Why Study in the USA:

Maybe you want the very best education available. Maybe you want to put your career on the fast track by perfecting your English and working with top professionals in your field. Whatever your reasons, one thing is clear – your next step is to come to the U.S.A., which will help you achieve your goals and have fun!

You have read about the U.S.A. every day in the news, watched Hollywood films, listened to U.S. songs and music videos and talked to people from the U.S.A. Only by living in the U.S.A. can you truly become fluent in English and gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of U.S. culture.

Life in the U.S.A. will probably be different from what you expect. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that the images from films and television programs are not always true. That is, Americans come in a variety of sizes, colors and shapes. Americans in general are very friendly and will be interested in learning about you and your country.

For any international student, the U.S.A. has a lot to offer: the most prestigious, top ranked education anywhere in the world, eclectic cities and beautiful natural parks, artistic, cultural, political and athletic events, and a very multicultural population.

American education offers a rich field of choices for the international student. From abroad, and even from within the U.S.A., there is such an array of institutions, programs and locations that the choices may overwhelm the student. To simplify the choices, a student must carefully study how each program and location can fulfill the student's goals. In order to make informed decisions, a student will need to know how the U.S. education system is organized.

Let's start by examining the educational structure.

Most Americans attend twelve years of primary and secondary school. With a secondary school ("high school") diploma or certificate, a student can enter college, university, vocational (job training) school, secretarial school, and other professional schools.

Primary and Secondary School:

Begins around age six for U.S. children. They attend five or six years of primary school. Next they go to secondary school, which consists of either two three- year programs or a three-year and a four-year program. These are called "middle school" or "junior high school" and "senior high school" (often just called "high school"). Americans call these twelve years of primary and secondary school the first through twelfth "grades."

Higher Education:

After finishing high school (twelfth grade), U.S. students may go on to college or university. College or university study is known as "higher education." You should find out which level of education in your country corresponds to the twelfth grade in the U.S.A. You also should ask your educational advisor or guidance counselor whether you must spend an extra year or two preparing for U.S. admission. In some countries, employers and the government do not recognize a U.S. education if a student entered a U.S. college or university before he or she could enter university at home.

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, the M.B.A., and the Ph.D. (doctorate).

Course of study: U.S. students usually study a wide variety of subjects while in college. Many students do not specialize exclusively in one field until graduate school.

The first two years of college are called the "freshman" and "sophomore" years. Students in the first year are called "freshmen," and they are "sophomores" in the second year. Some schools require freshmen and sophomores to take courses in different areas of learning: literature, science, the social sciences, the arts, history, and so forth. Freshmen and sophomores are known as "underclassmen."

The "junior" and "senior," or third and fourth years, are the "upper classes." Students in these years are known as "juniors" and "seniors"- "upperclassmen." When they enter their junior year, they must choose a "major" field of study. They must take a certain number of courses in this department, or field. In some schools, students also choose a "minor" field. There is usually time for students to choose several other "elective" (extra) courses in other subjects.

Each student is assigned a "faculty advisor" who teaches courses in the student's major field. This advisor helps the student select a program of study.

An international student will also have an "International Student Advisor." This person helps the international students adjust to U.S. life, handles visa and other paperwork problems, and organizes activities for international students.

Classroom learning: Classes range from large lectures for several hundred students to smaller classes and "seminars" (discussion classes) with only a few students. Students enrolled in lecture courses are often divided into smaller groups, or "sections." The sections meet separately to discuss the lecture topics and other material.

Professors usually assign textbook and other readings each week. They also require several written reports each semester (term). You will be expected to keep up to date with the required readings in order to join in class discussions and to understand the lectures. Science students are also expected to spend time in the laboratory.

Academic year: The school calendar usually begins in August or September and continues through May or June. It is a good idea for international students to enter U.S. universities in autumn. Most new students enter at this time, so they can adjust together. Also, many courses are designed so students will take them in sequence, starting in autumn and continuing through the year.

The academic year at many schools is composed of two terms or semesters. Other schools use a three-term calendar known as the "trimester" system. Still others divide the year into the "quarter" system of four terms, including a summer session which is optional.

Credits: Each course is considered to be worth a number of "credits" or "credit hours." This number is roughly the same as the number of hours a student spends in class for that course each week. A course is typically worth three to five credits.

A full program at most schools is twelve or fifteen credit-hours (four or five courses per term). International students are expected to enroll in a full program during each term.

Transfers: If a student enrolls in a new university before finishing a degree, usually most credits earned at the first school can be used to complete a degree at the new university. This means a student can transfer to another university and still graduate within a reasonable time.

Marks: Professors give each student a mark or "grade" for each course. The marks are based upon:

Advanced placement: Some colleges and universities give college credit to students for work they have done in high school. Some schools also give advanced standing to students who prove that they have achieved college level proficiency in a certain subject.

This means that a student who is just entering college, a freshman, can take courses normally only open to sophomores.

The school will probably ask the student to take a test to prove that he or she can do sophomore-level work, or the school will give advanced placement to a student who has scored exceptionally high on college admission exams. Students who have completed "A" levels at home often receive advanced placement standing.

In order to find a professional job, a college graduate with a Bachelor's Degree today usually will want to consider graduate study.

Students from some countries are only permitted to study overseas at the graduate level. Because requirements are different in many countries, you should inquire about the credentials you will need to get a job in your country before you apply to a postgraduate school in the U.S.A.

Master's Degree: Many international students are able to qualify for the jobs they want after they have earned a Master's Degree. This degree is usually required in fields such as library science, engineering, or social work. The M.B.A., or Master of Business Administration, is an extremely popular degree that usually takes two years. Some Master's programs, such as journalism, only take one year.

In an academic Master's program, students study such fields as history and philosophy. These degrees are considered stepping-stones toward a doctorate (Ph.D.).

Most time in a Master's program is spent in classroom study. A Master's Degree candidate usually must prepare a long research paper called a "master's thesis."

Doctorate (Ph.D.): Many graduate schools consider the Master's Degree as the first step towards attaining the Ph.D. (doctorate). But at other schools, students may prepare directly for the doctorate without also earning a Master's Degree. It may take three years or more to earn the Ph.D. Degree. For international students, this time may be as long as five or six years.

For the first two years, most doctoral candidates enroll in classes and seminars. For at least another year, students will conduct firsthand research and write a thesis or dissertation. This paper must contain views, designs, or research that have not been previously published.

A doctoral dissertation is a discussion and summary of the current scholarship on a given topic. Most universities awarding doctorates also require their candidates to have a reading knowledge of two foreign languages, to spend some required length of time "in residence" attending class regularly, to pass a qualifying examination that officially admits candidates to the Ph.D. program, and to pass an oral examination on the same topic as the dissertation.

This glossary will help you understand the terms and language used to describe education in the U.S.A. You will find the words listed below are used throughout this magazine. Your understanding of the contents of this magazine will be greatly enhanced if you take the time to reference the terms below, and check back to this list often.

Academic counseling/advising: Students at U.S. universities and colleges are typically required to speak one on one with an academic counselor or advisor on a regular basis. Because students elect their own courses the advisor helps them to plan their academic calendars, and ensures that they are taking the classes they need to graduate.

Accreditation: the certification that a school or program meets a prescribed academic standard. It is very important to know that a college or university is accredited.

Advanced placement (AP): Some universities/colleges give credit for class work done in high school or to students who prove via examination that they have achieved university- level proficiency in a certain subject.

Campus: the location of a university, college, or school’s main buildings. U.S. campuses are known for their ample size, architecture, landscaping, and numerous student locales.

Coeducational: used to describe an educational environment that includes students of both sexes.

Cooperative education: a program in which students spend a portion of their time in a professional environment outside of the university. The duration of a bachelor’s program is usually five years.

Credits: Universities and colleges typically assign all courses a certain number of credits. Often the number of credits is equivalent to the number of hours spent in class each week.

Associate’s degree: earned upon completion of a degree program at a 2-year college.

Bachelor’s degree: earned upon completion of an undergraduate program, typically four years, at a college or university.

Master’s and Doctorate degree: earned upon completion of a graduate degree program

Distance learning: Some universities/colleges offer courses which students can take off-campus, via a variety of means, such as: Internet, videotapes, or cable television.

Dormitory: Also called “dorms,” dormitories are living facilities designed to house students. A cafeteria is often located in the same building.

ESL: English as a second language.

Faculty: the professors, teachers and lecturers of a university/college.

Freshman: first-year students at high schools, universities and colleges.

Homestay: a living arrangement that involves staying with an American family.

Honors college/classes: Some universities have an entire college or program dedicated to academically accomplished students, who wish to take more challenging and/or accelerated courses.

Internship/intern: an arrangement by which a student works in a company for a limited period of time.

Liberal arts: the study of humanities, arts and literature, language, and natural and physical sciences. Most U.S. universities and colleges offer an ample liberal arts program. Some schools are dedicated solely to the liberal arts.

Major: A college student’s field of study. U.S. students typically declare their major at the end of their second (sophomore) year.

Room and board: living facilities and food.

Tuition: The cost of attending a university or college. Room and board costs are separate. Tuition payments are typically required each quarter or semester and may depend on the number of credits for which you are enrolled, as well as your status as a state resident or U.S. citizen.

Vocational college: an institution dedicated to teaching the skills necessary for a particular line of work, such as electronics.

Work-study:Many students work part-time on campus and earn money toward their tuition costs. Do not be surprised to see many of your classmates working in campus facilities!