Are you thinking of attending university or graduate school? If the answer is yes, where you decide to go is a choice that can change your life. How do you decide?
For more than a million international students from around the world the answer is the United States. Far more international students study in the U.S. than in any other country.
Why choose America? There are many reasons—almost as many as the more than 4000 universities and colleges we have to offer. In the U.S. you’ll find world-class academic institutions and leadership in innovation; topnotch faculty, labs, libraries and facilities; and alumni networks, mentoring and links with employers that position students for successful careers. The U.S. offers a wide array of quality educational institutions, from large public and research universities to liberal arts colleges and community colleges, in world-famous cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as in small towns and rural settings across our 50 states. You will encounter world-class professors who respect students’ views and encourage their questions and dialogue, and you can participate in an incomparable range of social, cultural, athletic and volunteer activities. U.S. universities provide the chance to be part of a diverse, inclusive community together with Americans and other international students, experiencing life in a dynamic American city or a unique “college town.”
The United States has long been the destination of choice for international students, and with over 4,000 accredited institutions of higher education in all 50 U.S. states, there’s an American college or university that’s right for everyone. Many of the world’s leaders and innovators working to solve some of the toughest global challenges are graduates of U.S. universities. They are creative entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, public servants and educators intent on improving our world. Why shouldn’t that be you? As an alumna or alumnus of one of our terrific universities, you’ll be among them. American colleges and universities value international students for the unique perspectives they provide both inside and outside the classroom. As a student, you’ll have the chance to share your ideas and your culture with American faculty, students and communities, thereby helping to promote global understanding and prepare all of us for shared, successful futures in an interconnected world.
We recognize the serious challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has posed to universities and students alike, but in the grand tradition of American innovation and resourcefulness, they are adapting, taking pride in providing high-quality education, while putting students’ health and safety, first and foremost. Because each college or university has modified operations according to specific local conditions, students should remain in close contact with the particular institution to which they are applying for the most current information on when and how classes will be offered on their campuses.
EducationUSA advisers worldwide are on-line and ready to connect you with a wealth of information about U.S. colleges and universities. Advisers are offering virtual one-on-one and group advising sessions, webinars, virtual college fairs and an enhanced social media presence, and they can help connect you to U.S. colleges and universities to obtain the answers you are looking for. They will answer your questions about studying in the United States and help you find the right institution for your own academic and personal goals. They can also help explain Optional Practical Training, which allows many students to stay in the United States for a period of time after earning a degree to get work experience in their field. You can find an adviser at educationusa.state.gov or through our U.S. Embassy website.
If you want to test yourself in a competitive, dynamic, and creative learning environment, I encourage you to consider study in the United States. If you are planning to study at a U.S. college or university now or in the future, please continue to pursue that goal. If you need to know more about studying in the United States, reach out to our EducationUSA center at EdUSABenin@state.gov. At a time when so much else seems uncertain, a U.S. degree is still the best way to learn all that you can, expand your world and guarantee a successful and bright future for you and your family.
Patricia Mahoney
Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Benin
