University level in the United States

In the United States the word "school" describes wherever you learn. The term can apply to the university, an institute for English, a program for students or high school graduates.

To refer to the college, university and the terms "college" are used interchangeably. Both refer to the academic programs that are started in the thirteenth year of study, when the student is 17 or 18 years of age and have completed high school or "High School".
U.S. academic year consists of 32-36 weeks. It usually begins in late August or early September and ends in early to late May. Most of the "colleges" and universities divide the academic year into two "semesters" or semesters, but so do four periods of 12 weeks each, called "quarters". Some other institutions have academic years divided into three "trimesters" (quarters) equal.

The American university system also has what is known as "summer session" (summer session). These courses usually have class time more concentrated, so a summer session may consist of three to eight weeks. Institutions that use the semester system, usually offer elective courses summer. The quarterly regime has no summer sessions because of the quarters just starts late that season, but in the universities system "quarters", is mandatory cursarlo because the summer session count as one of its periods.

In almost all "colleges" and universities are vacation 2-3 weeks, starting in mid-December. Some institutions also have a week off in March or April ("spring holiday").

The American system of university education is not based on national exams, but involves periodic evaluations of specific courses. Each course allows a certain number of credits. Typically, students take an average of four or five courses per semester. The number of courses may be lower in quarterly or quarterly systems.

The progress that a student makes to cover the curriculum requirements are measured in "course units" or "course credits", units or credits.
One hour of class per week (50 minutes) is considered one unit or credit. Two or three laboratory classes are as a class. The normal program for undergraduates is completed with 15 to 17 units / credits per semester or quarter. For graduate students is 9 to 12 units / credits.

The American college also include what is called "practical training", which refers to any instruction or supervision given to a student that is unfolding as an intern or trainee in an institution outside of "college" or university. The "practical training" includes clinical practice for students in the health area.

The faculty at most colleges and universities qualify students work with letters, according to the following scale:
• A = 10
• B = 9-8
• C = 7-6
• D = 5-4
• E = 3-2
A and B are considered good grades. Students who achieve an average C, may be placed on probation for one term (semester, trimester, or quarter). If at the end of the probationary period the student had not score recovered, could be excluded from the university and jeopardize its status nonimmigrant student visa. If students finish take an elective with a grade D, the university could give it as valid. If matter was mandatory, specific career, would be taken as deferral.

Some institutions use classification "I" (incomplete) to describe those objectives that were not completed. Overall it gives the student an additional amount of time (one month to one year) to complete all course requirements.

If a student fails and must repeat a course and affects the estimated time of completion of their studies, immigration authorities may deny your request for an extension.

Many colleges and universities make use of the (pass/fail). The student who successfully completes a course receives a grade of "pass", otherwise it receives a grade of "fail". Some institutions use this system for electives. There is also a system of "pass / no credit". Those who pass receive a "pass" who fail, do not receive credit for that course.

The average GPA is called a student ("Grade Point Average") or QPA ("Quality Point Average").

Colleges and universities make a constant effort to record each student's academic progress and in most institutions notes for classroom work are a very important part of the qualifications. Sports or extracurricular activities are also taken into account in the evaluation. Access to these records is classified and there are federal laws that protect student privacy.
Although universities with students from a single sex still exist, most colleges admit men and women alike. These colleges are known as "co-ed" (co-educational). The term "co-ed" refers to a female student currently studying at a college for either sex or co-educational. This type of language is not popular among women, especially among feminists.

It is also very common in U.S. universities with religious affiliations. Some, but not all, offer religious instruction with academic affairs. Religious groups in the United States, as Catholics, Jews and Muslims, sponsor their own university systems.

The best universities in the eastern United States, as Princeton, Yale and Harvard, are known as the "Ivy League" (Ivy League), in reference to the characteristics of ivy plants often grow on the outer walls of their ancient buildings . The term "Ivy League" also applies to graduates of such universities.

Universities
American universities, also called colleges, offer two levels of study in a wide range of subjects: pre-graduate and post it.

The titles awarded in the undergraduate level are:

Degree : Associate of Arts
Acronym : AA
Institution :  Community colleges, Junior Colleges
Time : 2 years

Degree : Associate of Sciences
Acronym : AS
Institution : Community, technical, junior colleges
Time : 2 years

Degree : Bachelor of Arts
Acronym : BA
Institution : Colleges, universities
Time : 4 years

Degree : Bachelor of Science
Acronym : BS
Institution : Colleges, universities
Time : 4 years

At the graduate level of study offer advanced degrees such as Master and Doctorate (PhD).

Living in USA

The average American is accustomed to dealing with foreigners and permanent is very friendly and helpful with her.

With U.S. security is one of the world's most interesting destinations, either by the high academic level holding the U.S. higher education system, or the class of the houses of studies among which include many of the best in the world. Just spend a little magazine: Pennsylvania, Harvard, Columbia, UCLA, etc, and outside universities profuse number of educational institutions with the support of those of high level and widely recognized in the world.

Education in America is true to the image that American culture professes through its media and teaches everyone, also as is often seen in the streets, is an education system that is home to large numbers of foreigners, thus forming one neocultura interracial, more interesting question yet educational exchange.

Campus Life in a multiple associations and academic and social environment allow a strong sense of community among students, good opportunity to score positive experience and open mind. And if we talk about experience, which provide study programs in theory and practice is unsurpassed. Not to mention the cultural, linguistic and social excellence that is accessed by anyone with steady employment and academic goals to choose to study in the U.S..

» Some data

Population: 270 million.
Capital: Washington DC (543 000, 1996).
New York with 8 million inhabitants is the largest city. Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Phoenix and Dallas have a population greater than one million people (1994).
While the official language is English, can be heard speaking any language or dialect in the streets of big cities also difficult not find indications in Castilian or Chinese. The United States is what you would call a cultural melting pot. This, however, does not detract from the traditional cultural ligations each community. In most cities there are preserved cultural communities where the uses of each social group.

Student Population:
• The total school population is 69 million with an annual growth of 85,000 to 150,000 students.
• The number of foreign students is over 514,000. And Asia has the largest representation with 54%. Virtually all countries are present in American universities.
• University cities: Boston, New Heaven, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Berkeley, San Francisco, Stantford, Los Angeles.

» Climate

The United States extend from coast to coast, overlooking the two oceans and on the south to Mexico and north to Canada.
This is one of the largest countries in the world, and this gives absolute topographical diversity, from vast plains to rugged mountains. As climates, from subtropical in the south to arctic north. You should prepare for any weather, on the East Coast, the quintessential college region stretching from Boston to southern New York, raw winters can be freezing temperatures and lots of snow, but the summers are mild and temperature rarely exceeds 30 ° C. On the other hand, against the Pacific Ocean, the region of California offers much higher temperatures and beautiful beaches, and excellent study houses.
The diversity of wildlife is extensive, too, and animals not present can be admired for less at some of the largest zoos in the world.

Currency: U.S. dollar (U.S. $). U.S. $ 1 = € current quote.

» Advice for travelers

No one wants, and probably can, pay exorbitant prices or travel huddled like cattle, it is important to walk with a sharp eye and consider some secretetos.
There are always cheaper alternatives, and in many cases this does not mean that the quality is worse. Utilizing elements such as student cards (ISIC) or grant documents and within the U.S..
Always do assert your student status, as there are hundreds of benefits (including financial and monetary) to move up and into countries like this. With the ISIC can get discounts of up to 50%, as with letters from students to travel (around 20 U.S. $).

You should also be aware of ticket deals and packages as those obtained for rail transport in Europe.
You can also request a letter which will identify you as a frequent traveler, usually free and you scroll all the miles you will to win free tickets.
Do not forget to calculate the price of tickets routes from the airport to the residence and vice versa, sometimes a headache, especially if they are too removed.
Do not waste time and start planning your trip now. The longer you delay, the more difficulty you will have to get good prices and accommodation. 

» Accommodation, often detail

Within academic institutions often have an office (Housing Office) procedures intended for accommodation, either on campus or outside it. Let's start here then. They have contacts with agencies and personnel helps students in these areas. They can even provide you with lists of agencies if they prefer to search for yourself.

The application for on-campus housing is done in the same time of application. They are however subject to availability and are awarded as they come, another reason to hurry.

Be sure to balance living on campus or in the suburbs. Although more expensive to live off campus can have great advantages as comfort, freedom and peace. Many students spend their first year living on campus, and once adapted to the city, decide to share an apartment with several friends, this lowers housing costs.

» Some numbers:

• Leasing campus (9 months): u $ 2200 to $ 5500.

Always provide some extras for bedding, lamps, etc..

• Lease outside the university:

• Hotel: between U.S. $ 25 and $ 100 a night.

Furnished room: between $ 150 and $ 350 per month.

No Furnished Apartment: between $ 150 and $ 500 per month (buy the furniture it will be more expensive than renting one already furnished).

» Expenses

The cost varies widely from one city to another, or from one state to another. In general, you can set the lowest prices are usually found in the south and the highest in large cities and in the New England region.

» Some estimated values:

• Personal expenses: U $ 1500 to $ 2500 per academic year (very approximate).

• Power: Off campus using university restaurant ticket. For one year, the price ranges between U.S. $ 1000 and $ 1800. When cooking at home, the bill may rise to $ 1800 - or $ 3000 per month.

• Hamburger: between $ 1-5 in the fast food places and between $ 5-10 in restaurants.

• Soda: u $ 1.50

• Coffee: u $ 1 with the option of filling the cup at will.

• Tickets metro / bus: U $ 0.80 to $ 1.

If you live off campus remember that a bike can be quite useful to lower costs. And, if it is within your means, renting a car is interesting within cities. In this case, the gas is sold to $ 1.45 per gallon (4.456 liters).

• Newspaper: $ 0.50 or the local newspaper and even nationals or $ 1.50.

• Entrance to cinema: au u $ 6 $ 7
• Night out: at $ 20 and up.

» The health system

The state is responsible for the health, each person must choose the insurance agency that best suits you. Each university will inform you of the most desirable institutions based on your foreign status, time of stay and financial possibilities.

Health insurance is compulsory character for any grant application. These insurance companies have to hire a private American and can be done before coming to America.

At this point you should have caution because the American health system is very expensive and can lead to some surprises. Not all medical expenses are covered with hiring a private health service and the state does not participate in any way in the coverage as it is standard in European and Latin American countries.

When you buy insurance you pay a deductible. This deductible can range from U.S. $ 50 to U.S. $ 1000. The lower this number, the more expensive the insurance.

Insurance can also sign up with service-pay (co-insurance). This means that the user must always pay a percentage of the costs.
You can also hire systems with maximum coverage, meaning that once the medical expenses exceed a set amount, the insurance will no longer charge.

Consider the basic medical insurance does not cover drugs, but may include options for these expenses, as the drugs are not cheap in the U.S..

Studies in the United States: Living - Weather, Currency

» Climate

Due to its large size, can be found in U.S. examples of most of the world's climate . The great plains of the south, which are west of the Atlantic, often suffer the scourge of hurricanes and tornadoes. Plain topography is precisely what fuels these phenomena.

The tundra climate occurs in northern Alaska. It's the kind of climate in the country underrepresented.

The climate of the boreal forests appears throughout central Alaska, heavily modified by the country's mountainous terrain.

The humid continental climate appears basically east of the Mississippi River and the Appalachian Mountains in the northern half of this region. Also on specific points west of the Rockies, but is very distorted.

The dry climate of the middle latitudes appears in the central regions of the United States east of the Mississippi River, and many of the depressions of the Rockies.

The maritime climate of the west coast has very little representation. It is limited to a narrow strip of the Pacific coast from northern California to the Canadian border, and on the coast of Alaska. The cause of this lean development is due to the proximity of the mountains to the coast.

The Mediterranean climate also appears in a very narrow strip of the West Coast, in central and southern California. As above, the limited development due to the immediate presence of high mountains.

The humid subtropical climate appears throughout the southeastern United States, from the southern half of the east coast to near the border with Mexico for much of the Gulf of Mexico, and quite penetrating inside the south of the central plains.

The dry subtropical climate is in the vicinity of the deserts of the southern United States, in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

The dry tropical climate appears at particular points in the deep valleys of the southern Rockies and downwind of westerly winds. Do not have much but they are very significant development.

The monsoon climate and trade winds on the coast is in the southern tip of Florida, and is also very poorly represented.

» Currency

The local currency is the dollar. Monetary system follows the decimal system, the basic unit of the dollar, which can be divided into 100 cents. The most common tickets are $ 1, $ 5, $ 10, $ 20, $ 50 and $ 100. They are all the same color and the same size. 1 cent coins are called "penny", 5 cents "nickel" 10 cent "dime" and 25 cents "quarter".

Studies in the United States : Living - Post

The U.S. Postal Service is provided through United State Postal Service. Each year, the Postal Service ecoge and distributes more than 200 billion letters and packages mailed within and outside the United States. The Postal Service provides a variety of services to individuals and businesses, including a guide for the move.

» Some of the services provided

• Express mail.'s A form of transmission that guarantees delivery the next day, a Sunday or holiday, the destination. Except for companies that do not work Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday.

• Priority mail. Shipped within three or four days.

• Ships first class are received according to the distance between one to four days.

• Delivery confirmation.'s A service for which the Postal Service confirms the date and time of arrival of a letter or package. It is an additional payment to the cost of normal shipping,

• Registered mail is an additional surcharge, by which the mail piece is sent to preferential treatment and must be signed by the recipient as received.

• Paid Response is an additional surcharge normal mail piece through which the recipient must sign the form for that purpose, and that is returned to the person who sent it. This service is for both the domestic and service for overseas shipment.

• Registered mail is an additional surcharge, the user uses when sending, generally, a very important document. You can do this for national service as well as to overseas.

• Sure.'s An additional payment is made ​​when sending a parcel to abroad. It is optional for national service.

United State Postal Service.
Phone: 1-800-275-8777
Address: U.S. Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260

Studies in the United States: Banks, Long distance calls

» Long distance calls

The telephone numbers in the U.S. are 10 digits: area code 3 digit area code and 3 digit code 4 digit subscriber.

You can make long distance calls through the operator (by dialing "0", which is free and can be accessed from any private or public phone no coins), but will cost. It is cheaper to call after 17 hours (saving 35%) or between 23 and 8 hours (60% savings). F or request information about phone numbers or area codes must discarse the "411".

» Banks

The first thing to be clear before going to look for a bank that work in the U.S. is what kind of operational needs, which are looking for.

Depending on your intended to give the entity, be advisable to opt for one or the other. However, as general advice and regardless of their particular circumstances, we recommend that you choose a company with a large ATM network to minimize the costs charged for cash withdrawals.

Make sure it is a federal entity and insured chooses not offshore entities that, while interest and can offer very desirable conditions are not regulated or protected so no guarantee the stability of their savings.

If you are able, we recommend that prioritizes entities of e-banking platforms, you can perform basic operations with your account and your credit and debit card fees and interest saving.
Bank Cards

Once you determine the type of bank and bank account need to suit your needs, you should evaluate the possession of a bank card. It is a more convenient and there are various kinds of bank cards designed to meet the different needs of customers.