Study in the United States of America
Types of higher education institutions
University, University College – institution that offers academic courses on all the
three levels
Community College, Junior College - institutions offering the two-year programs
leading to Associate of Arts/Sciences degrees; some programs (especially at junior
colleges) are meant as a preparatory courses for university 4-year studies, the others as
a vocational courses.
Note: Community College is a state institution, while Junior College is a private
institution
Professional School - highly specialized institution offering academic courses on
the second and third level (courses like pedagogy, medicine, theology, law, etc.)
Structure of university studies
Academic year in the USA starts in September and ends in June. The language of
instructions is English.
University
1st level – undergraduate study
* Bachelor - 3-4 years full-time study
First two years of studies are very general, studies get more specialized in the third
year when student chooses his majors
2nd level - graduate study
* Master Degree - 2-4 years of study and research after a Bachelor degree
3rd level – doctoral study
* Doctor - at least 2 years full-time study and research
Application procedures
- students should begin the application process about 18 months before they hope to enroll
- you can ask for the difered admission in order to get some time for arranging for your
financial funds
- students should apply directly to the university or college of their choice
- applicants for undergraduate study must take TOEFL and SAT exams
- applicants for graduate study must take TOEFL, GRE, GMAT (for economic courses), USMLE
(for medical courses) exams
- student who has spent part of his/her studies at a university outside the USA can ask
for transfer of credits
Types of financial assistance from universities:
* tuition waiver
Undergraduate and graduate study:
* merit-based scholarship - grant based on special academic, personal, or extra-curricular
talent
* need-based scholarship - grant based on demonstrated need
* athletic scholarship - grants made by the university to enroll students who have
distinguished themselves in a particular sport
Graduate/doctoral study:
* fellowship - may be granted after one year of study, covers tuition and fees, sometimes
living expenses, too
* assistantships - students assist faculty for up to 20-40 hrs/week and in return receive
a stipend and other benefits- a tuition waiver or reduction is often offered
* teaching assistantship - students assist faculty with teaching at the first grade of
undergraduate level
* research assistantship - students assist faculty with research projects
* administrative assistantship - students perform tasks in administrative and support
services
Contact the faculty for information on teaching/research assistantship opportunities or
Graduate Admission Office for information on administrative assistantship opportunities
Visa
The admitting school will send you a Form 1-20 A-B to use in obtaining F-1 student status.
The J-1 Exchange Visitor status may be used by students receiving a stipend from the US
government and is frequently used by students with financial support from foreign
governments, foundations, organizations, and institutions. The Form IAP-66 is the document
issued by the Exchange Visitor Program sponsor for the acquisition of the J-1 visa.A
tourist visa B-2 cannot be changed to a student visa in the USA! Persons from many
European Community countries, Japan, and New Zealand can enter the USA with no visa at all
unless their stay will exceed three months. If the student visa was issued for nine months
or more, student can ask for permit to stay in the USA for other 12 months and take an
internship in his major.
Important addresses
International Group Services/Hinchcliff International
10530 Rosehaven Street - Suite 350
Fairfax, VA 22030
U.S.A.
tel. ++1 (703) 591 9800
fax ++1 (703) 691 7500
e-mail: igsinc@aol.com
financial aid:
http://www.nas.edu/rap/welcome.html -
postgraduate research scholarships
http://www.fastweb.com - database of scholarships
health insurance:
http://www.cna.com/cultural/
new immigration laws for students:
http://www.nafsa.org/nafsa/retrieve/1.45/45.5.html