‘Higher Education’ is the
term used in the USA to describe any schooling after secondary or High
school education. Higher Education can take the form of a university,
college,
technical school, or professional school.
The United States continues to be a popular destination for post
secondary students from many of the world’s countries. There are over
3,100 accredited colleges and universities in the USA and they are
highly popular destination for post secondary students from many of the
world’s countries. Making the right school choice is the first hurdle
most students must overcome in pursuing a degree program. It takes
careful planning and research.
WHY STUDY IN USA
US institutions of higher learning offer
a wide variety of subjects (or majors , as they are called )
to study,
every thing from the fine and liberal arts to practical , career
oriented field such as engineering and marketing . The USA also presents
a wide variety of institutions to choose from: large, comprehensive,
land-grant institutions of 50.000 students to small, traditional,
liberal arts colleges of less than 1.000 students. Distinctions among
these academic institutions are in size, level and competitiveness of
education offered, social/residential atmosphere and the time required
to complete a degree.
Because the United States is a large
country with a variety of climatic and living conditions, schools, vary
greatly due to there location. Since academic levels ad quality of
instruction are comparable at most accredited institutions at the
undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) level, your personal preferences as to
size, climate and location play a key role in which school you choose.
HOW DOES ONE CHOOSE
THE RIGHT COLLEGE ?
There are four levels of degrees for
which one can study at an American college or university. They are:
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B.A (Bachelors of Arts) or B.S.
(Bachelors of Sciences) degree: given after four
years of study.
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The Masters Degree: usually requires one
to three years of study after obtaining
the Bachelor’s degree.
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The PhD or Doctor of Philosophy degree
and Eh.D or Doctor of Education Degree:
usually requires 3 additional years of study after obtaining the
Master’s degree.
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WHAT TYPE OF HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTES EXIST ?
As indicated, there are a variety of
institutions to choose from in the United States. Some of the types are:
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The university.
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The College
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Professional Schools
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HOW DO AMERICANS
CLASSIFY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ?
Students from other countries should be
aware of the types of schools offered in the USA and how Americans
classify these schools, how and when it was formed, and what traditions,
including non-academic traditions, are associated with the school.
Several of these classifications are the
following:
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Land-Grant Institutions: these are
usually large state-affiliated or
public-supported institutions financed by public taxes.
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The Ivy League: these schools are
by definition the oldest schools of
higher learning in the US, usually formed before the start of the
American
Revolution in 1776.
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Denominational or Religiously
Affiliated Schools: there are a large
number of colleges and universities in the United States formed b
religious
groups and organizations.
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Technical Institutes: these are
schools specializing primarily in engineering
and science. The yare usually premier research institutions requiring
excellent
high school backgrounds for admission at the graduate level.
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Small Liberal arts Colleges: there
are hundreds of liberal arts colleges through
out the United States comprising 1,000 to 2,500 students.
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Community colleges: provide the first
half of education toward a
baccalaureate
degree. Sometimes called, 'two year college’ , the community
colleges
courses are
usually completed in a minimum of 21/2 to 3 years- by
both international
and
American students, Where there are agreements between
the community
colleges and universities, students completing community college
work
successfully have a much greater chance of being accepted at the higher
institutions.
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As indicated earlier, when choosing a
school in the United States your personal preferences
are important. You need to find an atmosphere that will afford you the greatest comfort
level. If you fell comfortable, you will be better able to concentrate
on studies. At the undergraduate level, most accredited institutions are
similar regarding academic levels. Atmosphere and location are what make
one school different from another. International students would do well
to consider all the various options when choosing a school, an
atmosphere that will afford you the greatest comfort level. If you feel
comfortable, you will be better able to concentrate on studies. At the
undergraduate level, most accredited institutions are similar regarding
academic levels. Atmosphere and location are what make one school
different from another. International students would do well to consider
all the various options when choosing a school.
In the final analysis. Careful planning
and research is critical when attempting to study for a degree in the
United States .
