Studying in the USA as a Brit – A Short Guide
Pre-pandemic, nearly a third of all sixth-formers had indicated an active interest in studying for their degree abroad. After two years of coronavirus restrictions, that number can only have increased. Choosing where to go for further education can be difficult enough, but choosing a country as well can make the decision doubly hard. This article is here to make the case for the US as an ideal location for budding students.
Why Study in the US?
Studying abroad is a galvanising experience for many students, giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures while gaining a qualification in their field. The US is also home to some of the most prestigious universities in the world, making it a major draw for star students looking for the best possible education.
Funding and Logistics
Applying to study at an American institution is a simple process, but less straightforward is the process of paying to study abroad. In the UK, tuition fees for domestic students are capped at £9,250 per year – but there are no such caps in the US, with tuition costing as much as $50,000 a year for some institutions. The best route to funding your studies is through bursaries and scholarships with your university of choice, and reaching out to admissions departments is the best way to mitigate the cost of study.
With funding in hand, the most stressful part of planning to study in America can be the simple act of getting there. Transport and shipping are important logistical factors to plan well in advance, in order to minimise costs and ensure safe arrival. Shipping from the UK to the USA can be a useful way to get personal effects to your dorm, instead of taking a limited set of belongings as hold luggage. Otherwise, a watchful eye on flight deal sites like SkyScanner can help you keep costs down on one-way tickets out.
The Top Universities in the US
There are eight universities in the U.S. that belong to the ‘Ivy League’, an athletic conference that has also come to signify some of the most prestigious academic centres in the world, let alone the US. The eight universities that belong to the Ivy League are: Brown; Columbia; Cornell; Dartmouth; Harvard; Pennsylvania; Princeton; and Yale. Below are three of the most prestigious within the league, with further details on their unique qualities.
Harvard
Harvard is the oldest university in the US, and home to the most prestigious law school on Earth. Harvard has a pedigree as a premier learning institution, and attracts leading academics from a variety of fields – ensuring a robust and high-quality education.
Princeton
Princeton University’s dedication to undergraduate education programs is serious, and distinct from other Ivy League colleges. Both its student and faculty alumni are star-studded, with the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald having studied there and the likes of Albert Einstein having taught there. Princeton is a centre for creativity and ambition.
Yale
Yale is the institution most favoured by the budding politicians of a given undergraduate cohort, with its closest analogue being Oxford University in the UK. Yale’s most popular courses relate to economics and political science, making it a must for those with aspirations of leadership.
