what do you know about american universities?

Question

what do you know about american universities?

Answer 1

There are more than 3,500 college campuses in the United States. About half the USA college students start their college work in publicly funded "Community Colleges" which are relatively inexpensive and have rather low standards for admission - generally anyone who receives a school-leaving certificate or graduates froma high school can attend a CC.

Americans who are most serious about their educations attend one of the 300 or so highly respected colleges that are listed in the Princetonreview.com "best colleges" list, or in the US News rankings. The more elite schools are those listed in the US News 1st tier of universities or 1st tier of Liberal arts colleges. The most highly respected schools are the eight universities which are members of the Ivy League and a small number of other schools which are at the same academic level - Duke, Stanford, Chicago, Washington U in St Louis, and a few others. All of these elite schools are rather small -- the Ivies and Duke and Stanford combined only admit a total of about 15,000 Freshmen out of the more than 1 million American kids who will start school each year.

American schools are respected around the world, so each year about 500,000 international students come to the USA to study. There are relatively few scholarships available for foreign students, so it can be very expensive to attend college in the USA. Prices vary quite a lot from one school to another - the full price of an elite school can be greater than $50,000 - this does not include living expenses during the time that school is not in session. On the other hand, there are many schools that cost less.

More information about American colleges is available at princetonreview.com or collegeboard.com

Answer 2

You already have some very good answers; I will advise you accreditation of universities in the USA. If your chosen uni is not accredited, your degree will not be recognised by accredited ones, if, for example, you get an unaccredited Masters degree and want to do a PhD at an accredited one, they won't accept your Masters as a valid qualification.
In the UK, American universities may not call themselves "university" unless authorised by the Privy Council office and that office grants permission only to accredited universities.
Now, accreditation of universities in the UK is done by a govt. agency (QAA) and is compulsory. In the USA, the Federal Govt. does not accredit them and accreditation is entirely voluntary. So, Americans can set up universities and apply for licences to award degrees from the local State Education Dept. very easily. Licensing is almost a formality.
However, the Federal Govt. publishes a list of private companies approved to accredit universities in the USA. If a university applies for accreditation, it will go through a similar procedure to those of the QAA in the UK.
Be careful, therefore. I know a few American universities that are very good but not accredited. I also know you can buy a doctorate degree from some just by paying a few thousa,d dollars.

Answer 3

There are thousands of them, and many of them are in other countries (at least one in Paris, the American University of Cairo, Vesalius College in Brussels, University of Maryland has branches all over the world... ).

The Bachelor's degree is four years, and provides a well rounded person.

Some are subsidized by State and other local governments (University of statename or Statename University), others are subsidized by having a great football team, others get a lot of money from industry, and a couple get money from religious institutions. So, one could go for free, or one could go for a lot of money. (and one could get paid to go, especially if you're a great athlete).

It's is hard to generalize about them in price, reputation, or anything else just because there are so many of them.

However, one thing to check is that they are accredited. Also, check out their rank and reputation.

But, with reputation, it totally depends on the subject you want to study. UCLA is the top film school, but I doubt it even ranks for Journalism or Computer Science. (USC and NYU are also good for film...) And Harvard is great for law and medicine, but I'm not to sure about film or fine art or even languages.

If I come across a University I have never heard of, I often assume that its a diploma mill, and not a real University. So I do some research into it.

Oh, and an EU bachelors is generally easier to get than an American one, I've studied in many Universities on both continents. At grad school level, even the most patriotic Europeans admit that the American system is better.

American Universities tend to be more rigorous, and that's why they have better reputations.

Answer 4

You have got to be more specific! In what regard? In what field? Then I can answer your question. We are better suited medically, but many out of country universities are better suited in other fields. For example, in many colleges/universities in the EU your B.A. is equivalent to a Masters here. Be more specific. I'll check back.

And don't believe the blarney about expense.
Financial Aid (free money from the government) is available to those that are1.) independent (check w/Financial Aid office at any college) 2.) have made $5,000 or less (it was just lowered and if you work "under the table" -tips, construction-- paper free documentation (no checks that is money you don't have to claim--a.k. paper trail) besides there are pell grants and automatic scholarships (you don't even have to apply for); besides our libraries have books at least a ft. thick filled w/scholarships you can apply for. Also check out the Free Money book. There are a ton of ways of making $ in the U.S. So if you get a 3.0 GPA, school is just about free. In Georgia, California and Florida, school is free if you maintain a 3.0. I know it applies to B.A.'s, but don't know if it applies to Masters.

Answer 5

They are expensive to attend for study. If you are considering this contact your local American consulate, they keep prospecti and can offer advice on the applications process.

Answer 6

That they are very expensive!, furthermore their level of education is less recognisable around the world because it is soo easy. and also their spelling of certain words are ridiculous!, but hey it depends? if its for you hen go for it. go on line to the university that you are considering and read their prospectus. etc.