There are a vast variety of courses and majors available in the U.S. for international students. However, not all of them are popular. There are certain courses that are chosen by a majority of the students year after year. Students tend to focus on these courses while studying in the U.S due to a variety of reasons including the quality of education, expected salaries, job opportunities, educational institutions and the reputation of these courses.
Please keep in mind that this does not mean that other courses in the U.S are not good or are not pursued by international students. It is only that the following list contains a list of those courses that are considered to be comparatively better than all other courses at the Undergraduate level in the U.S.
Business/Management
Most of the popular courses in the U.S are related to the field of Business and Management. A lot of students from all across the world, including India, choose to come to the U.S to study Business or Management. More than 3,000 universities in the U.S offer courses with concentrations in business and related fields at the undergraduate level. Colleges like the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia and the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania are some of the most reputed colleges for business, not only in the U.S but all across the world. You can choose from a variety of concentrations in the field of Business and Management in the U.S, including Finance, Real Estate, Entrepreneurship, Marketing and General Management etc. The most common business degree in the U.S is the B.S.B.A (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration).
There are many reasons behind Indian students choosing to pursue courses in Business and Management in the U.S. One of the most important reasons is that the recent rise in the Indian economy has provided massive opportunities for trained managers and entrepreneurs to come up with successful businesses. Apart from this, the massive salaries that a student can get after completing a course in a Management related field from the U.S as well as the great contribution these U.S business courses make towards a student’s overall development are great motivating factors for students to choose courses in this field.
The major difference between courses in India and the U.S in this field is that courses in the U.S focus on imparting practical skills in you rather than theoretical knowledge. The purpose is to create a broad and functional understanding where the emphasis is on new ideas and entrepreneurship. Many students choose to pursue graduate level or M.B.A courses after their graduation in the U.S so as to gain an in – depth knowledge in a particular field within Business and Management.
There are no common criteria on the basis of which students are admitted into the 4 year business programs in the U.S. Each college creates its own admission policy on the basis of their ideology as well as the nature of the course. Most colleges in the U.S would require you to provide your scores in your Class 12th as well as the ‘SAT’ exam. A strong knowledge base in Math is considered to be necessary in order to gain preference over other candidates. The colleges which are more selective would judge you on the basis of your co – curricular activities, statement of purpose and other qualifications along with your marks.
Engineering
Courses in Engineering have always been popular in the U.S. The best and the most gifted of international students choose to pursue Engineering courses offered by reputed universities and colleges in the U.S like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University and the University of California – Berkeley. Students can choose from a variety of specializations, including Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Petroleum Engineering etc.
There is a great need of knowledgeable and innovative Engineers all across the world, including India. This high demand has caused students from all over the world to look towards Engineering as a profitable and viable profession. Students from India and China, who are both essentially good in Math and Science, tend to be ideal for this profession.
The advantages of studying Engineering in the U.S are numerous. One of the biggest advantages is that U.S universities allow you to explore different streams of Engineering before choosing a specialization. This helps students make better and more informed choices regarding their Majors. You will have to specify a Major you intend to pursue during the admission process, but you are not bound by this decision and can change your choice during the official declaration of your Major. U.S universities and colleges also provide students with excellent technologies and equipment, which is way better than what they would have access to if they were studying in any other country. This helps engineering students gain practical experience and conduct meaningful and accurate research. The financial rewards that a student will get after graduating in Engineering from a U.S college is another major reason why many International students, choose to study Engineering in the U.S.
Engineering is generally a 4 year course in the U.S and the degree awarded is B.E (Bachelor’s of Engineering) or B.S (Bachelor’s of Science). The initial year usually comprises of general studies and allows students to study about the various fields of Engineering. You will generally be required to choose a Major after the end of your 1st year. Some colleges let you remain ‘Undecided’ about your Major till the end of 2nd year. The following years focus on studies related to the Major. U.S universities and colleges focus on general subjects comprising of the liberal arts alongside engineering subjects so as to make sure that students develop in a complete manner and can become successful in this profession.
You will also have the option to pursue 2 year courses from Community Colleges who will provide you with an A.S (Associate of Science) degree in Engineering. The credits from these 2 year courses can be transferred to a 4 year Engineering undergraduate course. Some Community Colleges and technical institutes also provide 2 year A.A.S (Associate of Applied Science) degrees. These degrees cannot be transferred to a 4 year course but allow a person to start working in the Engineering field as a technician after the completion of the course. Some Community colleges also offer A.A (Associate of Arts) degrees in Engineering. Whichever type of college you choose, make sure that it is recognized by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).
It is to be kept in mind that you will only be eligible for the Engineering courses in the U.S if you had Math and Science in your Class 12th. Most Engineering colleges in the U.S admit students on the basis of their Class 12th marks as well as their score in the ‘SAT’ exams. However, the more selective colleges admit students on the basis of other criteria including Statement of Purpose, Entrance Exams, Co – curricular activities, Letters of recommendation etc. It is advisable to go through the website of the college you wish to join and find out about the eligibility and other requirements as each College has different criteria on the basis of which it admits International students.
Computer Science
‘Computer Science’ is essentially the study of technologies used in computers, including both Hardware and Software. It is one of the most popular courses in the world today and students from all over the world, including India, come to the U.S to pursue courses in this field offered by reputed institutes like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Harvard University and the Carnegie Mellon University. Students can use Computer Science in various industries apart from the Computer Hardware and Software Industries such as Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunications, and Automobiles etc.
It is one of the most popular courses in the U.S. for international students. This is due to a variety of reasons, including the quantity and quality of the courses available in this field in the U.S, the high demand for Computer Science professionals all across the world, the heavy starting pay packages and the easy access to excellent technologies that colleges in the U.S offer to students pursuing this course.
The usual duration for a Computer Science course is 4 years and you will typically be awarded with a B.S (Bachelor of Science) degree. There are many colleges and universities who offer Computer Science as one of the Majors in the Engineering Department. For example, MIT offers an undergraduate program called EECS (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) which allows you to Major in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering or both, or even in Computer Science and Molecular Biology. In a typical Computer Science or Engineering program, your first year will comprise of general subjects, and you will be expected to declare your Major by the end of your 1st year, or in some cases, by the end of your 2nd year.
Most colleges would admit you on the basis of your Class 12th marks as well as score in the ‘SAT’ exams. Some colleges would also judge on the basis of your Statement of purpose, Recommendation letters, Co – Curricular activities etc. Many colleges and universities admit students on the basis of different entrance exams. Make sure that you go through the college’s website to check its requirements and to see whether you meet the eligibility criteria. It is best practice to apply only after you know you are eligible and you know what tests the college requires.
