Academic Qualifications: Official transcripts from previous education (high school for undergrad; bachelor’s for postgrad).
Standardized tests: SAT or ACT (undergrad); GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT (graduate/professional)
Language Proficiency:
TOEFL (usually ≥80) or IELTS (usually ≥6.5) for non-native speakers.
Financial Documents: Proof of ability to pay tuition + living expenses; required for visa (I‑20 issuance)
Study Gap Acceptance: No universal rule—many universities accept study gaps if well-explained in statement of purpose or resume, especially for mature or work-experienced applicants.
Visa - Apply via DS-160, present I‑20, attend visa interview, maintain full-time status
Visitor (B) visa not permitted for degree programs
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Engineering and Computer science
2. Harvard University - Humanities and Law
4. Stanford University - Technology and Business
5. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) - Sciences
6. Yale University - Humanities and Law
PROS:
Reduced financial burden - No need to repay grants
Career benefit - Prestigious awards enhance CGPA and internship/opportunity access.
CONS:
Highly competitive - Limited for international students—only ~150 U.S. universities give significant aid .
Uncertain coverage - May not cover full living costs—students often still bear expenses.
High application workload - Requires essays, recommendations, test scores.
Rare full scholarships - Mostly partial; full rides extremely scarce.
Types of Scholarships
University-funded merit scholarships (rare for internationals)
Need-based aid (almost exclusively for U.S. citizens)
External scholarships (e.g., Fulbright, Inlaks, Tata)
Research/teaching assistantships (mostly for MS/PhD)
Living Costs: INR 83,000 - 210,000 .
Accommodation: On-campus $800–1,500; Shared off-campus $37,500–83,500/month
Food/utilities/books - INR 25,000 - 67,000
Annual Combination- INR 10–25 lakh per academic year
Total: Approximately INR 1.2 - 2.5 lakh per month.
Top-tier education & research - Access to world-renowned faculty, labs, and learning resources
Global recognition - Degrees from U.S. institutions have high global reach.
Internship/job opportunities - Proximity to Fortune 500s, STEM OPT, and CPT options.
Cultural diversity - Students from across the globe, promoting multicultural exposure
Flexible curriculum - Liberal arts model interdisciplinary paths.
Networking - Strong alumni networks, especially from elite universities.
On-campus work- Up to 20 hrs/week during academic terms, unlimited during breaks
Off‑campus practical training
CPT (Curricular Practical Training): During study, must be related to academic field.
OPT (Optional Practical Training): Up to 12 months post-degree; STEM majors may extend +24 months .
Restrictions
F‑1 visa holders cannot work off-campus without authorization.
Off-campus work without CPT/OPT is illegal.
US visa rules may occasionally tighten (e.g., social media screening)