Description of English Programs, Colleges, Universities and Vocational Schools in the United States.

Today, over 300,000 students non-U.S. residents are studying in the United States. They come from almost every country in the world. As you might imagine, all students have their own educational goals. Therefore, it is important to understand the U.S. educational system so that you select the right program for you.

Levels of Education:

The levels of education in the U.S. are similar to those in other countries. But the differences can be confusing to non-U.S. residents. Below are some definitions:

• Primary Education: Pre-school: ages 2 - 6 ; Elementary School: ages 6-12.
• Secondary Education: Junior High School: ages 12-14; High School: ages 14-18 (note that everyone in the U.S. is required by law to attend until the age of 16. However, some students "drop-out" and do not complete their high school degree.
• Post Secondary Education: There are no real age categories for post secondary education. Generally, American students start college right after completing high school (about 60% of all students who graduate from high school enter college at some point in their life). Junior and Technical colleges are designed to be two year programs, while universities and colleges are designed to be 4 year programs at the undergraduate level. In reality, the average American takes over 6 years to finish a "4 year degree". The reason is that more than 50% of college freshman (first year students) do not know what major or specialization they wish to study. Also, many students work to pay for their college expenses. Thus they may take fewer classes in order to work.
• College Versus University: A college usually just has a Bachelor's (4 year) program. A university may be composed of several colleges (for example, the college of medicine and the college of engineering). Universities often have graduate programs as well. For most purposes, a Bachelor's degree from a college is equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from a university, so that the words "college" and "university" mean the same thing to most Americans. Generally, the value of a degree is a reflection of how society views the particular college or university.
• Vocational/Technical School: Vocational and technical schools operate at either the high school or junior college level. They teach skills such as secretarial, auto mechanics, photography, nursing, etc. It is often difficult for non-U.S. residents to find information on U.S. technical and vocational schools since these schools usually do not promote their programs outside the area where they operate.

The Post Secondary Education category could be listed as follows:

Program                             Degree
_________________________________________________________________________________
Junior - Technical College           Associates
Undergraduate College - University   Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Graduate School                      Masters of Science (M.S.)
                                     Masters of Arts (M.A.)
                                     Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
                                     Doctorate (Ph.D.)
Post Graduate after Ph.D.            no-degree

The U.S. educational System:

There are public and private colleges, schools and universities in the United States. The public schools are funded, in part, by a city, and/or state, and/or federal government. Students living in the city or state pay less tuition because some tax money is used to subsidize the tuition. Non-U.S. residents would pay more, since they would not be residents of the city or state where the college or university is located.

Private colleges and universities are supported primarily by tuition and private contributions. All students must pay the same tuition no matter where they are from (unless they get a grant or scholarship). Many private schools are affiliated with a religion. Examples are Roman Catholic, Protestant, Islamic and Jewish religions. Students at these schools do not have to be of that particular religion to attend, but they may be required to take certain religious or theological courses pertaining to that religion. Consult each college's catalogue.

English Language Schools and Centers: These schools are typically privately owned, although some operate on a college or university campus. They offer both private, one-on-one, and group instruction in English, TOEFL preparation, and other programs.

If you wish to study English before you enter an American college, you may want to study at a private English language center. There, you can improve your English, better your study skills, or prepare for the TOEFL test. This will also give you the opportunity to evaluate colleges and universities in the United States by visiting them personally, and speaking to Americans who may be more familiar with the universities and programs that are best for you. You will also be able to become more familiar with American culture before you start your university program.

If you have any more questions concerning the American education system, contact your English teacher, library, American consulate, or nearest university in your country. If you have reviewed Frequently Asked Questions and still have a specific question concerning the American university system, contact us at Conversa Language Center. You may also learn more about American universities by getting access to a specific college/university.

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