FROM THE APPLICATION TO THE CAMPUS

Not for nothing the US is called the "land of opportunity" - many immigrants have realized their "American Dream" and created something new in the last centuries. So America became the unique, multicultural country that it is today. Take your chance and live your dream!

So that your semester abroad or study in the USA and all the necessary preparations run smoothly, we have summarized some useful information for you.


The basis for applying for a degree in the USA is the completion of a secondary school education with a corresponding certificate of completion. Your exact grades and scores play an important role in the admission and the university often checks individually if you meet their requirements. Although every university in the United States has its own standards for admission, it is a very versatile approach by international comparison - the following criteria play a role:

Grade point average

Score in the entrance test (SAT, ACT)

Essays and questionnaires as part of the application process

Listing of your courses from the school

volunteer work and involvement in associations during school

Letters of recommendation from teachers

Possibly to be completed language tests

The choice of the university has an influence on the weighting of the individual admission criteria and to what extent they have to be fulfilled. For example, if you apply to Harvard or MIT, several criteria are important and of course your grade point average should be very high in these cases. As a rule, American universities also check whether you are in a position to finance your studies. Only if proof of your solvency you will receive a study admission.

STUDENT VISA FOR THE USA

To study in the US, you need a visa. Students have three different student visas to choose from: the J visa for exchange students, the F-1 visa for academic studies, and the M-1 visa for non-academic and work-related studies. After you've applied to a college and received a pledge, you can apply for a visa with Form I-20A-B. It is important that your university in the US is state-accredited - that is a minimum requirement for the student visa. In addition, you must have completed a (foreign) health insurance. Please also note that your visa application must be paid before you are invited to the interview and your application is approved.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE USA

In order to be able to pay for the study in the USA, there are various (partly state) subsidies, the so-called scholarships. There are a variety of scholarships, but most scholarships are only for a specific period, for example, for a semester abroad or for your bachelor thesis. In any case, it is worth taking a look at the Austrian Database for Scholarships and Research Grants , which lists all available scholarships.

Another option lies directly with the American universities. There foreign students can also receive a grant. You can either contact the "Admission Officer" or the "Foreign Student Advisor" of your respective university.

Finally, you still have the opportunity to get a scholarship from the " Fullbright Commission ". This is almost a "carefree package" in which, for example, the travel costs, tuition and health insurance are paid in full. However, only a few participants are promoted each year and accordingly the competition is great.

LANGUAGE COURSE FOR STUDY IN THE USA

The "TOEFL" (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an internationally recognized language test for English-speaking university entrance and one of the entry requirements for studying in the USA. It is a unique Internet-based test with four different exam disciplines (writing, speaking, reading and listening). The cost of the TOEFL is about $ 250.

FINANCING AND COSTS OF STUDY IN THE USA

As already explained, it is possible to obtain a scholarship and thus finance the study or at least cover part of the costs. In addition, while studying in the USA, it is possible to apply for Austrian "Aid for Study Abroad" (BAS). The amount of this contribution depends on the living and study costs of the host country and is for the US at a maximum of 487 euros per month. In addition, a travel allowance of 460 euros is possible. In addition to the allowance for study abroad and reimbursement of travel expenses, the normal study allowance is also usually paid. For more information and to apply, you should contact the relevant student aidauthority.

If you are successful in applying for and enrolling in the US, you can expect living costs of about US $ 1,000 per month during your stay in the United States (excluding tuition). The cost of the study is between $ 16,000 and $ 46,000 a year (depending on tuition). But be careful, this calculation assumes that you live on the campus of the college. Off campus costs can be much higher and vary greatly depending on the city and region.

INSURANCE

Since you have to pay in America for your medical expenses and these are much higher than in Austria, it is worthwhile to take out insurance. In addition to the financial benefits, the conclusion of a foreign visa application is mandatory. You can find a comparison of different, inexpensive student insurances here .

CAMPUS LIFE AT US UNIVERSITIES

Student life in the US is mostly about student associations. It does not matter if you like to play football, participate in the theater or are looking for a way to deal with like-minded students. All this you can do in one of the many associations. In addition to the abundance of student associations, there are "open" events on the campuses such as film screenings, games evenings or competitions. Mostly these events can be found in the calendar of the respective university and are accessible to every student!