Higher Education in Britain and the USA

Higher Education in Britain and the USA

1. The United Kingdom has a centralised system of admissions to higher education at undergraduate level, UCAS. In general, students are not admitted to universities and colleges as a whole, but to particular courses of study.

During the first few months (September to December) of the final year of school or sixth form college (age 17/18) or after having left school, applicants register on the UCAS website and select five courses at higher education institutes (fewer choices are permitted for the more competitive subjects such as medicine and veterinary medicine). If the applicant is still at school, his or her teachers will give him or her predicted grades for their A-level, Highers or IB subjects, which are then used for the application. If the applicant has already left school, he or she applies with results already obtained. The applicant must provide a personal statement describing in their own words why they want to study that particular subject and why they would be a committed student,and their school must provide an academic reference.

In the United States of America, high school students apply to four-year liberal arts colleges and universities, which include both undergraduate or graduate students. Others attendcommunity colleges, who almost always admit all students with high school diplomas, in preparation for transfer to a four year university. Non-traditional students are usually students over the age of 22 who pursue studies in higher education. Students may apply to many institutions using the Common Application. There is no limit to the number of colleges or universities to which a student may apply, though an application must be submitted for each. Fees are generally charged for each admissions application, but can be waived based on financial need.

Students apply to one or more colleges or universities by submitting an application which each college evaluates using its own criteria. The college then decides whether or not to extend an offer of admission (and possibly financial aid) to the student. The majority of colleges admit students to the college as a whole, and not to a particular academic major, although this may not be the case in some specialized programs such as engineering and architecture. The system is decentralized: each college has its own criteria for admission, even when using a common application form

2. Vocational Schools, Technical Schools, and For-Profit Schools

3. At the end of a university course, graduates are awarded a degree - probably a BA (Bachelor of Arts), BSc (Bachelor of Science) or Bed (Bachelor of Education); post-graduates can take a further course or do research and write a diploma in the hope of getting an MA (Master of Arts) or a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).

4. Traditionally, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degrees require roughly 124-127 credit hours of coursework, divided among various subject, field and optional requirements. The four-year Bachelor's degree is divided into two years of lower-division studies (background or distribution courses in a wide range of subjects), followed by two years of upper division studies (mainly courses required by one's major subject. Students apply for admission to a major subject at the end of their second year.

Full-time students generally complete the Bachelor's degree in eight semesters (four academic years) of study, and would average a course workload of roughly 16 credit hours per semester, or 5-6 classes simultaneously. A full-time student is usually defined as one who takes (and passes) a minimum of 12 credit hours of courses per semester. The maximumnumber of credit hours students are allowed to attempt per semester is usually 20, unless special permission is granted.

5. The SAT test is an aptitude and reasoning test used by most colleges for admission purposes. This test has math and verbal sections, as well as a writing section that includes an essay. Registration for these tests can be done online, and each test date has strict registration deadlines. Keep in mind that since most colleges are making admissions decisions in the spring of the school year, scores from the December test date are most likely the last scores that can be considered for students desiring to enter college as freshmen the following fall. There is a fee for the SAT. Numerous testing locations are provided and include public and private high schools, as well as community college locations. The ACT is a test that colleges may use in the admissions process. In most cases, colleges will accept either SAT or ACT scores--however some Midwestern colleges prefer the ACT. Again, it would be wise to check with individual colleges to determine if they have a test preference. The ACT test measures knowledge in four subject areas: English, Math, Reading, and Science. There is a cost for the basic test. The basic ACT does not include a writing section, but for an additional $14 you may register to take the ACT Writing test. The ACT website provides a listing of colleges that either recommend or require the writing section of the ACT. (Again, register early, as there are strict registration deadlines.) For those interested in pursuing college, let's talk first about the PSAT/NMSQT: The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. 

The PSAT can be taken by 8^th – 11^th grade students. The PSAT test is the qualifier for National Merit Scholarship consideration, and only 11th graders are considered for these scholarships. You may register your 10th grader to take the PSAT, but realize that taking  the PSAT in the 10th grade year is basically for practice only. No consideration will be given to a 10th grader for qualifying for a National Merit Scholarship no matter how well the student does on the test. The PSAT test has three sections--Math, Verbal/Critical Reasoning, and Writing. e.g., Resolve conflicts, identity development, specific student concerns (cultural adjustment, learning a new language, social class, racism, substance use, grades, peer pressure, etc.) e.g., Teach staff about various student issues (suicide and loss)

6. Financial Assistance Schemes

The Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) administers the following financial assistance schemes for needy primary and secondary students:

The School Textbook Assistance (TA) Scheme is to provide assistance to needy Primary 1 to Senior Secondary 3 / Secondary 6 students in government, aided, per caput grant schools and local private schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme for covering the costs of essential textbooks and miscellaneous school-related expenses.

The Student Travel Subsidy (STS) Scheme is to provide travel subsidy to needy students receiving formal primary, secondary education or attending a full-time day course up to first degree level in an acceptable institution, residing beyond 10 minutes walking distance from school and traveling to school by public transport.

The Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges (SIA) is to provide subsidy to needy families whose children are full-time students receiving education at primary or secondary level, or full-time students pursuing Yi Jin Diploma programmes or equivalent courses of the Vocational Training Council to meet the Internet access charges for e-learning at home for their children. The subsidy is granted on a household basis. Eligible families will receive a flat-rate cash grant, regardless of the number of children in the family.

Other Financial Assistance - Applicants passing the means test for financial assistance for primary and secondary students, apart from eligible for applying for subsidies mentioned above in accordance with the conditions of individual schemes, are also eligible to apply for other kinds of financial assistance through the attending schools or relevant organizations including education-related schemes under the Community Care Fund Programme, subsidy for activities under the Hong Kong Jockey Club Life-wide Learning Fund, the Internet Learning Support Programme and the Examination Fee Remission (EFR) Scheme etc. The EFR Scheme is to provide assistance to needy students attending public examinations conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA). Please refer to the General Examination Circular on Applications for Examination Fee Remission issued by the HKEAA later for details of application and eligibility criteria.

7. Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements of varying levels of achievement in a course.

Grades can be assigned in letters (for example A, B, C, D, E or F), as a range (for example 1 to 6), as a percentage of a total number correct, as a number out of a possible total (for example out of 20 or 100), or as descriptors (excellent, great, satisfactory, needs improvement).

In some countries, all grades from all current classes are averaged to create a grade point average (GPA) for the marking period. The GPA is calculated by taking the number of grade points a student earned in a given period of time divided by the total number of credits taken. The GPA can be used by potential employers or educational institutions to assess and compare applicants. ACumulative Grade Point Average is a calculation of the average of all of a student's grades for all courses completed so far.

8. School counselors have many roles. Their primary goal is to encourage, support, and foster positive academic, career, social, and personal development in child and youth in schools.

Below, we have listed specific responsibilities and roles of school counselors.

1.                  Individual counseling and advisement

2.                  Consultation—working with administrators, teachers, and staff to meet student needs

3.                  Student appraisal—coordinating information that goes into confidential student files and interpreting the info to help qualify students for special programs

4.                  Parent help—meet individual and in groups with parents, provide resources and information on child development, specific topics, etc

5.                  Referral—provide referrals to appropriate professionals in the schools and in the outside community

6.                  Program planning—coordinating work of various school personnel, parents, and other interested parties in implementation of the school counseling program. Students in the USF School Counseling Program have developed programs in the following areas:

7.                  Career development—developing and implementing career awareness as part of the school counseling curriculum

8.                  Change agent for the school atmosphere

9.                  Student advocate in meetings with teachers and staff

10.              Classroom observations on behaviors, relationships and providing feedback to teacher, students, parents, staff

11.              Public relations—explain importance of counseling with school staff, parents, teachers, students, community members, explain problems students may have. Relate to cultural stigmas

12.              Local research—student population characteristics (drug use on campus, etc.)

13.              Screen students—interview new students, etc.

14.              Staff development—around particular issues

10.Government, charities, voluntary sector, prizes,

11. Undergraduate study is appropriate for students who have completed a high school program, but who usually have not received a college degree. Graduate/professional study is generally for students who have completed a bachelor's degree and want to do advanced study in a professional or academic field

12. I prefer written exam and I think that it is very objective while oral one depends on many factors which may vary from the sdudent’s nervous tension to the teacher’s mood.

13. After completing the secondary general education, students need to pass the State final attestation

(written), after which they will be awarded a Certificate of Secondary GeneralEducation.

14.I would like to study to be edicated in the UK as it is well known fact that GB is popular for its high quality education. At the same time I would have possibilities to improve my English by living in English speaking society.

15. the possibility to choose the subject I’t like to study.