Overview

Geographical Conditions:

United States of America is the third largest country in the world. It shares land borders with Canada and Mexico. Its northern border is located with Canada. It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast. Alaska borders the Pacific Ocean to the south and southwest, the Bering Strait to the west, and the Arctic Ocean to the north, while Hawaii lies far to the southwest of the mainland in the Pacific Ocean.

The climate of the United States varies due to changes in latitude including mountains and deserts. Climate on main land of the U.S. becomes warmer in the south and drier in the west. The climate is humid continental in north; humid subtropical climate is found east-west and extends southward into central Florida. A Mediterranean climate prevails along most of the Californian coast, while southern Florida has a tropical climate. Hawaii and the U.S. territories also have tropical climates.

Political & Legal System:

There are 50 states and 14 territories in the USA, with Washington DC as its capital. The states are divided into smaller administrative regions, called counties in all but two states. In Alaska, the county equivalents are called boroughs and in Louisiana, the county equivalents are called parishes. In many states, counties are further divided into townships. In New York, Wisconsin and New England, county subdivisions are called towns. 

The United States is a federal republic in which the President, Congress and federal courts share powers reserved to the national government, according to its Constitution. The federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments. The executive branch is headed by the president who is supported by the cabinet and formally independent of both the legislature and the judiciary. The cabinet serves as a set of advisers to the president. They include the vice president and heads of the executive departments.

 Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The judiciary is composed of the Supreme Court, which is the Apex Court of the country and lower federal courts, exercises judicial power. The Constitution sets out the boundaries of federal law, which consists of Acts of Congress, treaties ratified by the Senate, regulations promulgated by the executive branch, and case law originating from the federal judiciary.

The legal system of the country is at three levels: the Federal Law, the State Law and the Local Law. The law of the United States comprises many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, prescribes the foundation of the federal government of the United States, as well as various civil liberties. The United States Code is the official compilation and codification of general and permanent federal statutory law. In the United States, the law is based on constitutional law, statutory law, treaties, administrative regulations, and the common law.

Economic Status:

The United States has the world`s largest economy by nominal GDP and is one of the most influential nations in the world. The economy of the United States is highly developed and mixed. The nation`s economy is fueled by abundant natural resources, a well-developed infrastructure, and high productivity. The U.S. dollar is the currency most used in international transactions and is the world`s foremost reserve currency. The largest U.S. trading partners are China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany, South Korea, United Kingdom, France, India, and Taiwan. The U.S. is the world`s largest importer and the second-largest exporter. It has free trade agreements with several nations, including NAFTA, Australia, South Korea, Israel, and few others which are in effect or currently under negotiation.

Of the world`s 500 largest companies, 121 are headquartered in the U.S. The U.S. has the world`s highest number of billionaires. Some of the world famous industries and companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Intel, FedEx, Walt Disney, Citigroup, Dell, MetLife, IBM, Ford, General Motors, JPMorgan Chase, UnitedHealth Group, Procter & Gamble, Walmart, PepsiCo, etc. belong to USA. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are housed in Washington DC, USA. The GDP of the country is all time higher. Major industries including the defence related are located in the country and provide gainful employment to the people of the home country and also other parts of the world. Fashion is also one of the biggest industries in USA with New York being one of the fashion capitals of the World. Some of the top fashion brands of USA include Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, Forever 21, Wrangler, Polo Assassin, etc. USA takes pride in its entertainment industry as well and is also home to Hollywood’s biggest studios like Walt Disney, Universal, Warner Bros and Columbia.  USA is also famous for the Kentucky Fried Chicken (more commonly known as KFC), whose franchises are spread all across the world today.

Soceity and Culture

Language:

The United States has never had an official language at the federal level; however 31 states have made English as an official language. Three states have other official languages in addition to English. The most commonly used language in the United States is American English, which is the de facto national language. Nonetheless, many other languages are also spoken. These include indigenous languages, languages brought to the country by colonists, enslaved people and immigrants from Europe, Africa and Asia. 

Cuisine:

American cuisine reflects the history of the United States, blending the culinary contributions of various groups of people from around the world. One characteristic of American cooking is the fusion of multiple ethnic or regional approaches into completely new cooking styles.   Though much of American cuisine is fusion cuisine reflecting global cuisine, many regional cuisines have deeply rooted ethnic heritages, including Cajun, Louisiana Creole, Native American, New Mexican, Pennsylvania Dutch, Soul food, and Tlingit. Highly industrialized processed foods became a dominant feature of American diets. Fusion of the food traditions of various immigrant groups to the US contributed to development of distinct ethnic-American dishes. The modern cuisine of the United States is very much regional in nature. American dishes include: crab cakes, Cajun fish, Buffalo wings, chicken ranch, meat steaks, chowder, pretzels, cheeseburgers, turkey, etc. USA is home to world famous chefs like Anthony Bourdain, Guy Fieri,  Ina Garten,and Colonel Sanders, who is popular for the world famous Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).

Tourist Attractions:

Tourism in the United States is a large industry that serves millions of international and domestic tourists. Foreigners visit the U.S. to see natural wonders, cities, historic landmarks, and entertainment venues. There are around 2500 registered National Historic Landmarks recognized by the United States government. New York City is the most visited destination in the country, followed by Los Angeles, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Chicago. Other tourist spots include Times Square (New York), Millennium Park (Illinois), Magic Kingdom - Walt Disney World (Florida), Disneyland Resort (California), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee), and Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) and so on.

Lifestyle:

The culture of the United States of America is primarily of Western origin, but is influenced by a multicultural ethos. It also has its own distinct social and cultural characteristics, such as, music, arts, social habits and folklore. American cultures include both conservative and liberal elements, scientific and religious competitiveness, political structures, risk taking and free expression, materialist and moral elements. American culture and law does not equate nationality with race or ethnicity, but with citizenship and permanent allegiance.

Majority of the U.S. population had achieved a high level of material comfort, prosperity, and security. Fashion in the country is eclectic and predominantly informal. Americans` diverse cultural roots are reflected in their clothing. Americans are extremely independent, individualistic and they believe in freedom of choice. They talk formally and carefully using good judgment. They do not discriminate against someone else’s religion or ethnicity. Americans always wait their turn in a queue.

Health Care:

Healthcare and its coverage for the people are provided by private and government. The United States does not have a universal healthcare program, unlike some other countries. Immigrant health care is considered distinct from citizen health care, due to intersecting socioeconomic factors and health policies associated with immigration status. The quality & cost of the American healthcare system is one of the highest in the world. Unfortunately, unlike many other developed nations, it does not provide free healthcare. Therefore as an international student studying in the US, it is usually mandatory for them to ensure that they are covered by a health insurance plan at their own cost.

Education in USA

The education system in USA is the most versatile and flexible higher education system for international students in the world. The country has countless numbers of courses designed for professional development, accreditation, or educational purposes. At the undergraduate level, outstanding program options are available in conventional subjects as well as professional / vocational fields. At the Master’s and Ph.D. level, students regularly get the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the finest researchers in the world. The degrees / certificates awarded by U.S. universities are recognized throughout the world for its academic brilliance.

EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 425 international student advising centers in 178 countries. The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. Many top ranking educational institutions / universities are housed in the US. Such institutions include Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University. The popular courses offered by the institutions in US invariably covers Engineering, Law, Medicine, Life Science and Management.

Reasons to Study in USA

• Degrees and certificates awarded by U.S. universities are recognized throughout the world for its academic brilliance.
• World ranked institutions such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, and the University of Chicago and so on are located in US, luring students from all over the world.
• The American higher education system offers flexible options to students according to their needs and interests.
• A degree from US opens up a wide range of career prospects for the international students.
• S. universities offer research and training opportunities to international students at the graduate level, which helps in funding their studies.
• Most US universities provide good guidance and support to the overseas students relating to accommodation, visa status, career opportunities, etc.
• It motivates international students to imbibe the American culture easily.
• There are many scholarships instituted, which help international students to cope with living expenses.
• International students have the opportunity to work in many institutions and earn wages without affecting their studies.  
• Students can earn up to 20$ per hour while studying in US, but one can only work for maximum of 20 hours per week. Although this will not be enough to fund all of the education expenses, it can certainly help offset the cost.
• The US immigration policies are being liberalized from time to time to facilitate international students to take up studies in the US.