United States, officially United States of America, abbreviated U.S. or U.S.A., byname America, country in North America, a federal republic of 50 states. Besides the 48 conterminous states that occupy the middle latitudes of the continent, the United States includes the state of Alaska, at the northwestern extreme of North America, and the island state of Hawaii, in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The conterminous states are bounded on the north by Canada, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The United States is the fourth largest country in the world in area (after Russia, Canada, and China). The national capital is Washington, which is coextensive with the District of Columbia, the federal capital region created in 1790.
The major characteristic of the United States is probably its great variety. Its physical environment ranges from the Arctic to the subtropical, from the moist rain forest to the arid desert, from the rugged mountain peak to the flat prairie. Although the total population of the United States is large by world standards, its overall population density is relatively low. The country embraces some of the world’s largest urban concentrations as well as some of the most extensive areas that are almost devoid of habitation.
The United States is the world’s greatest economic power, measured in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). The nation’s wealth is partly a reflection of its rich natural resources and its enormous agricultural output, but it owes more to the country’s highly developed industry. Despite its relative economic self-sufficiency in many areas, the United States is the most important single factor in world trade by virtue of the sheer size of its economy. Its exports and imports represent major proportions of the world total. The United States also impinges on the global economy as a source of and as a destination for investment capital. The country continues to sustain an economic life that is more diversified than any other on Earth, providing the majority of its people with one of the world’s highest standards of living. The United States is relatively young by world standards, being less than 250 years old; it achieved its current size only in the mid-20th century. America was the first of the European colonies to separate successfully from its motherland, and it was the first nation to be established on the premise that sovereignty rests with its citizens and not with the government. In its first century and a half, the country was mainly preoccupied with its own territorial expansion and economic growth and with social debates that ultimately led to civil war and a healing period that is still not complete. In the 20th century the United States emerged as a world power, and since World War II it has been one of the preeminent powers.
Around 3 lakh students go abroad every year for higher education. Now, the craze for studying abroad may be taken adversely as it is brain-drain for the country, or the positive aspect for the individual may be noted. Nevertheless, the process of flying overseas to study is a tedious one. Apart from the various passport and immigration complexities, a student has to prepare for various exams to be merely eligible for getting into the college and course he/she aspires for.
The United States has one of the world’s finest university systems, with outstanding programs in virtually all fields. At the undergraduate level, excellent programs exist in traditional disciplines, as well as in professional fields. At the graduate level, students have the opportunity to work directly with some of the finest minds in their field of study, with the chance to become involved with exclusive research and educational opportunities. U.S. degrees are recognized throughout the world for their excellence. The United States is home to several thousand colleges and universities, boasting at least ten times as many campuses as in any other country. As a result, the higher education system in the U.S. has something for everyone. Some U.S. colleges and universities stress broad educational principles; others emphasize practical, employment-related skills; and still others specialize in the arts, social sciences or technical fields. This means that no matter what you plan on studying, you will have a wide variety of programs in your particular field from which to choose.
At the advanced stages of a degree, or if you are pursuing a graduate degree, you will be able to tailor your coursework to fit your specific academic goals, needs and interests. International students often find that the international student office is a good starting point for campus offerings, as well as the campus student center.
Both the tuition and living costs vary considerably between different universities/colleges, educations and cities. These expenses may be daunting, but there are a number of support systems in place for students to get financial assistance. Thousands of students get funding for college in the USA through grants and loans. Loans are amounts of borrowed money that must be paid back with interest (interest rates are usually low for students). Grants are gifts of money which do not need to be paid back. However, grants often have stipulations such as maintaining a certain grade point average to keep the money. Many students may also be eligible for scholarships, which must be earned, whether through academic merit, athletic talent, or civic performance. Be cautious of fraudulent scholarship agencies, which often charge a fee in exchange for information. There is also financial aid available for international students to study in the United States, often for education at a graduate level.
Costs for food and living are normally between apx (min) $10,000 and $12,000 dollars per year. In addition to paying tuition, you need money for transportation, course literature and personal expenses. We recommend you to do a personal calculation of all the costs to make sure that you have enough in your budget before you arrive in the USA, and begin researching sources of financial aid well in advance.
While considering the accommodation, international students have variety of option to choose their accommodation depends upon their lifestyle. Accommodation available in the form of on-campus accommodation, off-campus accommodation and host family accommodation but this accommodation alternative is only offered by a few universities. It is more expensive compared to living off-campus.
Vegetarianism is a lifestyle choice for many people in America and this makes it very easy for people like you and me, who are vegetarian by religion, to survive in the USA.
Most restaurants have vegetarian subsections on their menus, or at the very least, provide vegetarian substitutes for meat (like beans or tofu)
Indian grocery stores sell a surprisingly wide variety of items, sometimes items that one might find difficult to get their hands on in India.
Medical education in the United States includes educational activities involved in the education and training in the United States, from entry-level training through to continuing education of qualified specialists. Admission into medical school may not technically require completion of a previous degree; however, applicants are usually required to complete at least 3 years of “pre-med” courses at the university level because in the US medical degrees are classified as Second entry degrees. Once enrolled in a medical school the four years progressive study is divided into two roughly equal components: pre-clinical and clinical. During the last year of graduate medical education, students apply for postgraduate residencies in their chosen field of specialization. These vary in competitiveness depending upon the desirability of the specialty, prestige of the program.
The requirements to study medicine in USA vary from school to school, but almost always include biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry as main science courses. Some schools may also require that you have taken other humanities, English, math, and science classes as well, so make sure you look into medical schools while you are still an undergraduate so you can choose your classes appropriately. On the annually tuition fee, students must have also a good amount of living expenses during his studies in USA.