The United States is a top destination for international students because its education system is well-known for producing graduates who are adept in handling the challenges of large-scale industries and the global marketplace.

American universities tend to give more emphasis to the training of creativity, problem-solving skills and decision-making skills rather than pure academic achievements as is the focus of most Asian universities.

The richness and diversity of the American higher education system is second to none in the world. There are over 4000 colleges, universities and higher education institutions offering close to 1000 fields of study. Every student, regardless of inclination and talent will be able to find something relevant in the United States.

The education system in USA is liberal and flexible. Each state administers its own education system and generally, the institutions enjoy a great deal of autonomy.
In the first year of university study, there is no distinction between arts and science students as all undergraduates are on the same curriculum to allow them time and the opportunity to explore and confirm their areas of interest.

Universities and colleges in USA use the credits system. Each course taken is assigned a credit value (number of credits) based on the number of hours spent in the classroom.

To graduate, a student must complete the requisite number of credits. The credits system allows a student to change courses (subjects) or to change to another institution.

Universities and colleges operate on the semester calendar system. The first semester (Fall) is from September to mid-December and the second semester (Spring) is from mid-January to mid-May. The summer session is from June to August for certain programs only.

Institutions of higher learning in USA are accredited by various accreditation bodies. The recognized accreditation agencies are listed on the website of The Council of Higher Education Accreditation ( http://www.chea.org/ )

To enroll for studies in USA, a prospective undergraduate student needs to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) in addition to SAT Reasoning Test and the SAT Subject Tests. The alternative to SAT is ACT. Details of these tests can be found on Edupoll website under Scholastics Tests.
For graduate studies, the GRE is required for non-business programs and the GMAT is the usual entry test for graduate level business programs like MBA.

Education expenses in USA vary depending on the state where the school is located and whether the student is enrolled in a private or a public school.

General Guide to Annual Expenses:-

Although it costs more to study at the private universities and colleges, these institutions tend to provide a lot more financial aid for their students. Students can also reap more savings by shopping for cheaper accommodation when they have settled into the country.

To help finance their studies, international students are allowed to work on-campus for up to 20 hours a week while classes are in session and up to 40 hours a week during the vacations.

Generally speaking, international students are also entitled to apply for optional practical training in their field of study after they have graduated. This training period can be granted for up to one year.