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U.S. Higher Education
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Why study in the USA |
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 Over half a million international students are currently studying in the United States, of which more than 3,200 are from Romania.
As the number one destination for international students, the U.S. offers most attractive opportunities and choices for furthering your education. The United States has an outstanding higher education system. Every year The Times Education Supplement ranks the top universities worldwide and, according to this year's evaluation, 12 out of the first 20 are from the US. Why is it that so many international students choose to study in the United States? Here are some of the reasons:
Quality  Distinguished programs at over 3,600 colleges, universities, and institutes provide both undergraduate and graduate students with choices in more than 900 fields of study. A close relationship between research and education has brought a number of U.S. institutions to the forefront of research and technological development. At such universities students usually learn under the direction of world-renowned faculty who range from Nobel Laureates to Pulitzer Prize winners. The success of U.S. higher education relies on the use of cutting-edge technology and top learning facilities, excellent teaching, coupled with personalized study programs and individual attention.
Choice Diversity of educational opportunities ensures that students will find an institution that matches their academic and social interests. Depending on the academic experience they are looking for, students have numerous types of institutions to consider, be it a public or private university, a liberal arts college, a technical school, a women's or men's only college, a religiously-affiliated institution, and so forth. In addition, a variety of settings (i.e. small or large cities, suburban or rural areas, etc.) coupled with myriad of climates can further match a student's choice of academic experience.
Academic and extracurricular offer Even though U.S education places high emphasis on academic work, in the American perspective a successful academic experience includes much more than tests, lectures, and study sessions. Beyond the classroom walls, countless extra-curricular activities give students a chance to develop leadership skills and community spirit. U.S. universities promote outside-class learning through varied social, cultural, and sports activities. If you would like to know more about U.S. higher education, read on and then visit www.educationusa.state.gov.
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Types of institutions |
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 You have surely noticed that U.S. higher education institutions come under various names: Middlebury College, Princeton University, or Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the U.S., institutions providing higher education can be called by any of these names: colleges, universities, institutes. "School" is also used in informal communication, like in "at my school in Florida we have many students from Romania".
Colleges tend to be smaller. Their student population may range from a couple of hundred to 3,000. Colleges usually offer only undergraduate degrees (bachelor's degrees - "licenta" in the Romanian system). Universities are larger and have a richer offer: undergraduate and graduate programs (master's and doctorate). Institutes commonly provide training in a group of closely related subject areas, like technology, arts etc.
Romanian students generally choose to enroll at 4-year colleges or universities to get their Bachelor's degree. You can start your undergraduate education in a 2-year college and get an Associate degree, then transfer to a 4-year institution to complete your degree.
Most U.S. schools enroll both men and women, but there are also single-sex colleges. The College Board lists 51 women's colleges and 5 men's colleges.
Some institutions are public (42%) and some private (58%). Public universities sometimes include the words "state university" in their title. They tend to have a big student population and generally accept more students than private universities. The largest universities in the U.S. are all public: Michigan State University, Ohio State University, University of Texas.
Explanations of terms is available in the Glossary section.
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The liberal arts philosophy |
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 The liberal arts philosophy is a unique feature of the U.S. higher education system. The mission of a liberal arts college is to offer a broad education - with courses in the arts, humanities and sciences - so that the students will be able to apply their skills to a wide range of careers. The diverse body of knowledge you will acquire from a liberal arts education, together with the tools of analysis and examination that you will learn to use, will help you develop your own opinions and beliefs, based not on the authority of others, but on your own understanding, examination and evaluation of argument and evidence. Liberal arts education fosters creativity, critical thinking, effective communication, strength of character and a spirit of inquiry. It also deepens the specialized knowledge of a discipline with a comprehensive world view.
No institution can teach you in four years everything you'll need to know in your life. But by teaching you how to learn and how to organize ideas, the liberal arts institution will enable you to learn faster, more thoroughly and permanently.
Explanations of terms is available in the Glossary section.
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The personalized curriculum |
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 The personalized curriculum allows students to choose from a variety of courses in their field of interest.
The curriculum generally consists of four types of courses:
Core courses: students take courses in mathematics, physical sciences, English, humanities, and social sciences. These general education courses lay the foundation of the degree program. But not all colleges have core courses, for example Amherst College, MA, Brown University, RI, Hamilton College, NY.
Major: courses in the subject in which the student chooses to concentrate. Most students major in one subject; however, at some colleges they can pursue a double major with a related subject or a different subject. Some schools may offer also triple majors (for instance Amherst College, MA). Students declare their major in the first two years of study.
Minor: a subject in which a student chooses to take the second greatest concentration of courses. Note that not all colleges offer it!
Elective courses: courses in any field of study which give students the opportunity to explore additional topics.
Each student is assigned an academic adviser who helps plan the curriculum and more.
Explanations of terms is available in the Glossary section.
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Striking differences: medicine, law, business |
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The path for study and entry into many professions in the United States differs from the process in Romania.
In the United States admission to medicine, law, business administration follows completion of a bachelor's degree. You need first to get an undergraduate degree in a variety of fields and then you can apply to a program in medicine, law or business administration.
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Our Partners
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Testimonials
Read what people that benefited from our grants have to say about their experinece with Fulbright. This is very helpful especially if you would like to take advantage of our current offers.
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