STUDY STEM FROM THE UNITED STATES

What is a STEM Degree?

An extensive academic pedagogy within the US Educational System is filled with enormous opportunities for students who are aspiring to pursue lucrative careers. One can evaluate a wide variety of career paths right from Medicine to Technology in both public and private institutions. There are boundless areas, courses, and specializations in STEM. We all have heard about it as an academic discipline intended to educate students with a concentration in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

STEM is not just a course of study or a subject at school, instead, it is a course of action to reason, perform and harness the essential transferable skills behind them. Generally, it refers to the principal range of skills, talent, and abilities to encourage the generation to solve the world’s greatest challenges. An abundant number of universities in the United States include STEM courses in their subject modules to fascinate international students each year. This academic discipline is appreciated as a platform to explore one’s potential and interest in the field of research and development.

A Growing STEM Degree List

Professionals under STEM courses are contemplated to be amongst the most favored and thriving fields. The United States has been a global substation in terms of STEM education. American institutions are implementing such technical programs in their academic course to continue their ascendancy. There are over 300 STEM courses in the United States for international students and the number of courses is growing continuously. International students can choose a wide range of the best STEM courses based on their interests. Here’s an overview of the best STEM courses in the United States:

Natural, physical, and life sciences
Computer, electronics, and technology-related disciplines
All types of engineering
Mathematics or any field involving a heavy application of mathematical principles

The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List is a complete list of fields of study that DHS considers to be STEM fields. This can be accessed here.

Eligibility for STEM courses

The eligibility criteria mostly depend on the university. Every applicant must fulfill the general requirements like English proficiency score and academic qualifications. To be eligible for STEM courses, you must:

Acquire a valid F-1 student status.
Have a 3–4-year bachelor’s degree in the field of STEM for graduate study and STEM course-related background for undergraduate study
Check if you are eligible for STEM OPT.
Submit GRE/GMAT/SAT/IELTS/PTE/TOEFL scores.

Benefits of STEM courses in the US

International students can benefit abundantly from obtaining STEM degrees in the land of opportunity. Here’s how it will benefit international students:

STEM education in the United States unlocks better career opportunities within the US and various countries where US STEM degrees are highly valued.
STEM degree holders are more likely to make higher earnings compared to non-STEM holders in the United States.
One of the biggest reasons to attract international students to STEM education in the United States is that the US leads the world in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics hosting renowned geniuses from Einstein to Elon Musk. The country’s unparallel competitiveness and economic power have built on the foundation of STEM.
Learning STEM education along with diverse cultures under a single roof at most leading universities is another potential benefit of pursuing STEM courses in the United States.

OPT for STEM

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a program dedicated to international students allowing them to work in the United States for 12 months. Many international students use OPT to get full-time job offers from US employers. The US employers can choose to sponsor the students for an H-1B, a temporary work visa, or a green card after the completion of OPT considering their skills and abilities. International students who complete their OPTs are more likely to get sponsored than those who do not. STEM program has the advantage of extension when it comes to Optional Practical Training. International students on an F-1 visa can stay in the United States for a period of 24 months under the OPT (Optional Practical Training) program after their initial 12 months.

Considerations for OPT

Optional Practical Training program has become an integral part of American corporate culture and the American Technological workforce. Despite the connection, there are numerous considerations that a student should focus on when it comes to the Optional Practical Training program. These considerations vary from eligibility and documents to timing. Here are some considerations for OPT:

Student must maintain valid F-1 student status.
Be enrolled full-time for at least one full academic year in the U.S.
You do not need to have a job to apply for OPT.
You do not need to have a paid job, instead, volunteering can be considered.
Most international students are eligible to apply for 12 months of OPT at each higher degree level.
OPT can only be used once per higher degree level i.e., OPT based on an undergraduate degree cannot be used for a graduate degree.
12 months of OPT must be used all at once and must be used directly after graduation.

Women in STEM

The US government has drafted diverse bills and policies encouraging the admission of women to pursue STEM education in the state. The government, public and private companies, and organizations are offering scholarships and other financial assistance to help bridge the gap in these critical fields. Therefore, international female students can drill and grind their skills using the available opportunities.

Solving the Challenge

With countries operating arduously in search of STEM human resources, pursuing STEM education in the United States propounds a range of competencies that are progressively critical for employers in various sectors. Thus, job security and the potential higher earnings can be one of many reasons to pursue STEM education in the United States. Consider a STEM education if you’re looking for a way to break into fast-growing fields, high earnings, and experience inexhaustible benefits.

Why Abroad Institute?

Abroad Institute has over 25 years of expertise in helping students select programs based on students’ eligibility and the institution’s requirements. We have already helped thousands of students get into USA institutions with scholarships.

We review students’ transcripts, standardized tests, English Language Proficiency (ELP), essays, resume, and statement of purpose and recommend the program and institutions that best fit the students. Moreover, students can use our search and apply platform and choose the programs of their interest and eligibility for various US institutions.