Higher Education in the USA

    Finishing school is the beginning of an independent life for millions of school graduates in the USA. Many roads are open before them.

     Simply by being admitted into one of the most respected universities in the United States, a high school graduate achieves a degree of success. Successful applicants at such colleges are usually chosen on the basis of high school records, recommendations from high school teachers, the impression they make during interviews at the university, their scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT);

   The system of higher education in the United States is complex. It includes four categories of institution:

1.   The university, which may contain several colleges for undergraduate students seeking a bachelor’s four-year degree; one or more graduate schools for those continuing in specialized studies beyond the bachelor’s degree to obtain a master’s or a doctoral degree;

2.   The four-year undergraduate institution – the college – most of which are not part of a university;

3.   The technical training institution, at which high school graduates may take courses ranging from six months to four years in duration, and learn a wide variety of technical skills.

4.   The two-year or community college, from which students may get many professions or may go to four-year colleges or universities.

    Any of these institutions may be either public or private, depending on the source of its funding.  Many universities and colleges, both public and private, have gained reputations for offering particularly challenging courses, and for providing their students with a higher quality of education.  Some of American universities are regarded as quite satisfactory.