US TOPS THE LIST – MOST PREFERRED COUNTRY FOR INDIAN STUDENTS

America has consistently been the most popular destination for international students and India sends the second biggest contingent of international students to the USA after China. According to Open Doors, in the 2015-16 academic year 165,918 students from India were studying in the United States (up 24.9% from the previous year), with 61.4% travelling for graduate and 11.6% undergraduate studies.

Why do so many students choose the USA?

There are several benefits ranging from enhancing employment prospects to developing diverse skill sets, to becoming independent.

Let me focus on my top 7:

1. Academic Excellence. The US has some of the finest universities, with the best facilities, faculty & research in the world. If you are a business major – imagine being taught by Nobel laureates or professors who have been consultants to the World Bank or US Treasury. If you are majoring in engineering your university facilities could include labs for space research, hydrodynamics or 3D printing. You truly have the best resources available to you.

2. Flexible Curriculum. One of the most important reasons that students choose the USA is because of the flexibility that its curriculum provides. At the undergraduate level, universities allow you to explore your academic interests before deciding your specialization (major). Furthermore, colleges allow you to double major, major in one subject and minor in another and also change your major provided you meet the department stipulations. At the postgraduate level students can chose electives not only in their department but also at other schools across the university. This aspect of the USA education system makes it distinct from numerous other countries.

3. Multicultural Environment. Students at top colleges in the US are surrounded by some of the finest minds in the world. Not only do they have classmates from over 100 countries across the globe, but also students from a broad range of backgrounds including renowned musicians, prominent actors, Olympic winners and members of the armed forces. The cultural diversity provides for great learning, as each discussion, exercise or activity on campus exposes students to multiple viewpoints and teaches them to respect an alternate point of view.

4. Extensive Network. The relationships students cultivate on campus continue to only strengthen over time. Should students be confronted with a business dilemma, for example, they can consider tapping into an alum or professor to help resolve the issue. The connections made during college years have the potential of being not only their life long friends but also future business partners, co-founders, investors, clients, vendors, mentors, and so much more. Universities further foster these relationships by setting up alumni clubs and associations in different geographical locations across the globe.

5. Global Perspective. Premier US schools become hubs for top global talent – be it students or professors. Professors, regardless of area of study, expose students to innovation, models, case studies and problem statements from across the planet. As the world becomes increasingly flat, students are taught to be aware of the progress and issues facing their industry, strategize on the most effective course of action, and then seamlessly work cross-border with minimal disruptions.

6. Soft Skills.In addition to the development of hard skills, universities also build on soft skills to enable students to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. For example, within the classroom walls, students are encouraged to actively participate in discussions, work with groups on projects and make presentations. Across campus, students can get actively involved in clubs and societies and take on leadership roles.

7. Work readiness.US colleges prepare students to solve real-world problems effectively and decisively. In addition to lectures, the curriculum and degree encompass a wide range of components to ensure students are completely prepared when they enter a professional set-up, including:

The US is the most preferred destination for Indian students as it exposes them to a broad range of learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom, and allows them to explore their academic interests before deciding on their specific field of interest. The holistic educational environment truly provides students with the appropriate tools and skill sets to enter the next phase of their life.

This article is written by Grishma Nanavaty, Partner and Lead Counsellor, ReachIvy.

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ReachIvy is a premium education and career advisory that helps aspiring students get accepted into top tier educational institutions globally. We have successful admits at MIT, Columbia, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, London School of Economics, University of Michigan, Oxford, University of Chicago amongst others.

Vibha Kagzi, Founder and CEO, ReachIvy, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Bachelor of Science from Carnegie Mellon University. She has also pursued courses at the University of California, Berkeley, the London School of Economics and the Indian School of Business.

Our global team of counsellors have also acquired their degrees from premier institutes and are passionate about sharing their experiences with students worldwide.