Education / Schools
Studying in the USA
In the 2009/2010 academic year, the number of international students in the USA rose by 3% to an all-time high of 690,923. They choose the United States as the place they wanted to broaden their experience and continue their education, making the U.S. the top choice over any other country in the world.
Here is why:
Academic Excellence
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 in exclusive research and educational opportunities. U.S. degrees are recognized throughout the world for their excellence.
Variety of Educational Opportunities
The United States is home to several thousand colleges and universities, boasting of 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. You have a variety of options and educational opportunities if you are looking for a place to study a particular field.
Cutting-Edge Technology
Universities in the U.S. pride themselves on being at the forefront of technology, research and techniques, providing the best possible equipment and resources available to their students. You will find ways to stay connected with researchers, teachers and experts in your field all over the world.
Opportunity for Research, Teaching and Training
You may be able to gain valuable experience through teaching and/or research while you finance your education in the U.S., particularly if you are a graduate student. Many graduate programs offer training and teaching opportunities that enable students to become teaching assistants to undergraduates and/or research assistants on special projects exploring different aspects of your field of study.
Rice University -
Part of the Ivy League of the South, Rice University produces award winners in science, research, technology, business, policy-making, journalism, athletics and more, including several Nobel Laureates. Rice has also produced 101 Fulbright Scholars, 20 Marshall Scholars, and 12 Rhodes Scholars. Rice University is also one of the leading teaching and research universities of the United States and ranked the nation's 17th best overall university by U.S. News & World Report.
University of Houston -
The University of Houston is a nationally recognized, top-tier research university and the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. The third-largest university in Texas, the University of Houston has nearly 40,000 students on its 667 acre campus in southeast Houston. In January 2011, the university joined the ranks of the top research universities in the nation with the announcement by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that placed UH in its top category of research universities. The designation makes the University of Houston one of only three public Carnegie-designated Tier One research universities in Texas, along with the University of Texas and Texas A&M. That’s right – 3 in Texas and only 1 in Houston have earned this affirmation of their research excellence from a respected, national organization. The University of Houston Law Center is one of two top-tier public law schools in Texas and is the only top-tier law school in Houston. It ranks 56th among the nation's "Best Law Schools" in U.S. News & World Report.
Texas Medical Center -
Renowned not only as a one of the largest and most preeminent healthcare institutions, it is also home to academic and research health institutions including MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, UT Health Science Center, Memorial Hermann Hospital, The Methodist Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, and University of Houston College of Pharmacy. The Baylor College of Medicine has annually been considered within the top ten medical schools in the nation; likewise, the MD Anderson Cancer Center has consistently ranked as one of the top U.S. hospitals specializing in cancer care by U.S. News & World Report since 1990.
- Houston has a number of Chinese schools.
- In addition to the private Chinese schools offered throughout Houston, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) is planning to open its first ever Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School. The school will be located at Gordon Elementary School in Bellaire and is accepting students from pre-kindergarten to second grade. Language arts, math, science, and social studies will be taught in Mandarin Chinese. English language instruction will so be provided daily and will be gradually increased by each grade level so that by second grade, 50% of instruction will be in English and 50% of instruction in Mandarin Chinese. An additional grade level will be added each subsequent year up to fifth grade. Bryan Bordelon has been selected as the principal of the new Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School.
- Houston ISD currently offers Mandarin Chinese at the following campuses:
- Middle schools: Johnston, Pershing, Pin Oak, and Lanier
- High schools: Bellaire, Houston Academy for International Studies, Lamar, and the International High School at Sharpstown.