A country where anyone can try to fulfill their dreams, an economic and cultural superpower, a land full of contrasts and opportunities: all of this is America. Thus, the United States is a true benchmark for the aspirations of millions of young people around the world.
Of course, being able to enter as a student or worker is not easy, but for those who succeed, the journey can be truly fulfilling.
One of the strongest attractions is certainly the academic world: Harvard, Yale, MIT in Boston, Stanford, Berkeley – all some of the best campuses in the world and just the tip of the iceberg of one of the most competitive and exclusive university systems you can find.
SECONDARY AND HIGHER: POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS IN THE USA
Moving on to high school, American high schools typically offer basic instruction in all subjects so that students are prepared to continue their studies in college. Particular attention is paid to college preparatory courses such as foreign languages, science, math, English, social studies, music, and visual arts. The curriculum includes both compulsory and elective courses.
The counselor, who is available in every public and private school, guides students to choose courses that best suit their true abilities, aptitudes and aspirations and serves as a guide in any matter, even of a psychological nature.
The counselor is also responsible for preparing students for the enrollment process and for selecting the appropriate university according to the student’s needs.
How does a university work in the United States?
The United States has about 9000 universities, colleges and higher education institutions, some of which represent the pinnacle of world education (Harvard and Boston MIT are consistently at the top of the university rankings).
For both bachelor’s and master’s programs, the academic year lasts 9 months and usually starts in August/September, divided into several semesters that can be integrated with a 4/8-week summer session.
A course is the basic unit of an academic program; each course is assigned a credit number of hours based on the number of hours per week of class and/or laboratory work and in relation to the complexity of the course itself. The curriculum is a set of mandatory courses (core courses) and those planned by the student (electives) for obtaining a degree (master’s or doctoral degree). The master’s degree requires a total of 30/36 credits, while the doctoral degree requires 90 credits.
The teaching methodology is usually based on classes (lectures) that students must attend, alternating with debates (lecture/discussion).
Work in the USA
Below you can find the most popular vacancies as of 2023:
Software Developer
If you’re a software developer, pack your bag: you’ll find competitive salaries, great opportunities for growth (or rather, career advancement), an enviable work-life balance, and even fair choices. According to some estimates, more than 300,000 positions for this particular profession are projected in the United States in 2023.
Nurse
One of the most sought-after jobs in America is a nurse: the world’s population is not gradually aging, and even in the United States there are great opportunities for nurses and nurses regardless of gender. In English, the word nurse is actually genderless (like doctor, pilot, and actor).
Medical Services Manager
The healthcare sector is always looking for talent, even at the managerial level. If you intend to develop in the management of people in the healthcare sector, both public and private, the United States offers interesting prospects: among the most sought-after jobs in America is the position of a healthcare services manager.
Doctor’s assistant
One of the most sought-after jobs in America is that of a physician assistant: they have existed in the United States since the 70s and can be considered “supernurses”. These healthcare professionals (also called PAs) are specially trained and can, in some cases, replace doctors in providing specific medical assistance services.
Information security analyst
Let’s go back to the IT (or information technology) field: more data also means more risks, and hackers know this very well. That’s why the search for professionals dedicated to IT security is growing rapidly. If you’re a bit of a nerd and have an analytical mind, this role is definitely for you.
Physical therapist
To work as a physiotherapist in the United States, you will need to demonstrate that you have mastered all the training requirements for this discipline (e.g., the title of Doctor of Physical Therapy or DTP). The professional perspective on these figures is undoubtedly valid: these figures are particularly in demand and can influence patients of all ages to prevent or eventually restore mobility and physical health.
Financial manager
In recent years, the popularity of this profession has grown exponentially, and today it is one of the most sought-after jobs in America: it is the professional who takes care of the company’s financial well-being. The tasks covered include responsibility for the company’s investment and financial operations. For a manager, not only analytical skills are important: in fact, people skills such as team building, big-picture thinking, and leadership are of great importance.
IT manager
Likewise, even in the IT field, even this leadership figure must be able to handle both data and people! The IT manager is increasingly playing a key role in companies and is in fact an extremely sought-after figure of responsibility. In particular, he or she is in charge of the management and implementation of IT systems, networks and applications that support the company’s IT activities.