EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE USA

EDUCATION IN THE USA

EducationUSA Network

One of the most attractive features of the U.S. higher education system is the flexibility it provides through the number and diversity of institution types it encompasses.

This diversity offers students options to specialize in a variety of academic disciplines and even gain employment training.

More than 4,000 accredited institutions make up U.S. higher education in the United States. Unlike many countries, U.S. higher education institutions are not centrally organized or managed, but are accredited on a national or regional level by independent accrediting bodies.

A variety of institution types offer higher-education degrees. Liberal arts institutions, for example, offer courses in the arts, humanities, languages, and social and physical sciences. The majority of liberal arts institutions are private. Private colleges and universities are funded by a combination of endowments, gifts from alumni, research grants, and tuition fees. Private colleges and universities are usually smaller than public institutions and can have a religious affiliation or be single-sex schools.

Community colleges are another option and provide two-year associate degree programs to prepare students to continue studies for an undergraduate degree or help them gain occupational skills for immediate employment. State colleges and universities, also called “public universities,” were founded and subsidized by U.S. state governments to provide a low-cost education to residents of that state. Public universities generally offer access to research opportunities and classes in a wide variety of fields of study. These universities tend to be very large and generally admit a wider range of students than private universities. Each student’s interests will guide his/her choice among the many possibilities.

Regardless of the institution type, in the United States, students typically earn credits for courses they take and these credits count towards the completion of a program. Courses are often divided into “core” subject areas to provide the foundation of the degree program and “major” courses to provide specialization in a subject area. Students can also take “elective” courses to explore other topics of interest for a well-rounded educational experience.

The U.S. academic calendar typically runs from September to May and can be divided into two academic terms of 16-18 weeks known as semesters. Alternatively, some schools may operate on a quarter or trimester system of multiple terms of 10-12 weeks.

With the variety of available U.S. higher education options, students are sure to find the right fit for their academic, financial, and personal needs.

https://educationusa.state.gov/experience-studying-usa/us-educational-system

 

 

APPLY TO STUDY

Colleges and universities in the USA have their own criteria for admissions However, most of them usually require the following, for undergraduate studies:

 

Application Form/Financial Documents

Application Fee ($30 – $100 depending on college/university)

Official transcripts -grades

Standardized test scores ( TOEFL iBT, SAT and SAT Subject test)

Academic / Professional letters of recommendations

Personal Statment / Essay

List and description of extracurricular activities

CHECKLIST FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO STUDY IN THE USA

  • What are your reasons for wanting to study in the United States?
  • Which universities will meet your needs?
  • Will you need financial assistance?
  • Find out application and financial aid deadlines. this will affect when you take the standardized tests required for admission
    since test results must reach admissions offices on later than these deadlines. The tests shuld be taken in advance of submitting
    university application forms.
  • Register to take standardized tests if required by the universies to which you are applying.
  • Begin narrowing down your choices of schools to approximately 10 to 20 institutions.

 

Contact American Advising Center – EdUSA Kosovo Advisers/Staff for more information about opportunities to study in the USA. To schedule a meeting for individual and/or group advising/presentation/info-session, please email us at info@aacks.org and/or call at +383 44 56 70 80