The American education system in detail

The U.S. education system offers a wide range of opportunities for international students. The number of programs, institutions, and cities where they are located is so vast that it can make even a U.S. student dizzy. As you begin your search for the right college for you, it is important that you understand the U.S. education system. Doing so can help you eliminate unnecessary options and create your own educational plan.

The educational structure in America

Primary and Middle School

American students first attend elementary and middle school, where education takes a total of 12 years (grades 1-12).

At about age 6, American children go to elementary school, where they study 5 or 6 years, and then move on to middle school. There are two stages: "middle school" or "junior high school" and high school. At the end of high school a diploma or certificate is issued. After 12th grade, U.S. students can go to college or university, which is their highest education.

Grading system

To apply to a university or college, like Americans, you must have a transcript. This is an official document about your academic record. In the U.S., it contains your grades and grade point average (GPA), which are used to measure your academic performance. Usually course work is measured in percentages, which are then converted into letter grades.

It can be difficult for an international student to understand the U.S. grading system and average academic grades. The same grade can be interpreted differently by universities. For example, two applicants from different schools apply to a university. Both applicants have a GPA of 3.5, but the first applicant attended a regular school, and the second applicant attended a prestigious school with a more challenging program. For a university, their grades carry different weight because of the widely different requirements for students in the schools.

So there are some very important things to keep in mind:

• Find out which level of education in the United States corresponds to the most recent graduation rate in your country.

• Look closely at the admission requirements of each university and college, and individual higher education programs whose admission requirements may differ from the university.

• To ensure that you meet the requirements, the pedagogical In some countries the state or employers may not recognize a U.S. education if the student enrolled at a U.S. college or university before being eligible to attend college in the home country.

Curriculum Year

The U.S. academic year generally begins in August through September and runs through May-June. Most freshmen start in the fall, and international students should join them. Everyone is enthusiastic at the beginning of the academic year, making new friends and adjusting to the new stage of university life. In addition, many courses are taken consecutively, one after the other, and begin in the fall.

Many universities have a two-part academic year called semesters, and some have three terms or trimesters. There is also a division of the year into quarters that includes an optional summer quarter. In fact, except for the summer quarter, an academic year is usually divided into either two terms or three quarters.

The U.S. higher education system: levels

First Level: Baccalaureate

A college or university student who does not receive a bachelor's degree is considered to have not completed higher education. A bachelor's degree usually lasts about four years. To earn a bachelor's degree, you can start at a two-year community college or take a four-year course at a university or college.

In your first two years, you will study mostly a variety of required subjects: literature, science, social studies, art, history, and so on. These general education courses provide a knowledge base, a foundation for further in-depth study of a particular field.

Many students choose a community college to take a two-year required program. Upon graduation they earn an associate's degree, which can transfer to a university or four-year college."

This is where students specialize-a particular area of study that you focus on in your continuing education. For example, if your major is journalism, you'll get a bachelor of arts degree in journalism. To qualify for this degree, you will need to take a certain number of courses appropriate to your chosen field. You choose your major at the beginning of your third year, and you can change it if you like.

The flexibility of the U.S. higher education system is what sets it apart from others. It is very common for students in the United States to switch majors at some point in their education. It is not uncommon for them to find that they are doing well in something else, or to find more interesting areas of study. Keep in mind, however, that switching majors means taking more courses, which in turn adds time and money to your education.

Second Level: Master's Degree

Modern graduates with a bachelor's degree now give serious consideration to further study so they can work in a specific field or advance their career. Master's degrees are usually required for higher-level positions in librarianship, engineering, mental health, and education.

In addition, international students from some countries may only study abroad in programs at this level of education. It's best to ask which degrees and certificates are valid for employment in your country before you apply to a U.S. university.

The master's degree is usually a division at a university or college. You will need to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) to be admitted. Certain master's programs require special admissions tests: LSAT (Law School Admission Test) in law, GRE or GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) in business schools, MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) in medicine.

Master's programs are usually designed for one or two years of study. For example, the most popular MBA program takes about two years to complete, while others, such as the journalism program, last only a year.

Attendance is a large part of the master's program, and the graduate must prepare a qualifying research paper called a master's thesis or complete a master's project.

Thirs Level: Doctoral Studies

Many institutions of higher learning consider the master's degree only the first step toward the doctoral degree (PhD). However, there are some institutions where students can prepare for the PhD directly, bypassing the master's program. The PhD will take at least three years to complete, and for international students it can take up to five or six years.

The first two academic years are spent in classrooms and seminars for most doctoral candidates. At least one more year should be devoted to conducting your own research and writing your dissertation. It must be scientifically novel and contain a point of view, development or research that is being published for the first time.

The doctoral dissertation includes an analysis of existing scientific knowledge on the chosen topic. Most U.S. universities that offer doctoral degrees also require candidates to be proficient in two foreign languages at least at the reading level, to work at the university as a visiting scholar or faculty member for a certain period, to pass a qualifying doctoral entrance exam, and to take an oral exam on the topic of the thesis.

Pecific features of the American higher education system

Autmosphere in the classroom

Sessions can take the form of lectures for large audiences The atmosphere in American university classrooms is very democratic. Students are expected to express their opinions and make arguments, engage in discussions, and give presentations. For international students, this is one of the most unexpected aspects of the American education system.

Each week, professors give you an assignment to read certain sources. You will need to do your homework to participate in class discussions and understand the lectures. Lab work is also included in the requirements of certain programs.

The instructor assigns grades to each student taking the course. Typically, they depend on the following points:

• The requirements for classroom work vary from instructor to instructor, but all students should participate in class discussions, especially in seminars. It is usually a very important factor in assessing a student.

• There is usually a midterm review during class work.

• At least one research paper or term paper, or lab reports, must be submitted for grading.

• Short exams or quizzes may be given. Occasionally teachers will conduct an unscheduled knowledge test. They have little impact on grades, and are designed to motivate students to meet deadlines and attend class.

• A final exam is given after class sessions are completed.

Credits

Each course "costs" a certain number of credits, or credit hours. This number is roughly the same as the number of classroom hours a student spends in a given course during a week. Usually three to five credits can be earned in a single course.

A full program at most institutions includes 12 to 15 credits (four to five courses per semester). You need to accumulate a certain number of credits to successfully complete your degree. International students should be enrolled as full-time students.

Transfer to another institution

If a student transfers before completing his or her degree, all (or most) of the credits previously earned usually transfer to the new institution. This means that total time spent studying at the new university remains much the same.

Types of higher education in the United States

1. Public colleges or universities

This is an educational institution that is funded and operated by a state or local government. Each of the 50 U.S. states has at least one such university and there may be several colleges. Many of these public universities bear the state's name and have the word "state" or "state" in their name, such as: Washington State University, University of Michigan.

2. Private colleges and universities

Unlike the first type, these institutions are privately funded and operated. Their tuition costs are likely to be higher than public ones, and private colleges and universities are usually smaller in size.

All religious educational institutions are private. Almost all of them accept students of all faiths and denominations, yet a certain number of institutions prefer students of the same religious beliefs within which the college or university exists.

3. Community College

These are two-year colleges that offer an associate degree (counts toward transfer to a four-year college). There are many types of two-year degrees. The most important aspect of this education is the ability to take that degree into account when transferring to another institution. In general this education is divided into two main areas: preparation for further education and vocational training for employment. Associate of Arts or Science degrees are usually appropriate for transfer to post-secondary institutions and colleges. It is unlikely that you can transfer with an associate of applied science degree or a college degree.

Graduates from community colleges are more likely to go to a four-year college or university to continue their education. Because they can transfer credits earned earlier, students have the option of completing their bachelor's degrees in two or more years. Many community colleges also have English as a Foreign Language (ESL) programs or intensive English language programs to help students prepare for university-level courses.

If you are not planning to study beyond what a community college provides, you should ask whether an associate degree counts toward your country's employment requirements.

4. Institutes of Technology

The U.S. Institute of Technology is a university with at least four years of study in science and engineering. Some offer postgraduate degrees, and some offer short-term programs.

Material prepared by Makhneva Alena