10 essential things to consider when choosing a US University
Location and Culture - Going to school in the city can be a very rewarding experience, as city life can help complement your time as a student and add a layer of cultural discovery to your collegiate career.
University Pride and Alumni Network - One of the amazing aspects of the US university system is the great pride and enthusiasm that folks develop for their school. This pride often starts with competitive sports programs but also manifests in many other areas.
Public and Private Universities - There are two types of universities in the US: public and private. The main differences between the two are the prestige of studying at a private university over a public one, and the cost which obviously is much cheaper at a public university.
Liberal Arts Education: Majors, Minors, and Credits - Credits are awarded for the time you spend studying or in class. If you have already attended University in the UK, you should be able to transfer some credits across.
Scholarships and Funding - When looking at how to pay for a US education, your focus should then turn to scholarships and funding. Not all US universities offer scholarships to international students and government loans can’t always be applied to pay for tuition and fees.
Internships & Undergraduate Research - Internships and Undergraduate Research programs are where companies sponsor students to go to university in the hope of securing them as employees once their studies have finished.
Rankings - When choosing a university, the rankings that are produced by several independent institutions are a good place to start, but should be viewed with a grain of salt.
The US Student Experience - Many students will live on campus for all four years of their degree. Eating and playing sports together and being members of sororities and fraternities are a big part of university education.
SAT & ACT - Many times students wonder if their secondary school program, whether it's IB Diploma, A-Levels, Advanced Placement, etc., allows them to take their SAT or ACT tests.
Cultural capital and global consciousness – American universities do their best not to foster cultural capital and treat all students equally, regardless of their social status.
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