Before formulating the actual game plan for getting into a US university, there are some basic facts about the American educational system you need to be aware of, as also the differences in nomenclature and terminology.

US educational

While degrees like Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering or Technology are called graduate degrees in India and most parts of Asia, these are called undergraduate degrees in all American universities.

Then, too, most Asian and Indian colleges offer a Bachelor’s course which you can complete in three years, an American who works towards a Bachelor’s degree, whether in arts, science or technology, has to undergo a 4-year course, not a year less. (So don’t be surprised if the US College to which you apply asks you to produce a Master’s degree in Arts, from your own country to be eligible for admission into a Master’s course there!). For this reason, undergraduate colleges are also called 4-year colleges. Degrees like B.Sc. and M.Sc. are called BS and MS, respectively.

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Master’s degrees are called graduate degrees in the US unlike the postgraduate nomenclature typically given to them in Asia.

A Master’s degree will take another two years of study after a 4-year Bachelor’s degree. It is sometimes possible to complete a Master’s degree in a shorter time the tricks of advanced credit that we will talk about later in this book.

Doctoral degrees are called postgraduate degrees. Following the Master’s degree, you need to slog for another three years before you can call yourself a Doctor by earning a Doctorate or a Ph.D.

Medicine courses usually take even longer.

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“Schools”, “colleges” and “universities”

Schools are just another name for specialised colleges in the US, unlike schools in India and other Asian countries!

Similarly, although not identical, the terms “college” and “university” are often used interchangeably in the United States. There is no legal or official control over an institution’s option to choose one or the other as part of its name. Over the years, many institutions change their names as they add new programs and lev­els of study.

Usually, a college offers a 4-year program of study leading toward the Bachelor’s degree. Colleges may be independent, offering only undergraduate programs, or they may be part of a university that offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

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Degree programs are offered at many differ­ent types of institutions in the United States. Some of these institutions are public and some are private. Although nearly all institutions received some financial support from federal and state governments, public in­stitutions rely heavily on these public funds, while private institutions depend more on tui­tion, fees, and contributions from foundations and private citizens.

Sophomores, juniors & seniors

When you join an undergraduate course, in the first year you are a freshman (yes, even a female student is called a freshman so much for American English!). In the second year, you are called a sophomore, a junior in the third year and, thereafter, in the final year, a senior.

The academic year

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While most Asian universities still follow the age-old system of annual examinations where the finals are held once a year, some are now shifting to a semester system, the most common system in the US which consists of two sessions one starting in September, called the Fall Semester, and the other in February, called the Spring Semester.

There is also the trimester system wherein the year is divided into three periods of about twelve weeks each and the rest of the time is allocated to holidays.

The quarter system has four quarters of ten weeks each, totaling about forty weeks per year.

Though you are made to work hard all through, there is also an adequate rest period since the academic year is about nine months long leaving three months of holidays each year. You may either choose to enjoy them or, like the more sensible ones, use these holidays to take up additional courses and finish your de­gree earlier.

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Grading and evaluation

Classroom examinations are given frequently throughout the years of undergraduate educa­tion in the United States. While weekly written tests are common, testing may be limited to two or three examinations each semester. Test­ing gives the instructor or professor a basis for awarding grades and gives students an indicator of academic progress compared with other stu­dents in the class. At the graduate level, grades are more likely to be based on research papers in combination with some written or oral ex­aminations.

Accreditation

Neither the US government nor the state gov­ernments have any system of formal recognition of American educational institutions. Nor are there any bodies like India’s UGC, AICTE, DOE or similar commissions which accord recognition to educational institutions. In America, there is instead a system of accredita­tion.

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In fact, the United States is the only country in the world in which educational institutions are accredited by committees of educators and other private citizens rather than by the gov­ernment. Accreditation is a voluntary activity: institutions and programs decide whether or not to seek accreditation.

But there are reputed accrediting bodies com­posed of eminent educationalists and citizens that evaluate institutes and universities on the basis of certain criteria, like the expenditure of the institution per student and the quality of teaching, research and other factors, and ac­cordingly, grant them “accreditation”.

Regional accreditation means the institution is accredited by one of six regional associations that cover the entire country. Institutions may also be accredited by specialized bodies that accredit specific types of schools, such as relig­ious or technical schools. Accreditation by a regional association or an agency recognized by the US Department of Education or the Committee on Recognition of Post Secondary Education is important for several reasons:

  • Credits are more easily transferred from one accredited institution to another.
  • Most scholarship, fellowship, and grant pro­grams are available only for study in accred­ited institutions.
  • Degree and diplomas are more generally recognized among accredited institutions within the United States as well as by gov­ernments and universities in other countries.

Accreditation alone, however, is not a guar­antee of high standards, but the lack of accredi­tation may be a warning that the degree or credit earned may not be acceptable to other institutions or the overseas student’s own gov­ernment.

When you are planning to apply to college in the United States, you should find out about the accreditation of the colleges that interest you. If a college is not accredited by a regional accrediting association or other nationally recognized agency, you should consult an adviser to find out more about the college before you send any application forms or money.

Generally, the non-accredited institutions are run solely for profit and are neither involved in any respectable research nor can you transfer any credits for further studies to any other colleges or expect any financial assistance. You must keep this in mind before you begin applying.

Beware of California!

Non-accredited universities are often based in California and are often seen advertising in the classifieds of national newspapers and maga­zines. You will find a bunch of such adverts at the end of The World Paper carried in many magazines like Business India and sometimes in Time and popular science magazines as well.

It is, therefore, essential to confirm whether the school or university to which you are apply­ing is duly accredited.

The state laws of California allow certain pri­vate schools to operate within that state, and even internationally, with some of the most lax conditions imposed on them, thus making way for some centers of education which are of a dubious, if not deplorable quality. Though our purpose is not to list them here, Southern Pa­cific University and Newport University are two such. Pass out of them and we promise that even an American shopkeeper won’t recognize your degree.