United States of America, a dreamland filled with hope, home to the entertainment industry, to great sporting events and unique experiences.
The term “American Dream” originated from a desire to make the most of all the opportunities the U.S. have to offer. Yet, this nation seems a distant destination, geographically and emotionally, especially when choosing to pursue one’s academic goals at a degree level.
Why should I go to study so far from home when there are just as many opportunities in Europe?
This is one of the Hamletian doubts that affects so many students like you. In this article we have tried to answer this question:
Here are four reasons why studying in the US may be the right choice for you!
360° / Experience
Studying at an American university is a complete experience that should be lived to the fullest.
A sense of community characterizes American campuses, from the largest to the smallest.
Students eat lunch together in the cafeterias, meet in the library or cafè, and work out together after class. Universities in America cater to the needs of every student and social life in colleges is lived 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: fraternities, student associations, clubs with professional and educational purposes and societies aimed at social commitment.
When talking about the experience, it is impossible not to mention sports. The United States have 24 sports sponsored at the collegiate level, with half a million athletes competing each year in competitions organized by the institutions themselves. Universities invest a significant amount of money in their sports facilities, building high-level facilities and stadiums that host thousands of fans each year (often larger than the Meazza stadium in Italy!).
An equally considerable sum is invested in scholarships and financial aid for athletes, who each year benefit from over $3 billion in scholarships provided to them.
This is the case of our young competitive skier Arianna, who was awarded with sporting merit scholarships from four American colleges: Sierra Nevada College ($97,420.00), College of Idaho ($124,000.00), Castleton University ($78,000.00) and Plymouth State University ($34,000.00).
Meritocracy
It is well known that foreign universities believe in meritocracy. However, this becomes especially true in the United States.
In the face of remarkably high tuition costs, American universities encourage and support students emotionally as well as financially and pragmatically. This applies to both American and international students.
Each year, universities award approximately 50 billion in financial aid divided between academic or athletic merit scholarships, and need-based financial aid significant, especially at the top universities nationwide; to give you an idea of the award criteria used, if your family has a yearly gross income of less than $200,000 you have high chances of receiving need-based financial aid. If your family earns less than $60,000, you may be eligible for a full scholarship from American colleges.
Many of the students we have supported in the American college admissions process have been able to qualify for financial aid, approximately 7M$ since 2013. For example, Lorenzo got admitted to Harvard and Yale University, with scholarships of $312,000 and $321,000, respectively. On the other hand, Natalia was admitted to Kenyon college, with a scholarship worth $250,000 in total.
Practicality
One of the strengths of American universities is that they prepare their students for the professional world right from the first year. For this reason, courses and lessons have an extremely more practical approach than Italian universities.
In the United States you won’t have to spend hours and hours on books to prepare for an exam.
Are American universities easier than Italian ones? No, quite the opposite. The commitment required is the same, but the course is comprehensive, with extracurricular projects and internships in companies that are an integral part of your educational curriculum: laboratories, research, and group projects to develop soft skills required by the professional world.
Not only that, but American universities also offer work experience and internships as an integral part of their courses. Internships allow you to implement the university’s skills and gain experience that can be included in the curriculum. The internship is fundamental as it will be decisive for receiving a job offer from companies.
For example, our Giulio Cristello, an aerospace engineering student at Florida Tech, did an internship abroad at Thales, one of the largest companies in the aerospace field, and his salary was high enough to pay for an entire year of study.
Opportunities
At the beginning of this article, we told you that the United States is a land of opportunities: yes, but which ones? From a professional point of view, there is no Western country that offers the same opportunities as the United States:
- The average age of a graduate in the US is 21-23 years, compared to 27 years for graduates in Italy;
- The youth unemployment rate is only 8% in the US, compared to 29% youth unemployment in Italy;
- It is estimated that the average post-graduate salary in America is around €60,000, while in Italy this figure is as low as €25,000;
- Post-graduate opportunities are unbeatable, but professional growth is even more appealing. In Italy, the top 5% of our workers earn about €50,000 annually, in America it’s more than five times that, with incomes over €260,000
After graduating in America, you’ll have the opportunity to enter a very dynamic, meritocratic job market that aims to enhance and cultivate the skills of young people entering the professional field for the first time.
Growth is almost guaranteed and exponential, as well as salaries and quality of life. Moreover, the international mentality, dynamism, and the employees’ gratification are characteristics that perfectly describe the future that awaits you if you choose America as a destination for your studies.
Johannes, a student we mentored years ago in the American college admissions process, was accepted to Bentley University. After several internships during his 4 years of university, he received several job offers from important American companies. Among them, a position as Market Information Data Analyst at PwC, the second largest professional services firm in the world, along with Deloitte, EY and KPMG.
