The number of African students applying to United States universities has risen a lot over the years.
According to reports by Institute for International Education (IIE), about 40,290 students from sub-Saharan Africa enrolled at colleges and universities in the US in the 2018-19 academic year. This made up 3.7 percent of the 1,095,299 foreign students at U.S. colleges and universities that year.
While this increase can be attributed to United States universities’, there are other factors that has pushed African Students seeking to study in the US.
Before we list the reasons, It’s important to know that African students are also, becoming aware of the benefits of studying abroad, and the particular appeal of studying in the US.
Some of the reasons for this are listed below.
1). Strong Educational System
Unlike in some African countries where the government has made it difficult for the students to attain their desirable courses. The epileptic educational system in most African Countries has pushed lots of African Students to have no other option than to study in the US.
Despite the facts that US may not be the cheapest alternative comparing to other countries, but African students choose to study in the US because the educational system will encourage the them to push harder. Ingenuity thrives when there is an enabled environment.
2). Cultural Improvement and Diversity
For an African Student, studying in the US is definitely an exciting offer. There is no doubt that studying abroad is an experience that will open your mind and help you understand the world from a different perspective.
But if cultural enhancement and diversity are what you’re looking for, then studying in the US will provide plenty of the opportunity to explore the other side of the world.
It’s also safe to say African students are well aware that Studying in the US will internationalize their CVs and make them more valuable candidates in the eyes of future employers.
3). Leading academic institutions
Of course, it’s not all about the parties and sororities. The United States’ appeal as a study destination is also largely based on its very strong education system, including many of the world’s best-known universities.
In the QS World University Rankings® 2015/16, half of the world’s top 20 universities are located on US soil. And this is just the tip of the iceberg – the US has a huge number of prestigious universities to choose from.
Graduating from an internationally respected US university can open many doors, prompting employers to consider you as a valuable candidate. (Cc/Topuniversities)
4). The US student lifestyle
Growing up as a kid, watching the American movies, it’s no longer fantasy to say every young person in the world has probably dreamed at least once about living the American campus lifestyle.
For some African students, this is one of the key motivations for choosing to study in the US. They also choose US to enable them spend study in a vibrant environment, characterized by diversity, novelty and the chance to join all kinds of sports teams and students clubs based on your passions.
5. Many Scholarship Opportunities
It’s no longer a hidden facts that international students are able to access financial aid while studying in the US, which is a big relief for those concerned about the costs of tuition fees, accommodation and flights.
However, US financial aid is available through merit-based and need-based scholarships. Need-based aid is based on an assessment of the student’s financial circumstances, while merit-based aid considers academic grades, athletic performance, involvement in organizations and other outstanding talents.
In addition, According to Topuniversities, five of the leading US universities offer need-blind admission for all students, regardless of nationality, which means all of those offered a place are guaranteed sufficient funding to enable them to attend.
These are just a few of the reasons why the US attracts so many African students every year. If you want to learn more about US universities, click Here!
