International Students & American Studies

Coming to America

The United States, sandwiched between Canada and Mexico, has a diverse landscape and spans over 3,000 miles across. There are many different places to study in America and each region offers you a very different experience. Major metropolitan cities include New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

Good advice: familiarize yourself with the educational system in the United States when planning your trip.

Visa Information

Once you’ve decided to study in America, you need to obtain a visa, the earlier the better. There are two types of visas, the F1 and the M1--F1 if you’re in an academic program and M1 for vocational programs. To be eligible for either, you must have documented evidence of acceptance by a school. Once you’re accepted, your school will provide form I-20 for you, an essential document that gives financial proof and detailed information about your course of study.

For detailed information on the terms for educational entry into America, visit the U.S. State Department’s page on Student Visas.

Primer on U.S. Colleges and Universities

American schools are often categorized by type and degree programs.

Types of colleges and universities include:

  • two-year
  • four-year
  • community colleges
  • distance learning
  • graduate
  • post-graduate
  • vocational and trade

Colleges are also grouped by programs. Below are common programs of study available to you as an international student in the United States:

  • Business schools: offer business-related degrees, such as accounting, advertising, economics and international business
  • Computer schools: offer computer-related degrees, such as artificial intelligence, computer graphics, computer programming, and software engineering
  • Health/medical schools: offer health-related degrees, such as pharmacy, pre-med, nursing, and veterinary
  • Law schools: offer law-related degrees, such as criminal justice, legal studies, and pre-law
  • Liberal arts/humanities: offer liberal arts-related degrees, such as history, literature, music, philosophy, performing arts and political studies

Preparing for Your Trip to the United States

Before visiting the United States, you need to make sure that you have certain immunizations and vaccines. Make sure that your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Routine vaccinations include influenza, chicken pox, polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT).

Where to Study in the United States

Perhaps the most important decision you need to make is where in the United States you plan to study. The region is vast and location will influence your experience.

The United States can be divided into several regions based on geography. Programs in the Southeast may be much different from programs in the Northwest. Climates will vary greatly as well as the culture.

Guess what? Many international students choose a major metropolitan area in which to study. Popular choices include New York City, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Boston. Take time to research several cities of your choice and become familiar with them so that you can make an informed decision.

ISO: International Student Organization

The International Student Organization, or ISO, is a membership organization designed to help students studying in America. ISO’s website provides information that can help you as you plan your trip to America. In addition, ISO is a leading provider of international student health insurance. Having health insurance is necessary when traveling to the United States. ISO has two popular plans for international students, the COMPASS and ISO Med plans. Check out the ISO website for coverage information and to sign up.