Study in the USA: Admissions, Scholarships and Student Visa
Studying in the USA: how we help
Global Careers guides students from Surat and across India on studying in the USA: choosing the course and universities, preparing the applications, applying for scholarships and preparing the F-1 student visa application. Undergraduate applicants usually apply through the Common Application, and several leading universities again require the SAT or ACT. Master’s applicants may need the GRE or GMAT. We coach for the SAT and the GRE in Surat.
Our advice begins with the student: the right course first, then the right country and university. For how we work, see study abroad consulting. For the visa, see student visa guidance.
Studying in the USA: the essentials
- Applying: for a bachelor’s degree, most universities use the Common Application or their own form. Master’s and PhD applicants apply to each university’s graduate school.
- Intakes: the main intake is the Fall semester (August or September). Some programmes also admit in Spring (January).
- Length: four years for a bachelor’s degree, one to two years for most Master’s degrees.
- Tests: each university sets its own policy on the SAT or ACT: required, optional or not considered. Many Master’s programmes ask for the GRE or GMAT. An English test such as the TOEFL or IELTS is usually needed.
- Visa: the F-1 student visa. The university issues a Form I-20, the student pays the SEVIS I-901 fee and the US$185 visa application fee, and an interview is generally required. A new student may enter the USA no more than 30 days before the course begins.
- Work: F-1 students may work on campus within limits. Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows work related to the degree, and graduates of designated STEM degrees can apply for an extension.
Sources: travel.state.gov and Study in the States (US Department of Homeland Security). Checked in October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm them on the official website before you apply.
How we work with students applying to the USA
American universities read four years of school record, so the work starts early. From Class 9 or 10 we plan the subjects, the SAT, the activities and the summers. In Class 12 the student writes the essays, and we build a list of universities across levels of selectivity so that there are real choices in April.
Students guided by Global Careers have been admitted to universities including the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Columbia and Cornell. See also SAT coaching and profile building.
The full process, from the choice of course to the visa, is described under study abroad consulting.
Frequently asked questions
For a bachelor’s degree: school marks from Class 9 onwards, the SAT or ACT where the university considers it, essays, an activity list and recommendations from teachers, usually sent through the Common Application. For a Master’s: the undergraduate record, the GRE or GMAT where required, a statement of purpose and recommendations, sent to each university.
Class 9 or 10 for an undergraduate degree. The universities see marks and activities from Class 9, and a profile cannot be built in the last year. Master’s applicants should start 12 to 18 months before the intake.
It varies more than in any other country: by university, by state and by whether the university offers scholarships to international students. We prepare a cost sheet for every university on the shortlist: tuition, living costs, insurance and travel for each year of the degree. Plan on meeting the full cost without income from part-time work.
Optional Practical Training allows a graduate to work in a job related to the degree for a limited period, and graduates of designated STEM degrees can apply for an extension. The current rules are on Study in the States.
No. Global Careers guides students on admissions and student visas only. Permanent residency and work visas are immigration matters decided by the government of the USA, and the rules change often. Please check the official government website.
With an introductory session with our team, which is free. A consultation with Dr. Manish Mittal is paid and is by appointment only. Call +91 99250 33239 or +91 95105 33239, or send a message from the contact page. Our office is at S-8, 3rd Floor, Central Plaza, opposite St. Thomas School, New Citylight, Surat 395007. Students outside Surat work with us online.
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