Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Tips for living in america? -

hi, i m a 19 year old guy who s studying digital design and media.(:building websites, scripting/animating with flash, commercials, posters, illustrator, photoshop, dreamweaver etc..)I am planning to go and find work in america when i graduate at belgium high school, so you could say i have big plans for the future.although i could also try a foreign exchange student program in america for my last year as well.America definitely offers much more options for the future, especially for what i m studying.My question is the following: how can i prepare for life in america, the best, in both ways: getting a job,/ studying there, living there, getting started etc..i realise this will get me very wide-ranged answers, but really, everythings helpful.(information from people in the sector with specific details are very appreciated)as i know people will be asking this:I m thinking about going to Los angeles or the state of florida, not really sure.any very important tips for that matter? Thanks!

you need a visa first. also, the best way is to go straight out of college for a job if you can get 1 here because businesses are trying to hire younger people. please dont move to la, because, part of it is that i hate people who only think of the city, and cities will eat you up if you arent careful. also, dont move to nyc too because its not what you think... i live near it. florida is for old people, so if your idea of fun is playing bingo at the community house on friday noghts, dont go.

Every third teen age male in the USA is studying what you are studying. There is no shortage of such people here and unless you become a world famous talent there, no company will sponsor you to come to the USA. Because they will not be able to get you through the labor certification process.If you are serious about coming to the USA after college, get a degree in engineering.

Well, I love Florida, but it s not really a hotbed for what you are interested in. You re going to find the concentration of digital media, computer graphics, and advertising in New York City, Los Angeles Area, and especially the San Francisco greater bay area. I think you are going to have a problem finding a good job though. In the US, companies in those fields do not often hire people out of high school. The American high school system is very different than the European model. They are generally going to expect you to have a college degree. You might consider attending an American university because that will get you connections in the business. Employers often have favorite universities that they like to hire students from. And at the moment, the job market in the US is terrible. You will have a very difficult time finding work. Moving to the US as a student on a temporary visa is one of the easier ways into the country and it will let you try out the American lifestyle. Becoming a citizen is a fairly long and complex process, so you shouldn t commit to moving here until you are sure its what you want.