5 Myths About Education In The United States

As a student, you often have to make a decision about your university choice. Your choice is often based on such factors as the degree offered, your area of interest, and the position of the university. Student reviews and opinions also influence this process.

Studying in the United States is full of myths that make many students hesitate to apply and possibly miss their chance. Let’s find out how American education works in reality.

Myth I. You must be very rich to study in the United States

Education in America is indeed quite expensive. At the major leagues’ colleges like Harvard and Stanford, it costs 55,000-80,000 USD a year. But the choice of universities is not limited to them. There are many lesser-known, but still, quite good universities where the average price for a year will be 24,000-35,000 USD, for example, the University of Missouri.

What’s more, tuition and living costs can be reduced with scholarships, loans, and part-time jobs. These are available not only to local students but to international students as well. Some institutions automatically consider all applicants as potential scholarship recipients, even without a special application. For example, the University of New Mexico offers funding to all international students, including undergraduate students.

More prestigious universities, such as MIT and Yale, offer scholarships to needy students. These are called need-based scholarships. If you get into one of these universities, but cannot pay your tuition, the university will fully cover all costs, including living expenses. It costs 10,000 to 18,000 USD a year, by the way.

Myth II. All learning is an endless hangout

Hollywood stereotypes can give the impression that students in America party more often than they go to class. Moreover, they always ask someone to write essay for money and don’t want to study. For sure, the reality is different.

The stereotype of party culture in the U.S. has been greatly exaggerated in movies and TV shows about college life. Some do choose to party, which is why universities have policies and rules about underage drinking and recreational drug use. But most students go to university to learn, develop, and benefit from the many opportunities that U.S. universities provide. There are legal and safe ways to have fun that help our students find the right balance between education and leisure.

American universities understand that students need recreation and socialization. Especially for this purpose, there are formal activities on campuses that are not only fun but also healthy and safe.

The student culture and environment are heavily influenced by the university. When choosing a university, we advise parents and students to pay attention to the quality of academic programs, the salaries and jobs available to graduates, and the cost of tuition.

Myth III. Only geniuses are admitted to the United States

This is not true. Ordinary people study in America, too. Of course, to get into the notorious Harvard is very difficult: you need to pass the SAT of 1500 points, write a strong motivation letter, and have English language skills at least C1 if you are an international student. For the University of New Mexico, a 1,000-point SAT score is sufficient for admission, and the GPA can be even lower than 4.0.

If you are still not sure, there are several “simplified” ways of admission that not everyone knows about. The first is the pathway program. This is a preparatory program that lasts one or two semesters. You can even enter it with a B1 level. It costs 15,000 USD per year, which is also not cheap, but after her graduates are guaranteed a place in universities partner. Such programs are available, for example, at the University of California, Arizona State University, and Boston University.

The second way is through the community college. It lasts two years. Education in such colleges is not considered particularly prestigious, but it is much easier to enter than a “full” university. After graduation, you can transfer directly to the third year of the university, provided that you have good grades. In the end, you get the same diploma as the students who studied there all four years. The best part is that an education at a community college is much cheaper: only 10,000-15,000 USD per year instead of 20,000-30,000 USD.

Myth IV. It is almost impossible to get a student visa for international students

Restrictions due to the coronavirus epidemic have made it difficult to get a visa. The main thing is to get an invitation from the university, and then everything will be fine.

Many colleges and universities have international departments that are solely dedicated to helping international students. The process of applying for a student visa is fairly transparent, and, coronavirus-related restrictions aside, most international students can gather all the necessary documents and schedule an interview at the embassy within a few days.

Myth V. It’s not safe on campuses in America

In reality, American universities are concerned about the well-being of their students. Students are briefed on what to do if they find themselves in a dangerous situation, and campuses have “panic buttons” to call the police.

There are about 4,000 universities and colleges in the United States in both large and small cities. So any student can find the right fit. To find out how safe the campus and its surroundings are, check the Campus Safety and Security website. There you can find information about the history of crime in recent years and contacts for police officers responsible for law enforcement.