We begin a series of reports for students who want to study in the United States.

Step one is to visit an American educational advising center. There are more than four hundred of these offices around the world. You can find them through the State Department Web site for international students. We will give that address later. Or you can ask the Public Affairs Office at a United States Embassy to tell you where to find the nearest one.

These centers advise students about higher education and study opportunities in the United States.

Some schools, for example, offer one-year certificate programs. These are in subjects like computer programming, public relations, administrative work and other jobs.