Higher education in America

American education is more practical and less “academic “ or abstract than British. The higher education is provided by colleges and universities. The main difference between them is that a university is a collection of colleges each of which specializes in a different field. There are no very strict entrance examinations to most colleges and the general standard of attainment is not as high as in Britain. The four--year college course leads to a Bachelor’s degree.

The tuition fee in American colleges and universities is also very high and most students must have some part-time work during the school-year to play their way through college.

The words “sophomore” and “freshman” classify students. A student is called a freshman in his first year, and in the next three years he is called a sophomore, junior, and senior.

After completing the four- year college course and graduating as a Bachelor one can proceed to research or to a professional “university” course and seek a Master’s or Doctor’s degree.

VIII. Answer the questions to the text:

1. What is the main difference between American and British higher education?

2. Where can a school-leaver get the higher education?

3. What is the difference between colleges and universities?

4. Are there very strict entrance examinations to colleges?

5. What is the tuition fee in American colleges and universities?

6. What do the words “sophomore” and “freshmen” mean?

7. What can one do after completing the four-year college course?