Universities in USA
- An Overview

Introduction

Are you an ambitious student? Do your life aspirations include going abroad for higher education? If your answer is yes, chances are you are looking at the United States of America as a possible study abroad destination. Home to some of the best business, medical, technology, and law schools globally, the USA has long been the top pick among Indian students for higher education. If you are the kind of student who believes in researching the top colleges in US before sending your application, this article is for you. Here is all you need to know about the best universities in US and why you should study here.

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Why study in the United States?

As an international student, living in the US can be an exciting and unique opportunity. Here are some reasons why you should consider studying at one of the many universities in United States.

• As per a US News & World Report, the USA is home to 48 of the top 100 global universities.
• Academic flexibility is another great reason to study at universities in US as you do not need to declare your major until the second year ends. You can take the first two years to explore your academic interests.
• US universities follow a practice wherein students can take core classes (also known as general education classes) to study several academic subjects besides their focused field. This is known as their “Liberal Arts” program that enables you to get a well-rounded education across multiple disciplines.
• Another reason to consider studying in universities in United States is that most of them offer internship programs that can help you kick-start your professional career. As such, you can get hands-on experience during your school years, which further leads to better-paying jobs upon graduating.
• A degree from a US university is not only well recognised within the country; it also has an excellent international reputation.

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Best Universities in the States in International Rankings

US universities are ranked by various entities, which have specific criteria for assigning ranks. Let us take a look at the entities before revealing the top 10 universities in US.

World Universities Ranking by Times Higher Education

This entity considers the reputation of research conducted by universities and how often their papers are quoted across the world.

QS World University Rankings by Top Universities

This entity surveys academic experts from across the globe about the reputation of universities and measures their teaching quality.

Best Global Universities Rankings by US News and World Report

This entity investigates university graduation rates and the number of students who remain enrolled in the second academic year.

Below is a list of Universities in USA that often feature among the top 10 best universities in the county. The ranking assigned is for the Academic year (2020-21).

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Best Universities in the States

If you’ve always been an ambitious student, you may have always dreamed about attending Ivy League schools. Three Ivy League universities often feature among the best universities in the States. They are:

Situated in the historic town of Cambridge, right outside of Boston, Massachusetts, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher studies in the United States, having been established in 1636. It figures on the top of the list for most students, be it American or international. An Ivy League institution with a reputation that precedes its name, Harvard opens its doors to only the best students. This best university in US has an acceptance rate of a measly 4%. As such, securing admission into Harvard is nothing short of a Herculean task. It involves a long and demanding application process in which students endeavour to stand out. There are several reasons why Harvard is considered an elite university. Here are some reasons why students from across the world are drawn to Harvard.

1. Harvard University

   Situated in the historic town of Cambridge, right outside of Boston, Massachusetts, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher studies in the United States, having been established in 1636. It figures on the top of the list for most students, be it American or international. An Ivy League institution with a reputation that precedes its name, Harvard opens its doors to only the best students. This best university in US has an acceptance rate of a measly 4%. As such, securing admission into Harvard is nothing short of a Herculean task. It involves a long and demanding application process in which students endeavour to stand out. There are several reasons why Harvard is considered an elite university. Here are some reasons why students from across the world are drawn to Harvard.

   • Harvard University offers some of the most prestigious graduate and postgraduate level programs, taught by highly accomplished scholars, including Nobel Prize winners.
   • Nobel Prize winners have often mentored Harvard students. This is a very attractive proposition for ambitious students who want to harness their potential and wish to be mentored by the best in academia.
   • Harvard enjoys the reputation of being the top university in several disciplines, with its vast programs that include medicine, law, astronomy, sociology, and so on. No matter the field you are interested in, you can find a suitable option at Harvard.
   • Harvard is largely funded by its alumni, who contribute to ensuring its legacy. This influx of donations and endowments enables the school to afford the best in everything – be it infrastructure, libraries, and other equipment. The money also allows the school to support the latest research and technological advancements. Moreover, the vast campus and the buildings within Harvard are some of the most beautiful in the USA.
   • Studying at Harvard can open doors to innumerable opportunities and arm you with an extensive network of contacts so that you emerge successful in your life outside the campus.

2. Stanford University

   Established in 1885, Stanford in the San Francisco Bay area has always been a formidable contender to Harvard. In fact, the two schools are often at loggerheads to achieve the rank of the best University in US. With an awe-inspiring campus spread over 8,180 acres, the University grounds house over 700 buildings with over 6,300 students enrolled in undergraduate programs and over 8,700 students enrolled in graduate programs. It would not be wrong to call Stanford a city in itself. Here is why students across the globe work hard to seek admission to Stanford.

   • Stanford’s area of excellence spans seven schools offering programs in fields like business, education, engineering, humanities and sciences, medicine, law, and earth, energy and environmental sciences. Besides these academic programs, Stanford also excels as a school that promotes research, athletics, and arts.
   • Like Harvard, Stanford is renowned for its notable faculty comprising over 2,700 teachers. The school has a remarkable student to faculty ratio of 5:1, which means students can get the necessary, undivided attention to excel academically. Even more impressive is the fact that 19 Nobel Laureates are presently serving as members of the Stanford community.
   • Stanford is also known for offering assistance to its students, harbouring entrepreneurship aspirations. As a Stanford student, if you stumble upon an exciting idea for building what you think is the next big company, you need not look beyond your school. You can get funding from StartX, an incubator program started by the University, where you can get financing for your start-up. The proximity of Stanford to Silicon Valley, coupled with a solid alumni network, gives you the direction and guidance you need in pursuing your entrepreneurial ambitions.

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

   Another tremendous educational institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT, was established in 1861. This 160-year-old institution continues to produce world changers and industry leaders with every passing year. In 2011, the Technology Licensing Office of MIT recorded an astounding 700 new innovations, of which US patents and 139 trademark licenses were issued. Whether it is the human genome project, the creation of emails and digital ink or nuclear fission, MIT continues to be associated with some of the most cutting edge projects across the world. Here are some reasons that make MIT one of the best universities in the States.

   • MIT has produced 77 Nobel Prize winners and enjoys the reputation of being the world leader in the fields of science and technology.
   • The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program or UROP by MIT gives every student the chance to gain first-hand experience working on cutting-edge research. The program allows you to join existing research projects or submit and develop your ideas, thus harnessing your research skills at each stage of the program.
   • MIT boasts of one of the best faculty teams in the United States. Professors at the university not only spend hours preparing their weekly lectures, but they also hold weekly office hours for students to answer their questions and provide the needed guidance.
   • MIT is known for some unusual traditions that distinguish the school for its seriousness of purpose and its unique sense of humour. This school introduced the concept of hacking, which continues to be a harmless, practical joke practised around the campus. Other exclusive traditions enjoyed by MIT students include the MIT mystery hunt, Pi day, and MIThenge.
   • MIT is one of the few Ivy League schools that concentrate on enrolling the best in academia instead of students from privileged households. It does not admit students purely based on their financial situation, as evidenced through their need-blind policy. Under this policy, the university takes on the financial responsibility of students who win a place on merit but are unable to afford their fees.

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Final note

Universities in US are renowned for encouraging students to become independent thinkers. With a myriad of graduate and postgraduate programs, US universities provide incredible opportunities to help you embark on your chosen career path. In the best universities in the States, the education style differs vastly from most institutions in that these schools believe in a hands-on learning experience. As a student in a US university, you can select full degree programs with a major and minor subject, short-term certificate programs and more to enhance your professional credentials. All these factors help you receive a fully-rounded educational experience and the confidence to take on the world.

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