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Leisure program
In your spare time you have a great opportunity to play sports: basketball, baseball, golf, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, volleyball, wrestling. Schoolchildren participate in theatrical performances, play in the orchestra, do yoga, photography, attend clubs of interest.

Accommodation
Accommodation is offered in a hospitable American family, where all conditions are created for practicing the language outside school hours and getting to know the culture and traditions of the country.

Why secondary education in the country?

If you want your child not only to receive a high-quality secondary education, but also to become a self-sufficient person who can think and make independent decisions, secondary education abroad is what you need! In addition to ordinary secondary schools, the system of boarding schools has become widespread abroad. In such schools, children live and study all year, returning home only for the holidays. For those who decide to leave the boarding school and continue their studies in college in high school, there are colleges that accept students aged 14-16 and are aimed at preparing the student for final exams, for obtaining a certificate of secondary education and, accordingly, for successful admission to a university abroad.

Good to know

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. Schoolchildren around the world dream of pursuing higher education in the United States. Today, about a million foreign students study in the States. In this article, we will consider in detail how the education system in the United States works, its features, advantages and disadvantages.

Compulsory education for Americans may vary by state. In most states, children start school as early as 5-6 years old, and the duration of compulsory education can vary from 9 to 13 years. Educational institutions in the United States are divided into public and private. In addition to general education, there are also state specialized schools for children with mental or physical disabilities, online schools. Among private schools, religious (for example, Catholic) schools are common, as well as schools according to certain author’s programs (Waldorf or Montessori methods).

Preschools

In the US, there are several types of preschools for children, private, public, a few hours, or full-time. Preparation for school for children aged 3-5 is optionally provided by paid kindergartens. Their monthly cost is about $1000 and up. Some public schools also have free programs for district residents and low-income families.

Elementary School

Elementary school for American students begins with Kindergarten (K-5) for 5-year-olds. Next year is 1st grade. In total, there are 5 classes in elementary school, they finish it at 10-11 years old. There are also learning options when elementary school is extended to the end of grade 8.

In elementary school, as a rule, all subjects are taught by one teacher. Children study English, mathematics, natural sciences, develop writing skills, understanding texts, critical thinking. Some schools may also teach foreign languages, music, ecology, etc.

Middle School or Junior High School starts in the sixth grade and ends in the eighth, students graduate from high school at the age of 12-13. In secondary school, students study English, mathematics, geography, biology, chemistry, social studies and economics. Most states have adopted a single core curriculum standard in English and mathematics.

Middle School

High School – 9th to 12th grade – the final stage of compulsory education in America. They graduate from high school at the age of 17-18.

Compulsory subjects are English, Mathematics, Science, History and Physical Education. Students can add optional disciplines to them, based on what they plan to study at the university in the future. The list of available electives depends on the school, it can be art, agriculture, commerce, journalism, foreign languages, etc. In this sense, the senior classes of the American school are a rehearsal of studying at a university, where the student himself can draw up a study program. A system of academic credits is used to assess the progress of education. In just four years, a student must earn about 100 academic credits in 7-8 subjects and 20 to 25 academic credits. Compliance with these indicators is controlled not only by the student, but also by the school itself.

In addition to the general education program, students can take additional courses and prepare for work or college. In the senior classes there are also interest clubs and sports sections.

Secondary School can be an alternative to high school. It involves the technical and vocational training of students, such as carpentry and automotive.

Education in American public schools is free. Only those foreigners who have moved to the United States for permanent residence with other family members can study in these schools. But the student cannot choose a school on his own, but attends the nearest educational institution at the place of residence. Other foreign citizens can study in US public schools for no more than 1 year and only within the framework of special exchange programs and competitive programs with strict selection.

Foreign students mostly choose private schools. Such schools have their own campuses and dormitories, more like American universities. Along with co-educational schools, there are closed boarding schools for girls or boys. The cost of education for foreign students varies considerably: from $5,000 to $50,000 per year, with an average of about $15,000 per year.

High school graduates who want to graduate from high school take a final test – SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or ACT (American College Testing). These exams are also entrance exams to the university. In addition, American school graduates provide universities with their grade point average (GPA). Based on these data, admission to the bachelor’s degree usually occurs. In order to make it easier to enter a university, foreign students often come to the United States to study in high school. Those who are not native English speakers must also take the IELTS or TOEFL language exam in order to graduate after graduating from high school in the United States.

American Higher Education

Higher education in the United States includes several academic levels.

The first stage – associate degree – is designed for two years. Studying under the associate’s program is cheaper and counts as the first part of the study when transferring to a bachelor’s program. With an associate’s degree, you can also get a job in some areas.

The undergraduate degree is the backbone of higher education in America. As a rule, undergraduate programs are entered immediately after graduation or after a year of preparation. The duration of study for a bachelor’s degree is 4 years. If a student has not yet chosen a profile of study at the university by the end of high school, then during the first two years the student has the opportunity to decide on a specialty. Students create their own curriculum. At the same time, students can choose the main specialty – major and additional – minor. Approximately one third of all students change majors during their first three years of college. Within the main specialty, you can choose a narrower niche – concentration (for example, major is history, and concentration is the history of religion). The peculiarity of studying in the USA lies in the maximum freedom of choice of the student’s course of study with the same high responsibility for their education.

At the end of the course, students defend their final projects. The result of a successful defense is the assignment of a bachelor’s degree BA (Bachelor of Arts, humanities or social sciences), BS (Bachelor of Science, mathematics, engineering, health, etc.) or BFA (bachelor of fine arts, music, dance, etc.) . A bachelor’s degree is enough to start working (with the exception of medical and legal education).

Master’s – the second stage in higher education in the United States. Master’s programs focus mainly on scientific research and are designed for 2 years. In the last semester of most master’s programs, students are required to write a dissertation or project. After defending the final work, graduates receive an MA (Master of Arts), MS (Master of Science) degree.

Some universities also offer distance learning programs for bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

Doctorate is the third stage in the American higher education system. After successfully defending a dissertation, graduates receive a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degree. Doctoral studies can last from three to five years, depending on the chosen direction.

Medical education in America requires four years of bachelor’s degree in Pre-Medical Studies or bachelor’s degree in biological and medical specialties, four years in Medical School (theoretical and practical classes in medical school) and three to seven years of Residency (similar to Russian residency) .

To obtain a law degree in the United States, after completing a bachelor’s degree program in any specialty, you need to study for 3 years at the Law School.

College or university?

Higher education in the US is available at both colleges and universities. Many Americans use the words “college” and “university” interchangeably.

Colleges in the US tend to be smaller and more focused on undergraduate programs. Often they do not offer a wide range of master’s and doctoral programs. But due to the small size of the classes, they can provide an individual approach to learning.

Universities offer all levels of higher education in America: bachelor’s and master’s and doctoral programs and a wider range of programs. However, they may consist of several institutions, which are called colleges or schools. Universities provide more opportunities to meet and communicate with peers and teachers from different areas and countries, to establish business connections, which will later help with building a career and finding potential employers. At the same time, due to the large number of students, training can be more competitive and less individual.

Although educational institutions are accredited, the quality of education can vary greatly. It is believed that it is higher in private institutions than in public ones.

Length of the academic year in the US

In the US education system, the academic year usually begins in August-September and ends in May-June. Depending on the university, the academic year can be divided into quarters, trimesters or semesters.

Most universities use a division into two equal semesters of 15-16 weeks each, with 2-3 weeks of winter holidays and 10-12 weeks of summer session, plus additional short breaks.

American grading system

Most US universities use a combination of a GPA of 4.0 and an A to F letter grading system.

Many universities in America also use different variations: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- and F, where +/- will have different values ​​on a scale of 4 . 0 (e.g. A- = 3.7 and B+ = 3.3).

A system of academic credits is used to assess student progress. A typical university-level undergraduate course is three credits. Students usually take 3 to 6 courses per semester. As a rule, to obtain a bachelor’s degree, students need to earn 120-133 credits, having completed 40-44 courses.

The American teaching method focuses more on self-study – preparation of various reports and final works, group projects, active participation in discussions and discussions. They count towards academic credits.

How much does it cost to study in the USA

Higher education in the USA is not compulsory, and it is always paid. Private colleges and universities are more expensive than public ones. The cost of education varies – from $17,000 to $80,000 per year (approximately), for a bachelor’s program – $20,000 – 40,000. Private universities are considered more prestigious than public ones. Many offer scholarships and funding programs not only for residents of the country, but also for international students.