ABOUT USA

Facts about the U.S.A

Capital: Washington, D.C.
Independence Day: July 4, 1776
Motto: In God We Trust
National Bird: Bald Eagle
National Flower: Rose
National Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner
Area (50 states and District of Columbia only): 9,631,418 sq km
*Note:
Area of China: 9,596,960 sq km
Area of HK: 1,092 sq km
Comparative Size: About one-half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe.
Largest State: Alaska
Smallest State: Rhode Island
Largest Cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio
Border Countries and Oceans: Canada, Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean.

*Note: World’s third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent.

Population: 295,734,134 (July 2005 est.)
Languages: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)

WHY STUDY IN USA

The United States is one of the major education destinations for the international students. This is because the country has the largest and most adaptable system of higher education in the world. Students can easily find a suitable place at one of the more than 3000 American colleges and universities – the key thing is to find the right institution for education.

American universities are widely known for the quality of their teaching and research. The United States is the number one and largest destination for international students seeking higher education overseas. The education system in USA is the most versatile and flexible higher education system for international students in the world. Today about 30 percent of all current international students in the world are studying in the United States.

Key points why students choose USA to study

• Academic Excellence
• Diversity of Education Opportunities
• Opportunity for Research, Teaching and Training
• Support Services for International Students
• Global Education

EDUCATION SYSTEM IN USA

The system of higher education in the United States differs from its counterparts in Europe in certain ways. In the United States, there is a nationwide assumption that students who have completed secondary school should have at least two years of university education. Hence, a great number of “junior college” and “community colleges” have sprung up to provide two years of undergraduate study, in contrast to the traditional universities and colleges, where a majority of students complete four years of study for a degree and where substantial numbers go on for one to three years of postgraduate study in a “graduate school.” Universities that provide four-year study courses are either privately funded foundations or are state or city foundations that depend heavily on the government for financial support. Private universities and colleges depend largely on tuition charges levied on students. The individual state governments fund the nation’s highly developed system of state universities, which ensure the provision of higher education for the vast majority of those willing and academically qualified to receive such education.

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN USA

Some of the major Colleges and Universities of USA are

1. Davidson College
2. University of California — Davis
3. Wake Forest University
4. Bowdoin College
5. Wesleyan University
6. Vassar College
7. Colgate University
8. University of Wisconsin — Madison
9. Middle bury College
10. College of William & Mary
11. University of Southern California
12. Boston College
13. Tufts University
14. Swarthmore College
15. Wellesley College
16. Washington University in St. Louis
17. Harvey Mudd College
18. Emory University
19. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
20. University of California — Los Angeles
21. Amherst College
22. Rice University
23. Ashland University
24. Virginia International University
25. Lincoln University
26. Fulton-Montgomery Community College
27. Cascadia College