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Education In United States of Ameirca
Posted Date: 06 Jun 2008 Resource Type: Articles/Knowledge Sharing Category: Study Abroad
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Posted By: Asma S Patel Member Level: Gold
Rating:  Points: 2
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Why To Choose United States?
The United States has highest number of educational institutions providing higher education than any other country of the world. U.S colleges are known worldwide for the quality of their facilities, resources, and faculty. The U.S. education system is unrivalled worldwide in the choice it offers, types of institutions, academic and social environments, entry requirements, degree programs, and subjects in which you can specialize.
One of the most distinctive features of U.S. universities and colleges is the flexibility in choice of courses within a college or university, but more importantly there is also the option for students to move between one institution and another.
Academic year : The US school calendar begins in August or September and continues through May or June normally. The international students may best enter the U.S. institutes in autumn.
The academic year at most of the schools comprises of two terms or semesters. Some have a three-term calendar known as the "trimester" system while others divide the year into the "quarter" system of four terms, including a summer session which may be optional.
Higher Education : After completing high school or the twelfth grade, students are admitted to college or university for higher education. Study at a college or university leading to the Bachelor's Degree is known as "undergraduate" education. Study beyond the Bachelor's Degree is known as "graduate" school, or "postgraduate" education. Advanced or graduate degrees include law, medicine, M.B.A., and Ph.D. (doctorate) etc.
Colleges, Universities and Institutes:
These words "School," "College," or "University" are used interchangeably. In general, colleges tend to be smaller institutions which offer only undergraduate degrees, while a university also offers graduate degrees.
Bachelor's and Associate degrees
The bachelor's degree normally takes four years to complete while the associate degree usually takes two years to complete. Student can transfer into the third year of a four-year bachelor's degree program.Four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degree programs, while some of them also associate degree programs.
Doctorate (Ph.D.): Most of the schools consider the Master's Degree as the first step towards attaining the Ph.D. (doctorate). But in some schools, students are allowed to prepare directly for the doctoral degree without earning a Master's Degree.
The lime lag for earning the Doctorate or Ph.D. degree is three to six years.
During the first two years candidates join in classes and seminars. For another one year, the students conduct actual research and write the thesis. This research paper or dissertation contains topics, views, designs, or research based on the original work of the candidate and none of the contents should have been published previously.
The Liberal Arts
It is a shortened form of the term "liberal arts and sciences," and the liberal arts philosophy is a unique feature of the U.S. higher education system. U.S. undergraduate education is based on this concept, which believes in providing a well-rounded academic education that develops the student's verbal, written, and reasoning skills. Students at a liberal arts college, or at a university with a strong liberal arts program, begin their degree study by taking classes in a wide variety of courses in the arts, humanities, languages or social and physical sciences.
Professional Education :
Professional education is included within the U.S. university system. Large universities tend to comprise of a college of arts and sciences and several professional schools - usually business, agriculture, medicine, law, and journalism. Institutes of technology have a scientific emphasis in all the degrees they offer.
State Universities
State Universities are founded and subsidized by respective state governments with an aim of providing low-cost education to residents of that state. These universities are as known as public universities which distinguish them from the private ones. The cost of studies in State universities is lower than the private universities and the residents of the particular state have to pay lower tuition fees than those from other states or the International students, who are treated as non residents. The international students might be required to meet other eligibility criteria such as higher admission requirements in comparison with the residents.
Private Universities
Private universities are generally funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees, research grants, besides gifts from their alumni. Tuition fees tend to be higher at private universities than at state universities, but there is no distinction made between state and non-state residents. Colleges with a religious affiliation and single-sex colleges are private. In general, private universities have enrollments of fewer than 20,000 students, and private colleges may have 2,000 or fewer students on their campuses.
Community Colleges:-
Community colleges provide two-year associate degree programs, usually called the Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees. They also provide excellent technical and vocational programs. Community colleges are community-based institutions with close links to secondary schools, community groups and employers. Many U.S. students live close to campus with their families. Community colleges can be public or private institutions and are sometimes called junior colleges or two-year colleges. For many international students, the quest for a U.S. bachelor's degree will begin at a community college.
Technical and Vocational Colleges :-
Technical and vocational colleges are the ones which specialize in training students for entry into the real world of work. They offer certificate and other short-term programs that train students in the theory behind a specific vocation or technology and the related know-how of working with the technology or the profession. These programs usually last for two years or less.
The Credit System
Students at American universities complete their degrees on accumulation of between 130 and 180 credits. Sometimes the terms "semester/quarter hours" or "units" are also used instead of credits. Each individual course you take each semester earns a specified number (usually three or four) of credits/hours/units. The academic adviser helps the students in planning their course schedule for the academic year.
Grades Universities in the US employ a system of continual assessment and they assign grades for each course taken by the students. All classroom activities like class attendance, examinations or tests, laboratory works/reports, written assignments and other similar activities influence the student’s final grade. Hence it is very important for the students to attend classes on a regular basis and keep up with the studies and course work.
The following is a general percentage “letter grade scale” for classes taken at U.S. colleges:
100 - 90% = A,
89 - 80% = B,
79 - 70% = C,
69 - 60% = D,
59 - 50% = E and
49 - 0% = F
What is GPA-
Students complete their degrees with a Grade Point Average (GPA). The cumulative grade point average is the GPA for all courses taken throughout the degree program. Most universities use a GPA scale of 4.0, but a few universities use a scale of 5.0.
To work out your GPA, take the numerical value assigned to the letter grade you achieve for each course (typically 4 points for an "A," 3 points for a "B," and so on), then multiply this number by the number of credits each course is worth. Finally, add these numbers together and divide by the total number of credits for all courses.
Most of the US universities also offer some sort of honors degrees. To qualify for an honors degree, one has to earn additional credits or write an honors thesis. Specific details depend upon the university and/or academic department concerned.
Entry Requirement
Completed application form proof of secondary school completion (usually 12 years of schooling);
certification of English language proficiency (usually a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language [TOEFL]);
evidence of financial support (required for the I-20 form -).
The TOEFL requirement is often lower for a community college than it is for a four-year institution. In addition, if your TOEFL score is a little below the entry requirement, the community college may still admit you into the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Successful completion of all the prescribed ESL courses will open the door to the wider academic world of the community college. Many, but not all, colleges require international applicants to take an admissions test, usually the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) or the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment. Some may also require SAT II Subject Tests. Check ahead to determine specific test requirements. • The SAT tests are held several times per academic year, and registration materials are available from the test administrators or from U.S. educational information and advising centers. You can also register on the World Wide Web.
If English is not your native language
U.S. universities and colleges will ask you to take an English language proficiency test before admitting you to a degree program. Almost all institutions require that this test be the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A few may accept scores from other examinations or administer their own tests. For further information, check each college's catalogue or contact the admissions office to discuss your situation. As with many areas of U.S. education, each institution sets its own English language admission standard. Some institutions may grant conditional acceptance with the understanding that you must attend English language classes at their college prior to starting your degree program.. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) TOEFL is currently given in most countries around the world on computer, and the paper-based version is being phased out.
Select A College
Every student is different, and when making your choices you should consider carefully the factors that are important to you in both your education and your lifestyle. Educational Information and Advising Centers U.S. educational information and advising centers can be found in almost every country around the world, and they are the ideal starting point for your research. There are also private educational consultants who charge a fee for assisting you with the process of choosing U.S. colleges and putting together your applications. Often these educational consultants and private agents are graduates of U.S. colleges or people who are dedicated to promoting the benefits and advantages of the U.S. education system.
Academic considerations
United States does not have a central government office that approves educational institutions. Instead, it relies on a system of voluntary accreditation carried out by non-governmental accrediting bodies to ensure that schools meet standards .There is also no legal requirement that degree-offering institutions be accredited or hold a particular form of accreditation. Because of this complexity, you should check carefully well in advance whether a degree from the institutions you are applying to will be recognized by your home country government and any relevant professional associations, ministries, or employers in your country. If you think you might wish to transfer from one U.S. college to another during your undergraduate studies, or if you might want to pursue graduate study in the United States, you should also check whether other U.S. universities will recognize credits and degrees from the colleges you are considering. U.S. educational information and advising centers can advise you regarding recognition of U.S. degrees in your country and tell you whether a U.S. degree-offering institution is appropriately accredited.
Select a Course
Programs of study at community colleges usually include: Two-Year Associate Degree Programs designed to fulfill the requirements for the first two years of a four-year bachelor's degree. They may be called transfer degree programs because students who complete them later transfer to four-year universities for the final two years of study. such programs include pre-business administration, pre-engineering, fine arts, liberal arts, and computer science. designed to prepare students for immediate employment in fields such as automotive engineering, interior design, aviation flight technology, child development, criminal justice, health care services and sciences, business, fire science technology, paralegal studies, food management, and photography. Long-term programs include nursing, while short-term certificate programs include such specialty areas as office technology, real estate, and computer-assisted design.
Accredition
Institutional accreditation of a community college is very important, especially if you hope to transfer from a two-year college to a four-year institution, in which case you will want to ensure recognition of your first two years of study.
Transfer and articulation
In addition to accreditation, the smooth transition from a community college to a four-year institution depends on the strength of the articulation agreement between the two schools. These contracts specify which courses transfer automatically from one institution to the other and, therefore, can be counted toward the four-year degree. Public community colleges work closely with the public universities in their state to develop transfer guidelines. The transfer of credits involving a private or an out-of-state institution may not be as well-defined.By targeting the four-year institution early and determining what is needed to transfer, then following a carefully designed program, you can avoid unnecessary work and expense. Recent innovative arrangements have made transferring easier. Some institutions have worked together to establish "dual admissions" policies whereby students are admitted to both the two-year and the four-year schools at the same time. Immediately after completing an associate degree, the student may transfer directly into the bachelor's program at the cooperating university.
Admission Procedure
You should have list of colleges that match your needs, interests, and abilities. You should also feel confident that you have the minimum entrance requirements for studying in the United States, and that you can meet the costs of a U.S. undergraduate education. Now it's time to start putting together your applications. Many also have on-line application forms that can be completed on the computer and sent back to the university electronically, or the forms can be downloaded and printed. If there is an on-line application, you should use it. This is the quickest method for submitting your application.
Registering for the admissions
If you are planning to enroll at a college in September (fall semester), take any relevant tests no later than January in the same year, and preferably earlier. You should confirm with each college whether you need to take the SAT I and SAT II Subject Tests. Remember that you cannot take both the SAT I and SAT II on the same day, and deadlines for registration for the tests are usually five to six weeks before the actual test date. Test scores must reach universities before the application deadline date, and you should allow at least four to six weeks between the test date and the application deadline. If English is not your native language, register to take the TOEFL. As with the SAT, make sure your test results reach colleges before their deadline dates. If you feel that you qualify for a TOEFL waiver, contact the universities directly and explain your circumstances.
Planning well ahead gives you sufficient time to make successful applications to the colleges of your choice. 12 to 18 months prior to the academic year in which you hope to enroll, begin to consider, research, and do the following:
What are your reasons for wanting to study in the United States?
Which universities will meet your needs?
Will you need financial assistance?
Find out application and financial aid deadlines. This will affect when you take the standardized tests required for admission since test results must reach admissions offices no later than these deadlines. The tests should be taken in advance of submitting university application forms.
Register to take standardized tests if required by the universities to which you are applying.
Begin narrowing down your choices of schools to approximately 10 to 20 institutions.
August Contact universities for application and financial aid forms and catalogs. Obtain test registration forms to take the TOEFL and SAT I and SAT II, if necessary.
September to December Request an official transcript from your school.
Request letters of recommendation from your teachers
Submit completed application forms (for admission as well as financial aid).
Double check that transcripts and references have been sent
Take the necessary admissions tests.
January to -April University application deadlines must be met; note that these are for regular admission - early admission deadlines will be sooner.
April- June Letters of acceptance or rejection arrive. Decide which university to attend, notify the admissions office of your decision, complete and return any forms they require. Send letters of regret to those universities you turn down.
Organize finances: arrange to transfer funds to a U.S. bank; make sure you have funds for travel and expenses on arrival.
Finalize arrangements for housing and medical insurance with your university.
June to August Apply to your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a visa upon receipt of your I-20 form and well in advance of your departure date
Make travel arrangements.
Contact the International Student Office at your university with details of your arrival plans, and confirm details of any orientation for new students held by the university.
Cost / Fee / Financial Aid
Tuition and fees at colleges do vary based on the program of study and whether the college is public or private. Nevertheless, the cost of attending a two-year institution is usually lower than that of a four-year college in the same geographic area. This is the case even for international students attending public colleges where all out-of-state students must pay a higher rate than state residents.
You should check with the colleges about any scholarships they offer that are open to international students, almost all of the funds available to students will come from the federal government or local government, and are set aside specifically for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. There is a slightly better chance of acquiring financial assistance at private colleges.
It is important to start your financial planning at least 12 months before you intend to study in the United States. Assessing Personal Funds Consult your parents and other family sponsors to find out how much money they can commit each year to your education. Try to raise as much as you can from family sources, because most scholarship awards, if available, cover only part of the total educational and living costs and may not be available to first-year international students.
All types of scholarships and financial aid for international students are highly competitive and require excellent academic records.
Home Country Funds: Conduct research at home to find possible funding from local government, corporate, or foundation sources. Although these sources are not found in all countries, you could reduce your educational cost with scholarships from local organizations. Funding From Colleges: Meet with an educational adviser to learn how to research available financial aid for international students. Do not assume that all colleges award financial aid. Be sure to tell the admissions office your country of citizenship and request information on financial aid available to non-U.S. citizens.
If offered, financial aid is usually made up of a number of different types of assistance, including grants and scholarships and occasionally loans or part-time work programs.
Financial need is the difference between what you and your family can afford to contribute and the estimated cost of attending the college.
Financial assistance from colleges is awarded at the beginning of the academic year and is rarely available for students entering mid-year in January or at other times. More aid is available for freshman students than for those transferring in from other institutions. Students who have already proven themselves at a college may find it easier to obtain financial assistance from that college than new students.
Sports Scholarships : Some U.S. colleges offer opportunities for gifted student athletes to play for the college team as a means of paying for their education.
Loans : Your educational adviser may have information on loan programs for which you may be eligible. You must usually have a U.S. citizen co-signer to act as a guarantor for any loans from U.S. loan programs, and in most cases you must already be enrolled in a U.S. university before you apply.
Best Bargains : Look for the colleges that offer you the highest quality education at the lowest cost.
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