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| In Brief |
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The United States of America (USA) is relatively young by world standards, being barely more than 200 years old. Since this country's discovery by Christopher Columbus, people from every corner of the globe have come here in search of the American Dream. They have created the richest, most powerful country on earth, and a fascinating melting pot of cultures and traditions.
Capital: Washington, DC.
Language: English, with significant Spanish-speaking minorities.
Currency: US Dollar
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| Higher Education |
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American tertiary education is not viewed merely as the acquisition of a higher education academic degree, but as an initiation into a new kind of society that promises a qualitatively different intellectual and social milieu.
American classrooms are generally small and organized into two parts: half lecture and half group discussion. Students are encouraged to interrupt, question and even to challenge their professors in midstream of the lecture. Other classes are organized along even more liberal lines, where students, as a team or individually, may be called upon to lead the class through certain materials and arguments. Outside classrooms, students often from study groups, especially for technically demanding subjects such as statistics.
The academic year will be slightly different for each university or college but normally runs from early September to the end of May. It may be divided into two terms of 18 weeks called semesters. Alternatively, the university may have "quarters" or "trimesters," which are about 12 weeks in length. There are at least two main holidays during the academic year: a two- to four-week break over Christmastime and a one-week "spring break" sometime between early March and mid-April.
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| Estimated Cost of Living |
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in Singapore dollars and not including airfare):
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Private
Schools |
State
Schools
(non-resident) |
High
Cost |
Low
Cost |
High
Cost |
Low
Cost |
| Room & Board |
13,125 |
7,875 |
13,125 |
7,875 |
| Books & Supplies |
2,625 |
2,625 |
2,625 |
1,750 |
| Personal Expenses |
14,875 |
7,875 |
12,250 |
6,125 |
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| Total (half year) |
$15,315 |
$9,188 |
$14,000 |
$7,875 |
| Total (1 year) |
$30,625 |
$18,375 |
$28,000 |
$15,750 |
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| Life in USA |
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Weather
With an enormous diversity of geographical features, the climate in USA is mostly temperate, 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 the southwest. Low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm Chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Activities
Students can enjoy a wide range of activities, including visiting amusement parks, cultural attractions and outdoor activities. Outdoor activities are extremely popular. These include boating, camping, hunting, hiking, fishing, back-country skiing, and white water rafting. In many parts of the country, rifle and pistol shooting at target ranges are popular sports. Ski areas, both downhill and cross- country, exist all over the United States.
No matter what you're into - bungee jumping, organic ballooning, power fishing - you'll find a spot to do it and folks to do it with in America. And it will be bigger, faster, harder and better than anywhere else in the world.
Transportation
Being the country that is leading the world, the U.S. has all modes of transport from air travel to buses to cars to walking. Students can commute by buses which shuttle between campuses and local communities. Most major cities have subways, buses and taxis. Walking may also be a viable choice in cities. Biking and carpooling are other options. There will be ride boards or schemes where people from the same campus will post notices indicating the destinations they will be heading out for over the weekend and they are looking out for people to share the costs of the trip such as toll fees and petrol etc.Driving is a costly option which will be more worthwhile if you travel frequently. Boat & Ferry is a also great way to travel because the U.S. has so many lakes, rivers and harbors. This mode of transport is scenic, relaxing and reasonably priced.
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| Other Links |
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About USA:
Study in USA
Travel Guide
Press
Radio
Television:
Singapore Missions in USA
All of the transcripts for NUS students on exchange will be sent by the host university to the NUS Registrar's Office
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