Presentation by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE)

STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES!

American universities offer an internationally renowned education that are the

highest ranked in the world. Harvard, MIT, UC Berkeley and Stanford all consistently outrank Cambridge and Oxford of the UK.

WORLD CLASS EDUCATION

The United States is a nation of immigrants, most people are either immigrants themselves or descended from immigrants. Almost every culture in the world is represented in the United States and each one has its own vibrant

cultural community.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

The United States is such a large country that there is a climate for everyone. Whether you prefer arid deserts, towering mountain regions, four distinct seasons or year-round tropical heat – all can be found here.

CLIMATE

HIGH QUALITY INSTITUTIONSYou will find excellent professors, leading scientists, and world renowned artists and

writers as part of the faculty at American educational institutions.

ACCESSIBLE PROFESSORSMany professors in the United States are informal, as described by a Saudi student to Time Magazine:

"The American educational style is known in Saudi Arabia as a fun style. It's not as serious. I can talk to my teacher like he's a friend. It's a cultural thing. There, [in Saudi Arabia] the teacher is not there to be friends with you. Respecting your professor is something sacred. We respect them even if they are not nice. Maybe it's the same goal, but I prefer this system. It takes a lot of weight off. Also, you can't go to university in Saudi Arabia looking informal. People here, they wear their pyjamas to class.”

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1172774,00.html#ixzz1JPeKzsT1

OUTSTANDING FACILITIESFirst class libraries and sports facilities, museums and art galleries, theatres and concert halls.

Campuses are also fully equipped; including radio stations, newspapers and stores that are run by students. Muslim students’ societies and prayer rooms are present on almost all campuses.

ACCESS TO HEALTH CAREThrough Aetna you will be able to have access to high quality health care and advanced health care facilities. From everyday ailments to the most complicated of medical problems there will be a health care provider nearby to offer

you excellent treatment.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Independence: July 4, 1776President: Barack Obama (2009)Vice-President: Joe Biden (2009)Land Area: 3,794,101 sq miPopulation (2009 est.): 308+ millionCapital: Washington, D.C. Largest cities: New York City, Los Angeles,

Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Boston

STATES

The United States is a federation composed of fifty states and one federal district. In turn, these may be grouped into four official regions (and nine divisions): Northeast (New England and Mid-Atlantic); Midwest (East North Central and West North Central); South (South Atlantic, East South Central and West South Central); and West (Mountain and Pacific). Governmental responsibilities are divided between the federal and state level. Generally, states are responsible for such tasks as public safety, public education, public health, transportation and infrastructure, but there is ongoing debate about the exact nature of states’ rights.

TIME ZONES OF THE UNTIED STATESThe United States uses six primary time zones. From east to west they are Eastern Standard Time, Central Standard Time, Mountain Standard Time, Pacific Standard Time, Alaska Standard Time and Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time.

Time Zone Standard Time

Daylight Time

Approximate Area

Eastern UTC-5 UTC-4 Atlantic coast and the eastern two thirds of the Ohio Valley

Central UTC-6 UTC-5 Gulf Coast, Mississippi Valley and Great Plains

Mountain UTC-7 UTC-6 States of the Rocky Mountains

Pacific UTC-8 UTC-7 Pacific Coast and Nevada

Alaska UTC-9 UTC-8 State of Alaska

Hawaii-Aleutian

UTC-10 UTC-9 State of Hawaii and most of the Aleutian Islands

AMERICAN CURRENCYThe American dollar (sign: $; code: USD) is the currency of the United States. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or US$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents. It is the currency used most in international transactions and is one of the world’s reserve currencies.

$1 USD = 3.75 SAR1 SAR = $0.266 USDAs of September 21, 2011

CHARACTERISTICS OF EDUCATION IN THE U.S.• High Quality• 4409 Degree-Granting Universities and Colleges• Academic Year – September to April, plus Spring and

Summer Sessions• Types of College Programs:

- Certificate Programs- Diploma Programs- Applied Degree Programs- Collaborative / Joint Degree Programs- Graduate Certificate Programs- Co-op Placement Programs- Apprenticeship Programs

ENGLISH as a SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL)

• Intensive English for Academic Purposes

(EAP)

• Sessions throughout the year

• Bridging programs: Part-time academic

study along with part-time ESL

*TVTC has authorized up to one year of ESL*

SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

A range of student services are offered by most colleges, including:• Academic, career, and personal counseling• International Student Advisers (ISAs)• Muslim Student Associations, prayer rooms• Help in finding off-campus housing• Health services• Social events and clubs• Recreational facilities: swimming pools and sports teams

AMERICAN ACADEMIC CULTURE Teaching and Learning Styles:

• Participation is valued and often required.

• Direct communication and meetings with professors.

• Questions and Answers

• Professors make themselves available after class for additional support.

MUSLIMS IN THE UNITED STATES

There are approximately 15,000 Saudi students studying in the United States who account for the majority of Muslim students.

The New York Metropolitan Area, Michigan and Illinois have the largest concentration of Muslims.

There is no accurate count of the number of Muslims in the United States because the census does not collect data on religion. Estimates range from 1.8 to 7 million or 0.6% to 2.3% of the total population.

MASJIDS IN THE UNITED STATES

There are hundreds of masjids in the United States that provide daily prayer services and other community services for the growing Muslim population. To find the nearest masjid please check out the following link.

http://www.unitedinislam.com/islamictext/searchMasjid.asp

HALAL FOOD IN THE UNITED STATES

There are many local Muslim owned grocery stores that provide halal products. You will also find that many large grocery store chains carry a growing selection of halal products to meet the needs of the local Muslim population. To find halal food near you please check out the Zabihah web site. Zabihah.com is the world’s largest guide to halal restaurants and products.

http://www.zabihah.com/

THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES