US education system: basic principles

The American education system offers a wide range of diploma options for international students. There are so many colleges, programs and locations that even Americans cannot always understand them. Before you look for a university in the USA, you should get acquainted with the American education system - this will help you narrow the search and develop an effective educational plan.

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The structure of the educational system: primary and secondary schools

Before going to college, American students go to primary and secondary schools for 12 years. These years are called classes - from the first to the twelfth.

At about six years old, American children begin elementary school - in the United States it is called elementary school. Study lasts about 5-6 years, after which they go to high school.

The high school consists of two programs: the “high school” itself (middle school or junior high school) and the “high school”, that is, high school. After graduating from secondary education, a student receives a diploma or certificate. After 12 class, Americans can go to colleges and universities. Education in them is called "higher education."

Rating system

Like Americans, when entering a university or college, foreign applicants need to submit a report card. A timesheet is an official copy of an extract from your study record. In the US, this includes grades and a GPA (Grade Point Average, GPA) that determine student success. Items are usually rated as a percentage, which is subsequently translated into a literal grade.

The grading system and GPA can be difficult for foreign students to understand. Interpretation of ratings may have many options. For example, two students from different schools submit their timesheets to one university. Both have an average score of 3,5, but one student went to a regular high school, and the second to a prestigious one, where studying is more difficult. A university may have different meanings for their average scores, since the schools where they studied have completely different standards.

Here are some important points:

• You need to find the American equivalent of the level of education you have received in your country.
• Pay attention to the requirements for applicants of each university, college, as well as individual educational programs, since they may differ from university-wide ones.
• Meet with your university counselor regularly to monitor your progress.

Your consultant will help you figure out whether you need to spend an extra year or two in America to prepare for entry to college. If a foreign student enters an American college before he can become an applicant in his country, it may happen that his own country does not recognize the American diploma of such a student.

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Academic year

The school year usually begins in August or September and lasts until May or June. The beginning of the academic year is usually lively - during this period friendly relations are born, as young people all together adapt to the new life. Many courses begin in the fall and then continue throughout the school year.

In most universities, the academic year consists of two semesters (in some of the three). There are those that divide the year into four periods, including the optional summer trimester. If you choose not to study in the summer, your year will consist of either two semesters or three trimesters.

Levels of study: level one - basic higher education

A college or university student who has not yet received a bachelor's degree is at the level of basic higher education (undergraduate student / undergrad). A bachelor’s degree usually takes 4 a year. This can be done either at a community college (community college) or at a university 4-year college.

The first two years you will have to study general subjects, they are also called basic: literature, natural sciences, social sciences, art, history and so on. This is to obtain general knowledge, a foundation, before concentrating on narrow specialization.

Many students begin their studies at the municipal college to attend the first two years of basic courses. They earn an associate degree (Associate of Arts, AA) and are then transferred to an 4-year-old university or college.

The major specialty you are studying is called “major”. For example, a student with a “major” in journalism will receive a bachelor's degree in journalism. In order to get a diploma in a particular specialty, you need to listen to a certain number of courses on this "major". The main specialty is chosen at the beginning of the third year of study at the university.

A feature of the American system of higher education is the ability of a student to change his “major” several times during his studies. Americans often take advantage of this opportunity. It happens that in the process of getting higher education a student begins to like another specialty, and in this regard, American universities are very flexible. But keep in mind - changing a specialty means more courses you have attended - and that is time and money.

Level Two - Master

You can enter the magistracy only with a bachelor's degree. This is necessary if you want to work in high positions in library science, engineering, health care, education and other fields.

Some countries allow their citizens to study abroad only in the magistracy. Before you apply in the United States, learn about your education requirements.

Master programs usually work as departments of universities or colleges. To enroll, you will need to take the GRE (graduate record examination) test. Some masters programs require more specialized tests - for example, LSAT in law school, GRE or GMAT in business school, and MCAT in medical school.

Master's studies usually take a year or two. For example, an MBA, a popular business administration program, requires two years of study. In others, such as journalism, it is enough to study for a year.

A large part of the master’s degree study is classroom instruction. The student must also write a thesis or master's project.

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Level Three - Doctorate

In many universities, obtaining a master's degree is the first step to the degree of Doctor of Science (PhD). But in other universities, students can immediately apply for doctoral studies - it will take about 3 years without a master's degree. Foreign students study longer - from 5 to 6 years.

The first two years of the program, most students are engaged in classrooms and seminars. Another year you need to spend on conducting research and writing a thesis. It should contain ideas, designs, designs, or studies that have not previously been published.

Most American universities require that their candidates for a doctoral degree know two more foreign languages, spend a certain amount of time “at the place of study”, pass a qualification test for admission to the doctoral program and pass an oral exam on the same topic as the dissertation.

Characteristics of the learning environment in the United States: the situation in the classroom

Classes at universities are different: from large lectures for several hundred students to small lessons and seminars (discussions) for just a few students. The atmosphere in the classrooms of American universities is very dynamic. You are expected to express your own opinion, defend your point of view, take part in discussions and prepare presentations. It is these aspects of learning that most often surprise foreign students in the United States.

Every week, teachers ask to read textbooks and other books. You will be expected to complete these tasks, because otherwise you will not be able to participate in discussions and understand the lectures. Some programs also have to spend time in laboratories.

The teachers give marks to each student of their course. Usually the assessment depends on such factors:

• Each teacher has his own requirements for attendancebut students are expected to take part in lectures and seminars. This is an important factor in the final course assessment.
• Intermediate The exam usually takes place during class.
• You also need to pass one or more for evaluation. essay or lab work.
• Can be held short exams or tests. Sometimes teachers give unexpected tests. They are not particularly taken into account when grading, but are used to motivate students to learn and visit.
• Final exam held after the last class of the course.

Кредиты

Each course is “worth” a certain amount of credits or credit hours. It is approximately equal to the number of hours of this course in a week. Usually, 3 to 5 credits are counted for the course.

In most universities, the semester program consists of 12-15 credits (3-5 subjects per semester). In order to get a diploma of education, you need to "earn" a certain number of credits. International students must attend a full-time program in each semester.

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If a student enters a new university before receiving a diploma, his earned credits can usually be transferred to a new university. This means that students can be transferred to other universities and finish them almost on the originally scheduled dates.

Types of higher education institutions

1. State College or University

A government institution works with the support and administration of a state or local community. There are at least one state university and several state colleges in each of the 50 states of America. Many of these public universities, as they are called, are named after their state: for example, Washington State University or University of Michigan.

2. Private college or university

These universities are managed privately, and, as a rule, training in them is more expensive than in public ones. Private schools are often smaller than state schools.

Universities and colleges in religious communities are also private institutions. Practically everything can be done to students of different faiths. Only a few are limited to admitting only those applicants who share the faith of the community in which the university was established.

3. Municipal College

Municipal colleges are 2-year schools where you can get an associate's degree and certificates. They are divided according to the type of diploma - with one you can go on to study further in another university, with another you can only work. You can study with a diploma of junior specialist (associate of arts) and a diploma of incomplete higher education (associate of science). They work with a diploma as an associate of applied science (associate of applied science) and a certificate of completion (certificate of completion).

Graduates from community colleges are usually transferred to 4-year colleges or universities to complete a full degree. Due to the fact that they can transfer their loans from college, at the university it is enough for them to get another two years to get a bachelor's degree. Many municipal colleges have English courses as a second language, which will allow foreign students to prepare for university studies.

If you do not want to study further than an associate's degree, find out if it is suitable for employment in your country.

4. Institute of Technology

The Institute of Technology assumes an 4 year of technical and natural sciences. In some, you can also get a master's degree, in others - to attend only short courses.

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