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American Universities And Colleges... Other reasons for applying to an American university are –
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLLEGE AND A UNIVERSITY ? The terms ‘college’ and ‘university’ are often used interchangeably. However, a college refers to an institution that offers a four year programme with none or few postgraduate programmes at Master’s or Doctorate level. Some colleges also offer two year courses, and students can then transfer to a four year institution. Universities tend to have larger student populations and they offer four yea undergraduate degree programmes as well as postgraduate (master’s and doctorate levels).
DECIDING WHERE TO STUDY The United States is as geographically diverse as it is large and there a and there many regions, each with its own cultural and historical background. It is also a country with different climates, from the Rocky mountains, to the vast prairies of the Midwest and the coastal areas beside the Atlantic and the Pacific. Students also need to consider –
APPLYING TO AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES Applying to an American college or university is not as straightforward as applying for a place in Higher Education in the UK. The main difference is that there is no central admissions system in America, unlike the UCAS system in Britain. This means that applications have to be made separately to each college and university and this can be a daunting task for the average student. Education Advisers offers expert professional advice and guidance to students who decide to apply to the USA, which can take away a lot of the worry and ensure that those vital deadlines are met.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO APPLY TO THE USA? THE APPLICATION ESSAY : Apart from filling in the application form all American universities ask students to write an application essay. Admission departments are interested in who you are, what things are important to you, what contributions will you bring to the campus community are just some of the factors they are interested in. ASSESSMENT TESTS: There are a number of standardized tests that American universities and colleges use as a mandatory part of their selection system, because the test scores make it easier to compare the abilities of students. The most common tests are listed below, but universities and colleges might have different requirements and these should be checked carefully before putting in an application.
TOEFL (TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE): This is a compulsory test for those students whose first language is not English. The TOEFL Internet-based test is administered in most countries, and the paper-based test is also available in many areas. The TOEFL Test is designed to test proficiency in reading, listening, speaking and writing. TOEFL Internet-based tests take about four and a half hours, and the Paper-based test about three and a half hours. The score is valid for two years from the date of testing and the maximum score is 120 for the Internet-based test and 677 for the Paper-based test. IELTS (INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM): Many universities and colleges in the USA now accept the IELTS test offered by the British Council. The test itself takes about two and a half hours and evaluates reading, writing, listening and speaking. Like TOEFL it is valid for two years and has a maximum score of nine. SAT TESTS: This standardized test is administered six times a year and is widely available at a range of testing sites. Test questions are approximately divided into the following categories The tests takes about three and three quarter hours, has a maximum score of 800 and is valid for five years. SAT SUBJECT TESTS: These are one hour multiple-choice tests in specific subject areas, Not all universities and colleges require these tests. They are valid for five years, have a maximum score of 800 and last for one hour. ACT ASSESSMENT TEST: The ACT is a multiple-choice test, much like the SAT, but more difficult and it is widely accepted as an indicator for identifying the most academically able students. It takes just over four hours, is valid for two years and has a maximum score of 36. ACT tests can be taken four times a year in February, April, June and October. Students need to register early for all the above tests and also well in advance of any application deadlines. Tests can be retaken if you want to improve your score and usually it is only the highest score that is looked at. |
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With over 4,000 colleges and universities, the United States has more institutions of Higher Education than any other country in the world. There are numerous reasons why students make the decision to apply to the USA, not least because universities there are world-renowned for their excellence and they offer outstanding programmes of study and cutting-edge research at both undergraduate and graduate levels. 
