College Life
OVERVIEW OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM
The following is a brief description of the American education system:
Primary school
American children start school at the age of five years. The first year at school is called kindergarten. It is required of all American children enrolled in the American education system. The second year at school is considered the first year of primary school and is referred to as first grade. In America, the word grade has two meanings: (1) the score achieved on an exam or in a course, and (2) a year of education in primary or secondary school. Primary school most commonly consists of five years of education, referred to as first through fifth grades.
Secondary school
Upon completion of fifth grade (the last year of primary school), American children enrolled in the American education system advance to secondary school. Secondary school most commonly consists of a total of seven years, referred to as sixth through twelfth grades. The ninth through twelfth grades are most commonly referred to as high school. Upon completion of twelfth grade, American students are awarded a certificate called the high school diploma. In the American education system, students must have obtained a high school diploma before they are admitted into college or university.
The USA high school system is unlike that of many other countries. There is little national standardization in the typical USA high school (or secondary school) curriculum. Individual states have great control over what coursework is taught in the schools within their borders, as well as in the requirements that students must meet in order to graduate with a high school diploma. Therefore, what courses and subjects are offered will vary depending on where the high school is located.
The coursework will also vary depending on whether the high school is public or private. US public high schools are operated by the government and are financed by public funds. These schools are free to all students, even foreigners. The quality of education can vary greatly between different public high schools, primarily because of differences in the amount of funding that different schools receive. Private US high schools are operated by private individuals and are financed by private funds. These private high schools are not controlled by any government agency, but their students must still meet the minimum graduation requirements set by the state. All private high school students must pay tuition, regardless of their nationality. Private USA high schools are popular because they offer options that are not available at public high schools. These may include advanced math and science courses, a broader selection of foreign languages, and better art, music and athletic programs.
Undergraduate school
Students who have completed high school and would like to attend college or university must attend what is referred to as an undergraduate school. These are schools that offer either a two-year degree (called an associate degree) or a four-year degree (called a bachelors degree) in a specific course of study. That course of study is called the major. While most schools that offer a four-year degree will admit students who have not yet chosen a major, all students are required to select (or declare) a major by their second year at school. Students who complete an associate degree can continue their education at a four-year school and eventually complete a bachelor degree.
The associate degree is a two year degree given by US colleges. The degree is awarded to students who have completed all the requirements of the program. There are three classes of these degrees in the USA: the associate of arts degree (also called the A.A. degree), the associate of applied science degree (the A.A.S. degree), and the associate of science degree (A.S. degree). These degrees are awarded by two types of colleges: community colleges, which are operated by the local government and financed by public funds, and junior colleges, which are generally privately run. Both are excellent options.
There are three general groups of students who will enroll in community or junior college. The first are students who do not want to pursue a bachelor degree, but prefer instead to complete an associate degree program. The second are students who eventually want to earn a bachelor degree, but choose to complete the first two years of their education at a community college before transferring to a four-year college or university. The third are members of the local community who want to take classes in various subjects without pursuing any type of degree or enrolling in a formal program (this is called "continuing education").
At all public colleges in the US, including community colleges, the tuition paid by an international student will be higher than what is paid by a student living in the college's local community. The international student will pay the same tuition as an American student who lives outside the local area. Typically the cost of attending a community college will still be much lower than attending a four-year college or university, even a public one. Therefore completing an associates degree program at a US community college is a very cost effective way of obtaining an education. It also gives international students the ability to greatly reduce the cost of completing a bachelor degree if they choose to transfer to a four-year college upon finishing their first two years, even if they don't complete all the requirements for the associate degree.
Junior colleges offer associates degrees similarly to community colleges, but because they are privately funded they charge the same tuition to all students.
A bachelor degree is the most traditional degree given by US colleges and universities. It normally requires at least four years but not more than five years of full-time college-level coursework. The two most common classes of bachelor degrees awarded by US schools are the bachelor of science degree (also called the B.S.) and the bachelor of arts degree (also called the B.A.). Some schools offer only the B.A. degree, even for science majors (such as a B.A. in biology). Other schools offer both the B.A. and the B.S.
A bachelors degree is what most students pursue when enrolling in a US university or college. In fact, people with a bachelors degree earn substantially more than those who don't have one. More and more jobs and careers today require applicants to posses one. Some would argue that a bachelors degree is the first step to success. At the very least, it helps open doors of opportunity.
All students pursuing a bachelors degree must select a major, usually by the end of their second year. Students must complete a required number of courses (or units) within their major in order to graduate with a degree in that major. They may also be required to complete a number of courses in closely related fields in order to satisfy other requirements. For example, a student who is majoring in chemistry will not only have to complete chemistry courses, but also mathematics, biology, and physics courses in order to graduate with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also complete a series of courses outside of their major. These requirements will apply to all students attending the college, regardless of major. For example, all students may be required to complete courses in writing, foreign language, communications, and American history. Without it, they cannot graduate.
There are various types of schools that offer bachelors degree programs. The different types of US schools can be classified into the categories that are described below.
Private universities
These are schools that are operated by private individuals and are financed by private funds. These schools are not controlled by any government agency and also offer many bachelors degree options. Tuition at private schools is normally much higher than at public schools because of the lack of financial support from the government. There is no difference between the amount of tuition paid by American students and foreign students. Obtaining a bachelor's degree at a private university or college is what many international students choose. Make sure the university is properly accredited so that your degree will be recognized.
Public universities
These are schools offering bachelors degree options are operated by a state government and are financed by public funds. They are also called state universities and sometimes have the word state in their names (for example, San Diego State University). The tuition charged by these schools is typically much lower for students who are residents of the state where the school is located. Public universities offer bachelor's degrees and some offer master's and PhD degrees, too. Students who are residents of other states and international students will pay higher tuition because they and their parents have not contributed to the taxes that help finance the schools. The bachelors degree programs offered at public universities vary per school and are popular with international students.
Liberal arts colleges
These are schools that offer bachelor's degree programs and provide students with a broad-based, rather than a highly focused, education. These schools are described in detail in the Liberal arts section.
Institutes of technology
These are schools that offer bachelor's degree programs and courses primarily in the fields of science and engineering. Unlike a liberal arts college, institutes of technology provide students with an education that is focused in their major. These schools are usually best known for their graduate programs.
Religiously affiliated universities
These schools offering bachelors degree programs were founded by religious organizations. Most religiously affiliated schools in America were founded by Christian organizations, but other faiths are also represented. These are all privately funded, and many offer what is referred to as a liberal arts education. Nearly all will admit students of all faiths, and only some will require students to attend religious services.
Specialized vocation schools
These are highly specialized schools that offer vocational training in certain fields. Examples of such schools would be Julliard (acting), Berkley, (music), Parson's School of Design (fashion), etc. In addition to bachelors degrees, these vocation schools also often offer graduate degrees.
Online colleges and online universities
Besides physically attending a school in the USA, international students also have the option of obtaining their bachelors degree online.
The US College Unit System
College courses are assigned a value in what are called "credits" or "units." The number of units assigned to a course corresponds to the number of hours that a student will attend class for that course. For example, a course that consists of three class sessions per week, and where each class session last for 50 minutes, will be assigned a value of three units. Typically, colleges require that students complete a minimum number of units in order to graduate, rather than a minimum number of courses. This gives students more flexibility in what courses they decide to take to complete their graduation requirements.
Most colleges and universities follow either a quarter-based calendar system or a semester-based calendar system. In a quarter system, the academic year is divided into three sessions called quarters. Each quarter lasts about 12 weeks. There is usually an additional quarter in the summer, where registration is optional. Foreign students are not required to attend courses in the summer to maintain their status. In a semester system, the academic year is divided into two sessions called semesters. Each semester lasts 16 weeks. Again, there may be an optional session during the summer.
Students who have registered for at least 12 units in a session (either a quarter or semester) are said to be "full-time" students. Students who have registered for fewer than 12 units in a session are called "part-time" students.
Most students complete ten courses per academic year and usually take four years (although it can be much longer) to complete a bachelor’s degree requirement of around 40 three-hour courses or 120 credits. Those who achieve the highest grade point averages (GPAs) graduate (or ‘are graduated’) as Summa cum Laude (excellent), Magna cum Laude (very good) and Cum Laude (good).
Graduate school
Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree can continue their education by pursuing one of two types of degrees. The first is a master's degree. This is usually a two-year degree that is highly specialized in a specific field. Students are sometimes admitted to a master's degree program only if they have a bachelor's degree in a closely related field. However, there are many exceptions to this, such as with students who want to pursue a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) degree. Students who want to advance their education even further in a specific field can pursue a doctorate degree, also called a PhD. A PhD degree can take between three and six years to complete, depending on the course of study chosen, the ability of the student, and the thesis that the student has selected. The thesis is a very intensive research paper that must be completed prior to earning the degree. It is always required of students pursuing a PhD, and may sometimes be required of students pursuing a master's degree (depending on the school).
Certain courses of study are only available at the graduate school level in America. The most notable of these are law, dentistry, and medicine. Students who want to pursue a degree in one of these fields must first obtain a bachelor's degree.
College and University Degree Accreditation
The United States government does not regulate the quality of educational programs offered at colleges and universities. Instead, the accreditation of a university, college or school tells you that the school has met a minimum standard of quality in its academic programs. Accrediting organizations are authorized by the US Department of Education to set these standards and then evaluate whether a school's program meets them. If so, then the university, college or school is said to be "accredited" by that body.
There are several different accrediting organizations in the US, and universities and colleges may be accredited by just one or by a few. Also, individual programs (such as the engineering program) at universities and colleges can be accredited by a professional organization that is specialized in that discipline.
(from http://www.usastudyguide.com)
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees vary widely among colleges and universities and no two institutions charge the same fees. Public state colleges and universities charge significantly lower fees for in-state residents (also applies to resident foreign students) and higher ‘out-of-state’ fees to non-residents. One year’s residence in a state is usually necessary to qualify for the resident tuition rate. Higher fees may also apply to out-of-county students at a two-year community college. Average tuition fees for public (state) four-year colleges and universities are around $3,500 per year and for private institutions around $15,000 per year, although you can pay twice as much for tuition at an Ivy League college. Fees for private universities have increased alarmingly in recent years and many colleges have reduced their entrance standards (called ‘dumb-downscaling’) to attract students who can afford the fees. In addition to tuition fees, there are also fees for registration, health centre, sports centre and parking (all of which must be paid at the start of each semester). Room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and other expenses cost (on average) an additional $8,000 to $15,000 per year, depending on the area, whether you attend a public or private institution. A car is often essential, as public transport is usually poor. Health insurance is compulsory, although students may be automatically enrolled in the university health insurance plan. All in all, paying for a child’s college education is a major investment for parents, most of whom can expect to spend between $50,000 and $100,000 to put a child through college. Most families participate in savings and investment schemes to finance their children’s college education, and an increasing number expect their offspring to take an active role in paying for their own education through loans and evening and summer jobs. Many students obtain part-time employment to finance their studies, during term-time and summer breaks (foreign students should check in advance whether their visa allows such employment), while others receive grants, scholarships and loans to help meet their living expenses.
(from http://www.justlanded.de/english/USA/USA-Guide/Education/Higher-Education)
Grants, Scholarships and Loans
Financial aid may be classified into two types based on the criteria through which the financial aid is awarded: merit-based or need-based. Student aid is awarded as grants and scholarships, low-interest, government-subsidized loans, and education tax benefits. Merit-based grants or scholarships include scholarships awarded by the college or university and those awarded by outside organizations. Merit-based scholarships are typically awarded for outstanding academic achievements and maximum SAT or ACT scores, although some merit scholarships can be awarded for special talents, leadership potential and other personal characteristics. Scholarships may be given because of group affiliation (such as YMCA, Boys Club, etc.). Merit scholarships are sometimes awarded without regard for the financial need of the applicant. At many colleges, every admitted student is automatically considered for merit scholarships. At other institutions, a separate application process is required. Scholarships do not need to be repaid as long as all requirements are met. Need-based financial aid is awarded on the basis of the financial need of the student. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid application (FAFSA) is generally used for determining federal, state, and institutional need-based aid eligibility. The application must be submitted either electronically to the United States Department of Education. The FAFSA typically consists of 130 questions regarding a family's financial situation. The Department of Education processes each request and tells a student how much the federal government expects their family to contribute toward paying for college — the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). An individual's student aid award is likely to vary from institution to institution.
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_financial_aid_in_the_United_States)