::: INTRODUCTION :::
The first American universities started to appear in the 17th century. Born from the radical Puritans principles, the first to be created was College of Harvard (in 1638), which is today one of the most prestigious universities in the World.
Today, the American university system counts more than 3 000 private or State universities. More than 600 000 international students study in the USA.
--- Bachelor ---
It takes about 4 years to obtain the Bachelor, which is the main American degree/diploma. The majors (or fields of study) that are offered are very wide: Business/Economy, Health/Pre Medicine, Sciences, Arts, Engineering, Agriculture, Communications (more than 100 majors offered)
Generally, once they obtain their “Bachelor Degree”, students start looking for a job and the majority of them get hired 1 or 2 months after their graduation.
Once the diploma completed, international students have a 60 day period to change their student status and obtain a one year working permit by applying for an OPT (Optional Practice Training).
--- Master ---
It is also possible to go further and obtain a Master’s Degree. It takes 1 to 2 years to obtain a Master (after you finish your Bachelor), depending on the major/field of study.
Similarly to the Bachelor, a variety of majors are offered. The most famous Master’s Degree is the M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration), which teaches you from a practical point of view, how to manage people and firms. Its goal is to bring in high-level business managers.
--- Associate Degree ---
It takes 2 years to obtain the Associate Degree, by going to a « Junior College ». A Junior College is a “2 year university” that is cheaper to attend (tuition costs are lower), but gives you the opportunity to transfer and start your 3rd year in order to obtain a Bachelor Degree.
In order to be “eligible” and obtain the authorization to compete from the NCAA, a student must graduate from High School and take the following exams*.
*It is important to notice that 90% of the L-Z Sport students obtain the minimum score for the SAT and TOEFL.
::: SAT :::
Scholastic Aptitude Test (length 3 hours)
- Mandatory for students that are in High School
- English test (grammar, comprehension) and Mathematics test (algebra and geometry)
- Offered 6 times a year in most European countries
::: TOEFL :::
Test of English as a Foreign Language (length 3 hours)
- Mandatory for foreigners whose native tongue is NOT ENGLISH
- 4 sections : Listening, Structure, Reading, Writing
- Offered once a month throughout Europe
Equivalences are not very well established between different countries. Universities evaluate each student on a “per case” basis. Nevertheless, a student with a US Bachelor’s Degree will usually have the equivalent of 3 years of European University if he wishes to pursue his education in Europe. It is important to notice though, that after a student graduates from a Bachelor, he or she IS READY to start working and usually gets interesting positions in the USA or in Europe.
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--- Flexibility ---
Students can choose their major 2 years after they start college, if they wish to do so. They will take general courses in the beginning of their college life. Every student is required to take “General Education” or “Core Courses” regardless of his/her major.
Also, they can choose their major regardless of the type of High School they attended and their H-S major. This is an important advantage when we compare it to some European school systems, where it is more selective. That is, you are disqualified from certain majors if you haven’t had the appropriate High-School major.
--- Semesters ---
The school year is composed of 2 independent semesters and an optional “Summer School”:
- Semester 1 : August-December
- Semester 2 : January-May
- « Summer-school »: 2 mini semesters between May and August (optional)
--- Credits ---
- In order to obtain a “Bachelor Degree”, each student must complete about 130 credits.
- A typical student will take 15 to 20 credits per semester, which means 15 to 20 hours of classes per week throughout the semester.
- Each course equals 3 or 4 credits. The student makes his own schedule in the beginning of each semester and can register for classes via internet or by phone.
--- The GPA (Grade Average Point) ---
- The American grading system is very different to what we are used to in Europe. Grades go from A to F; A being the best and F the worst. A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D=1 point, F= « Fail » (must retake the course).
- To graduate from a Bachelor, a student must have a GPA of C or 2.0 Grade Point Average. To graduate from a Master, a student must have a B average, which is a 3.0 GPA.
---The student-professor relationship ---
- American universities are rich institutions that offer their students quality education and great living conditions. Classes are generally small (20 to 30 students), which permits individual, personalized work.
- Professors are available to student, and favor a warm and personalized relationship with students. It is not rare that professors leave their personal phone number to students, in case students need additional support or have questions.
- Also, student-athletes have the privilege of getting free individual professors (tutors) if needed. This pertains to any course/subject and is paid by the athletic department.
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