Study in USA for Indian Students after 12th: Programs, Admission Requirements, Costs, Scholarships

Studying in the USA is a dream for many Indian students, and with the right approach it can become a reality. The USA is a highly developed country which houses some top universities and colleges in the world. Every year, nearly 1.1 million international students decide to study in USA due to the presence of rich diversity, topnotch quality of education, highly qualified teachers and a vibrant atmosphere.

• USA has more than 5,300 leading centres of education along with above 2,000 additional institutes offering bachelor’s degrees across multiple subjects.
• Most Indian students who go to the US for studying pursue a bachelor’s degree, which reflects that they go to the US right after they finish the 12th grade.
• Numerous arts, commerce and science universities in USA ensure that students do not run out of options and get to study what they want to.
• The application procedure is quite time consuming and slight errors can result in rejection of the application. Hence it is advisable to start planning the application process a year before applying to US institutes. After completing their degree, students can also look for employment opportunities in the USA.

Admission Requirements for US Universities

Each university has its own selection criteria on which the chances of acceptance depends on. Applicants should plan and include materials which can be beneficial. However, they should avoid including excessively unimportant achievements or documents which will only delay the decision. The documents which are generally required across all US institutes for bachelor’s courses are listed below:

GPA: To study in the USA after 12th, students need to make sure that they have secured a satisfying aggregate or GPA from their higher secondary institution. A good GPA or percentage can be considered a requirement for studying in one of the top universities in USA.

English Proficiency Scores: English proficiency test like IELTS or TOEFL scores are required to establish a candidate’s written, verbal and communicative skills in English. These tests are a way to demonstrate a candidate’s command over the language since all courses are taught in English in the USA. The score requirements vary from university to university but most reputed institutes require a minimum score of 6.5 to 7 in IELTS. The exact requirements are listed on the university’s official website and must be checked thoroughly.

Standardized Test Scores: SAT and ACT scores are taken into consideration for undergraduate admission. For the academic session 2020-21, most US universities made submission of standardized test scores optional. A SAT score of 600-800 is the minimum requirement for admission to US universities. However the requirements are higher for top-ranked universities.

Interviews: Some universities also host interviews for understanding the character of the student even better.

SOP and LOR: A well drafted SOP for USA and multiple LOR from academic counsellors, teachers and previous employers (if available) play a vital role in the student selection process across top US universities.

Additional Requirements: Some courses require the student to be of 18 years old and monetary funds are required to be displayed to prove that the tuition fees can be paid. After receiving an acceptance letter, the candidate must apply for a US student visa. Additional factors taken into consideration include participation in extracurricular activities, community service, social work, or internships. Non-academic feats are beneficial since they provide an insight into the candidate’s interests.

Course Structure for Studying in USA after 12th

There are several options to apply for a course in the USA for international students. Aspirants wanting to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the US can get it after 4 or 2 years, depending on the course design and the institute. Students can study in private or community colleges based on their budget or options. Students can choose either the 4 year or the 2 year bachelor’s option according to their own preference and expense.

Candidates who face financial challenges can complete their degree in a community college which is comparatively less expensive and then transfer their credits to a 4 year program. The course structures vary across different institutes and an aspirant should check all available options before applying.

In the US the academic course pattern differs slightly from India since 4 years must be completed compulsorily in order to receive a bachelor’s degree. Students should choose a major only after critical thinking since they will get a degree on that subject, which will help them in gaining momentum in the professional world later on. Students can also change their majors if they want to.

The first year is freshman year and the second one is sophomore year. The third year is called the junior year and the fourth one is called senior year. The first two years do not focus on any specific subject and instead cover a wide base of subjects, without emphasizing any discipline. From the junior year, a fixed specialization or a major must be chosen for further advanced studying.

Courses in USA after 12th

There is a wide range of options for students after passing 12th from their native place and going to pursue higher education in the US. Students get a plethora of choices in humanities, science and commerce based subjects to study in the USA. Some of the most pursued courses for international students to study in the USA after 12th are listed below.

Pure Sciences:

Engineering and Computer Application:

Medical courses:

Economics and Finance:

Cost of Studying in USA after 12th

The cost of studying in the USA varies on factors like program type, course duration and the university where the candidate will be studying in. In public universities, the cost of education is significantly low and it is around 25,000 USD or Rs. 19 lakhs for a 4 year bachelor’s degree. In private universities, the expense is more since it is about 35,000 USD (~Rs. 26 lakhs) to 50,000 USD (~Rs 37 lakhs) depending on the brand name, reputation and quality of the institution. Additional expenses might include personal expenses. The candidate should check each university’s website to understand clearly how to plan their budget according to specifications listed by the university.

Science and Engineering in USA after 12th

STEM is the most sought out and pursued study segment in the USA since it is a rapidly changing and developing country with advanced technology. It is also home to Silicon Valley which is the hub of technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Most international students who want to enroll in a STEM course target the USA as their first choice. USA is home to the top 6 institutes among 10 in the whole world for education in STEM subjects. The name of the universities, stem courses and admission deadlines are noted below.

Study Medical in USA after 12th

MBBS is also one of the topmost sought out programs in the USA and it is a 4 year undergraduate course in medicine. It is the equivalent of an MD or Doctor of Medicine and takes 4 years to accomplish. To get into this course, international students are required to complete a pre-medical course or BS degree. In order to apply for a medical course in USA, an international candidate has to sit for the English proficiency tests as well as the SAT exam.

The two main courses for studying medicine in the US are Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. After earning the MD degree in the US, international students have to enrol in a 3-5 year residency program in order to work as a doctor. Therefore, the total time taken to complete an entire MBBS degree in the US is 7 to 9 years. The top universities providing medical courses and the admission deadlines are given below.

Study Commerce in USA after 12th

There are a large number of courses under commerce stream and various universities in the US provide them for international students. There are subjects like Economics, Finance, Management, Accounting which can be pursued for students looking to study commerce-based subjects. To study a Commerce subject in the US, the applicant should have a minimum aggregate of 70% in their high school examination. The minimum IELTS score should be 5.5 for most universities and 6.0 or above for top institutes. The most popular Commerce courses in the US, top universities and the admission deadlines are mentioned below in a table format.

Study Arts in USA after 12th

There are a variety of options present across the top US institutes for Indian students who wish to study in the USA. There are options like Hospitality and Tourism Management, Humanities, Fine Arts, Architecture, English, History, Philosophy etc. An arts or a humanities enthusiast can apply to some of the topmost institutes offering these courses in the country. Art colleges are present in plenty and performing or fine arts are also well pursued programs. Some of the most popular courses along with the top universities offering them and the admission deadlines are listed below.

Scholarships to Study in USA after 12th

Studying in the USA can be expensive, especially when it's an Ivy league school or one of the top schools in the country. To help with the tuition fees there are several scholarship opportunities, fee waivers, grants, assistantships, fellowships, federal work study programs and loans. Scholarships and financial aid are the most sought out options for international students wanting to enroll in bachelor’s programs since assistantships and fellowships are available only for master’s students.

Scholarships to study in USA can partially or fully pay off the student’s tuition fees. Scholarships depend on the candidate’s level of study, their course and the institute they have enrolled in. The faculty can also be contacted for the possibility of departmental scholarships. Scholarships are mostly divided into four types: Government funded scholarships, program based scholarships, departmental scholarships and external organization provided scholarships.

Students can pursue part time work opportunities on and off campus, if permitted by the university they are studying in. F-1 visa holders can work upto 20 hours a week on campus and on holidays, they can work upto 40 hours. Students who are pursuing full time courses can opt for Optional Practical Training which will give them an exposure for working on their field. Students receive a check bi-weekly for working in the campus. After-study work visa options are also available for international students pursuing education in American universities.

Thus, it can be inferred that studying in the USA after completion of 12th grade is an option pursued by many international aspirants. Due to the availability of an ethnically diverse atmosphere, commendable quality of education, highly developed locations and educational centres, appreciable campus facilities and qualified faculty, USA stands out of the crowd. The presence of options for availing financial aid combined with encouragement for participating in extra curricular affairs also attract students from all over the world to the US every year. Studying in the USA can provide a global exposure along with educational knowledge which can fuel in broad mindedness and contribute to the personal growth of an individual in the long run.