You do not declare a major until the end of your second year of school.

It depends: Some degree programs are highly structured. Bachelors’ degrees are very flexible and sometimes allow you to create your own program.

Each U.S. university will want to review an international student’s subjects and may ask the student to contact a credential evaluation agency.

U.S. institutions cannot issue I-20 forms for non-degree study, including vocational training. Community colleges offer technical/vocational study for an associate’s degree.

Attend the closest Education USA advising center’s predeparture orientation. Then, when you arrive on campus, attend all orientation meetings scheduled at your college or university.

Distance education occurs when a student and an instructor are in different places. Learning occurs by mail, telephone, internet, or by other means.

U.S. universities require an English language proficiency test before admission to ensure you can read, write, and speak fluently.

Grade Point Average (GPA) is a numeric indicator for a student’s academic performance, calculated on a scale of 4.0.

A credit is a value assigned to each course which reflects the number of hours the class will meet with the professor each week.

Essentially there is no difference.

Yes, but they are highly selective and require a heavy courseload across a total of six years of study.

Masters: two-year degree providing additional specialization. Doctorate: five to eight-year program certifying the student as a trained research scholar and/or professor.

The academic year usually runs from August through May with breaks for holidays. Most universities use either the semester system (two terms), the quarter system (students attend three out of four total terms), or the trimester system (three terms).

Yes, although you may lose some credits and require extra time to complete your degree.

Colleges offer only undergraduate degrees while universities offer graduate degrees as well, but the terms are often used interchangeably.

In general, you must have completed high school and you must be at least 17 years of age.

Undergraduate programs follow high school and lead to an associate (two-year) degree or a bachelor (four-year) degree. Graduate programs follow a bachelor’s degree and lead to a master’s or doctoral degree.

Yes. To find accredited online distance learning programs, please search the Distance Education Accrediting Commission website.

Community colleges are typically state-supported and provide the first two years of a four-year undergraduate degree.

You must fulfill the requirements of a freshman applicant, as well as any supplemental information required by the transfer institution.

Community colleges offer lower costs, easier admission policies, close ties to state schools, and many of the required courses connected to a degree.

The transfer process varies for each school. It is best to target the four-year institution early and determine what is needed to transfer.

Refer to college and university guides to find which institutions are known for excellence in different fields of study.

State universities are funded by the state and are generally larger and less expensive than private universities.

Grades are typically determined by quizzes, midterms, final exams, papers, projects, class attendance, and class participation.

Contact the office responsible for international programs at your institution to ask if your school has exchange agreements with U.S. universities.

Letter grades indicate a student’s academic performance. Each letter grade has a numeric value which is used to calculate a GPA, on a scale of 4.0.

Search the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Post-secondary Education website to see if an institution is accredited.

For specialized program accreditation, see “Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education,” available from American Council on Education.

Yes, although you may lose some credits and require extra time to complete your degree.

State universities are funded by the state and are generally larger and less expensive than private universities.

Grades are typically determined by quizzes, midterms, final exams, papers, projects, class attendance, and class participation.

Contact the office responsible for international programs at your institution to ask if your school has exchange agreements with U.S. universities.

Letter grades indicate a student’s academic performance. Each letter grade has a numeric value which is used to calculate a GPA, on a scale of 4.0.