Education in America

Colleges and Universities
Some Definitions. The terms "college" and "university" are often used interchangeably. A university is a larger institution often having more than one college, law, medical, and dental schools, or business or other specialized schools. The term "campus" refers to the land the college sits on and the buildings on it. Colleges range from huge state-supported university systems, to small "liberal arts" and religious schools.
Two year colleges, often called community colleges, usually award the Associate of Arts degree (A.A.). They accept most applicants, are often public supported, and have lower tuition than four-year schools.

Four year colleges, called "undergraduate" schools, form the mainstream of American "higher education." Admission requirements, courses offered, residence facilities and other features will vary widely. These colleges give "bachelors" degrees, usually a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or a bachelor of science (B.S.).

Private colleges can be extremely expensive. Students with financial difficulties have access to a well-developed system of financial aid, however, which can dramatically reduce costs through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study programs.

Types of Colleges. The most prestigious colleges in the eastern part of the United States--like Harvard, Princeton and Yale--are known as the "Ivy League" because of the characteristic ivy plants that frequently grow on the sides of their beautiful old buildings. (The term "Ivy League" also refers to the type of people who have traditionally attended such universities, as well as certain clothing styles associated with them.) Other colleges, especially some of the large state schools, are known as football or basketball schools due to their emphasis on athletics. Most colleges are co-educational ("co-ed"), meaning that they accept both men and women, though many single-sex colleges still exist. (The term "a co-ed" refers to a female student at a co-educational college. It is not popular with feminists.)

Colleges and universities with religious affiliations are widely found in America. Some, though not all, give or require religious instruction along with academic subjects. Most major religious groups in America have their own systems of sponsored colleges.


Colleges are Bureaucratic
All colleges are bureaucratic. You'll have to learn how to satisfy their rules in order to assure admission, financial aid, or academic survival after enrollment. High school guidance counselors can advise students about all this. The college's admission office can also be very helpful. Foreign students should be especially careful about deadlines since getting transcripts and translations of foreign educational records can add extra time to the admissions process. The best advice: plan ahead.
Courses of Study
Undergraduate colleges vary widely, but most require certain core courses (like mathematics, science, English literature and a foreign language) plus a "major". If you were an "economics major," for example, you would take your required core courses, then a certain number of required courses in economics. You would fill out the rest of your college education with "elective" courses, which you choose according to your own interests. Most colleges allow students to major in common areas such as English, philosophy, political science and mathematics. A student who wants to major in a more obscure subject, like oceanography or Bolivian-Belgian relations, has a more limited choice of potential schools.
The American College Credit System
Over the four years, students are required to take a certain minimum number of course hours (credits), usually 128. Each school year is divided into two semesters: the fall semester and the spring semester. Summer sessions exist for students who wish to make up for failed work or accelerate their academic progress. Thus the student will take 32 credits each year, or 16 per semester. An individual course might be 2, 3, 4 or more credits, depending on the number of hours of instruction per week. Courses could require examinations, the writing of term papers, or both, depending on the school and the individual professor teaching the course. A college class in America could have anywhere from three to three hundred students.
State University Systems
State university systems are often huge, and you might find certain classes so big, that some students have to watch the lectures on closed-circuit TV in the hallways. Unlike public elementary and secondary schools, they are not free, though tuition is lower than for private colleges, especially for in-state students. All state university systems are feeling the cost crunch; they are getting more expensive. The best state university systems, like those of New York and California, are as highly regarded as many of the finest private colleges. More than three-fourths of all college students attend state or public universities.
Distance Learning
Distance learning, particularly over the Internet, has become increasingly popular. Most major universities have instituted some kind of distance learning program in which students do not have to be physically present on campus to take their classes and earn their degrees.
Social Life and Sports
College social life is an important part of the university experience. College dormitories, now often co-ed, may operate as independent communities. College athletic rivalries bring students together under one cause--to beat the other school. Fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women), are special clubs of college students. They customarily identify themselves by using combinations of ancient Greek letters. These organizations may provide housing for their members, hold dances and social events, and frequently have exotic (and sometimes dangerous) initiation procedures. Some colleges do not allow fraternities and sororities.
College sports can be big business for the institutions concerned, especially in football and basketball. There have been occasional recruiting scandals in which supporters of college teams have illegally given money to promising high school athletes in order to convince them to play for particular schools.
Culture. In many communities, colleges act as cultural and entertainment centers, providing everything from art shows and ballets to film and theater festivals. Life on a college campus can be vital. Many Americans prize their college years the most fun they ever had. Others take the college experience quite seriously.