The United States of America has long been hailed as a popular student destination owing to the reputation of its universities and the prestige attached to studying in them. The US is home to some of the best universities and colleges in the world. Students gain a plethora of exposure and are introduced to a world of networking opportunities through these universities and colleges.

There are plenty of reasons that have kept the country’s higher education popular among students even today, let’s look at some of them below :

THE POPULARITY OF STEM COURSES
Courses in the field of STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) are the most popular, especially among Indian students studying in the US. Estimates suggest that during the year 2020-21, 77 percent of the Indian students studying in the country were enrolled in STEM courses.

Of these, approximately 35 percent were part of computer science and mathematics courses. Additionally, as of 2022, the US government announced the Optional Practical Training Programme, which gave students enrolled in STEM courses the opportunity to find internships and stay in the country for up to 36 months. This gives them a distinct advantage over their colleagues enrolled in other courses.

THE EASE OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Universities in the US have taken special measures to ensure that their application process is simple and without hurdles in a bid to attract more international students. For instance, approximately 84 percent of US universities offer the chance to students to complete their application process online, and a large cohort has also enabled the online submission of immigration forms.

This is a significant incentive for students worldwide to apply to these universities. Furthermore, those enrolled in a college in the US can easily transfer their credits if they get selected for a better college during their course.

THE FLEXIBILITY IN COURSE SELECTION

Students enrolled at universities in the US can choose not only their college and the programme but also the courses they want to study within the programme. Most offer a wide variety of unconventional combinations that are otherwise not available in other universities.

Not only this, but universities in the US also allow students to take a gap year, giving them more flexibility to explore and balance their lives parallelly.

For example, those pursuing an undergraduate degree here can enroll in different courses before deciding on the subject they want to major in, in their second year of education.

Graduate students, on the other hand, can choose from a myriad of electives along with their main subjects. This way, they are not stuck with a course they do not want to study and can make an informed choice.

GREATER EXPOSURE

The US welcomes students across nations; it’s a global hub for international students. Thus, every student enrolled gets exposed to a milieu of new cultures and ways of living.

Such exposure is excellent for personal and professional development. The students learn to adapt and work well in a team. This is a desirable quality for employers across spectrums, opening up more opportunities for students from these universities.

BOTTOMLINE
Universities in the US have emerged as an attractive option to students worldwide, particularly to Indian students wishing to pursue higher education. The aforementioned factors are just a few reasons why the country is one of the go-to options for students from across the globe for university education.

Not to mention that the USA’s colleges also offer flexibility in course selection with career guidance programmes besides the attractive employment opportunities the country offers. For the foreseeable future, the US is likely to remain a popular destination for students looking to live the American Dream.