Both at university and at college, one can obtain bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. They differ in size and, accordingly, the number of students: the university has a larger territory and more students, and it may consist of several colleges. For example, Harvard University consists of medical, engineering colleges, a business school, etc.
There are colleges with two-year (junior, or community college) and four-year programs. In junior college, as a rule, students who live at home study, and local authorities cover part of the tuition costs. Therefore, tuition is quite cheap for 'local residents.' For those coming from another state or country, education is more expensive. To enroll, it is enough to pass the TOEFL. Often, after graduating from a junior college, a student transfers to the third year of a four-year college and, upon completion, receives a bachelor's degree. All credits and grades obtained in the two-year college are counted. It can be said that studying at such a college is a kind of preparation for more serious study at a four-year college or university. Graduating from it, the student receives an associate degree and can work, for example, as a nurse, kindergarten teacher, secretary, etc.
In the American education system, so-called small and medium-sized colleges play an important role. Small colleges include institutions with no more than 1,500 students; medium colleges have between 1,500 and 5,000 students. For example, Reed College in Oregon is small because it has about 1,300 students, while the private small college Pitzer College in California has only 880 students. Wittenberg University in Ohio is medium (it has 2,200 students), as is Shepherd College in West Virginia, which has 4,000 students. In small and medium colleges, services for international students are actively operating. It is in these colleges that special financial support programs for students from abroad are created, as well as programs to help them adapt.
In the USA, there are also specialized colleges organized by gender or religious principles. For example, Wabash College in Indiana and Deep Springs College in California are for men only; University of Dallas in Texas, University of Notre Dame in Indiana are for Catholics, etc.
Colleges may offer both full-time and part-time study. Full-time programs are semester-based: the first semester starts at the end of August and ends in December, the second semester runs from January to April-May. In part-time programs, the academic year is divided into trimesters with no breaks in between. For example, after finishing the fall trimester on November 16, students move on to the winter trimester on the 17th.
Before applying to a particular college, study several schools at once, check whether they have a financial aid program for international students, how much tuition costs, what the admission requirements are, and only then proceed to the selection.
Student Calendar, or the Path to College Admission
If you clearly understand why you want to study specifically in the USA, if you have finally chosen a college (or several colleges), then it is time to start preparing documents. Studies in almost all American universities begin in August, and you need to start preparing for admission 12-18 months in advance. First, ask your chosen colleges to send brochures and catalogs containing information about the college's programs, its location, admission and living conditions, traditions, and achievements. They will also send you an application form that you need to fill out. It should be noted that the application form is one of the most important documents for admission - it may include one or more thematic questions that need to be answered in the form of a short essay. For example, 'A book I recently read,' 'Why I want to study at this college,' 'My future plans,' etc. Based on such essays, the admissions committee draws conclusions about your personal qualities, abilities, and ability to express your thoughts competently and clearly. You can also fill out the application on the website of your chosen college.
At the same time, try to register for tests: TOEFL or SAT, depending on the college's requirements. The document confirming the test result is also necessary for admission.
Immediately prepare a copy of your secondary school diploma, translated into English and notarized, a medical certificate, ask the school principal and a teacher of one of the core subjects to write recommendations.
So, the documents have been sent. Between January and April, try to find out if they arrived on time. The response from the college usually comes in the spring, in April-May. If you receive several invitations to study, choose the most suitable college and ask to send you additional information.
Finally, in the summer, you will need to contact an 'advisor' - an international advisor or assistant, who is available at almost every college and works with international students. He will tell you how to proceed, and under favorable circumstances, in August you will be sitting at your desk.
Do not forget the most important thing! If you ask the university to provide you with financial aid (scholarship), it is better to do so along with sending the documents. You may be given a discount, say, 50%. If the price still does not suit you, apply again in the spring for financial support, and by summer the situation will become clear.
If you are planning to transfer from a domestic university to an American one, the admission procedure does not change. But in this case, you should add to the package of documents a list of grades for completed courses (translated into English and notarized), as well as recommendations from university professors. Some of the academic subjects at an American college may be credited to you.
When filling out documents, try to follow all requirements clearly and accurately, without adding anything extra, because Americans pay attention to the "discipline" of the completed work, and if it is said: "it is advisable to answer this question within one page," then do exactly that. After all, if the volume is larger, your essay might even be read.