Higher Education in the USA

When you leave school you become
a school-leaver

You can also say that you
graduated school
or
graduated from school

[ei]
When you 'graduate school you become
[*]
a 'graduate
* = нейтральный, «шуа»

You have got
a certificate

Now you’ve got to make up your mind
what institution to enter

Who can help you to
make the right choice?

So, you decide to
enter some institution

You
apply for admission
and become
an 'applicant

To apply for admission you need the following materials:

1) a completed and signed form of application;
2) an official score from the standardized tests;
3) official transcripts from school or college you have graduated;
4) proof of immunization.

Sometimes students also need
5) letters of recommendation;
6) evidence of financial resources;
7) personal essay and
8) application fee

A transcript is a document maintained by schools which summarize the courses taken and the grades obtained for each student. A copy of the transcript is submitted to college or university when a student applies for admission

So, you are
enrolled into
the list of applicants

Do you remember what
exams you had to take
to enter the university?

Do you want to know
what exams you’d have
to take and to pass in
the USA?

First of all,
TOEFL
= Test of English as a Foreign Language

Only foreign students whose native language is not English have to pass TOEFL.

Then, you also have to take
ACT = American College Testing Program

ACT is supposed to measure how well students have learned the core subjects

SAT = Scholastic Aptitude Test

SAT Reasoning Test assesses how well students analyze and solve problems

SAT Subject Test is a multiple-choice test, measures student knowledge of particular subjects

Sometimes GRE or GMAT are required

GRE Test = Graduate Record Examination
is required for students to enroll in master’s or doctoral programs

GMAT = Graduate Management Admission Test
is designed for business schools

The System of Grades
(a grade AE =
a mark BE)

If it is a Pass/Fail test you will get P (Pass) or F (Fail)

Grades consist of letters:
A = Excellent
B = Good
C = Satisfactory
D = Poor
E (or F) = Failure

There are also
W = a mark to indicate withdrawal from the course;

I = a mark given when the course cannot be completed for unusual reasons acceptable to the instructor

IP = a mark for specifically designated courses which cannot be completed within one semester

Z = a mark given to indicate that a student has received graduate credit but has been assigned no quality grade (later on Z may be assigned as F)

If you attend all lectures and seminars and fulfill all the assignments you can get
a continuous assessment
(= «автомат»)

The Academic Calendar

The academic year begins in August or September and lasts till May or June.
In some Universities there also summer semesters. As a rule, they are optional.

The System of the Higher Education in the USA

COLLEGE
4 years
Bachelor’s Degree
UNIVERSITY
2 years
(Master’s Degree) +
4 years
(Bachelor’s Degree)

COLLEGE
4 years
Bachelor’s Degree
UNIVERSITY
2 years
(Master’s Degree) +
4 years
(Bachelor’s Degree)
You can transform

COLLEGE
4 years
Bachelor’s Degree
UNIVERSITY
2 years (Master’s Degree)
+
4 years
(Bachelor’s Degree)
Undergraduate
Graduate
There are 2 levels of higher education in the USA

You can continue your study and get a PhD Degree (Doctor of Philosophy). It usually requires 3 more years of study and a lengthy dissertation

For that you’ll also have to pass a qualifying exam

When you are in the 1st grade you are
a freshman

When you are in the 2nd grade you are
a sophomore

When you are in the 1st, 2nd, 3d, and 4th grade you are
a junior student

When you are in the 5th and 6th grade you are
a senior student

When you are in the last grade and when you graduate from the university you are
a graduate student

Master’s Degree

Graduate students in a master’s degree program must complete a minimum of 18 hours of formal classroom lecture courses; that is, courses that require regular attendance, study assignments, final examinations, and quality grades

A minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit is required

A credit is the result of attending classes: lectures or seminars

There are thesis and non-thesis courses:

non-thesis option programs are in Art, Economics, Education, etc.

a thesis is required for all candidates for the degree of Master of Arts and Master of Science

What is a minor?
Students may take 3 to 12 hours of graduate-level courses related to one or more of their fields outside the department.

There are
full-time students
part-time students
night students

Fees

There are several ways to pay for the education:

Grant – an amount of money you get if you apply for financial aid; needn’t be repaid

Loan – is to be repaid after study

Part work – the student has to work on the campus

Campus – the territory of the university and the premises

More over you also have to pay housing fees

Exams

You
take exams and pass them or
fail in them

A teacher
gives exams

You can flunk a course
or a teacher can
flunk you

A teacher
gives grades
and you
get grades

Sometimes you take exams and sometimes – Pass/Fail tests

Types of tests:
a multiple-choice test;
a quiz;
an essay test;
a paper-pencil test

If you fail in the exam you can retake it

There is always a deadline – a point in time by which the exam must be passed

If you fail to pass the exam before the deadline you will be expelled from the university

If you pass all exams with ‘A’s you can be called an
A-student

You can also graduate with straight A

Faculty

Faculty consists of chairs which consist of departments:

Faculty
chair of… chair of…
… department

E.g.,
Faculty of foreign languages
chair of English chair of grammar
chair of the 2nd foreign language
English department German department
French department

The faculty =
the teaching stuff

The faculty includes assistant teachers
senior lecturers (=readers)
associate professors
assistant professors
full professors

There are also people on a university stuff whose job is to help students in different fields. These are
a tutor
and
a counselor

a tutor is a teacher ready to answer all students’ questions connected with their study

a counselor – a person providing counseling and consultation service to help in decisions regarding courses, majors, vocational plans, personal matters