Ultimate Guide to Studying in USA
Overview
The mere utterance of the phrase “studying in the USA” opens up a world of possibilities. The reason is simple: the USA is a huge and diverse country in which to study at university, both in terms of the types of university, and the range of courses on offer (unsurprisingly, as it’s one of the biggest countries in the world) The United States of America offers a dazzling array of university options, both for students who are native to the country, and international students who may be thinking of coming from abroad. Indeed, a survey found that the USA is the most popular international destination for students at IB World Schools. So why has the USA historically been such a popular destination for university study? Let’s take a look.
Part 1: The Different Types of US University
Explained
In many ways, the United States doesn’t have one university system - it has fifty. Each state will organize their university system differently (particularly those systems which are publicly funded by an individual state’s government).
But while we will stress the importance of assessing each region, each state and each institution on its own terms, it is possible to explain some of the most common types of university in the US, and how this can affect factors such as student finance, and the types of degree your students will apply for.
Public versus Private Universities
Public Universities
Public universities are at least partially funded by the state in which they are based (usually through general taxation). This means that state universities will generally offer students lower fees. They are often bigger, and may offer a wider range of courses and majors than their private counterparts. Public universities will normally offer lower fees to students who live in the state (‘in-state students). International students will fall under the category of ‘out of state’ students. However, international students can still expect lower tuition costs at public universities.
Examples of public universities: University of Texas, Austin; University of Michigan; Georgia Institute of Technology.
Private universities
Private universities do not receive state funding, and therefore students can expect higher tuition fees overall. They tend to be smaller in size, and offer less variety in terms of courses and majors (although this isn’t always the case). Students can generally expect smaller classes, and more contact time with staff and faculty.
Examples of private universities: Harvard University, New York University (NYU), University of Chicago.
Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal arts colleges are institutions offering a broad education in subjects ranging from arts, humanities and sciences. Liberal arts colleges offer a more academic education, as opposed to technical institutions.Liberal arts colleges are normally smaller than universities, and this means that students can expect smaller classes and more one-to-one contact time with academic staff. Many employers feel that a liberal arts education gives students a good, academic grounding for the world of work
Liberal arts colleges are normally separate institutions, but they can form part of, or be affiliated with universities
Examples of liberal arts colleges: Amherst College, Pomona College, Colgate University
Technical Institutes and Professional Schools
These are institutes which prepare students for a certain career path. These include engineering, technical sciences, fine art, film and music. These are worthwhile options to consider if you have students who are sure about their career path, and want to hone the necessary skills.
Examples of technical institutes/professional schools: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Savannah College of Art & Design offering professional, vocational or technical degrees.
Women’s Colleges
These are institutions which, as you may have guessed, only admit female students (although some women’s colleges have become co-educational in the last twenty years). With their larger numbers of female faculty and administrators, these colleges offer women confidence building role models, greater opportunities to serve in a full range of student leadership positions, and a heightened awareness of career possibilities for women.
Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)
HBCUs were originally founded at a time when African-American students were still segregated from studying with white students. These institutions still exist today, but they now serve a much wider student body. Some HBCUs, such as Tennessee State University, have become popular with students from all over the world because of their diverse student populations.
