UNIVERSITY
Advice A state of mind The American dream is just a university application away
UK Fulbright Commission surveys students when they collect their visas from the US Embassy in London to fi nd out why they chose to study in the States. The following reasons are always popular responses:
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Quality and reputation of US universities Although university rankings should really be taken with a pinch of salt, six of the top 10 universities in the 2018 Times Higher Education World University Rankings are US institutions. With over 4,500 institutions offering
undergraduate degrees, students can also choose from a large pool of universities, compared with 120 universities in the UK. With such a variety of institutions to choose from, there’s bound to be one that’s a great fi t for you.
Liberal arts
Half of the students who participated in the Fulbright survey say that they are undecided about their degree subject. The liberal arts
f you’re thinking about studying across the pond, you’re in good company: there are 11,500 British students in the US! Each year the US-
curriculum is a real selling point for students who don’t want to narrow their study options at the age of 18. A liberal arts education gives students a
broad, well-rounded education, and allows them fl exibility in exploring their academic interests before specialising in a major, or even a double major. If you have a passion for something that is not on offer, you might even be able to create your own curriculum and degree.
Opportunities to experience campus life and extracurricular activities Whereas UK universities focus on independent learning and more so on academia, on a US campus your learning and development is encouraged outside of the classroom. American universities aim to educate the whole student by providing opportunities for extracurricular involvement, community service, internships, sport, leadership and the arts. If there isn’t a club you’re interested in, you can create your own. Some clubs at US universities include the US Quidditch League and a humans vs zombies game of tag; both of these were
founded by students and are now played at hundreds of colleges nationwide!
Funding opportunities The availability of scholarship funding is a big draw for international students: 38 per cent of Fulbright’s pre-departure survey respondents list a scholarship as their primary source of funding. Undergraduate scholarships are often
offered to students based on merit, extracurricular achievement, fi nancial need or various personal characteristics. Just being an international student makes you stand out, so if you look hard enough there’s probably a scholarship for you.
Internationalise your CV A study conducted by Universities UK found that ‘mobile students’ (those who had studied abroad) had lower unemployment rates and higher-quality jobs than non-mobile students (Gone International 2016).
International students in the US
also have the opportunity to gain work experience during their studies via placements and internships, and can work in the United States for up to one year after graduation from a US university on the Optional Practical Training scheme; graduates in STEM subjects can stay on for up to three years. l
Spring 2018
WhatLive.co.uk 13
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