Post Graduate Education

[Rachel]

My finals are in a week, and after that i need to decide what i'm going to do once i've graduated, and i think i'd like to stay in education. I should hopefully be graduating with a Bachelor Degree with honours, and have been looking at various options around the world, and quite frankly i'm a little confused.

In America, how does the higher education system work? particuarly in scientific research?

Thanks in advance if anyone can help me!

[jrtman]

You can read all about the United States education system using the Wikipedia here.

However, you'd probably be better off going to the website of a certain college you're interested in and finding the phone number to call them and ask questions.

[Ammer]

However, you'd probably be better off going to the website of a certain college you're interested in and finding the phone number to call them and ask questions.

Yeah, I'd recommend that as well.

Don't base your future on Wikipedia.

[May]

I know that for most universities/colleges in the US, if you're looking to work on a Masters degree (that's what I am assuming you're looking at), it's probably good to take the GRE (Graduate Records Examination - Click for info) or the MAT (Miller Analogies Test). You'd also need to get a visa. It really depends on the school you're looking at. One of the schools I'm looking at required the GRE, but no other schools did. Another school required a professional paper / upper-level undergraduate analytical paper for admissions. The best thing to do is call schools, look at their websites, e-mail an admissions counselor, etc. If you need any future help or have any questions, feel free to PM me. Good luck!

[Snippy]

My best advice is to stay with your long term goals and make sure it's something you'll be happy doing the rest of your life.

[SpiraLethe]

If English isn't your first language, most American universities would require you to take the TOEFL, which is like the GREs, but for people who didn't speak English growing up.

Depending on what kind of higher education you'd like to pursue, your track would be vary. For example, if you'd like to become a doctor or a surgeon, you'd need medical school. You'd have to take the MCATs instead of the GREs. You might also need to go back to school to fulfill certain undergraduate requirements. Then you'd apply to medical schools. If you want to pursue law, you'd have to take the LSATs and apply to law schools.

Otherwise, most places require the GREs, and sometimes subject oriented GREs depending on what subject you're going for. You can also choose to get a Masters first or go straight for a PhD. This usually depends on the subject as well. For example, a lot of people recommend just going for the PhD straight off the bat in social sciences since it's really hard to get funding. It's much easier to be a funded grad student if you're doing a hard science or engineering. In fact, it's recommended that you'd only go somewhere that would fund you since not getting funding means you're not "smart" enough for that school, but that doesn't work with humanities and social sciences since funding is very much limited. Funding usually means you're given a certain amount of money for projects (either from a foundation, private organisation or from the university) to work towards your degree, which tend to involve you getting a free ride tuition-wise. Not getting funding means you'll have to pay for education, which is much more expensive than undergrad.

I hope this helps a bit. I'm no expert on it yet, but I will be soon. I'm a second semester junior in university. I'll have to start looking at graduate schools really soon.

[Igg]

Rachel, as far as I know you shouldn't have too much trouble (technically, that is, not with competition for places) getting some sort of postgraduate research place in America.

[CWisgood]

Don't base your future on Wikipedia.

That's a great line. Mind if I add it to my siggie?

This guy came to our school to talk about education in America a while ago, but I forgot everything he said.

[.neko.]

:O Thinking about moving to the US? Come to Canada Rachel!!!

[everconfused]

Rachel, first a very big congratulations on your bachelors with honors!

Here's a page from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts and Sciences. There's other links on that page. Hope it helps!

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/GAS/home/grad& ... ation.html

[Rachel]

Thanks for all all the advice guys. i probably should have been a little less vague.

English is my first language, and i'm graduating from a university in the uk (fingers crossed of course).

I tried looking at some websites but its just so overwhelming! i dont even know where to start. i'm going to organise to see my personal tutor at some point (if i can find his office again.... the stairs i used to use have been blocked off) and ask him advice. but obviously, the more information i can get the better!

And jenn, in response to coming to canada, i dont have anything against the idea, but as i said, i dont have a clue where to start looking for stuff. and, i could come to canada and be miles and miles away from you anyway! i've been over this with inrun already!!

[everconfused]

Rachel,

I don't know if it'll help, but I found these pages:

EduPASS - College Admissions:

http://www.edupass.org/admissions/

Financial Aid for International Students - has lots of links for different loans and hopefully some information for you:

http://www.edupass.org/finaid/loans.phtml

[Ammer]

Don't base your future on Wikipedia.

That's a great line. Mind if I add it to my siggie?

Go ahead.

For some odd reason, I had a feeling someone would ask me that.

-sixth sense-

[moogie]

rachel, you should come and tak egraduate programs in northern california, in the bay area, because then you can hang out with me all the time! ...

...yeah i probably wouldn't do it either...