There are more than 3,500 colleges and universities in the United States. A college is usually for undergraduates, whereas a university is a collection of one or more colleges, plus a graduate school and various professional schools. Colleges mainly teach but universities, with their large numbers of graduate students, also place emphasis on research.
The American Higher Educational System can be divided into the following categories:
Public schools are funded by the state and the local government of the area in which they are located. Community colleges grant associate degrees after two years of study. Students who plan to earn Bachelor’s degrees can attend A. A. or A.S. degree programs which are designed to parallel the first two years of study in a four-year institution.
*2-year community college
*4-year state college
*Graduate university
*Some vocational schools
Proprietary Schools are usually operated by an individual or a corporate owner. These schools generally concentrate on specific academic programs such as computer programming, or specialized fields such as aviation, fashion design and so on.
Technical and Vocational schools
Academic Year: Many schools divide their academic year into two terms or semesters, but some have the trimester system, that is, they divide the year into three terms. Others use the quarter system, or four terms. The academic year begins in fall-end of August or beginning of September- and continues through to the end of May or beginning of June. Usually of nine months duration. Some schools offer optional summer terms for students who want to complete their programs quicker.
Credit: A unit of academic work successfully completed. Depending on the particular course, the time spent in class, or the difficulty of the subject, a course might be worth 1,2 or 3 credits. 3 credit classes are normal.
Faculty: The professors or teachers who are employed at the educational institution.
Graduate student: A student who has entered studies for his Master’s or Doctoral degrees.
Major: The subject in which a student specializes and, usually, the area in which a student plans a career.
Minor: The subject studied at a less concentrated lever and in order to round out an education. Many students have a major and a minor.
Placement Test: Most schools give these tests to new students in order to place them at a level of class most suited to their needs.
Undergraduate: An Associate or Bachelor’s degree. A student must have these degrees before continuing in a graduate program for a master’s or doctorate degrees.
Vacation
Winter Break: Two weeks in late December and early January. They include time off for Christmas holidays.
Spring Break: One week in March or April.
Other Vacation Time: Some schools and colleges may also close their doors for a variety of religious and national holidays. These holidays are short one or two day breaks.
Application Process
International students, apart from the usually academic standards, must meet certain financial and legal requirements. Each university has its own policies, but as a general rule, the information they will want from you will relate to one of the following items:
Personal Application form: Apart from your name, address and citizenship, the Admission Office will want to know something about your background, your character, your goals and academic ambitions. Present yourself in a clearly-written (typewritten is best) manner, stating your background, awards, achievements, interests (academic as well as general), sports trophies, hobbies, and life objectives.
It is important to complete all the parts of the Application for Admission form. Most applications will ask you to enter your “social security number”. If you do not have a nine digit social security number assigned to you by the U.S. or Canadian government, just write “none” in the blank space after this question.
Academic Records: All U.S. colleges and universities require official records of your previous study. It is very important to read the requirements sent to you with the school’s application for admission and to supply exactly the documents required and in the form required. Most colleges and universities will only accept the post-secondary school transcripts sent directly from university-to-university without passing through student hands.
Teacher Recommendations: A good, strong recommendation will go a long way to confirm the information you will be supplying. It would be wise to get a recommendation from a teacher who knows both you and your work well, and has taught you in a subject related to your chosen major.
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language. Is required by a large number of institutions as part of your application package. This test can be taken in a number of countries.
Other Tests: SAT/AT, GRE, GMAT, MAT: Many colleges and universities require students to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the Achievement Tests (AT). Usually graduate students are asked to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Those students applying for MBA and other graduate business programs may have to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Proof of Financial Ability: U.S. law requires schools to review evidence of your financial ability to live and study in the U.S. prior to issuing the Form I-20 or Form IAP-66 you will need to obtain a student visa and enter the U.S. to study. If you do not supply adequate documentation of financial ability, you may be denied the I-20 or IAP-66 even after meeting academic requirements and being granted admission.
On-campus employment: F-1 students may, work on the campus of the school they are attending provided they are employed by the school itself or by an outside agency or company providing services to students on the campus. No permission is required. Students may not work more than 20 hours per week except during vacation periods. J-1 students also may work on campus but require written permission from the responsible officer who is authorized to sign Form IAP-66.
Curricular practical training:- This is work that is part of your school’s academic program. Authorization is provided by the school’s foreign student adviser on the reverse of Form I-20 for F-1 students or in the form of an authorizing letter for J-1 students. This work may be either part-time or full-time, depending upon the school’s program. If you use a full 12 months of full-time F-1 curricular practical training, you will not be eligible for any other practical training.
Optional practical training:- There are two kinds of F-1 optional practical training, training during studies and training after studies. No more than one year of such training is permitted during your entire academic program.
Severe economic hardship employment:- This kind of employment is also authorized by the immigration Service upon a foreign student adviser’s written recommendation. You are eligible after one academic year of study only if you can show that your financial situation has changed for reasons entirely beyond your control or ability to plan.
There are two additional work programs: employment with a company that has certified to the U.S. government that part-time U.S. workers are not available, and work for an international organization. Both programs are very small and available only in certain parts of the U.S. F-2 and M-2 dependents are not permitted to work. J-2 dependents may apply to the Immigration Service for work permission, provided that the income will not be used to support the J-1 student, but such requests are not always granted.
Arriving on Campus
Most schools and colleges offer general orientation for all students and a special separate program for foreign students. Do not miss these programs. Orientation sessions will explain how the American education system works and will usually include a segment on your rights and obligations under the immigration regulations. Do not expect anything more than general answers about term papers, assigned books, reports, or examinations.
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