The 20 Most Beautiful Colleges in the USA

20. Wagner College - The views of this school makes it part of the Beautiful Colleges list. Looking out the window of many dorm rooms, you’ll see the skyline of Lower Manhattan. It’s in New York, but its Staten Island campus secludes it enough from the hustle and bustle of the city. The theater and artsy types best fit in here, and many have dreams of Broadway. The diverse population and extraordinary location makes it the “best of both worlds,” according to the college.

19. CUNY Brooklyn - There are 26 acres of the Brooklyn campus in the New York City. The real world city experience now has college feel. Since it’s mostly a commuter campus, there isn’t a sense of unity here like in other colleges, but the buildings and the architecture, especially its prime location, still make it worthwhile. The culture of the city is brought together with a liberal arts instruction that is quite different from other colleges. Brooklyn has the unique aspect many students are looking for with an atmosphere of achievement.

18. Rhodes College - Memphis offers so much to students at Rhodes, they’re often over-involved. The campus itself is well-designed with classic architecture that makes it feel collegiate, but its surrounding area only adds to the appeal. Memphis caters to every type of person, whether they’re artsy, country, or anything under the sun.

17. University of Alabama - The University’s campus at Tuscaloosa has some wonderful architectural buildings and is surprisingly diverse. The Southern comfort and friendliness makes students feel right at home. Football is quite popular, so students are kept busy in-season cheering on their school. The school houses the Alabama Museum of Natural History, which is a popular tourist spot. Pretty much all the bases are covered at this state school, and students with various interests can all find their niche comfortably, Southern-style.

16. Flagler College - Flagler used to be a pricey, elegant, and historic hotel in St. Augustine in Florida. So it’s no surprise that luxury is the basis of living for students here. Most of them are wealthy, and have come to appreciate the pristine details of the buildings and the town’s abundance of beaches. But one thing they complain about? No dorm visits of the opposite sex. Well, you can’t have everything.

15. Mercer University - The Georgia easy living incorporates itself into Macon’s social activity at Mercer. Off campus hops on weekends, and Mercer even has a group whose mission is to make sure that students have something to do. Back on campus, there are some beautiful buildings that give it that down-home Southern feel. A far cry from East Coast Gothic, Mercer is a nice mixture of fun and function.

14. New College of Florida - The Gulf of Mexico is the backdrop; arts and sciences take the cake. Sarasota is home to this college for honor students who get away to gorgeous, free public beaches. But if they can’t make it to the beach, they have their dorms with private entrances and courtyard design to attend to. Students at this free-thinking school are living the life of expression and freedom every kid dreams of.

13. College of the Atlantic -The outdoors adds fuel to the fire of this environmentally friendly school. The coast of Maine is the setting for these liberal vegetarians, and is beautiful in the spring/summer as a lovely tourist area. The Arcadia National Park is only a hop, skip, and a jump away for a placid escape from this tiny hippy school.

12. University of Hawaii, Manoa - Hawaii may take the crown as to students that know how to live it up. Sandwiched between the beach and the city, parties are frequent and students have a laid back attitude on the weekends after a grueling school week. The fabulous Hawaii skies, surf, and sun makes the Hawaii scene pretty darn spicy.

11. Swarthmore College - The whirlwind of activity that buzzes by you when you enter the Pennsylvania campus might mask its beauty at first. The students around here know how to keep busy. The university grounds are serene and peaceful: the perfect atmosphere for these intellectual groupies to study. They don’t leave campus much, because, lets face it, Swarthmore isn’t the chicest city, but the location fits these students to a tee.

10. Elon University - The country club-like atmosphere exudes rich, preppy ooze. Seemingly because the surroundings are so boring that you have to have a car to get anywhere fun. So, the rich ones usually have cars. It figures. Like country clubs, the campus grounds are painstakingly sustained to perfection. Lawn care 101 should be what this school is known for.

9. Scripps College - Once again, California makes the list. Scripps has beautiful views and Princeton review christens its dorms “like palaces.” Its resort-like feel and sunny gardens, fountains, and trees (not to mention the food is great) make it a popular choice for women. Women have a tough decision to make here, it seems, because so many beautiful colleges are single-sex! Can’t say it’s surprising, though. Women are cleaner.

8. Kenyon College - Now to the lovely town of Gambier, Ohio. Nothing much to do outside here, but the architecture lures students back into their rooms for a debate. The outstanding numbers of intellectuals encourage this frequent activity, and students aren’t complaining. Their fabulous, structurally sound buildings make it all worth it.

7. Sewanee - the University of the South- Tennessee’s Episcopalian university sits on a lovely campus with caves, streams, and mountains. No wonder it attracts the outdoorsy types. The university boasts an outdoor program that sponsors every kind of adventure possible (canoeing, snowshoeing, hiking, caving, bicycling, etc). If you like being outside, it would be a sin not to go here.

6. Agnes Scott College - Women at this single-sex school enjoy their gorgeous dorms, with high ceilings and hardwood floors. But the real beauty is outside in the Atlanta/Decatur, Georgia surroundings. With lush trees, flowers, stunning quad, and free-flowing design, who’d want to leave? Oh, well Princeton Review named it a “Stone-Cold Sober School.” Now you see.

5. Mount Holyoke College - Hmm, another women’s school. There must be something about these Mount Holyoke women that take advantage of the Pioneer Valley- the most beautiful area of New England- right in their backyard. The beautiful atmosphere of this small town further entices you as you enter. Boys? What boys?

4. Sweet Briar College - Southern beauty is done right in this lovely Virginia campus. Obviously, no boys allowed, so males can’t enjoy the scenic 3,250 acres like the girls do. Maybe that’s why the campus is so clean. The outdoors calls the sporty girls to enjoy a long run around the campus. Grab a trail map and go. Observatory loop, anyone?

3. Loyola Marymount University - Obviously, another California beauty. Los Angeles is primo spot for all things glamorous. Looking out your window at the vibrant California sky and the palm trees does everything but remind you you’re at college. Tough life, huh?

2. Princeton University - When you think of Princeton, you usually think of smart kids shooting for the best education possible. And most of these kids are too busy study to appreciate the gorgeous gothic architecture that makes up the buildings of their campus. The lush greens (ivy is quite fitting) make the campus feel like an old movie set that you get to be part of just by going to school.

1. Pepperdine University - Nothing beats the California beach location of Pepperdine. The homes in the greater Malibu area go for millions. And you get to live there for measly room and board? Luxury doesn’t even begin to cover it.

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Study in the United States

Q: How to consider a good graduate school?

A: Do your homework and seek advice from knowledgeable sources including your school advisor, library, Internet, embassy, friends and family. Most schools require that you meet the minimum requirements in TOEFL, GMAT, or GRE scores before considering your application. Study well and choose the school that best suits you financially and geographically. (Words of advice: Attempt to pass the TOEFL, GMAT, or GRE exams before you leave the country. Many students who wish to study in the U.S. and Canada have difficulties passing the exam when they flunk the tests, and cannot enroll in the academic program.) To apply for the selected school, contact the Admission Office and request for an application by mail. The school will mail you the application including the instructions and residential information. Read the instructions, complete the form and mail it back with the application fees (usually non-refundable.) If you are accepted into the program, the school will issue you an I-20 form, which is required to obtain the F-1 student visa from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.

Q: Changing INS rules on I-20 form after the 9/11

A: In the wake of September 11th, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is proposing several changes to the rules governing visitor and student admissions. A new rule prohibits non-immigrant visitors admitted under B-1 or B-2 visas from pursuing a course of study at a school in the United States prior to receiving INS approval of their request to change non-immigrant status to that of an F (academic) or M (vocational) student. Individuals planning to attend school in the United States are expected to obtain the proper student visa prior to their admission to the United States. However, INS does recognize that some intending students will want to visit the United States first for bona fide visitor purposes, such as touring campuses or interviewing for admission. The proposed rule will establish new requirements for B non-immigrant visitor visa holders who wish to become students. Persons admitted under B non-immigrant visitor status will still be able to change their status to that of a student, but only if they stated their intent to study in the United States when they initially applied for admission and presented any I-20 forms they may have been issued. Inspectors will be required to note that the alien is a prospective student and make the proper notation on the alien's I-94 form (Arrival/Departure Record). This rule will impact only those students admitted in B status after the rule’s effective date.

Q: Is health insurance necessary?

A: Hospital care and medical expenses in the U.S. are expensive. It is best recommended that a student purchases his/her health insurance per semester. To give you some ideas, the average cost of hospitalization is in the range of $1,000-$3,000 a night (that is when you have to spend the night in the hospital.) Health insurance is required in some schools. For more information on where and how to purchase the policy, please email Webmaster.

Q: Am I required to file for Income Tax Return by April 15th?

A: By law you are required to file the 1040 NR (Non-resident Alien) form even you are not employed. The dateline for students is due in March. Check with your International Student Advisor. You can obtain the 1040 NR form from your library. Abide by laws and avoid any headaches from the IRS if you plan to get a job in the U.S. after graduation.

Q: How to obtain an entry visa to any countries when traveling?

A: Obtain the signature from your International Student Advisor before leaving the U.S. or you will have problem returning to school. Contact the embassy of the country of your destination to find out if the entry visa is required for Thai citizens. If so, you will need to apply for the visa in person or by mail. To apply in person, visit the embassy near you and you might be able to get the visa issued within the same day. To apply by mail, mail the passport along with the visa processing fees and application to the embassy. Allow 3-4 weeks to process. If you are traveling to Europe, consider the multiple entry Schenken visa if you plan to re-enter the country and be sure to allow plenty of time to apply for different countries before you leave the country.

Q: How to obtain a working visa in the U.S.?

A: You will need to have a sponsorship in order to work in the U.S. Your prospective employer can help you apply for the H1-B visa, which takes about 4-6 weeks to process depending on availability of the quotas in the state that you file. You can either contact any immigration attorneys or ask if the company has a lawyer to help apply for your visa. Since this process is cumbersome and time-consuming, most employers opt to hire those who currently have a green card or have working experience in the areas that are high in demand.

Q: How to renew a passport that is expired?

A: You can file for an extension to your passport without leaving the country. Contact the Royal Thai Embassy in DC at (202) 944-3600 and request to receive the application form by mail. Complete the form and mail the passport with processing fees to the embassy. Allow at least three weeks to process.

Q: How to renew an H-1B visa that is expired?

A: You can file for an extension to your visa without leaving the country. First, you will need to obtain Form OF-156 from the Royal Thai Embassy or from your attorney. Have the following documentation ready:

• Money order in the amount of $45 for the machine readable visa fee, payable to the Department of State.
• Money order in the amount of $15 for the visa reciprocity fee, payable to the Department of State.
• One passport style photograph.
• Original I-94 card.
• Original I-797A Approval Notice and the tear-off I-94.
• Current passport with the extension date.
• Letter of Employment from your company.

Q: What is the duration of an H-1B visa?

A: Once issued, you are authorized to work in country for up to six years. You can change your employment and re-apply for a new H-1B as frequently as you would, and you still have six years after the date that you were first approved. Most H-1B visas are issued for three years. This allows you ample time to apply for a permanent residency known as green card. At the end of the sixth year, your work authorization gets expired and you have to return to your home country for at least one year before you can apply for another work authorization. Each work authorization is good for six years.

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