So You Want To Study In The USA

So You Want To Study In The USA

In case you have decided that you would like to pursue your university studies in the united states, then you are probably full of questions about degrees and majors. Well, you aren't alone. Thus, allow me to tell you a bit more about the US higher education system and admissions process.

College vs. University

Colleges and universities are basically the same thing. The main distinction is that faculty refers to an institute of higher education that offers a 4-year level (freshman levels) while universities also offer graduate degrees such as Master degrees and PhDs. Faculties also refer to Community Colleges, which just offer you 2-year levels (Associate levels) and permit students to take general courses prior to transferring to 4-year schools and universities.

Bachelor degrees are 4-year degrees that focus on one or two academic fields. Bachelor degrees are often divided in two classes: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Bachelor of Arts levels usually focus on liberal arts and humanities fields while Bachelor of Science degrees usually focus on science, engineering, technology and business fields. In order to acquire a bachelor degree, you must choose a major. A major is the academic field which you want to study. For instance: English, Electrical Engineering, Finance, Biology, Psychology, Philosophy, International Relations, etc.. Some universities also require you to select a minor. A minor is an optional academic discipline you'll be able to study along with your major. A minor should not need as much time or effort as your important, and it typically takes just a couple courses.

Colleges and universities in the USA provide many different majors and minors you can choose.

One of the most essential differences between the US higher education system and those from other countries is that pupils in the US must take a number of classes along with their major classes. Most students will need to study English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Humanities regardless of the major and small. As an example, Business majors should take English Literature or Art Appreciation as part of the general requirements along with their business courses, in the same way English majors need to take Algebra and Biology as part of their needs. This permits you to be a richer and well-rounded person ready to present your input in a variety of subjects.

Master levels are graduate levels, which last 2 or more years, where you can further focus and specialize within the field of your choice. You can specialize in a different field than the one which you focused on during your undergraduate education (Bachelor's). Several students change their minds in their career after graduation and proceed on to find a master's degree in the subject of their own choice. In actuality, many liberal arts graduates choose to go for an MBA after a couple of years of experience in the corporate world, and a few engineering and science graduates choose to go for master degrees in education after obtaining a passion for the education world. Master levels not only enable you to switch professions, they also give you several advantages including more field expertise, a broader professional community, credibility and more and better job opportunities.

To put it differently, these degrees basically concentrate on preparing university professors and professional researchers. Research and books are the chief goals of the area, and students have to be prepared to dedicate several hours to a specific area of research. PhD applications can last an average of 4 to 7 decades. Students usually attend courses for the first two or three years and focus on preparing their dissertation for the remaining years. A master degree is not a requirement for the PhD, but many universities prefer students who have completed graduate studies in their area. Medical Doctor (MD) and Juris Doctor (JD) are professional degrees for students interested in becoming doctors and lawyers respectively. Program requirements for these degrees include a Bachelor's degree and an entrance examination - MCAT for medical school and LSAT for law school.

Entry Requirements

Bachelor Degrees: Entry into a BS or BA program requires you to have a High School degree or its equivalent. Most colleges also require SAT or ACT scores. International Students who come in non-English speaking countries should also take the TOEFL examination.

Master Degrees: Admission into a MS or MA program requires that you have a Bachelor degree or its equivalent. Depending upon the application, you'll also need to take the GRE exam or GMAT examination (such as MBA and Business faculty applicants). TOEFL scores will be required from international students who come from non-English speaking states. Note that some universities will waive the TOEFL requirement for applicants who already have a US Bachelor's degree.

PhD and Doctorate Degrees: Most PhD programs require that you have a Bachelor's degree, however preference will be given to students with previous graduate work. GRE or GMAT test scores will also be required. TOEFL scores will be required from international students who come in non-English speaking countries. Note that some universities will waive the TOEFL requirement for applicants that already have a US Bachelor's degree.