Q&A USA & Canada
Levels of education in USA and Canada
Education in USA and Canada is divided into the following levels at the indicated ages:
Primary Education
Pre-school ages, 2-6
Elementary school, ages 6-12
Secondary Education
Junior high school, average ages 12-14
High school, average ages 14-18
Post Secondary Education
Junior college, average ages 18-20
4 year college, average ages 18-22
Graduate school, master’s degree, average ages 22-24
Graduate school, doctorate degree, average ages 24-28
Post graduate, after doctorate degree
Secondary schools are divided into two types: public and private. Public high schools are government supported institutions. They are designed to serve students from the surrounding community. Private high schools are funded by private sources, mostly tuition and private contributions.
There are more than 3 500 colleges and universities in the United States. They all welcome and value students from all parts of the world. But what is the difference between all of these schools?
State Universities
State universities are founded and subsidized by U.S. state governments. Some include the words “state university” in their title or include a regional element such as “eastern” or “northern”. They tend to be very large, with enrolments of 20 000 or more students, and generally admit a wider range of students than private universities. International students, as well as those from other states, are considered out-of-state residents and do not benefit from reduced tuition at state institutions. In addition, international students may have to fulfil higher admission requirements than in-state residents.
Private Universities
Private institutions are funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees, research grants, and gifts from their alumni. Tuition fees tend to be higher than at state universities, but there is no distinction made between state and non-state residents. Colleges with a religious affiliation and single-sex colleges are private. Private universities have enrolments of fewer than 20 000 students, and private colleges may have 2 000 or fewer students on their campuses.
Community Colleges
Community colleges provide two-year associate degree programs, usually called the associate of arts (A.A.) or associate of science (A.S.) degrees, as well as technical and vocational programs. Community colleges are community based institutions with close links to secondary schools, community groups, and employers, and many U.S. student live close to campus with their families. Tuition costs are often lower at two year than at four-year institutions, and many have agreements to allow students on transfer programs to move easily into the third year of a bachelor’s degree at the local state university.
Technical and Vocational Colleges
These institutions specialize in preparing students for entry into, or promotion within, the world of work. They offer certificate and other short term programs that train students in the theory behind a specific vocation or technology, as well as in how to work with the technology.
Distance Education
Under the distance education model, students no longer attend classes in a classroom on a campus; instead, classes are delivered “from a distance” through the use of technologies such as the Internet, satellite television, video conferencing, and other means of electronic delivery.
It is important to analyze your career goals carefully before coming to the United States or Canada. Find out which of the academic degrees are recognized by your own government, and which fields of study will most likely lead to a good job after you graduate. Do not worry if after thorough research you are still undecided on which course of study to follow. Many colleges and universities encourage students to take general education studies in different subjects for a year or two and later decide on a major. The American education system is flexible and supports the idea of a well-rounded education.
- Certificate- requires varied length of time
- Associate degree- usually 2 years
- Bachelor’s degree- usually 4 years
- Master’s degree- usually 2 years after bachelor’s
- Doctorate degree- up to 5 years after master’s
- Post graduate, after doctorate
Accreditation
American colleges and universities have formed associations that set the educational standards for themselves. The Department of Education maintains a list of recognized accrediting agencies. These agencies evaluate each U.S. college and university and if the institution has achieved an acceptable rating, it is “accredited”.
Accreditation is not required for schools or programs that do not grant degrees, such as English Language Institutes.
Accreditation Information: www.chea.org
Education in the United States may appear expensive, but you have probably already realized that it offers excellent value for the money invested. Keep in mind that the cost of an American college education includes more than just tuition. Attention must be given to the housing, food, books, supplies, health insurance, travel, and personal living expenses. Moreover, prices can differ greatly between living in a small town in the Midwest or a large city on the east or west coast.
Private colleges and universities usually have higher tuition than state-supported schools. Even state schools usually charge a higher rate to non-resident or foreign students. A rough estimate of average span of costs would be:
- State Schools from $9 000- $25 000, including tuition.
- Private Schools from $15 000- $35 000 and more, including tuition.
- Technical, Vocational and English Language Schools may charge from $400 per month or more for tuition only.
You should know how large the student population is at a possible choice of school. Do you like lots of people around you or do you prefer to study with fewer students? Smaller schools may be able to pay more individual attention to their students.
Take into consideration whether the school is all-men, all-women, or co-educational. Ask about the number of undergraduate or post-graduate international students. Do most of the students belong to a particular religious or ethic group?
International students, apart from the usual academic standards, must meet certain financial and legal requirements. Each university has its own particular policies, but as a general rule, the information they will want from you will relate to one of the following items:
- Personal Application Forms
- Academic Records
- Teacher Recommendations
- TOEFL
- Other Tests
- Proof of Financial Ability
- Financial Aid and Employment
- Immigration Status
- The I-20 Form
- Visas
- Application Fee
This is a fee, payable in U.S. dollars to cover the cost of processing your application. In most cases this fee is not refundable, but some institutions will return part of the fee if the student withdraws his or her application within a certain designated period of time.
TOEFL- Test Of English as a Foreign Language is currently given in most countries around the world on computer, and the paper-based version is being phased out. The test uses multiple choice and essay format to measure each examinee’s ability to understand North American English.
As a part of the application process, most American colleges and Universities require scores from one of the U.S. standardized admission tests. They are primarily multiple-choice aptitude tests that are intended to measure the skills necessary for undergraduate study. American colleges and universities use admissions tests as a means of assessing all applicants (from the United States and other countries) against the same standard.
The Scholastic Assessment Test I is primarily multiple-choice test that measures verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities.
The SAT II Subject tests are also primarily multiple choice, but are only one hour long. They measure knowledge in specific subject areas. Many U.S. colleges and universities , especially those that have more competitive admissions criteria, either require or recommend one or more SAT II test scores for admission and/or placement purposes.
GRE- Graduate Records Examinations, a test required of students who wish to be considered for acceptance into graduate school.
GMAT- Graduate Management Admission Test, a test required of students who wish to be considered for acceptance into a Master’s of Business (MBA) or other graduate business program.
Are you a talented athlete who would like to study for a degree in the United States? Then you might be a perfect candidate for a sports scholarship.
Sports scholarships cover all or part of the cost of tuition and living costs for attending a U.S. college. This type of funding may also be known as an “athletic scholarship”. Scholarships are available in a wide range of sports, though not all colleges offer every sport. Students may take degrees in any field offered by the university; however, they must meet the normal university entrance requirements and then continue to obtain satisfactory grades in order to receive and maintain their scholarships.
