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What Is The International A Level, And How Does It Work

What Is The International A Level, And How Does It Work

Some of the best high schools in New Zealand offer an educational program called International A Levels. Many people who pursue this course will eventually be accepted into some of the best colleges in the world, including HarvardStanford, and Cambridge.

A Levels are likely something most students and parents have heard about, but surely, very few individuals understand this pathway in detail. First, did anyone know that International A Levels have various “flavours”? The University of Cambridge’s Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) is the most popular “flavour” assessment service for the A Levels.

The International A Levels are based on the UK high school education system to give some background. A global student base receives an internationally modified version of the British high school education from institutions like Edexcel and Cambridge.

Each of the learning objectives a student should be expecting to master throughout their A Level certification is laid out in the syllabus for Edexcel and Cambridge topics, which is very well-designed and follows a logical, organized format. One may quickly obtain the syllabus for a course they are interested in pursuing by searching for phrases like “Cambridge International A Level Physics syllabus” or “Edexcel International A Level Geography syllabus.”

Curriculum Organization

The AS Level and A2 Level are the two subsets of the A Level:

  • The AS Level, the first year of the A Level course, includes a series of exams after the year.
  • The A2 Level, the second year of the A Level, includes a new set of exams after the year.

Students will only obtain the AS qualification if students decide to take an AS Level topic and its tests without registering for the A2 Level the following year. New Zealand can apply this to the University Entrance (UE) exam.

Students often enrol in four to five AS Level courses during their second to last year of high school. They will then take three to four of those courses at the A2 Level, frequently taking additional subjects at the AS Level to fill out their schedule in their senior year of high school (without completing the whole A Level).

While this is the average time frame for completing A Levels if anyone wants to compete for admission to the best US colleges, even four A Levels won’t be enough to set them apart from the other applicants.

Suppose Mr A is from Auckland, New Zealand, and had the good fortune to be accepted into the Macleans College Accelerate Program. Mr A took four Cambridge International AS Level subjects—English Literature, Maths, Physics, and Chemistry—in Year 11 (Year 10 in Australia, in NZ, and 10th grade in the US) and then studied those four subjects at the A2 Level, the following year (the second to last year of high school), along with AS Biology.

Route Difficulty

After studying the subject at the international GCSE level, most students will continue to the Edexcel/Cambridge International AS or A Level pathway. This is frequently the suggested route since international GCSEs offer you the solid grounding you need for challenging Level assignments. However, it is unnecessary; intelligent students may enrol in the AS Level course without studying the International GCSE course.

But the transition from Edexcel/Cambridge International GCSEs to AS Level coursework frequently involves a significant increase in difficulty. The AS Level requires students to think more thoroughly about the subject matter and use what anyone has learned to solve issues in novel situations.

Many times, students lack basic knowledge of this leap. Since students previously failed the subject due to underestimating its complexity, the vice principal convened an assembly in Year 11 to warn students against taking AS Chemistry after studyingIGCSE Edexcell Combined Sciences.

Fortunately, many resources, including textbooks, study guides, past papers, online notes,  YouTube video tutorials, and other helpful websites, are easily accessible for Cambridge A Levels.

Examinations and Evaluation

Nearly all Edexcel/Cambridge AS and A Level topics are externally assessed, except for a few arts subjects like drama, music, and photography. For Cambridge, exams are given in June and November, while for Edexcel, they are shown in June, October, and January.

Conclusion

Most students take one set of tests towards the conclusion of AS and A2, but if one believes that one underperformed and would like to raise the mark, one can retake exams at one of the other testing dates. The CGA’s Edexcel International A Levels give the most excellent options for retakes, with three exam dates scheduled throughout the year.

Best School For Startup Founders

When creating their concepts and organizing their startups in college, budding entrepreneurs frequently want direction and support. Although many institutions provide entrepreneurial education, the top universities for startups host programs, venture accelerators, and contests. Additionally, these institutions provide access to finance sources, legal and technical services, and entrepreneurial connections.

The following list focuses on the best schools for startups that go the extra mile to assist students in starting enterprises. The methodology considered various elements, such as the number of student-founded firms, the amount of funding raised, and the scope of a school’s program. The ranking also preferred universities with the finest workshops, activities, funding options, and entrepreneurship and business assistance facilities. The better the college’s order, the more welcoming its environment and culture are to startups.

Top Schools For Startups

  1. Stanford University
  2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  3. Harvard University
  4. University of California, Berkeley
  5. University of Pennsylvania
  6. Cornell University
  7. University of Michigan
  8. The University of Texas at Austin
  9. Princeton University
  10. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The schools at the top of the ranking don’t change much from one year to the next. Based on startup funding, universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford frequently rank as the best schools for entrepreneurs. UC Berkeley is the only public university listed among the top 10 institutions for startup founders. However, due to the proliferation of tech businesses in the region, the University of Texas at Austin entered the list this year.

Which Major Is Best For An Entrepreneur?

The ideal fit for aspiring entrepreneurs relies on each need, and every degree offers something unique. For example, business management or entrepreneurship courses may be the most excellent option for some students who need to understand education’s administration and startup aspects. Other students might be eager to hone their technological abilities in an engineering or computer science program.

Before deciding on a major, learners should assess their school’s resources, classes, and certifications. While getting a degree in another field, aspirants may be able to develop their entrepreneurial experience through supplementary training or extracurricular activities.

Is A Degree In Entrepreneurship Worthwhile?

A degree in entrepreneurship can give students the information they require to create their firm and set it on the proper course. In addition, these degrees frequently offer instruction in developing business plans, strategies, and the operational and managerial sides of managing a firm.

Students interested in entrepreneurship degrees may find them appealing if they want to begin their own business, but they must first master the necessary skills. Although this training can also be used for other business management positions, students should be sure of their plans before deciding on a degree with such a narrow focus.

Can Anyone Launch A Business While They Are In School?

Entrepreneurs can launch their businesses anytime and wherever they like but doing so while still in school can be pretty advantageous. Many schools offer materials and assistance for this kind of project. The finest institutions for startups assist students in honing their company plans.

Students can collaborate on their ideas with businesspeople. They can create a prototype, polish their concept, and simulate pitch sessions and real-world situations. The top business schools may also offer a supportive professional network, financial options, and legal assistance for new businesses.

How Does Anyone Start A Business In School?

Starting a business in college demands a lot of dedication and willpower. Fortunately, institutions frequently offer a welcoming environment for new companies. Students get access to the resources at the institution, including the instructors’ knowledge.

Entrepreneurs should have a robust business plan and comprehend their market to ensure a successful launch. They must either secure the necessary funding or have a strategy. Additionally, they must establish crucial connections with customers, collaborators, and partners.

The finest colleges for startups offer outstanding coaching in all of these areas, making the process less intimidating and assisting entrepreneurs in their success.

Conclusion: Earning A Degree Doesn’t Guarantee Success, But It Does Matter.

Naturally, as many others have noted, there is no educational prerequisite for being a successful business entrepreneur.

That said, the evidence tends to imply that trying ivy league schools like Stanford, Harvard, or MIT wouldn’t harm if one wants to apply to college or graduate school and is drawn to the startup founder’s career path. Generally speaking, prospective funded entrepreneurs seem to make good choices for schools that are notoriously difficult to get into.

Data does not support the notion that an exceptional education, or any degree, will determine one’s likelihood of success. On the contrary, if the history of invention has taught something, it is that successful businesspeople can be found all over the world and with a variety of educational experiences.

US Colleges Expect an Increase in International Enrollment

Admissions to top universities are essential aspects of a student’s life. It becomes more intriguing when it happens to be an enrollment a person is interested in. Being updated with the trends in the enrollment procedure will help the student make the application easily in the future. There is no denying the changing admission rules for universities across the US. 

If one is an international student, the decline in international student enrollment makes them fear their chances. The US universities and schools have significantly increased international student enrollment for session 2022-23. 

The  US colleges expect an increase in the international environment for various reasons.

Increase in International Enrollment at US Colleges this Fall: Why?

It was claimed in a study conducted by IIE (Institute of International Education) that, for the upcoming 2022-2023, US Universities and schools will see a boom in enrollment of international students. A year ago, international enrollment was pegged at 43%, estimated to be 65% for the next year!

The significant decline in international students enrolling in US universities resulted from the COVID -19 pandemic. The stats dropped to as low as 15% from 46%, indicating worrying signs in the sector.  

Gradually increasing International Enrollment  

There was a mixed response from respondents to international enrollments in US Universities. About 12% of these respondents claimed to have decreased application influx in 2022-23. The recent studies conducted claim an increase in international enrollments. 76% of the top international universities and 73% offering doctoral degrees agreed to the increasing international enrollment. 

96% of the institutions that participated in the poll have decided to provide access to future international students for in-person study alternatives, with distance learning options mostly offered to students who cannot attend classes on campus due to travel or visa restrictions. 

Increasing International Student Influx

There are many reasons behind the increased number of international students in US universities. For instance: –

US Colleges and Universities: Extending support to Ukrainian and Russian Students 

With the war continuing, the education of Russian and Ukrainian students is at high risk. In light of helping these students, 248 US colleges reported hosting Ukrainian students, while 307 recorded hosting Russian students in the spring of 2022. 

Both the Universities and colleges in the US are trying their best to accommodate any and every possible enrollment from Russia and Ukraine.  Even though there’s an increasing delay for their visas, the Universities and schools will still be open to enrolling them.

The in-person study is being resumed (Session 2022-23) 

From 2022 to 2023, every city in the US is trying to continue studying in person. This is as support extended to international students wanting to study at US schools and Universities. 

Statistics show that 61% of US colleges and universities plan to use an in-person studying model again. The unique hybrid courses will support these classes. 

The institutions have planned to conduct 33% of the institution studying apps entirely in person. 

The in-person method being chosen by International students at vast  

Because the in-person teaching methodology is back, the enrollment of international students has witnessed an impressive upswing. According to the report, it is always about the experience of studying at US universities that appeals to international students. With most of the studies going online a year ago, the percentage of international student enrollment dropped to 8%. There is an increase with the model again being shifted to in-person. The attended classes by international students at US universities in 2022 touched 55%. 

Increased studying abroad students: US universities 

The reason for international enrollment increasing in the US is also the US students opting to study abroad. According to a study, there has been an influx of study abroad applications from US students to about 83%. This is phenomenally greater than the academic year earlier to 2022 to 23. It has been noticed in all the institutions around the United States.

Conclusion

The US universities have always been a student’s dream experience. However, the pandemic made it extremely difficult to keep up with this dream. Distance learning took a toll on the enrollment of international students in US schools and Universities. In the academic year 2022-23, the influx of international students is expected to rise at a commendable rate.

135,000 international students apply to UK universities through UCAS

International students have long been accepted into varied, innovative, and multicultural UK colleges. For people with top university aspirations, it’s critical to stay current on the most recent advancements in the college admissions industry. Approximately 135,000 international students have applied to UK universities through the UCAS application, according to UCAS’s most recent statistics, which were released this week.

With 31,400 more candidates from China than in 2021, there have been around 135,000 applications from international students. The number of applications from Nigeria has climbed by 58%, and applications from India have increased by 20%.

There were 111,720 non-EU international applicants, an increase from 89,420 two years ago. The number of EU students applying through UCAS is down from 2021’s 28,120 applicants who represented the bloc.

UCAS has previously stated that roughly two-thirds of non-EU students and 75–80% of students with residence in the EU usually apply using its website.

The data also revealed a record number of domestic applications from pupils in the most underprivileged areas of the UK, with the nation’s overall 18-year-old application rate hitting 44.1%.

A record number of students is anticipated to begin higher education courses in the fall thanks to more than 683,650 applicants—an increase of 1,600 from 2021—who submitted over 3,049,000 applications online.

According to Clare Marchant, chief executive of UCAS, “over the coming few weeks, they’ll witness a massive effort throughout the education industry to enable more than 700,000 students to begin the next chapter in their educational journey.”

UCAS anticipates that a record number of students will receive their definitive decision this year on results days for students with conditional offers.

According to Christopher Hale, interim CEO of Universities UK, “a record number of students from the UK and beyond are selecting the high-quality experience at UK universities.”

“Going to college is still a good option, and employers are very interested in graduates with certain abilities,” It will be a challenging year for admissions, said Sarah Stevens, director of policy at the Russell Group.

Universities in the Russell Group are working hard to make it possible for many individuals to study there while still providing students with a top-notch education.

With nearly 30,000 courses offered through clearing, UCAS said, “There are several options accessible to learners who are not placed or who use clearing as an opportunity to review their aspirations..”

According to statistics, Stevens said the UK is still a top destination for overseas students, albeit in a very competitive environment.

“Efforts to attract students from around the world are beginning to pay off, as evidenced by the substantial surge in applications from India and Nigeria,” according to the UK’s International Education Strategy.

Other key findings: 

  • A record number of 18-year-olds in the most underprivileged areas of the UK applied. The POLAR4 Q1 application rate increased from 27% to 28.8% in 2021 by more than 10%, which is greater than in 2013. This year, 38,300 kids from this country’s most underprivileged regions have applied to colleges.
  • A record number of 18-year-olds from underprivileged areas lived in Scotland, with 21.3% coming from SIMD 20 (an index used in Scotland).
  • The most advantaged 18-year-old students in the UK continue to apply at the same rate of 59.5% (POLAR Q5), which shows a significant reduction in the gap between the most and least advantaged students’ application rates from the previous year.
  • With a record-high application rate for UK 18-year-olds of 44.1%, this fall is likely to see a record number of students enrol in higher education.
  • The number of searches on UCAS’ Career Finder, which assists students in finding employment and degree/higher apprenticeships, reached a record 2.15 million in the past year, up 4.13%, indicating a rising interest in degree/higher apprenticeships. 2,43,138 application clicks were generated by these queries, up from 228,124 last year (+6.58%).
  • The first T-level students to apply to higher education were 490 people.

Wrapping up:

Aspirations are that a record number of disadvantaged students will enrol in universities and colleges in the fall as a result of the “UCAS” analysis, which demonstrates that universities and colleges are continuing to assist these students’ advancement with targeted offer-making.

Over the coming weeks, the education sector will put forth tremendous work to help more than 700,000 students start the next phase of their educational journey. This year’s results day will see a record number of students get their official decision.

Safety Targets Reach Schools

Making a school list is a crucial yet challenging stage in the college application process. A carefully crafted school list balances your goal to enrol at safe schools, where you have a good chance of getting accepted, with the plan to visit reach schools, the colleges you’ve always wanted to attend. To let students aim high while also guaranteeing admission to at least one school, the perfect school list strikes a balance between reach, target, and safety schools.

What Do Reach, Safety, and Target Mean?

The terms “reach,” “safety,” and “target” are commonly used in college applications to describe a student’s likelihood of admission to a particular university. These ideas and the group’s colleges must be understood before the application process can start.

What is a Reach School?

 Colleges that have a probability of admission of less than 15% are considered Reach schools (this is the likelihood of admittance, not the institution’s approval rate). Remember that everyone should seek institutions with acceptance rates higher than 10%. Due to the fierce competition, applicants whose profiles are comparable to or superior to approved students cannot be sure they will be accepted to these universities. Students may find a school challenging if their test scores and grade point average are below the average for admitted pupils.

What is a target school?

A university where your admission prospects vary from 15 to 70% is a target school. Target schools were split into challenging targets (15% to 45% likelihood) and average targets (45% to 70% chance) in altering targets.

Unless the institution is highly exclusive, it is feasible to gauge a school’s target status by how the SAT or ACT score compares to its middle 50 per cent test results (The range of marks in between the 75th percentile and the 25th percentile of accepted students is known as the centre 50%.). One should be optimistic about one’s chances of admission to a target school even if there are no certainties. Challenging aims are a little riskier.

What exactly is a safety school?

Colleges with admission rates of greater than 70% are considered safe schools. A college is likelier to be safe if its students have test results above the 75th percentile. When selecting a safe school, having a good chance of college admission is essential, but individuals should also be enthusiastic about it and want to attend if one is accepted.

The Factors Affecting One’s Chances

Middle 50% test scores indicate your chances of admission to a specific university. Still, the admissions process is far more complicated than a single score and considers many different variables.

Exam Results And Grades

Over a third of what the Top 250 colleges consider significant in the admissions process is based on student’s grades and test results. Grades are a good indicator of a student’s commitment, willpower, and ability and a good predictor of college success. Colleges are interested in intellectually rigorous students who have taken complex material, such as AP classes; it’s not simply the scores students obtain, either.

Test results are significant for college admissions because they may verify a student’s grades and show whether or not they are ready for college. However, this has altered as a result of the Covid test-optional policy.

Additional Academic Activities

Extracurricular activities are a significant factor that colleges consider when determining which applicants to admit and can make up as much as 25% of the decision. One of the many benefits of extracurricular activities is that they show colleges what students are like outside the classroom and showcase their interests and passions. Instead of casually engaging in many different hobbies, try to concentrate on a few and devote attention to them.

Interviews and letters of recommendations

Only 10% of admissions decisions are based on letters of recommendation and interviews, making them less important than test scores, grades, and extracurriculars. The application may benefit from connecting with a teacher, advisor, or coach who will promote particular abilities and knows students well.

Another strategy to increase the chances of admission is through college interviews. Prepare for common college interview questions by taking them seriously; learn how to dress, ask the right questions, and exhibit a responsible, college-ready mindset.

Conclusion

Keep in mind that every school on the list should be one where one would thrive, from the safest to the most remote. Don’t ignore schools simply because they aren’t at the top of the rankings; similarly, don’t disregard highly ranked ivy league schools just because one might not be at the top of the class right now. When creating their own ideal college application list, it’s crucial to be practical and aspirational.

Harvard Urges The Supreme Court To Keep Affirmative Action

On July 29, dozens of businesses, civil rights organizations, academics, teachers’ unions, current and former US senators, and others submitted legal briefs to the US Supreme Court. They urge the court to uphold the long-standing precedent designed to allow the utilization of race to boost uniqueness in university admissions.

All About The Affirmative Action

For decades, the court has repeatedly upheld the affirmative action practice of selecting students based on race and ethnicity by colleges and universities. However, the US supreme court’s conservative supermajority threatens to overrule yet another enduring precedent as it gets to hear court proceedings. This fall, two cases were brought against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), following a historical phrase in which the court abolished the long-standing right to abortion.

Current Harvard students and alumni said in one statement that the university would lose out on remarkable individuals whose ethno-racial affiliations were fundamental to their applicants and who would have otherwise been missed if the top court forbade Harvard from taking race into account. In another case, lawyers contended that businesses rely on colleges to seek, admit and educate professionally competent, racially and culturally diverse pupils to become future workforce and corporate leaders. They were defending more than 60 companies and corporations.

In another, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which advocates on behalf of Asian students and is assisting Harvard’s claim, claimed that excluding race as a factor would hinder universities’ capacity to achieve the instructional advantages of diversity and harm people of colour and undo the advancement that has been fiercely contested and won, and stop progress where it is still required.

The most recent instances before the supreme court started in 2014 when Students for Fair Admissions, an organization that rejected racial bias and was premised by Edward Blum, who is best known for being the driving force behind the civil suit that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act, prosecuted Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, claiming that their race-conscious acceptance rate was inconsistent with the constitution and persecuted against Asian American students.

When the University of Texas at Austin’s admissions procedure was affirmed in an utterly separate suit filed by Abigail Fisher, a white woman who claimed she was refused entry as a consequence of the process, the supreme court affirmed the constitutionality of using race as a consideration in college admissions two years later. Fisher claimed she was refused entry due to the procedure. A federal appeals court in Boston decided to favour Harvard in November 2020.

After taking up the Harvard and UNC issues jointly, the supreme court decided to split them in late July so that Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson could comment on the UNC case.

Since 1978, when the court initially split over a case involving Allan Bakke, a white man who was refused admission to the University of California at Davis’s medical school, positive discrimination in higher education has been a topic of “deep ambiguity” for the US supreme court, according to Justin Driver, a law professor at Yale University Law School. Associate Justice Lewis Powell struck a compromise, finding that the quota system was illegal. However, that race may still be one of many considerations in the admissions policy to promote diversity.

According to Driver, the court has not always upheld race-conscious admissions policies. At the same time, despite being reticent to support affirmative action, it has declined.

The driver said that Republican-appointed justices have consistently resisted the urge to enforce constitutional colourblindness in college admissions. Most significantly, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor supported the University of Michigan Law School’s admissions policy in 2003, finding in Grutter v. Bollinger that the policy did not “unduly prejudice nonminority candidates” due to its “individualized inquiry” of candidates.

The conservative majority on this court differs from prior ones in the following ways: John Roberts, the Chief Justice, has advocated for educational initiatives that are more racially neutral. Roberts famously stated that “the approach to combat discrimination on the grounds of racism is to stop discrimination on the grounds of race” in a 2007 Supreme Court decision that overturned desegregation initiatives in Seattle and Louisville for assigning students to ivy league schools and other universities based on race.

Conclusion

Theodore Shaw, Julius L. Chambers Distinguished Professor of Law and Executive Director of UNC’s Center for Civil Rights, voiced concerns that if the current supreme court rules against racial admission standards, the court’s decision would have “serious” impacts on possibilities for Black and brown students, leading to less diverse student bodies.

7 Renowned Stanford Alumni, from Celebrities to Successful Entrepreneurs

Stanford University is always at the top of the list when we consider the best and most prestigious ivy league schools in the world. For so many students, it is the college of their dreams. Many students have been given a platform by this college to pursue the most fulfilling vocations via their zeal and confidence. Let’s look at 7 Stanford University notable alumni.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods tops the list of prominent Stanford University alums. He is now ranked No. 1 worldwide and regarded as one of the most successful golfers. After turning professional at age 21, he won his first event the following year. He quickly became the best golfer in the world and attained the top spot in the global rankings. Tiger achieved a Stanford record-tying 11 victories in his two years at Stanford, including an incredible 8 victories in 13 starts in 1996. He won the NCAA individual title in 1996 and received the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year award.

Mukesh Ambani

One of the wealthiest persons in the world is Indian business mogul Mukesh Ambani, who has served as chairman of “Reliance Industries Limited.” The fact that his business today commands the highest market price in India serves as evidence of his intellect and achievement. Ambani applied to Stanford for an MBA but dropped out in 1980 to help his father run Reliance, which, at the time, was still a small but rapidly expanding company. Mukesh’s father invited him back to India from Stanford to take charge of a project involving the manufacture of yarn for his business because he believed that real-life abilities were developed via experiences rather than by studying in a classroom. He is one of Stanford University’s well-known noteworthy alumni.

Sundar Pichai

Computer engineer Sundar Pichai is the head of Google Inc. at the moment. Following a corporate restructuring in 2015, Google, which focuses on Internet-related products and services, formed its parent company Alphabet Inc, with President Sergey Brin and CEO Larry Page. Pichai, the head of products and engineering at Google, was appointed as the next CEO of the largest subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google. Pichai began working for Google in 2004 as a product manager. He oversaw Google’s innovation efforts for several of its products, including the very successful Chrome OS and Google Chrome.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon is an American actress who has produced films and received academy awards. Witherspoon began acting when she was a teenager and took on several parts. She was an English literature major at Stanford University but dropped out before finishing her degree to pursue a career in acting. Witherspoon is one of the few actresses who has effectively balanced critical acclaim and commercial success. Witherspoon has also actively supported the Children’s Defense Fund and advocated for women’s and children’s rights worldwide.

Larry Page

Larry Page is an American businessman and scientist who co-founded Google Inc., which develops software and offers a wide range of online goods and services. Google started as a web search company before expanding into other internet-related industries. Page graduated from Stanford with a degree in applied science. Page’s passion for computers started early because he is the son of computer specialists. As a young youngster, he showed a strong interest in business, technology, and innovation.

Peter Thiel

Entrepreneur and novelist Peter Andreas Thiel hail from the United States. He was a co-founder of PayPal and served as its CEO until eBay bought the company. Then he started “Clarium Capital” and co-founded firms like the working capital fund “Valar Ventures,” the working capital company “Founders Fund”, and the American private software company “Palantir Technologies.” He co-founded the student publication “The Stanford Review” as a conservative libertarian and has given money to numerous politicians. Additionally, he established the “Thiel Foundation.”

Sally Ride

Being the first American woman in space helped Sally Ride, an American physicist and astronaut, become famous. Ride spent some time earning degrees and expanding her expertise to be chosen for NASA’s program. After completing her rigorous training with flying colours, she joined NASA for what would turn out to be a historic mission. Ride was allowed to take an extended space voyage over four years, an opportunity she eagerly accepted. The ride went on to have a distinguished career, returning to space multiple times and winning numerous prizes and accolades. In her later years, she engaged in an extraordinary amount of charitable activity, most focused on ladies and young women.

How Much Does It Cost To Study In The USA?

It is no mystery that studying at US universities is incredibly pricey. Studying at the top university in the USA has a higher cost than in the rest of the globe. Here we look at how much does it cost to study in the USA including tuition costs, accommodation, and even additional costs when taking admission to a university.

How much does it cost to study in the US?

The cost of studying in US universities depends on the college students apply to. There are mainly three types of institutions that they can opt-in to study: two-year or “junior”/”community” colleges, four-year public colleges, and four-year private colleges. The general level of opportunity and education offered in the institutions differentiate. Here we first look at the housing, tuition, and other costs.

Tuition

Students’ tuition fees include the fees for their classes. Essentially, their tuition fee is estimated according to the units/credits per semester or quarter they enroll in and can differ for different majors.

Housing

The next significant cost is accommodation and food. Most colleges mandate that students stay on campus for the first year. Housing can cost up to $0-$15,000, depending on the accommodation. 

Other Costs

Other costs include money, or an allowance for personal expenses, to purchase stationery, clothes, books, and other necessities. This cost can vary considerably, but allocating at least $200-$400/month is usually helpful.

Summary of Other Costs

●    Cellphone Contract: $360-$1,200/year

●    Health Insurance: $1,500-$3,000/year

●    Visa Application & registration: $510

●    Transportation: $200-$1,000/year

●    Allowance: $2,400-$4,800/year

Costs as per the type of college

Here we are looking at the costs of attending three types of institutions:

Two-Year Colleges

A two-year college is a favoured option for most students, as it can be an academic bridge to a four-year college and a standard degree. Students that attend a two-year college get an Associate’s Degree can use it to get two years’ worth of credits in a four-year college. This is also inexpensive for those who can not afford a regular four-year college program.

The average two-year college in the USA costs $13,000, including tuition and accommodation costs.

Four-Year Public Colleges

Public four-year college is another option. The federal and state government partly funds the bachelor’s degrees awarded. It implies that the tuition fees of these universities are lower while maintaining high respect around the world. On average four-year public colleges in the USA costs from $35,000 to $45,000, including fee structure and accommodation costs. Students who live in the same state where the university is located get an “in-State” concession on their tuition and housing fees.

Four-Year Private Colleges

Four-year private colleges are privately financed institutions, usually with smaller student bodies and highly selective with entries. Universities such as Yale, Pomona, Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton are Ivy League Schools with powerful reputations and many successful alums.

The average four-year private college in the USA can cost up to $50,000 to $75,000 per year, including tuition and accommodation costs. These colleges offer the best facilities, research opportunities, and higher competent facilitators.

What About Scholarships?

Many universities offer scholarships to students so that they can afford college. Although seeking a scholarship is very competitive, especially for the top universities, students from all over the globe compete for scholarships. This implies that to secure a scholarship, students must be at their A-game and have an appropriate worldwide ranking to qualify for a scholarship. But, the scholarships very seldom cover all expenses related to studying at the university.

US universities also offer “financial aid,” that is, funding made available from diverse sources to decrease student fees and make university tuition reasonable. However, only American students are eligible for financial aid. Some private universities offer financial assistance to all students. Most universities do not have financial aid, which makes studying in the USA very expensive.

Final Thoughts

Going to college in the USA is very pricey. Students require anywhere about $8,000 – $70,000 a year in university. The difference is stark. The costs discussed here do not consider financial aid, which can greatly lower college costs.

Get Work Experience During University Time

One can believe that getting a degree and obtaining work experience are mutually exclusive. They might worry that devoting time to both of these time-consuming pursuits will result in issues like stress and underperformance. However, numerous individuals frequently demonstrate that this notion is untrue. They don’t struggle to fit work and school into their schedule after establishing a clear plan and mastering time management skills. All a person needs to achieve something is a plan and a goal. The following strategies will help a student obtain valuable work experience during university time:

Internships

The best opportunities to gain work experience might not be financially rewarding but its one of the best extracurricular activities for college applications. One should start exploring internship possibilities as early as possible in their undergraduate career, such as the summer following their first or second year. They can visit the employment centre at their college, as well as websites like Internships.com and Idealist, to discover internships (for non-profit opportunities). Finding the appropriate training can be difficult, so students should be sure to investigate a position before deciding to apply for it. Scams can happen anywhere, including in the internship industry.

The advantage of doing an internship is that it focuses on teaching about the inner workings of a specific industry or firm. Therefore, both contributing and learning are required of interns.

60% of polled employers said they would be more willing to consider an applicant for a full-time position if they had completed an internship.

University research

Working with a professor on a research project is a fantastic opportunity for students with physical science or social science majors to obtain work experience. Not all roles are published on the school’s career portal; obtaining this experience might be challenging. 

One should make initial contact with each department’s secretary. The quickest strategy could be to write a brief email requesting information on any research groups that might need an undergraduate assistant because it is frequently the secretary’s role to manage the financing and paperwork for such a post.

Because most active research groups have discretionary cash in research grants, speaking with professors directly can be beneficial. A position may be available if one can show, in a quick meeting, that he/she is smart, engaged, and honestly interested. Whether a professor chooses to hire an undergraduate assistant may depend on the quality of the available talent. Additionally, he or she might be able to find out about available employment before it is advertised.

Opportunities for independent study or volunteering

A focused volunteer endeavour or independent study might count toward one’s work experience if one cannot find a suitable paid career. For instance, in a small town with few job options, one’s best bet might be to figure out how to show off the traits that employers value, such as timeliness, organizational prowess, honesty, etc. In addition, one should look for regular volunteer opportunities with a regular schedule, ideally in a field associated with one’s major.

Following a routine will show prospective employers that one is trustworthy and will offer the managers an opportunity to assess him/her over an extended period (which can lead to high-quality letters of recommendation). In addition, one will have the opportunity to earn experience pertinent to his field through independent study when it is carefully linked with facilitator research.

Part-time roles

Getting part-time employment, as opposed to other possibilities on the list, can ensure one has a consistent income and set hours. These are the main justifications for choosing it as a college experience option. If one is willing to work a part-time job but has no luck looking? Here are some brilliant ideas. Utilize these to unlock a world of job opportunities:

●   Instagram and Facebook

The two most reliable information sources are Facebook and Instagram. Social networking networks may begin posting job listings for one as soon as they start using Google for job search. One should keep these choices in mind while looking for work opportunities.

●   LinkedIn

In contrast to Facebook and Instagram, LinkedIn focuses only on offering job possibilities. Therefore, one can make a profile, update the résumé, and look into potential career paths there. Additionally, one can locate volunteer and internship opportunities here.

Conclusion

Competition is increasing at a very high speed. So, one should use these chances to gain basic life skills while still in school. This will not only enable them to develop talents that are applicable across industries, but it will also increase the confidence of potential employers when they review their resumes. In addition, these positions can offer a priceless window into what it’s like to work in or own a business in a particular industry.

QS World University Rankings

The 19th edition of the most consulted global university ranking has been published by London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

The 2023 QS World University Rankings featured around 1,500 universities worldwide. This year’s highest rankings include universities from many regions around Europe, Asia, and North America; it’s not just well-known universities that claim the top ranks.

What is the QS World Ranking?

The 19th edition of the most widely recognized international university ranking has been announced by London-based global higher education company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The top 900 universities are ranked by the QS World University Rankings 2023 using six significant ranking variables. It is the most prominent ranking ever, with 1,418 institutions spread across 100 locations, an increase from 1,300 the year before.

The QS also offers the following under the same grouping – Business Masters, Distance Online MBA, EMBA, the suite of Business School Rankings including Global MBA, Higher Education System Strength Rankings, and Graduate Employability Rankings.

Which university topped the QS World Rankings for 2023?

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States (US) came in first, followed by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom (UK) and Stanford University (US). In addition, 25 US universities were on the list for the first time this year.

The Top 10 Universities according to the 2023 QS World University Rankings

RankName of the UniversityLocation
1Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, USA
2University of CambridgeCambridge, UK
3Stanford UniversityStanford, USA
4University of OxfordOxford, UK
5Harvard UniversityCambridge, USA
6California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, USA
7Imperial College LondonLondon, UK
8University College of LondonLondon, UK
9ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of TechnologyZürich, Switzerland
10University of ChicagoChicago, USA

How are universities around the World rated?

The following six variables are used to calculate the 2023 QS World University Ranking:

  • 40% of the final grade is determined by academic reputation, which assesses foreign universities’ calibre of instruction and research. This is the largest academic opinion survey ever carried out, compiling more than 130,000 expert opinions from higher education.
  • Students want to graduate with the skills and knowledge required for the job market, and employers’ reputation makes up 10% of the final grade. QS assesses how well students are prepared to perform better in any successful employment and recognizes which universities create the most talented, inventive, and productive graduates.
  • 20% of the final grade is determined by the faculty-to-student ratio, which considers that a high faculty-to-student ratio makes teaching easier and promotes a better learning environment. QS assesses how well students access lecturers and tutors within educational institutions.
  • Citations per faculty make up 20% of the total score, and QS calculates this statistic—which is used to judge the calibre of an institution’s research—by counting all the academic citations made in papers that a university has produced over five years.
  • 10% of the final grade is determined by the percentage of international teachers and students, and a high level of internationalization has many benefits. It shows how capable the university is of luring diverse learners from all over the World and implies a strong international emphasis. Strong international universities promote a multicultural environment that encourages cross-cultural affinity and global understanding.

How can one benefit from the QS World University Rankings?

One can identify and compare the universities that interest them, using the QS World University Rankings as a starting point for picking their dream university. One may reach the standing of institutions throughout the World and narrow down their choices by area and category.

Additionally, each university’s sustainable development goals are scored (SDGs). Therefore, one can examine how universities contribute to a more sustainable world by looking at this score.

Although rankings can’t predict anybody’s decision, they can indicate the teaching quality, student population, employability aspects, research, and diversity.

Final thoughts

This list piques one’s interest and aids in developing their university shortlist. Additionally, each university has a profile page. The institution’s overview, ratings, rankings, programmes, campus locations, tuition costs, comparable universities, and much more are all included on these pages. Even though these rankings are helpful, they don’t cover everything. Researching the universities that most closely match one’s requirements is crucial.