Study in USA for Sri Lankan Students

If you are looking for help with your application, you can contact aecc. You will find helpful information on everything you need to know about studying in the USA from Sri Lanka.

• Internationally-acclaimed Universities - US is the home to top-ranking, internationally-acclaimed universities which are highly efficient in providing a world-class education to all. These universities consistently rank high in the QS World Rank list by sternly following their high-quality education standards. Some of the top-ranking universities in the US are Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of California, etc.

• Embark on a Successful Career - Since the US is the dominant leader in the innovation of all the latest technologies like Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, etc., starting a career here would pave the way for students to earn a large handful of salary. Also, students get the opportunity to meet the famous CEOs of the companies in person.

Higher Education in the USA is provided by six types of colleges or universities. In the USA, there is no distinction or difference between a college and a university. Both mean the same in the US - which is a post-secondary educational establishment that offers professional degrees to students.

• Liberal Arts Colleges - Liberal Arts Colleges provide the study of liberal arts such as  - History, Literature, Writing, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Music, Creative Arts and more. These courses can be studied as Undergraduate courses that lead to earning undergraduate degrees in Liberal arts. Some of the popular liberal arts colleges in the USA are Amherst College, Williams College, Pomona College, Wellesley College, etc.

• State College (Public) or University - Public Colleges or Universities in the USA are purely funded by the particular state governments of the country. These universities offer mainstream education in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Architecture, etc. For domestic students, the fee is less compared to international students. But the learning environment is quite impressive and advanced for both domestic and international students. 

• Private College or University - Contrary to public universities, private universities are funded by private groups or alumni or other organisations. The private universities purely offer only academic courses as, the same as the public university. Some famous public universities are Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, etc.

• Community Colleges - Community Colleges, also called Junior Colleges in the USA, provide general education as well as technical education students. These courses take precisely two years to complete, which is called an associate's degree in the USA. Students can join a university after completing their associate degree or find a job and get employed. Popular Community Colleges in the US are Green River College, Miami Dade College, Northern Virginia Community College, Santa Monica College, etc.

• Technical Schools or Institute of Technology - Technical schools often take two years to complete. In these schools, students gain essentially applied knowledge rather than general knowledge to be job-ready. Here, students practically learn the courses and gain work knowledge related to their career paths. Some technical schools in the US are Illinois Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York Institute of Technology, etc.

• Ivy Leagues - Ivy Leagues are the most prestigious group of universities in the US, called the Group of 8. Getting admission to one of these colleges is quite difficult, and also, these colleges are very expensive to study in. Ivy League Colleges are more popular for producing smart students with promising career skills. Harvard University, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Columbia University, Brown University, Dartmouth College and Cornell University are the Go8 Ivy League Colleges.

The same education system is applicable for international students with no change in any procedure.

There are four levels of educational qualifications or degrees offered by the US universities. Students can choose any one to pursue their higher education to study in the USA.

1. Associate Degree - It’s a two-year study program helping students to obtain practical knowledge to gain entry-level positions in the fields of nursing, designing, education and more.

2. Bachelor’s Degree - This is a 4 year study program, preparing students to take up their profession confidently. There are five types of Bachelor’s degrees that can be pursued in the US universities - Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFS), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Architecture (BArch).

3. Master’s Degree - Master’s in the USA take one or two years to complete. It is an advanced level of study of the course taken in Bachelor’s.

4. Doctoral or PhD -  Doctoral degrees are the highest level of qualification. To pursue PhD in an US University, students need to find their research supervisor at the university they are applying to. 

1. Computer Science - Computer Science is a good choice for young aspirants as there are many job opportunities prevailing in the field. In a modern, technologically advanced country like the U.S, there is always a demand for Programmers, Software Engineers, Software Analysts, etc.

2. Data Science and Business Analytics - The next popular trending course in the U.S is Data Science and Business Analytics. The technology is getting popular as so many companies are searching for ways to find Unique Selling Points that bring them revenue. Also, they need to know their lowest selling points to address the issues and convert them into Unique Selling Points.

3. Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering is one of the top most popular fields in the USA. The field involves the design and building of machines, engines and automobiles, etc. Since America is home to many branded cars and automobiles, students learning this course have a bright future in the US.

4. Electrical and Computer Engineering - The field combines electrical, and computer engineering, meaning both technologies will be taught to use them best to build electrical machines. Students choosing Electrical Engineering as their major have a lot of possibilities to land high-paid jobs.

5. Medicine -  Medicine is one of the popular fields in the U.S, and graduating in the field makes you one of the highest earning professionals. Medicine done in the US has supreme value inside and outside the country.

6. Finance - Finance is one of the good fields that help students get a solid career. Studying any course related to finance will lead students to land high-profile jobs like investment banker, corporate financier, investment manager, etc.

7. Biotechnology - Biotechnology is best suited for students who want to take up research and also want to land in jobs related to biology. Biotechnology and its related fields like Biomedical and Bioinformatics provide vast career opportunities for students.

Almost all universities in the US offer quality education, and each university provides a wide range of courses pertaining to students’ interests and passions. If students want to enrol in the top US universities, they need to be exceptional in their academics, reflecting their true leadership skills and qualities. Below we have precisely given the basic requirements students need to achieve to enrol in any one of the top ten universities o4-years.

• A Valid Passport
• Admission Acceptance Letter by SEVP-approved school
• Form I-20
• Application Fee Payment of the SEVIS
• Non-immigrant Visa application
• Form DS-160
• Passport-size photographs
• If opting for Optional Practical Training, then must apply to USCIS for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

The cost of studying in the US greatly varies depending on the degree you choose. Since the country provides top-notch education, students must be willing to spend more than a handful of money from their pockets. But this cost can be greatly reduced by availing of scholarships, bursaries or grants.

Like every other English-speaking country, living in the US, even as a non-immigrant, costs much for international students. Since the US is a high-profile country with many modern facilities, it won’t be quite amusing to look at the yearly cost needed for an international student. Therefore it is wise to save money to spend on personal needs and studies.

As many non-native English speakers flock to English-speaking countries for higher education, the countries have mandated some tests for the students to understand their English fluency. The countries have also set standard marks for each exam i) to pass the tests and ii) to enrol in any of their top universities. Below we have tabulated the US’ standard set of marks for each exam for students’ reference.

Entrance Tests are mandatory and scoring the desired mark is necessary to get enrolled in any of the top universities. We have listed the USA's accepted Entrance exams with detailed particulars.

It is mandatory for international students to possess a student health cover before arriving in the US to study. Students have two options to buy their health insurance plans. One is to apply for their University’s health insurance plan or buy their own health insurance from private organisations.

Note -  The US doesn't have a Universal health care plan, so it is best for students to buy their own health insurance packages before departing to the country.

• A Valid Passport with six more months of validity beyond your period of stay.
• Form I-20, given by your University or College.
• Payment receipt of SEVIS I-901.
• Recent Passport size photographs.
• Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 students.
• Certificate of Eligibility for M-1 students.
• Academic Transcripts such as diplomas, degrees, and school mark certificates.
• Score certificates of English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
• Your intent to depart the United States after the completion of your study.
• Proof of funds to bear your educational, living and travel costs. 

The US has some of the best cities for international students to reside and pursue their higher education. With many unique facilities and support systems like active student communities, modern libraries, great museums, foster homes for temporary accommodation, budget-friendly travel locations, authentic restaurants, etc., there is nothing a US city can’t provide.

Below we have indexed the best student-friendly US cities that can fulfil an international student's longing dreams.

1. Boston
2. New York
3. San Francisco
4. Chicago
5. Los Angeles
6. Washington DC
7. Philadelphia
8. Pittsburgh
9. Atlanta
10. Baltimore
11. San Diego

Witness all your study-abroad dreams come true by receiving our educational counselling from any of our study-abroad experts. We have the best counsellors in the house who can answer all your queries and concerns. The counsellors will also provide you with the latest and upgraded information to make your study-abroad endeavour a successful event. Reach out to us now and be the next one to realise your abroad higher education dream coming true.