Entrance requirements and course of studies

The process of entering higher education in the USA requires at least a year, especially when trying to apply for selective institution. Testing and selection may each require several months. Students who plan to apply for admission should do so early at their last year at high school. They select a group of 10-15 institutions. Students write to about 10 of them for information and application material. Admission requirements differ from institution to institution, but most, especially selective school and colleges share some features. Most colleges require to submit transcript of grades from high school and scores on standardized tests. Also they generally require a complete application form, written essays that reflect the applicant’s accomplishments and goals, letters of recommendation from teachers with the applicant’s academic background. Sometimes an interview with a college official may be required.

As for the application, one should pay from 10 to 75 dollars. This application fee is non-refundable. Many colleges require to submit scores for SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), ACT (American College Test). Colleges and universities use these scores in order to predict a student’s future success in higher education. You can take these tests either in the junior year or senior year of high school. There’s also a subject test.

Some colleges require applicants to write an essay as part of their application process. It’s very important. Students demonstrate in their essay maturity and ability to communicate. They also show in their essay how they plan to achieve their goals and what approach to problem solving they can offer.

As for personal interview, relatively few colleges require it, but most colleges recommend that the applicant should visit the campus and meet the members of the administration staff. Sometimes an applicant may meet with the faculty members. Before making a final decision about which college to attend, most applicants find it useful to visit one or more schools. They can even take some guided tours round the campus. Most colleges and universities arrange such visits both for potential applicants and their parents (which is also very important as they usually pay), and they even encourage students to visit classes, various extra-curriculum activities to get the idea of style of life and learning at the institution.

A principle field of specialized study in which a student is going to apply a degree is called a major. A secondary field is called a minor. Each student is initially assigned an academic advisor based on the major indicated by the student.

If a student intends to take a bachelor’s degree he should elect his major and his academic advisor at the beginning of his sophomore (2^nd) year. The minimal full-time undergraduate course load is 16 hours. Students who have demonstrated outstanding scholastic ability may be enrolled in curriculum requiring more than 128 semester hour course.

After 4 years of education you earn your first academic or profession degree. There are about 1000 universities in the USA and they all offer graduate level programs. About 130 of them offer doctoral degrees. If you want to take a degree usually you should write a course paper. You’ll be assigned a supervisor.

MA (Master of Arts) and MS (Master of Science) are higher degrees which most universities award. MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree gives an entry in the business world – to get in a student studies 1 or sometimes 2 years and is concentrated in the field of study, but at the same time takes other courses from close fields. Usually a great average of B is absolutely enough, normal and necessary to receive master’s degree.

Doctoral degrees are PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), EdD (Doctor of Education). Students which have a US bachelor degree may take courses for 1 or 2 years in any US institutions before beginning the research. You may or you may not complete your master’s degree, but some doctoral programs begin only after it’s obtained.