US system of education
In the United States students complete 12 years of primary and secondary education before they begin their higher(postsecondary) education at the undergraduate level (gee, those guys are whole 2 years cleverer than I am). Most U.S. students complete secondary education and receive a High School Diploma at about age 18. After finishing secondary school(High School), students may opt forpostsecondary vocational or technical, or academic study at a two-year community college, or a four-year college or university.
In a Community(Junior) College you will study for 2 years and receive Associate of Arts or Associate of Sciences degree. Afrer that you can transfer directly to the junior year in a 4-year college or University. Many Community Colleges have affiliated programs with 4-year institutions, so transferring there shouldn't be a problem. Community Colleges usually cost much less than 4-year ones, but many two-year colleges do not admit students from abroad. Frequently no housing or other support facilities for foreign students.
The 4-year colleges and Universities offer broad education with two years of work in ecialized field. On graduation you are awarded a Bachelor's degree. Most collages and universities receive more applications than they can accept and the competition for the place in class is quite keen. My own experience shows that colleges and universities can be divided into 4 major groups:
- The Great and Mighty Ones - Harvard, MIT, CalTech are highly eclectic and they often don't care about your financial situation - if really want you there THEY PAY FOR EVERITHING!!!
- Greedy Aristocracy - Cornell University, Yale, etc. are as prestigious as the Mighty Ones, but they give much less money to international students. They are very selective too and their programs and resources are great, but you usually gotta be either very-very clever or very-very rich (often both) to get there. But they still have a few Full Scholarships for incomin' international students like you.
- The Peloton. There are hundreds of colleges worth of applying to. Some of them, like Amherst or Swarthmore are pretty small, but have great resources, faculty and are among the top Liberal Arts Colleges in the U.S.. Others, like Colgate or Lafayette are struggling to become elite and offer good opportunities for international students. You will have to do a ton of work to find out which colleges are suitable 4 you.
- We Want Yo Money Colleges - the least selective colleges, like U of Akron or Weber State who accept almost everyone and don't give you any money, only take.Don't look for much financial aid here.
In general, students with fewer tan 12 years of preparation cannot expect to be admitted, unless they have an outstanding academic record(that's definitely not me) and have already completed a year or two at a university abroad. This is a general rule, however. The level at which you are admitted to a given institution depends on the policy of that institution, as well as the equivalence between the educational system in U.S. and in your country. U.S. colleges, universities and technical institutions vary in the requirements they set for previous academic achievement. This means that if your country has a 10 or 11-year secondary education, you may apply to U.S. colleges and universities right after you graduate or even during your last year at school. This also means that if you have never been to school at all but won 3 World Olympiads for Young Matematicians, you should give it a try.
Graduate education
Begins: age 22+;
Duration: 2 to 10 years
Minimum entrance requirement: bachelor’s degree;
Degree awarded: master’s (MA/MS); doctorate (Ph.D.).
Cost: from $8,000 to $24,000 per academic year;
Financial Aid: After first year of study, teaching and research assistantships often available for foreign students with good academic records and excellent English skills. Those with excellent academic records may qualify for departmental grants or various other fellowships.
Comments: In-depth education in specialized field; combination of coursework and independent research. Thesis (original research paper) required for master’s as well.
Recommended academic standing: good to excellent.
Professional Education (medicine, law, dentistry, veterinary medicine)
Begins: age 22+;
Duration: 3 - 5 years
Minimum entrance requirement: bachelor’s degree;
Degree awarded: varies according to field
Cost: minimum of $24,000 per academic year;
Financial aid: none
Comments: In the US one cannot enter medical, law dental, or veterinary school directly from high school, but must have already completed the bachelor’s degree. Competition is extremely keen. Even foreign nationals with excellent academic records have virtually no chance for acceptance at the first professional degree level.
Last updated 17.08.99
