Throughout my work with students and families, I have encountered numerous misconceptions and myths regarding education in the United States, including misinformation about accessibility, affordability, testing, scholarships, and issues regarding language proficiency.
Here are a few of the common myths or misconceptions, and my responses:
- Studying in the US is unaffordable.
Education in the US is definitely not cheap, especially by Kazakhstan standards, but you can find affordable options. At Ivy league colleges, such as Harvard and Yale, undergraduate tuition can cost anywhere between 55,000-80,000 USD per year. However, the choice of universities is not limited to these only. There are many non-Ivy League, yet great universities where the average price per year can be 24,000-35,000 USD. Moreover, tuition and living costs can be reduced with the help of scholarships, loans and part-time jobs. They are available not only to local but also to foreign students. Moreover, some universities automatically consider all applicants as potential scholarship recipients, even without a special application.
2. Only Ivy League schools provide a good education.
In actuality there are many different universities and state schools which provide excellent degree programs. There are more than 4000 universities in the United States. Scattered throughout the U.S., many schools have excellent tailored programs from Liberal Arts education to more specific fields, such as business and engineering. Students are often attracted to the ‘BIG’ name schools, while there are many lesser known schools which may have better programs, and are on the cutting edge of research. So, it is more lucrative to look for particular school programs and majors than to simply follow a school’s reputation.
3. You need high SAT/ GRE scores to get into school.
Also not the case. Many international students believe that higher test scores will automatically assure them a spot in a particular school. However, many schools now consider such tests optional. The approach has become more holistic, where schools are considering several aspects of an applicant’s experience, interests and background, such as extra curricular activities, community service, and inter-cultural experiences.
4. You need to speak perfect English.
For international students who have learned English as a second (or third) language, speaking perfect English is not a necessary requirement. It can even set you apart socially when you speak multiple languages in addition to English. Proficiency in English is necessary for academic work, but for those struggling, ESL (English as a Second Language) programs provide another pathway for undergraduate/ graduate preparation.
5. University is only about studying.
Wrong. In fact, too often students focus only on the academic qualities of a particular school, such as in course offerings (which is important as well), while ignoring the larger aspects of the campus, campus life, community, networking, or pursuing interests outside of classrooms. Friendships, student organizations and clubs all offer an important, yet often undervalued social aspects of a well rounded education. In many ways, this is the beauty of US education – one gets to experience many aspects of what it means to be at a college, from learning to being an active participate in campus life.
What are some of the other myths that you’ve heard of?