs requires a couple of years of work experience. While this is not mandatory for all schools, it definitely is preferred by most business schools.

Your work experience is one of the most important criterion for business school admission.

A detailed Résumé is an important part of your application. It should include all information of professional work experience along with details like position(s) held, achievements and scope of work.

Letter(s) of Recommendation
Letters of reference or recommendation letters play an important role in admission to the MBA program. A recommendation letter is a signed statement from a person who knows you well professionally or has taught you in a subject that is related to the course you are applying to.

The author or teacher must indicate his position, how long he/she has known the applicant and in what capacity. He/she should briefly discuss the need, importance and usefulness of the study the applicant proposes to undertake.

Authors are usually asked to rank applicants in their letters of recommendation, which helps admission officers to interpret the academic credentials of foreign students. Students should obtain letters of recommendation (often on the prescribed forms sent by the institutions) from people who know them as a person as well as a student or a professional. You may like to request your author to give concrete examples that show your qualities, strengths etc. to help your case.

Many universities have their own format and questions that have to be answered by the person who is giving the letter of recommendation on your behalf. Letters, which do not give enough information, can jeopardize a candidate’s chances of selection.

Business School Essays
The personal essays play a very important role in the process of evaluating your application for admission to the MBA program. They give the faculty assessing your application their most significant impression of you as an individual. This section is the key to distinguish your application from other suitable candidates and a chance to market yourself.

When there are fifty students with similar academic background and similar GMAT scores, it is their application essays that make or break their application.

A personal statement should include your reasons for choosing a particular course, the suitability of your education and experience for the chosen course, and your personal interests and career goals.

Some courses like Business School courses will have their own essay questions and format. Others may ask for a résumé or reasons for applying to that particular course.

Interviews
Interviewing prospective candidates is getting common in the US business school admission structure. Most top business schools will take your interview to know you better.

The interview could be with a business school representative or "third party" representatives, staff, faculty or alumni of the college or simply a telephonic interview.

These interviews are usually informal and more of an opportunity to exchange information. The interviewer will try to judge your abilities and interests.

US business schools fall under two major categories:
- public (state supported), and
- private (independent) institutions.

International students’ tuition expenses at state schools are based on nonresident costs, which are still usually less expensive than those of private universities.

It is important to note that the cost of a program in a US school does not necessarily affect its quality.

The tuition fee is different for different universities and varies widely with courses. It can vary from as low as $ 8000 a year for state universities to as much as $ 35000 per annum for some private universities.

For example, Colorado Technical University offers the MBA program for less than US $ 10,000 a year, while many top schools like Harvard Business School and Wharton Business Schools have a fee structure of around US $ 30,000 per year.

For more specific details, please check out the university websites or contact the universities.

The approximate annual living expenses during the MBA program is about $12,000, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. However, the expenses are different for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea. The main expenses can be split up as:

So, about $1000 per month is a good estimation. Mostly people can survive between $700-$1000 a month.

It is important to understand that most universities do not offer financial assistance to international students for a program like MBA. The few who manage tuition waivers and assistantships usually get it after they reach the university and usually after a semester.

It still makes sense to take a loan. This is because the kind of jobs that you would get on completion of the MBA program, you should manage to pay back your loans within a year or two.

A typical loan required for an MBA program in a mid tier university in US would be about Rs. 15 lakhs. (Many banks offer education loans)

On completion of an MBA, you would typically get a job with an average salary of say US $ 60,000 per annum (This could vary depending on how you perform in your program and job interviews). Remember, you have to perform well in your program to get jobs.

After taxes and expenses, you could easily save about US $ 10,000-15,000 or more a year. This means you can pay back your loans in about two years. Imagine, trying to earn this kind of money anywhere in the world in such a short time. That's USA for you.

Sources of funds	Amount	Rate of Interest	Advantages	Disadvantages
Sponsorships (family/relatives)	-	-	-	-
Bank Loans (In home country)	US $ 10,000 - US $ 30,000	16-18%	Repayment after completion of course	Requires security like property/assets
University Funding	Part or complete tuition fees	-	No repayment	Depending on funding type, you may have to work for upto 20 hours a week.
Loans & Aid from Other Sources (U.S.)	Complete tuition fees & expenses	Approx. 8 %	Low interest rates, Easy repayment terms	Requires a Co-signor, who is U.S. resident/Green card holder
Scholarships in home country	Varies	-	No repayment	Very few available, tough competition
Scholarships in U.S.	Varies	-	No repayment	Very few available, tough competition

Sponsorships
This is perhaps the simplest option of all. The university presents an official estimate of study and living expenses, and you get a letter or affidavit from your parents or a rich relative, in which they declare their income and support for your studies. This is satisfactory for both the university and the visa authorities.

University Funding
This kind of funding is usually the most common. Unfortunately, most of the university funding is for research based and science programs and not for the MBA programs. The different types of financial help available:

Types of Assistance
Merit based assistance is awarded in many forms, from tuition waivers, various types of assistantships, to fellowships. The most common are listed here :

Tuition Waiver : This means that the student does not have to pay the tuition fees at the university. However, general fees (for the use of university facilities like the library, computers, and sports and health services) usually have to be borne by the student. A tuition waiver is frequently awarded in conjunction with a scholarship or teaching/research assistantship.

Scholarship / Fellowship : This is usually an outright grant based on the student’s academic ability and performance. Hence, Only a truly outstanding student may be considered for this type of award, before enrolling at the university. A full scholarship would pay for a student’s entire living expenses at that university, whereas a partial scholarship would require additional funds from the student. These awards are few and very competitive.

Assistantship : Most students who receive assistance usually do so in the form of an assistantship, i.e. a cash stipend sufficient for their living expenses, and/or tuition waiver. To get this, they have to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week. This work normally consists of teaching and research activities. Teaching assistantships are more likely to be in universities, which have large undergraduate classes whereas research assistantships tend to be more common in those fields and universities in which considerable research is in progress. Information brochures of most universities give this information.

Part-Time Work While Studying
Employment opportunities for international students are limited. You should not plan on earning substantial money from a part-time job to help pay for your studies.

MBA is an intensive program and you will have many assignments to do. There will not be much time for part-time work.

On campus : Though international students are allowed to work on campus, these jobs are often difficult to obtain and do not provide sufficient funds to sustain education costs. Students with good academic standing have a better chance.

Most jobs involve working for a professor on some projects.

Off campus : It may be possible to for students to avail of limited off-campus employment, which is subject to strict regulatory guidelines.

It requires approval from US Immigration & Naturalization Service. This approval is not easy to get and depends on a special need.

Practical Training : In addition, there are opportunities for practical training which entail a period of authorized employment, designed to allow foreign students to have professional work experience while doing their MBA.

This internship is for around three months at the end of two semesters of study. This is good time to earn some extra income. If you manage to get an internship opportunity with a good company, not only will you earn well, but also it could translate into a job opportunity at the end of your MBA program, if they like your work.

For further details on part-time jobs and work opportunities, contact the foreign student adviser at the university, after you are enrolled.

Post-MBA Jobs & Employment
If you have graduated from a top B-school, jobs are easy and usually guaranteed. Students graduating from business schools like Harvard, Stanford and Wharton, never have problems getting a job. Most of them have multiple offers. For most of the problems are a few lesser or extra zeroes on their signing bonus.

If you are from a good middle-tier school, getting a job will be tough in the current scenario, but you can manage with some efforts. They key is to be very aggressive in your job search and to prepare well for the interviews.

Networking is the key in the jobs process, especially if you are targeting the bigger organizations. Use alumni resources in the best possible manner.

For students from lower middle-tier schools, getting a job is difficult. Being an international student, most organizations will not accept you unless you can prove you are good.

An employer has to spend a certain amount of money to process a H1 visa, that is required by international students to work in the US. So, your past records should demonstrate that you would be an asset to their organization.

The university you study in and your performance in the MBA program are crucial factors for employment.

Accommodation

Each institute has its own policy for housing and may offer a range of options for single and married students. In case of universities that do offer accommodation, you will be sent a description of the on- and off-campus options available as well as the actual housing application form.

Since most campuses have limited on-campus housing, it is extremely important to submit the application form early. University housing facilities may range from a dormitory, which may be shared with other students to an apartment for a family.

Some undergraduate universities may require students to live in a dormitory on campus.

Most graduate students live off-campus either by themselves or in small groups. Students applying can contact various Indian Students Associations in the universities they are applying to or write to us at Helpline for more details.

Most international students manage to find other international students for shared apartments. For a rough idea, check out Expenses for International Students

Rents vary greatly from state to state, depending on the location. All details can be found out from the associations.

Health Care
This is another very important criteria for financial planning. Most U.S. Institutes require that all students including international students be covered by an insurance policy that will protect them against medical, hospital bills if they get sick or are injured while studying at the college, as health care is very expensive in U.S.
The insurance policy is approximately about US $ 600 per year. It would be best to check this with the universities before you reach there.

The international student office of the business you choose to attend will supply the detailed information on insurance policies and the procedure to obtain proper coverage.

There are many good insurance deals available. However, this would require some research from your end. It would be a good idea to check out the various available options.

Visa Information
To enter the United States as a student, you must apply at a US Embassy or Consulate for a student visa. You can apply for a visa only after you receive the requisite I-20 or IAP-66 form from the institution you have been accepted to. This is a form that is issued by the business school and is a confirmation of your admission.
The visa that you would require to study a full-time MBA program in USA would be the F-1 - Student Visa. The F-1 visa is for full-time students enrolled in an academic or language program. F-1 students may stay in the US for the full length of their academic program plus 60 days. F-1 students must maintain a full-time course load and complete their studies by the expiration date listed on the I-20 form.
( Source: http://www.infozee.com/channels/mba/usa/ )