Many students know that the quality of American education is first-rate. However, because the cost of studying in the United States is relatively high, some students are hesitant about whether to study in the United States.Living expenses for studying in the United StatesReal life studying in the United States, ,WISDOM Study Life in the United States, ,Study Abroad in the United States, ,18-year-old international student living in the United StatesThe problem.
1. Living expenses for studying in the United States
Living expenses: RMB 80,000 to 100,000 per year
Accommodation: The largest part: living on campus costs $3,000--7,500 per year, and renting off-campus housing costs $3,600--7,200;
Book fees: between US$500 and US$1,000 per year;
Food expenses: approximately $2,500 per year;
Health insurance costs: about $300-500 per year;
Meals and dormitory fees: average $5000
Some schools require students to live in school dormitories, at least for the first year. In some schools, students can go to school as day students. Day students save money than boarding students, but they have to pay for transportation.
Transportation fee: average $600
Dormitory fees refer to double-occupancy in a room. You need to know whether the accommodation fee includes bedding (quilts, pillows, blankets) and basic dormitory services. If you live on campus during the summer, you need to increase the budget for room and board by three months. In addition, the school's transportation budget often does not include international travel between the United States and China, so you have to add the round-trip cost of this section. If you plan to change from living on campus to day-study, you will have to bear the local transportation costs.
Personal consumption: average $1000
These expenses include basic living supplies, services, activities, such as laundry, movies, and exercise. In addition, health insurance must be included. If you have dependents or special medical needs, your living expenses will increase significantly.
2. Ways to save money when studying in the United States
1. Consider the duration of study
Although the tuition fees of some schools are very expensive, their academic system is only one year. When considering tuition fees, you cannot only consider the horizontal aspect, but also the total cost of the entire study period. For schools with a short academic system, the higher tuition fees are still slightly acceptable. After all, on average, it is not that much.
2. Choose accommodation wisely
Accommodation costs are also a big problem when studying abroad. In foreign universities, dormitories generally need to be applied for, and the fees are more expensive than off-campus. So if students want to save money, they should find a house near the school and rent it with friends. This can not only save the trouble of roommates not getting along, but also save money. But everyone should also pay attention to leaving time in advance to look for houses, and don't wait until the school starts to look for them, otherwise many good houses will be booked, and the price will be relatively high.
3. Cook your own meals
The most important skill to learn when studying abroad is cooking. After all, we have been eating Chinese food since we were young. If we don’t cook it ourselves and always eat out, the cost of living will rise sharply, and it will also increase the chance of gaining weight. According to Yunxue Education Group, you must learn a few basic dishes and go to the supermarket regularly to buy some dishes and cook them yourself, which is healthy and saves money.
4. Pay attention to discount information
Since we want to save money, we must consciously pay attention to discount information. Discounts in supermarkets and shopping malls are the most important. Supermarkets sometimes have big discounts, so you can stock up some at home and eat/use them slowly.
3. Interpretation of language requirements for studying in the United States
1. Language requirements for high school students studying in the United States
The language admission requirements for Chinese students in American high schools are relatively loose, and generally require a TOEFL score of 550 or above. If the language score does not meet the requirements, or if you do not take the TOEFL test, the school will generally require the applicant to participate in a telephone interview organized by the school's admission committee. If you are admitted, you will generally have to take the school's entrance English proficiency test after admission, and participate in different levels of ESL (English as a Second Language) courses set up by the school based on the test results. The duration of study varies from person to person and English foundation, and is about half a year to a year.
Academic performance requirements:
When applying for a high school in the United States, applicants are required to provide their academic records for the past three years. For example, if a student who is in the first year of high school wants to continue studying in the United States, he or she needs to provide all the academic records for high school and junior high school. The average score must be above 75-80%.
2. Undergraduate Language Requirements
The language requirements of American universities vary greatly. Ivy League schools generally require TOEFL scores of 600 or above, while other schools require TOEFL scores of 580, 550, or 500. If you meet the requirements, you can directly enter the university undergraduate program. If your TOEFL score does not meet the above requirements, or you do not have a TOEFL score, you can first attend a language training class at the university, pass the school language test, and then start formal undergraduate studies. The length of time you spend in a language training class depends on the student's language foundation.
Academic performance requirements:
There are considerable differences in admissions standards and acceptance rates among American universities and colleges. Since the American education system emphasizes broad knowledge, it is also important that your secondary school studies include English, mathematics, natural sciences (physics, chemistry and/or biology), humanities or social sciences (history, geography, economics, political science or similar subjects), and a foreign language. Lastly, American universities usually do not accept international students under the age of 17. Some of these admissions requirements are rigid, while others are flexible.
The recommendation letter from the high school principal and another teacher or senior person is a material that introduces the student's comprehensive situation and comprehensive ability. Although it has a certain personal color, American colleges and universities, especially key universities, attach great importance to this material. It is worth mentioning that not all high school graduates can get a recommendation letter from the principal. Only those students with good character and academic performance can get this important weight for admission to excellent universities. In addition, the content of the recommendation letter written by the principal is generally very cautious and objective. If the recommendation letter is too exaggerated, the principal's future recommendation letters will lose their effectiveness forever. This fully reflects the fairness and objectivity of admissions to American universities.
other request:
For freshmen and sophomores and college graduates who are preparing to transfer to an American university to pursue a bachelor's degree, they need to provide both high school and college transcripts and a reliable study plan for changing majors or not, and the school admissions committee will conduct a comprehensive evaluation. The language requirements are the same as above.
III. Language requirements for master's and doctoral degrees:
TOEFL 550-600 or above, or IELTS 6.0 or above. GRE 1750-2100 or above, or GMAT 500-700 or above. (Currently, 380 American universities accept IELTS scores)
Material preparation:
1. School Application Form
2.Copy of TOEFL score report and mailing form
3. If possible, provide a copy of the GMAT score report and the shipping form
4. If possible, provide a copy of the GRE score report and the shipping form
5. Transcripts for each semester during college (in Chinese and English),
6. Resume
7. Study Plan
8. Three letters of recommendation from professors or scholars
9. Bank deposit certificate of the applicant or his/her parents’ USD or RMB deposit
10. Copy of ID card or passport
Applying to study in the United States generally requires submitting an application form, application fee, transcript, property certificate, English scores, personal application, recommendation letter, etc. However, the materials submitted will vary according to the specific circumstances of different schools and applicants. Have a comprehensive understanding of the school, or consult relevant educational institutions or experts in advance.
4. Accommodation arrangements for international students in the United States
1. School Dormitory
With the advantages of low cost, convenient classes and guaranteed safety, it is the first choice for domestic students to study abroad. However, the general supply is limited. Although international students can submit applications effectively, the success rate is not high.
The application is made directly on the school's website. There will be a special dormitory application entrance. Everyone needs to fill in their personal information, check the services they want, sign the contract and pay the deposit, then they can submit the application. If successful, the deposit will be converted into rent, otherwise it will be refunded.
The internal facilities of the dormitory are relatively simple, generally including a bedroom and bathroom, and the furniture includes a bed, wardrobe, table and chairs. Electrical appliances basically need to be purchased by yourself. In addition, a public laundry room and kitchen are provided, which can be used freely after moving in.
2. Off-campus accommodation
Considering the limited number of dormitories, apartments are a very important part of the school's surrounding supporting services. Formal apartments will have their own websites, and you can submit your application directly on the website. You don't have to worry about being cheated, which will affect your study abroad.
If you choose a larger apartment, you can make an appointment on their website just like applying for a dormitory. Select the house you are interested in and make a reservation. Be sure to pay attention to the configuration and charging standards to ensure that you can obtain the benefits of the contract.
Since you are renting a house, you have a strong sense of personal initiative, so you must examine all aspects of the situation, including the distance from the school, the convenience of travel, and the safety of the surrounding area, and be able to obtain reliable information from different aspects.
3. Homestay
Boarding can be said to be a way to save money and worry. You can directly live in a local family. For students, there will be someone to help them adapt to the new life and play a guardian role. However, as outsiders, everyone needs to adapt to the family's habits and change their lifestyle.
Applications must be made through official channels. Some schools have direct channels, and you can also apply through an agent. The process is not complicated, and you do not need to prepare much materials. You can also put forward your own requirements to facilitate allocation and screening.
Summary of living expenses for studying in the United States
After understanding the living expenses of studying in the United States, you will also need to prepare a VPN tool to bypass the firewall and return to China.For many Chinese who go to the US to study and work, they still like to watch some Chinese TV series and programs in China, and they are more accustomed to use some domestic native apps to listen to music, watch videos, play games and so on. However, due to copyright reasons, most of the popular programs are only allowed to be accessed by mainland IPs. In such a big background, theVPN back over the wallQuickFox VPN has network nodes covering the world, which ensures high-speed access to the domestic network. With QuickFox, you can watch Chinese videos, live broadcasts, listen to Chinese copyrighted music, and even play Chinese games.