Is the studying at universities and colleges free of charge?

There is no national system of higher education in the United States. American higher education developed its own pattern by the adaptation of two traditions: the collegiate tradition of England and the university tradition of the continent.

American colleges and universities are either public or private. A public institution is owned and operated by a government, either a state or municipal government. But it does not mean that it is absolutely free. The state colleges or universities charge a fee for tuition or registration. This fee is higher for those who come from outside the state. A private institution receives no direct financial aid from any government, municipal, state or federal. The money used to pay the operating expenses has a threefold origin:

- tuition fees paid by the students;

- money given in the form of gifts;

- the income from invested capital in the possession of the institutions.

Of the nation's nearly 1,900 institutions of higher learning are state or city institutions. About 1,200 are privately controlled. Approximately 700 of these are controlled by religious groups.

In general, higher education in the USA may be divided into two broad fields: liberal arts (languages, history, science and philosophy) and professional (agriculture, law, engineering, medicine, etc.).

Admission to colleges and universities is by selection the results of SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). SAT results are not the only items requested by institutions of higher education. Most schools will ask for

- a Personal Data Form;

- a High School Transcript;

- a Standardized Freshman Application Form;

- teacher's recommendations;

- essays on various topics.

The selection for admission is complex. No single factor carries overwhelming weight and the final decision is based on many factors, both academic and non-academic.

The course of studies usually lasts four years for Bachelor's Degree. Students are classified as freshmen, sophomors, juniors and seniors. A freshman is a first-year student, a sophomor - a second-year student, a junior - a third year student, and a senior - a fourth-year student. A student working for the Bachelor's Degree (BA or BS) is called an undergraduate; one working for the Master's (MA or MS) or Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) is called a graduate student. Some students receive scholarships which pay all or part of their tuition. A person on such a fellowship is called a university fellow.

The American academic year usually runs from the middle of August to the beginning of May. If one takes summer classes, it runs until the beginning of July. Most schools divide the academic year into 3 terms or 2 semesters. Achievement is measured by grades which are given on papers and tests during the course of semester and a final examination at the end of the term.

A grade point average (GPA) is determined at the end of term to show student's overall achievement. Grades are usually on a four-point scale, with letters to indicate the levels of achievement. «A» is the highest mark, the letters go through «B», «C», «D», «F» the last of which denotes a failure.

Higher educational institutions usually are governed by a hoard of regents or a board of trustees.

The executive head of a college or university is usually called the president. The various colleges or schools which make up a university are headed by deans. The subject groups within each school are headed by a professor who is designated as department head or chair. Other members of the department hold academic ranks, such as instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. Graduate students who give some part-time service may be designated as fellows or GAs (Graduate Assistants).

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