Study in the United States! Presentation by the Canadian Bureau for International Education

About the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) CBIE is both a leader in shaping Canada’s international education agenda and a highly recognized provider of professional development programs for Canada’s international educators. CBIE has an agreement with TVTC to facilitate student’s admission and preparation to study in Canada and the United States. To date, TVTC has allocated through CBIE a total of 162 students. CBIE will Respond to questions and issues raised by students and provide assistance prior to their arrival in Canada and the United States, and assist you with the preparation and submission of visa applications.

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.

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.

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.

You will find excellent professors, leading scientists, and world renowned artists and writers as part of the faculty at American educational institutions.

Many 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.”

First 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.

Through 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.

 Independence: July 4, 1776  President: Barack Obama (2009)  Vice-President: Joe Biden (2009)  Land Area: 3,794,101 sq. mi  Population (2009 est.): 308+ million  Capital: Washington, D.C.  Largest cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Boston

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.

The 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 Standa rd Time Dayli ght Time Approximate Area EasternUTC-5UTC-4Atlantic coast and the eastern two thirds of the Ohio Valley CentralUTC-6UTC-5Gulf Coast, Mississippi Valley and Great Plains MountainUTC-7UTC-6States of the Rocky Mountains PacificUTC-8UTC-7Pacific Coast and Nevada AlaskaUTC-9UTC-8State of Alaska Hawaii- Aleutian UTC-10UTC-9State of Hawaii and most of the Aleutian Islands

The 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.

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 Saudi students clubs ( in some colleges) Recreational facilities: swimming pools and sports teams

American Academic Culture Teaching and Learning Styles: Participation is valued Direct communication with professor and meetings 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. rchMasjid.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.

Thank you!