Study abroad in Usa

Studying in the USA

USA Statistics

Geography-Population

Capital: Washington DC

Area: 9 826 630 km ²

Climate: generally tempered, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River and arid in the Great Basin of southwest. Low temperatures in the north-west are sometimes softened in January and February by Chinook winds from hot and dry eastern slopes of the Rockies.

Total Population: 307 212 123 (estimation of July 2009)

Urban population: 82% out of total population (2008)

Languages: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, indo-European languages 3.8%, Asian and Pacific islands languages 2.7%, other 0.7% (study of 2008)

Public investment in education: 5.3% of GDP

Government-Economy

Type of government: federal republic with a strong democratic tradition

Independent day: 4^th July 1776

Constitution: 17^th September 1787, enforced on the 4^th March 1789

Suffrage: 18 years-old, universal

GDP: $14.29 billions (estimated in 2008)

GDP – per capita (PPP): $ 47 000 (estimated in 2008)

Unemployment rate: 7.2% (estimation of 2008)

Information for Foreign Students in the USA 

Obtaining a Visa

Visa is compulsory when you want to study or to do an internship in the US. Waiting time is long, so you need to start the procedure as soon as possible. In addition, you will need a DS2019 form that is difficult to get. However, some organizations give you the possibility to have it more quickly; this service costs €400.

Housing

Rents are really expensive, especially in big metropolis, around $1,000 per month for a studio, in big cities like New York City, San Francisco and Chicago. Several websites can help in finding an accommodation: www.rent.net ; www.apartments.com ; www.studenthousing.org, http://www.easyroommate.com/  ; www.roommates.com

Health
Health insurance can cost up to $500 per semester, and you will have to register to one company which headquarters are in the US, in order to validate your application at university. If you are ill, do not hesitate to go to university Student Health Service where consultations are free.