Things to know before studying in USA: Check Complete List

The USA has been a popular destination for international students to study, work, and live abroad. The country is known to foster some of the best MBA colleges in the world due to its rankings, reputation, and global outreach. It is known to be the dream destination for many international students who want a fair opportunity towards a better career and lifestyle.

This Story also Contains

1. Things to know before studying in USA
2. Documents requirements for admission in USA for Indian
3. Funds Required to Study in USA
4. US Student Visa for Indian Students
5. Health Insurance Plan for Indian Students in USA
6. Work Opportunities for International Students in USA
7. Informal things to know about USA before moving there

However, the idea of attaining the “American Dream” can be a little difficult if one is not thoroughly aware of the workings and significant details of living in a foreign country. USA is one of the highly ranked countries in the world with its global leadership in terms of education, job opportunities, healthcare facilities, high living standards if living, and growing tourism. Hence, many people from across the globe look forward to settling in the country, however, there are some important things to know about the USA before moving there.

The country's health insurance policies, social etiquette, food habits, traffic rules, and vast diverse cultures, etc., which help the candidate to know things in beforehand and adjust quickly during their period of studying in the USA. Read the article to know more about the things to know before studying in USA.

Things to know before studying in USA

There are a vast amount of information that an international student should acquire before deciding to move to the USA. These list of things may include top-tier universities, essential requirements, health insurance plans, funds, work conditions, and much more. Hence, we have created a list of the things to know before studying in USA below.

Top Universities in USA for International Students

From an international students perspective its important to know about the top-tier universities of any country that you’re planning to study in for a duration of 1 to 4 years. Hence, we have created a list of top universities in USA as per the QS World University Rankings 2025 and have mentioned it as a part of things to know before studying in USA.

Top Ranking Universities in USA

Documents requirements for admission in USA for Indian

There are some significant prerequisites to admission into top universities in USA. International students need to keep in mind the important documents that are marked as eligibility criteria for the application process and considered as one of the things to know before studying in the USA.

• Copy of the University application form

• Academic transcripts and degrees

• Copy of a valid Passport

• Copy of acceptance letter from the university

• SOP (Statement of Purpose)

• LOR (Letter of Recommendation)

• Test Scores for English language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/DET)

• Other test scores (GRE/GMAT)

• Additional documents like proof of funds, essays, medical reports, etc.

Funds Required to Study in USA

The most common dilemma international students face is “Is USA expensive to study?” or “Is it cheap to study in USA?”. To answer the question, one must first understand the adequate funds needed to sustain living and studying in the US, as insufficient proof of funds can easily lead to the rejection of your visa and stop your study abroad journey.

As a part of obtaining a student visa for USA one must depict a minimum of USD 10,000 (Rs. 8,35,258) or above in the bank account statement that to for a period of at least 6 to 9 months prior to the visa application. The minimum proof of funds for US study visa includes showcasing at least 1st-year tuition fees and cost of living for the first 12 months.

However, the tuition fee amount will vary depending upon factors such as university, course, degree type, mode of studies, etc. So, there is no definite amount of tuition fees we can manage but you still have to showcase at least the 1st year of educational expenditure in your account to pass the financial adequacy check during your visa interview.

Moreover, the opinion of whether USA is expensive or cheap to study is subjective and depends totally upon an individual’s choices, preferences, and decisions. One will have to keep in mind the living expenses they will bear in the form of accommodation, food, transportation, etc, and therefore, prepare authentic and suitable proof of funds. Therefore, it remains one of the most things to know about USA before moving there as an Indian student.

Also read: Proof of Funds for US Student Visa 2024

US Student Visa for Indian Students

The process of acquiring a student visa for USA from India is very important and one of the significant things to know before studying in USA. In fact, the success rate for US student visas is quite high for international students if they are applying for popular courses related to STEM or Business.

There are mainly 3 types of US student visas that include F-1, M, and J visas. The profile for all three are different for university or college degrees, vocational courses, and exchange programmes respectively. Some of the important documents to possess for the same are valid passport, non-immigrant visa application, sevis fee, photographs, I-20 form copy, academic transcripts, and much more.

One can start the application process through online visa form submission, uploading required documents, paying the visa fee (USD 185), and visiting the embassy for an F-1 Visa interview. At last, you should be able to defend your intentions of visiting or studying in the country while clearly stating how you are planning to fund your expenses and tuition fee over the course of your stay in the USA.

Also Read: Student Visa for USA from India

Health Insurance Plan for Indian Students in USA

As an international student planning to study abroad, it is necessary to go through all the eligible health plans and other medical requirements. As USA all though one of the leading nations in the world in terms of education, healthcare, and employment, still is very costly when it comes to granting the means to attain all these things.

These health insurance plans are necessary to buy by international students in order to study and live in USA as they may typically cover medical care, emergency situations, dental care, consultations, and much more. As USA can be expensive when it comes to being able to afford the healthcare expenses it becomes compulsory to get a plan to ensure less expenditure and greater risk coverage.

As it is one of the intriguing things to know about USA before moving there, we’ll also mention some of the best medical plan providers in the country. They might include Exchange Guard, Student Secure, Foyer Global Health, Now Health International, etc. There are many health insurance plans granted by the universities in USA for international students. It generally costs anywhere between USD 1,500 to USD 2,500 per year and may vary depending on several other factors.

Know more about: Health Insurance for International Students in USA

Work Opportunities for International Students in USA

Often international student think “Is studying in USA a good idea?” which stems from their need to analyse whether the country offers better and high-paying job opportunities after graduation or not. As per the latest statistics, USA is known to be the top-most country in terms of employability as it is home to a broad range of MNCs and other corporate businesses that create abundance of employment options.

However, to be eligible for jobs after completing your education in USA one needs, to apply for a post-study work permit which permits international students to work for at least 1 year after completing their degree. Also during the course of their degree, they can also take uo part-time jobs, assistantships, and other side-income roles to meet the daily expenses in USA.

Some of the most popular courses in USA for international students that are known to create great employability factors include business analytics, engineering, digital marketing, sales or finance, computer science, and much more. Furthermore, companies such as Deloitte, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and many more are always in desperate need of hiring fresh graduates in USA. Therefore, knowing about the job market and possible employment opportunities is among the things to know about USA before moving there.

Read more:

Informal things to know about USA before moving there

For students thinking about things to know before studying in United States, the below list explains most of the other aspects to be considered. Before venturing out to the land of opportunities, it is equally important to be aware of the various lifestyle hacks of the American people.

Different City Culture

One of the things to know before studying in USA is that it is a vast country. So, your life as a student there depends on the location the university is in. Also, like many other countries, the USA has a very diverse culture. There are huge gaps in the language and mannerisms of people from two different states. So, try to understand the local lingo of the region you’ll be studying in.

Now, social etiquette is one of the most important things to know before studying in USA. In terms of social beliefs, the USA is a very relaxed country to be in since it has a huge pool of international people leading to a potpourri of beliefs and behavioral patterns. One of the vital things to know before studying in USA is that you should have your dollar bills stacked in your pockets because tipping is a regular affair in the country.

Traffic Rules

Among the vital things to know before studying in USA you should remember that traffic in the USA runs on the right-hand side of the streets. So, if you are from a country that drives from its left, and plan to take up driving in the USA, make sure you adjust yourself to this position first. Also, honking is prohibited in many states unless necessary.

Most of the cities in the USA are huge so transportation could not only take up a lot of your time, but also a lot of money. In New York, citizens consider 2-hour travels to be mandatory to reach anywhere. However, the cab system in the USA can be wildly costly, too. Therefore, it is better to opt for subways as it will not only take you to your destination faster but your entire journey will be covered in half the cost.

Food and Clothes

Having people from all over the world means that Americans are well-oriented with a diverse food culture. So, name any cuisine- Chinese, Mexican, Indian- you would definitely find a good restaurant somewhere serving these foods. However, if you are a vegetarian, it could get a bit difficult for you.

Moreover, this is perhaps one of the most important things to know before studying in USA for students. For all those international students who are going for their undergrad or below, drinking is a strict no in most places if you are under 21.

Furthermore, the clothes will cost you much more than the listed price on the tag. As the label tag does not include sales tax there will be an approximate of 4 to 6% of upsure in the price from the original one mentioned on the tag.

Also Check: Cost of living in USA for Indian and International Students