Masco International Study Network ®

The richness and diversity of the American higher education system is second to none in the world. Over 4,000 recognized institutions of higher learning and more than 900 fields of study available, the diligent student can find schools that will provide an excellent education in almost any field of study. Higher education is provided by Colleges or Universities, Junior or Community Colleges, Professional Schools, or technical Institutes and begins in the thirteenth year of school. There is no pre-university programme in the American system. A two-year “junior” college offers an Associate Degree. A four-year college or university programme offers a Bachelor’s Degree.

Tertiary institutions may be either public or private. Public institutions are funded by the respective states but they are administratively independent. Private institutions are independent financially as well as administratively.

There is no distinction between Science & Arts students; all first year undergraduates study almost the same subjects irrespective of their course of study. This gives students time and opportunity to decide on their desired course after the first year.

Universities and colleges use a system of credits. Under this system, students are required to complete a certain number of credits in order to graduate. Students typically take five courses of 3 credit hours each semester, with approximately 120 to 130 credit hours required for graduation. Students may obtain additional credits during a semester by enrolling in additional classes to graduate early with approval by individual institution.

There are two calendar systems used by the universities although the semester system is by far the most widely used calendar:

1.1 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Academic Requirements for International Students:

Undergraduate: HSC/A-Level/Recognised 12 Year of Study with minimum all credits or its equivalent. Graduate programs require the equivalent of an honours degree from a recognised university. Transfer students applying to universities must meet the minimum GPA (grade point average).

Testing Requirements:

TOEFL is required of all international students for both graduate and undergraduate studied to test their English proficiency. Minimum acceptable scores are set by each university, usually over 213 for computer-based test.

SAT I and SAT II are required by some institutions for undergraduate programs. SAT I test the student’s Reasoning and Maths competency. SAT II is subject specific examination.

GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is typically required for entry into non-business master and doctoral programs. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is typically required for MBA and other business related field.

1.2 EXPENSES

The cost of education varies greatly from one institution to another as each determines its own fees. Estimated Average Costs in US dollars.

Fees cover the costs of student activities such as clubs and sports. Additional fees may be levied for use of the laboratories, fine arts studios etc. Many universities required students to have a personal computer.

Private colleges and universities are often more expensive than state-supported institutions, but they provide more financial aid. Living expenses are also much higher in urban than in suburban areas and smaller towns. Students can live more cheaply by finding their own apartments off campus, buy used books, etc.

Tuition, room, board and fees are usually paid in one lump sum at the beginning of each semester. Colleges also require students to buy health insurance. This is to protect a student against exorbitantly high medical costs in the USA. A comprehensive policy varies in each institution.

1.3 VISA APPLICATION

If you would like to study as a full-time student in the United States, you will need a student visa. The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. You must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students. F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment, these three types of employment are:

· Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

· Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion)

· Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)

F-1 students any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official (the person authorized to maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)) andUSCIS.

For more information, please visit the websites below :

Lifestyle

The USA has the world’s largest international student population, with nearly 600,000 students choosing to broaden their education and life experience in the United States. Nearly 4% of all students enrolled in higher-level education are international students, and the numbers are growing. If you are planning to live, learn and grow in the United States, you already possess a well-known American characteristic—a sense of adventure! As an international student, you will experience many new and exciting things. All of these things may contribute to “culture shock.” To minimize the shock, you will probably want to keep in touch with family and friends back home—but it is important to also identify new sources of support. People that you meet through your school’s international student office may also be a likely source of support. You could also contact relatives or friends who live in the United States to ask for their advice. You may also want to maintain a few habits here in the States. Perhaps you could continue to practice your own faith on a regular basis, with a group of like-minded individuals. Or maybe you enjoy jogging, playing chess, or cheering for your favourite sports team. While the activity will most likely be somewhat "Americanized," it may offer comfort to do some of the things that you enjoy in your back in your home country.

Food

The types of food served at home vary greatly and depend upon the region of the country and the family's own cultural heritage. Recent immigrants tend to eat food similar to that of their country of origin, and Americanized versions of these cultural foods, such as American Chinese cuisine or Italian-American cuisine often eventually appear.Examples include Crawfish Etouffee, Red Beans and Rice, Seafood or Chicken Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Boudin. Italian, German, Hungarian and Chinese influences, traditional Native American, Caribbean, Mexican and Greek dishes have also diffused into the general American repertoire. It is not uncommon for a "middle class" family from "middle America" to eat, for example, restaurant pizza, home-made pizza, enchiladas con carne, chicken paprikas, beef stroganof and bratwurst with sauerkraut for dinner throughout a single week. Americans generally prefer coffee to tea, with more than half the adult population drinking at least one cup a day.

National Holidays

The United States observes holidays derived from events in American history, religious traditions, and national patriarchs.Thanksgiving has become a traditional American holiday which evolved from the custom of English pilgrims to “give thanks” for their welfare. Today, Thanksgiving is generally celebrated as a family reunion with a large afternoon feast. European colonization has led to many traditional Christian holidays such as Easter, Lent, St. Patrick’s Day, and Christmas to be observed albeit celebrated in a secular manner by many Americans today.Independence Day (colloquially known as the Fourth of July) celebrates the anniversary of the country’s Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. It is generally observed by parades throughout the day and the shooting of fireworks at night.Halloween is thought to have evolved from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain which was introduced in the American colonies by Irish settlers. It has become a holiday that is celebrated by children and teens who traditionally dress up in costumes and go door to door trick-or-treating for candy. It also brings about an emphasis on eerie and frightening urban legends and movies. The celebration of Halloween has become continuously popular among university students in the U.S.

Transportation
Whether you are living on or off campus, in a city or suburb, you have many transportation options for getting around in your new country:

Bicycles
A bicycle can be a great way to get around your campus and your local area. Whether your campus is based in the middle of a city or in the suburbs, a bike is relatively inexpensive, and it’s a good way to get some exercise. Whenever riding your bike, always take care to observe the law of the road, and always wear a helmet. It is now a law in some states that helmets must be worn. As with any personal property, take care to lock you bike up when you are not using it. Most college campuses provide a bike rack for that purpose outside of many buildings on campus. A good lock does not usually cost very much, and it’s a small price to pay for the security of your bike.

Buses
If you are living in a city, the bus system will likely be pretty extensive, as with most of the public transportation systems in large urban areas. However, if you live in the suburbs, buses will not run as often and you may have to find alternative methods to get around. On longer routes, Greyhound runs an extensive bus system across the USA which is an inexpensive way to travel, but it can take a long time to get from one place to another.

Trains and Subways

Subways will be found in most major cities in the USA, such as New York, Boston, and Chicago, and they are a cheap way to travel around. Trains, on the other hand, are good for travelling the USA. They are slightly more expensive than travelling by bus, but it is much quicker. 　

For more information, please visit the websites below:

1. Free counseling

Prospectus, videos and complete information for every program from all universities are provided to make comparison. Advices are given from living expenses, visa application, important documents and etc based on student’s qualification and budget.

2. Personal assessment

Procedures are explained from data collection to visa application. We help student to decide the right choices before an admission application is lodged.

3. Admission application

Upon complete data collection will lead to application to related universities. Student will be informed if additional information is required. We keep student up to date on the application status until offer letter received. This process will take normally 1-2 weeks for UG and a month for PG.

4. Deposit of tuition fees

Deposit or payment of tuition fee is made upon accepting an offer letter. Amount required depends on the conditions in offer letter. Payment is made normally by telegraphic transfer or bank draft. Receipt of payment will be sent over to university and a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is requested.

5. Application of accommodation

Upon successful of receiving CoE, student will have to decide his/her accommodation in university and we help you apply for it. Meantime, making a medical examination which is compulsory for visa application can be done at some medical institutions we appointed.

6. Application for Student Visa

Forms are provided. All we need your documents, valid passport and your complete forms. Leave the rest to us! This process will take some times from a few weeks to a month.

7. Flight arrangement

Once Student Pass is approved and received, we help you get the cheapest flight to the airport nearest to your university and make sure you arrive before your school starts!

8. Pre-departure briefing

A simple briefing regarding important information, what’s hot and not regarding studying and a short meeting with officers from related universities is vital for your final preparations. Knowing some friends who travel and study along with you made your journey more interesting.

9. Arrival to University