Studying in Washington D.C: The attractions of the US capital

Today, many people often confuse New York and Washington D.C. as the capital of the United States. It's really not too strange that New York has a sea of the Statue of Liberty which is typical of the United States. However, Washington D.C. is precisely the capital of the United States, with many important areas concentrated in the United States, and represents George Washington, the first president to find America.

The table below gives an overview of Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, please refer to it!

1.1. Why was Washington D.C. chosen as the capital of the United States?

To answer this question, it is necessary to reaffirm that Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States, not New York.

On July 16, 1790, President George Washington chose the banks of the Potomac River as the capital of the "federal special district" in accordance with the conditions set forth by the U.S. Constitution and the "Compromise of 1790" at that time. The capital of the United States was built and planned on that part of the territory and was named after the President of Columbia to commemorate the United States at that time. By 1871, an act had united the two districts into one and was known as Washington D.C. (D.C. stands for District of Columbia).

Before Washington D.C., there were also a number of other cities chosen as the capital of the United States, namely New York, Philadelphia, and 6 other cities.

You may be wondering, what's the difference between Washington and Washington, D.C.? We would like to clarify to you, here are 2 completely different places:

• Federal District: Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States and a federal district located on the East Coast, bordering the states of Virginia and Maryland.

• U.S. State: Washington is one of the U.S. states, in the Pacific Northwest region, bordered by Oregon to the south and Canada to the north.

1.2. Geographical Location of Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. has a total area of 177 km² of which 169 km² is the land area, the rest is the water surface. Originally a land ceded from the states of Virginia and Maryland, D.C. borders Virginia to the southwest and is surrounded by Maryland to the southeast, northeast, and northwest.

Washington D.C. is built primarily on swampy land, covering two major rivers and many other natural streams. In addition, the city territory has hills and areas of agricultural land.

1.3. Climate in Washington D.C

Washington D.C. has a relatively pleasant oceanic temperate climate, divided into four distinct seasons. Specifically:

• Spring and autumn: Mild, dry weather.

• Summer: Slightly hot and humid, the average temperature is about 27 to 32 degrees Celsius.

• Winter: There is snow here and the average temperature from mid-December to February is about -1 degree Celsius.

1.4. Economy of Washington D.C.

As the capital and brain center of the United States, Washington D.C. has an economy that develops at a rapid pace, focusing on commercial and professional services with real estate and tourism being the two key economic sectors. The region's gross domestic product in 2018 was $141 billion, which is considered to have a low unemployment rate across the United States.

1.5. Demographics in Washington D.C

According to the 2020 Census, Washington D.C. has 701,974 people, making it the 20th most populous city in the United States, the 3rd most populous city in both the Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast, and has a population larger than 2 states: Wyoming and Vermont. The United States has always been known as a multinational, multiracial country, and Washington D.C. is no exception when it comes to African Americans, white Americans, yellows, and indigenous people.

In contrast to the high rate of functional illiteracy due to a portion of migrants who are not fluent in English, nearly 46 percent of Washington, D.C., residents have at least a four-year college degree, according to one study. In addition, same-sex marriage was allowed by law in 2009 with 4822 same-sex couples according to statistics at that time.

1.6. Culture - people in Washington D.C.

The culture and people in Washington, D.C., are not much different from the general culture of the United States. Washington, D.C., is a mix of different cultures and religions. Most people in Washington, D.C., socialize in English. Because of their multi-ethnic nature, the voices of the residents may be slightly different. But most still have the common characteristics of a classic, unassuming American accent, valuing independence and personal freedom.

1.7. Transportation in Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. is considered the city with the worst traffic in the United States. Therefore, the percentage of people who use public transportation, including buses and subways, is second only to New York. Washington D.C. also owns the largest public bicycle system in the country with more than 350 bicycle stations.

Visit more articles on People and culture when studying in the United States to better understand American culture compared to Washington D.C. to easily choose the right study abroad environment for you!

In addition to being the political center of the country, Washington D.C. is also famous for its unique and massive architecture, which is valuable in both history and culture.

2.1. White House

Referring to the United States, everyone must immediately think of the White House, the place where American presidents live and work. Although it may seem like a difficult political institution to access, because of its symbolism, you can still visit this place if you plan to buy a ticket. The tour date is limited to no more than 6 months from the time of booking and at least 21 days in advance.

2.2. National Mall Park

National Mall Park is located in the heart of the city with a spacious space with many trees. This is a place visited by many tourists to Washington D.C because it is free of charge, has beautiful scenery, and some important works of the capital such as the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial,...

2.3. Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is a monument built to commemorate George Washington, the first president of the United States. Due to budget shortages, it took more than three decades to complete the world's tallest white tower before it was overtaken by the Eiffel Tower in 1889.

You can visit the memorial for free but a same-day ticket must be picked up at Washington Monument Lodge. If you don't want to queue for tickets, you can make a reservation through the www.recreation.gov website or the National Mall Park hotline for a fee of $1.50 per ticket.

2.4. Capitol Palace

Besides the White House, the Capitol is also a typical symbol of the country. This splendid white building with a unique dome design is the workplace of the US Congress and the parliament is referred to as the Capitol building.

You won't have to spend money on tickets to visit this one-of-a-kind architecture. However, every day there are quite a few tourists who come to enjoy the magnificent beauty of the palace, so you should arrive early to get the best experience.

2.5. Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Area

This place is exactly a stretch of black wall made of granite, engraved with the names of 58,209 American soldiers who went missing or died in the War with Vietnam. Although it looks unremarkable with a rather dark and simple appearance, this place is visited by up to 3 million tourists every year. People come to this memorial area to reminisce, reminisce, and leave souvenirs such as medals, notes, or objects of relatives and friends.

The United States has long been famous for the world's most advanced, high-quality education. So let's discover the surprising facts about the education system in Washington D.C. - the capital of this country.

3.1. Education system in Washington D.C.

The levels of education in Washington D.C. are similar to the American system of education, including elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.

1 - Primary and Secondary

Primary and secondary school in the US consists of 12 years of study and has the same structure as in Vietnam. From high school, students here have been facilitated to get acquainted with the form of study when they go to university or college, by allowing them to have elective subjects in addition to traditional compulsory subjects.

2 - Undergraduate and Postgraduate

After completing high school, local students and international students have 3 options for the next step: Community College (2 years), College, or University. After graduating with a bachelor's degree. Students can choose to continue their studies for master's and doctoral degrees depending on their personal goals.

To help you have a more objective view of the education system in the US in terms of undergraduate and postgraduate levels with many visits here to understand more details!

3.2. Quality of education in Washington D.C.

The quality of education in Washington D.C. is famous for being one of the best places to study in the world. Therefore, there are 2 main reasons that this place always focuses on the following factors:

• Reasonable cost: Washington D.C. owns many prestigious private universities in the top 100 best universities in the United States such as George Washington University (GW), American University (AU), Georgetown University (GU),... This place is loved by international students because of the high quality of education along with quite reasonable costs, a variety of professions, and programs to choose from.

• Respect for independence and creative freedom: In Washington D.C., the university respects the independence and creative freedom of students. Teachers act as advisors to support students in developing their direction.

• Good facilities: Most of the campuses here are very spacious and airy, and the lecture halls and other offices serving students are equipped with modern, clean, and safe equipment.

Education in Washington D.C. values the student experience.

3.3. 4 Famous Universities in Washington D.C

Let's find out now, the universities in Washington D.C are highly appreciated from locals to international students' favorites in the content below!

1 – Georgetown University

Georgetown University is the most appreciated in the region because it is a place of study for many heads of state, influential figures in the US and also in the world such as 2 US presidents, 14 heads of state (outside the US), 25 US state governors, etc 17 ministers in the U.S. Cabinet, 27 Rhodes scholars as well as royalty of more than a dozen countries. In particular, the international relations graduate program of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service under Georgetown University ranks first in the world according to the Foreign Policy ranking.

2 – George Washington University

George Washington University was founded in 1821 and has 14 affiliated universities and institutes. You're sure to find an industry that suits you in 71 majors with a dynamic environment for students with more than 450 clubs and societies.

3 – American University

This is a university that focuses on the liberal arts education model, which means that you will be trained in interdisciplinary knowledge. From social sciences and humanities to natural sciences, the aim is for students to identify their own interests and strengths through those experiences.

4 – Howard University

Howard University used to be a black university with the largest number of African-American PhDs in the country. However, the university now welcomes multiracial students and is quite well-known among international students. Howard includes schools that specialize in dentistry, medicine, business, pharmacy, communications, arts, theology, and education.

When you first come to an unfamiliar city to study abroad for a few years or even settle there, you will be surprised and unfamiliar with the new environment. So keep following the notes below to make your time in Washington D.C. more complete.

4.1. Cultivate good English communication skills

The language used by Washington, D.C. residents on a daily basis is mainly English. Therefore, in order to be able to easily integrate with people as well as study and work most effectively here, from now on, it is best to get acquainted and hone your ability to use English regularly, especially 2 listening and speaking skills.

Getting used to using English every day will go a long way in integrating into your new life in Washington, D.C.

4.2. Cultural adaptability

The culture and lifestyle of Vietnam and the United States have many differences. You should understand this to have a good preparation for both spirit and knowledge in advance, by carefully studying their lifestyle and culture of behavior since they were in the country. When you set foot in Washington D.C., you can also understand and get acquainted with the life of the people by visiting a lot of things, visiting museums, and libraries, or going to local grocery stores and markets such as Giant Food, Safeway, Eastern Market,..

4.3. Remember the traffic system

Washington D.C. is known for its poor traffic and frequent traffic jams while having the second-largest subway system in the United States after New York. Therefore, traveling by public transportation such as buses or subways is the best option for newcomers to this city. At each station, there is a clear instruction board, if you still have questions, you can ask for help from the staff and they will answer wholeheartedly. If you travel frequently, the advice for you is to buy a monthly ticket to save money and log in to your SmarTrip card to top up your ticket.

4.4. In the suburbs to save costs

Studying and living in big cities, which are also the capital of the United States, will cost you a large amount of money every month. To save costs, international students in Washington D.C often choose in suburban areas such as Vienna Region, Virginia; Hyattsville, Greenbelt, Takoma Park, Maryland;...

Although this is a suburban area, the above places still provide enough amenities to serve your life, including Hammer market, restaurants, eateries, and clothing shops,.. Not only that, but you can also enjoy a different light and peaceful life in Washington D.C. with interesting local cultural features.

At the end of this section, let's find out a few "interesting facts" that few people know about the beautiful capital of Washington D.C.!

1 - It is the 2nd most populous city in the United States

It owns many well-established universities where knowledge-sharing seminars are held for free on a regular basis. Washington D.C. is the second most populous city in the United States, after Ann Arbor, Michigan. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2006, about 46% of the city's residents own at least a four-year college degree.

2 – Is the 51st state?

As you know, Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States under the direct administration of Congress in addition to the 50 self-governing states. However, in June 2020, a bill to make D.C. the 51st state was passed by the House of Representatives. Although the chances of passing the Senate round are quite low, it is still a milestone worth remembering.

3 - There were 8 cities chosen as the capital of the United States before Washington D.C.

These are the cities: New York; Philadelphia, Lancaster, York, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Annapolis, Maryland; Princeton, Trenton, New Jersey.

4 - There is a labyrinth beneath the Capitol

Below the Capitol is a whole matrix of tunnels and underground labyrinths. It is even equipped with a café, a shoe salon, a post office a small exhibition area, and a subway system of 3 lines that only serve members of parliament, parliamentarians, or important guests.

5 – There is only 1 World War I memorial on the National Mall

In the Nation Mall area, there are many memorials to the great figures of the country and there is only one related to World War I: the D.C. War Memorial, a place to commemorate the people of D.C. who fought and died in the war.

6 - The Washington Monument was once the tallest structure in the world

With a height of 169 meters at the time of its completion in 1884, the Washington Monument is considered the tallest structure in the world. This record was surpassed by France's Eiffel Tower five years later.

Above is all the information related to interesting facts about the capital of the United States. Washington D.C. is definitely an ideal place for world-leading education, helping students have more orientation to study and develop themselves. If you are interested in studying abroad regimes and addresses to process procedures quickly, contact IDP immediately or leave a comment below to receive advice from our team of consultants!

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Learn more

• Study in the USA

• Why study abroad in the USA?

• Understanding the American education system