Multiple offers? Here is how you can pick the best US university

Are you planning to enrol into the best US university upcoming international programmes? Make sure to keep all the deadlines in mind. After the countless tests you have taken, GRE, GMAT, and IELTS, you must be eager for the results. 

When you apply for a particular course, the university will let you know when you can anticipate hearing from them. For the May intake of the following year, you could opt to apply in November or December. 

You may have already been accepted into several universities. If you have just applied, chances are you might get accepted into more than one university.

Which brings us to the question, how should you select the best US university?

We have narrowed down some of the most crucial factors to consider before you make the choice. 

Which course did you get in?

The college you got in could be at rank 1, but is that enough for it to be the best US university? For example, Harvard University received global #1 in the Best Global University category which means it is not just the best US university but rather the best global university.

That doesn’t mean that you should just accept the offer. Look at the course rankings.

These course rankings indicate the quality of the course itself. So, if you get into Biology and Biochemistry or Cell Biology, great. You should consider taking the offer. 

But what if you get into Computer Science which is ranked #14. That implies that Harvard should not be your pick. 

Then you should look at universities that are ranked above Harvard in Computer Science. For example, Stanford University was ranked #3, however, their Computer Science program was ranked #2 globally and #1 in the U.S. 

These rankings matter because U.S. News takes different course-specific factors into consideration while ranking the best US university or best course. It considers:

• Global research reputation
• Regional research reputation
• Publications
• Conferences
• Normalized citation impact
• Total citations
• Number of publications that are most cited 
• International collaboration 

The courses are further ranked in these categories. So, if you have an offer from a university that ranks higher in your specific course, you might want to accept that offer. 

University costs in the US factor in while picking the best US university

University costs in the US are extremely high. The average cost difference between the most expensive and least expensive colleges in the US is nearly $51,000. 

You might wonder why is this important. 

This is because America is infamous for its student debt. More than 45 million Americans owe a collective $1.7tn in student debt. 

You should be wary of these numbers especially because international students’ almost have to pay double the domestic tuition and suffer from higher university costs in the US.

Hence, if you have been selected into a university that is significantly cheaper than the other, you should consider attending it. This choice depends on certain factors:

• The expected pay after the job. If you are expecting six figures after graduating from the more expensive college, you might as well attend it as paying the debt back won’t be a problem. 

• If you have family money that can fund university costs in the US, it should not be a concern.

• You can also figure out a plan with the university where you can minimize debt by working on the college premises. 

You should also look into financial aid, grants and scholarships that can bring down the cost of your education in the best US university. 

However, such grants can be really hard. Alternatively, you can look at loans with low-interest rates. If you are unsure of where to start, create an account at SelectRight. 

The platform can help you compare university costs in the US. It has tools to help you figure out your total education cost. It can do ROI calculations, loan probability and correlation between your exam scores and equation loan interest rate.

While thinking about university costs in the US, you should also consider living expenses. Living expenses in universities based in New York City, San Francisco, California are very high as compared to Broooklyn or Queens. 

Living conditions of the city

While the cost of living in a city is an important concern, you also need to consider other factors.

You can’t study well and thrive in a city where you don’t feel safe and welcome. 

Here is a list of the well-liked cities in the US by international students:

Is an Ivy League the best US university?

Just because you got into an Ivy League, does that mean you should automatically accept it?

Before you confirm, ask yourself, does an Ivy league university automatically equal the best US university?

The Ivy League comprises of the following universities:

• Brown University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• Harvard University
• Princeton University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Yale University

Pros of accepting the offer:

• World-class faculty 
• A huge network of Ivy League alumni 
• Go beyond academic with extracurricular activities across disciplines 
• Excellent academic resources 

Reasons why you might want to reject the offer:

• You might have a competing offer from a university which is just as good, if not better but just without the Ivy tag.
• The Ivy crowd might be elitist and you will be surrounded by people who have always been at the top of their class. This can be unsettling for some students and it even affects their mental health. 
• It is hard to get into courses taught by famous faculty. Often, sections of big lectures and seminars are taught by teaching assistants, particularly at the introductory level.
• University costs in the US are much steeper for Ivy League colleges. 

Employment opportunities after and during studying in the best US university

You should also consider employment opportunities that you can secure after graduating from your chosen university or during your course there. This will help you understand if you will be able to pay back the university costs in the US. 

International students having an F1 (student) visa are allowed to legally work at the following places:

• On campus you can find work in cafeterias, computer centers, libraries, university offices (as a receptionist) etc. Check with the faculty to see if there are opportunities to work as a research assistant or teaching assistant. You can work up to 20 hours per week during the school session. 

• You can also work full-time on-campus during holidays and vacation. Depending on the type of work you can earn anywhere between 7 and 12 dollars an hour. Note – You aren’t allowed to work off campus during your course under the F1 visa. 

• Training (OPT) allows you to work in a chosen field for 12-24 months after completing their studies.

• Look at the placement percentage and rankings of your university. Do they hold job fairs? Do they assign supervisors to help you find a job after graduation?

• You should also think about the opportunities after your specific course. For example, CS from Cornell may present you with better opportunities than an anthropology degree from Harvard. 

Anecdotal evidence to pick the best US university

Anecdotal evidence is usually not overlooked by students. This is the biggest mistake you can make.

Learn from personal experience of students and alumni to understand if a university and course is a specific fit for you.

Most universities have facilities that let you contact alumni and present students during the time of application.

Alternatively, you can reach out to people yourself through social media and e-mail.

SelectRight has a discord channel that can connect you with alumni and current students from the university that you want to study in. They can tell you if the education of the university aligns with your goals. 

The best US university should have world-class research and faculty

A general rule of thumb while determining if a university is good for you is to look at the research that has come out in the past few years. 

Every university has a section on their web page dedicated to their research interest. Some universities may focus on sustainability, accessibility, global development, education or more.

You should think about which field you are most interested in and see if the university has produced substantial and relevant research in the same field. 

Can you change your university after scheduling a US student visa appointment?

The answer is yes. It’s not too late. 

If you haven’t scheduled the appointment, the procedures are easy. If you’ve scheduled and gone to the interview, the procedure is a little difficult.

Hence, you shouldn’t just apply for a visa right after receiving the first college acceptance letter. Wait to hear back from your top universities and then sift through them based on the factors we have outlined above.

Remember that there is no one best US university, rather there is a best US university for you. If you are still having trouble figuring it out, go for some expert help. Create an account on SelectRight. The platform uses AI to help you find not only the best university but also the best courses for you. It can also calculate your chances of getting into the best US university. 

Overall, the platform can help you decide whether the university costs in the US are worth it and how you can afford it.