Wanted to Know Education System to Study in United States?

Want to study in US? Do you have an understanding of the Education System there?

Here’s an article to guide you with the nuances of the US Education System.

The American education system has certain variations due to which it may seem confusing to international students. As such it is important for international students who desire to study in US to gain an understanding of the system and the way it functions.

It is more important for those who have studied in the British Education System as they would find the differences to be prominent.

Government and Education System

The education system in US is not centralised which means the central government does not control the system throughout the nation. The fifty states have their own departments of education and the states set the guidelines for their respective schools and colleges. The state gives funding to the universities and colleges within its jurisdiction and the amount is decided by the state's legislative body. College and university students have to pay tuition unlike the school students but they also get scholarships and loans for education.

Admission to a University

Undergraduate Education

Undergraduate programs aren’t specialised. The undergraduate students usually get liberal education at most universities which means they are supposed to take courses across several disciplines before they specialize in a major field of study.

The admission procedures vary from university to university. Admissions are mostly based on criteria like

·         High School Course of Study

·         High School Grade Point Average (GPA)

·         Participation in Extracurricular Activities

·         Sat or Act Exam Scores

·         A Written Essay

·         A Personal Interview (in some cases)

The university admissions office gives considerable weightage to students who have taken courses in high school to prepare for tougher coursework. A student's high school GPA also plays a major role. Apart from the GPA which represents a student's accumulated grades the officers also take interest in applications from high school students who have exclusive participations in extracurricular activities in various forms. Voluntary participation in such activities reflects the student’s exposure to life lessons, such as teamwork, leadership, or civic responsibility.

The SAT or the ACT Tests also play a major role in student scrutiny. Each university sets a minimum level of SAT or ACT score that a student must achieve to be eligible for admission. The SAT tests critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills whereas the ACT tests English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning, and includes an optional writing test as well.

Most of the universities usually expect students to write an essay as part of the application process. The length and content of the essay reflects various aspects of the student. In certain cases, the applicant may need to appear for a personal interview as well.

Variation of Terms

University students pursuing a Bachelors in USA- undergraduates

students pursuing a Master's or Doctoral degree - graduate students

going to school / going to college - attending university

"What is your major?" means, "What is your major field of study?"

Graduate or Professional Education

Graduate and professional programs are specialised.

Course Duration and Credit Hours

Most courses are usually one semester long.

Every course is allocated a number of credit hours.

Credit hours usually depend on the extent of time spent in class each week.

Most courses are usually 3 credits. But, some courses may be 1, 2, 4 or 5 credits as well.

The students are supposed to complete a minimum number of credit hours before graduation in all the degree programs.

Students don’t have to write a final thesis in most of the Bachelor's degree programs in the United States.

Selection Criteria

Selection for admission to a graduate program is based on several criteria which include

·         Completion of a Bachelor's degree

·         The student's undergraduate coursework

·         GPA

·         An essay or a writing sample

GRE

Students who aim to pursue a Masters in USA usually require a minimum score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

GRE tests

• ·         Verbal Reasoning
• ·         Quantitative Reasoning
• ·         Critical Thinking
• ·          Analytical Writing Skills

Students need to submit a final thesis for most of the Master's programs.

So you see, if you want to Study in United States the degree requirements can be very complex and vary from one university and department to another. It’s better to check with the university and department advisors to make sure that you meet the educational requirements.

Whichever country you want to study in, it’s essential to understand the education system and the basic difference in education system of your native place as compared to the system abroad. Your desire to Study Overseas can surely be fulfilled if you plan the right strategy and meet with the admission criteria.