• Learn from world-renowned professors (lectures given by Nobel Laureates or Pulitzer Prize winners are not uncommon);
• Be surrounded by people who inspire you to get immersed in your chosen field of study through a mixture of lectures, small-group teaching sessions, personalized study programs, and conferences;
• Have access to cutting-edge technology and top learning facilities;
• Be part of a multilingual and multicultural environment that makes university life an enriching experience.

See what fellow Romanian students have to say about their experience in the U.S.:

"The small class size helped me better focus on the material presented during courses, because the professors paid more attention to our individual needs. (…) As hands-on experience is vital to understanding concepts in today’s world, the laboratory sections helped me develop a certain lab conduit, vital for future research endeavors."
Ştefan Timiraş, Trinity College, CT, class of 2015

The learning environment, while rigorous, is more one of cooperation than of cut-throat competition. Students are encouraged to consult a variety of helpful resource centers.

I have always wanted to spend the best years of my life on a campus where I would be allowed to grow fully as a person, rather than merely as a student. A small liberal arts college such as Hamilton provided the right amount of personal contact with other students and faculty, as well as the right amount of resources to benefit from internships or pursue research in my desired field.
Mihai Dohotaru, Hamilton College, NY, class of 2013

Are you thinking about studying in the U.S.? You are in good company. As the top destination for international students, the U.S. prides itself on offering the most competitive university system worldwide.

U.S. higher education institutions are now home to more than 765,000 international students, out of which over 1,600 Romanians: almost 500 working towards their Bachelor’s degree, over 800 on a Master or PhD program, and others doing research or professional training.

Like many other international students considering the U.S. educational system, you might feel daunted by tuition fees and living costs. You should know that U.S. universities have generous funding opportunities. Just last year, international students received more than $8 billion from their U.S. universities. Also, Romanians relying on FEAC support during their admissions process attracted over $1.3 million per year in financial aid and scholarships, including full financial support. They were admitted and funded by most competitive universities such as Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Duke, MIT, Vanderbilt, Rochester, Boston, Marquette, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, as well as leading liberal arts colleges like Middlebury, Babson, Bryn Mawr, Sarah Lawrence, etc.

Some of the free services you can expect at a U.S. school include:

• International student services, that will assist with legal questions about visas and other documentation, queries and concerns about housing, and academic as well as personal issues;
• Academic advisors, who will go over the academic courses available with you and help you pick the classes which best suit your needs and interests;
• International mentoring and tutoring programs, that will match you with a more senior student who will help with the adjustment process;
• Libraries with thousands of resources, from books to magazines to online publications, as well as friendly staff who will help you find what you are looking for;
• Cultural centers and student groups;
• Career services that will help you prepare your CV and make the most of campus and internship opportunities during college;
• Writing, math and sciences, as well as computer centers offering free workshops and individual support.  

"Students are encouraged to consult a variety of helpful resource centers, mostly run by other Hamilton students. The Writing Center allows students to consult writing tutors on their papers and essays and get valuable tips to improve their writing skills. Hamilton also has an Oral Communication Center, where students can record practice speeches and receive feedback from student tutors. Finally, the Quantitative Literacy Center hires students to act as advisers and lend a helping hand with homework on a variety of quantitative subjects such as chemistry, economics, physics, and mathematics. All of these tools enhance students’ educational experience and bring the community closer together.
Cooperation in academics is governed by Hamilton’s honor code; in this way, ideas are acknowledged properly and no cheating occurs on examinations"
Mihai Dohotaru, Hamilton College, NY, class of 2013

"All in all, the time I spent in and outside the classroom at Duke has been the most formative and exciting part of my life. If you are not afraid to step outside your comfort zone and open your mind to new ways of thinking, then I encourage you the myriad opportunities the U.S. has to offer."

Corina Apostol, Duke University, NC alumna, currently PhD student at Rutgers University, NJ

To learn more about U.S. higher education, read on and then visit www.educationusa.state.gov.