The following summary of the U.S. educational system is designed to help you decide whether a U.S. education is realistic and appropriate for you, and, if so, where you and your educational goals fit into the picture. In deciding whether you qualify to apply to a U.S. school at a particular level, pay close for attention to the sections below on mini- mum entrance requirements, recommended academic standing, cost, and availability of financial aid.
In the local educational system, the following terms used in the summary would be defined as below:

Poor academic record:
Good academic record:
Excellent academic record:
High school diploma:
Bachelor's degree:

Primary and Secondary Education

Begins: age 6

Duration: 12 years;

Grades: 1-12.

Diploma awarded: high school

Cost: public--no cost to
taxpaying residents foreign nationals
(if eligible) often required to pay
tuition; private--$ 8,000-$ 18,000 per year.

Financial aid: public-none; private--little


Vocational - Technical Training

Begins: age 18+

Duration: 6 months to 4 years

Minimum entrance requirement: high school diploma

Certificate awarded: certificate of competence

Cost: varies

Financial aid: none

Recommended academic standing: good to excellent. For foreign students in need of financial assistance, it is advisable to complete undergraduate education locally rather than in the United States)


Graduate Education

Begins: age 22+

Duration: 2 to 10 years

Minimum entrance requirement: bachelor's degree

Degree awarded: master's (M.A.); doctorate (Ph.D.)

Cost: from $ 8,000 to $ 24,000 per ,
academic year the bachelor's degree.

Financial aid: After first year of study, teaching and research assistantships often available for foreign acceptance at the first professional degree students with good academic records and excellent English skills. Those with excellent academic records may qualify for departmental grants or various other fellowships.

Comments: In-depth education in specialized field; combination of course-
work and independent research. Thesis
(original research paper) required for
doctorate and frequently for master's
as well. Recommended academic standing:
good to excellent.

Comments: Practical, job-oriented skills training. Credits cannot be applied toward academic programs. Home country recognition of credentials difficult to obtain This type of training best sought through country-to-country development programs such as those funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Undergraduate education

TWO - YEAR (Community and Junior) Colleges

Begins: age 18+ Duration: 2
years+

Minimum entrance requirement: high school diploma

Degree awarded: associate(A. A. or A. S.)

Cost: varies

Financial aid: none

Comments: Broader education than that offered by trade and technical schools. Credits from academic course- work often accepted by four-year institutions. Admission requirements often less demanding than for four-year institutions
(e.g., SAT often not required). But many two-year colleges do not admit students from abroad. Frequently no housing or other support facilities for foreign students.



FOUR -YEAR Colleges and Universities

Begins: age 18+

Duration: 4 years academic

Minimum entrance requirement: high school diploma

Degree awarded: bachelor's
(B.A., B.S., etc.)

Cost: from $ 8,000 to $ 24,000 per academic year

Financial aid: limited for foreign students;foreign applicants must have excellent academic records.

Comments: Broad education with two years of work in a specialised field. Most colleges and universities receive more applications than they can accept.



Professional Education (medicine, law, dentistry, veterinary medicine)

Begins: age 22+

Duration: three to 5 five years


Minimum entrance requirement: bachelor's degree

Degree awarded: varies according to field

Cost: minimum of $ 24,000 per academic year

Financial aid: none

Comments: In the United States one cannot enter medical, law, dental, or veterinary school directly from high school, but must have already completed. Competition is extremely keen. Even foreign nationals with excellent academic records have virtually no chance for acceptance at the first professional degree level.