Cost of studying in the US

[Ijustwanttoask]

I am out of the loop here as my child is still very young, but for reference, can anyone give me a ballpark figure of the cost to study for a degree as overseas student in the US? I know that there are public and private universities over there and I assume the cost will be very different? How about living expenses?

Talking about the “best” is a pretty hopeless task.

Students are presumably looking at:

• academic strength and opportunity
• cost
• lifestyle
• employer recognition

And obviously the likelihood of being accepted.

It’s about fit. There are heated arguments in the US about which is the better undergraduate experience: an Ivy or a well established liberal arts school. Professors, rather than Graduate teaching assistants, are apparently more visible at the latter.

Ditto the UK offers some great degrees. DS studied econometrics at the LSE which delivers as good technical skills as anywhere, and all within three years. His cousin studied materials science at Imperial which again opened the academic doors he wanted opened. Similarly Oxbridge, as well as great academics, offers life style benefits like Footlights, Oxford Union, famous choirs and rowing, and May Balls.

The strength of a University’s research and of its faculty mainly comes into play at post-grad level. Up to then the important thing is that a course delivers to individual priorities, (different if, say, cost is not an issue) and opens doors for the next step.