THE US HIGHER EDUCATION

The need for higher education in the United States has grown with advances in knowledge and technology. Many jobs now require college and university training. Therefore, high school students are encouraged to earn as much education as they can. Junior Colleges.The growing demand for higher education is being met in part by two-year Junior colleges. These schools are sometimes called community colleges. They are often supported by taxpayers and offer courses free or low tuition to local school graduates. Courses include training for specialized fields and preparation for more advanced study. Many junior college graduates transfer to four-year colleges or universities.

Colleges and Universities.There are roughly 2,000 colleges and universities in the United States. Most are coeducational. That is, they are open to both men and women students. They range in size from small colleges with only a few hundred students to large institutions with 10,000 students or more. More than 40 per cent of all higher education institutions are supported by state or local government funds. Some institutions of higher learning are organized as universities. A university includes one or more colleges as well as graduate programs in professional fields of learning, such as business, medicine, engineering and law. A university also provides advanced studies in most of the subjects that are offered in colleges. After graduation from college, students may go on to graduate school to study for an advanced degree. Everybody understands that it pays to stay in school and earn as much education as you can. In addition to becoming a well-educated person your income will likely increase with your level of education. However, it is not as easy as it sounds. Although qualifying for a place is much easier than in most other countries, only 25% of young people from poor homes get places, as compared with 75% from rich homes. Many children do not want to go to a university, preferring to start earning at once. Some non-academic children get scholarships to the universities if they show promise in football, baseball or basketball. Many students from poor families take a part-time job while they are at a university. They work in the evenings as waiters and waitresses, for instance, where they can earn a considerable amount of money from tips. Although it is easy to get to a university, it is not so easy to stay there - because of the points system. Students are given Grade points continuously, according to how well or how badly they are doing in all their courses. The choice for places in higher education is enormous and there are over 3,500 college students per 100 thousand of population. This is the highest proportion in the western world. The size of each State University and the number of campuses depends on the size and population of the State. ("Campus" is the word used for the grounds and buildings of a university, college or school.)

The choice for a place in Higher Education- Harvard (founded in 1636) and Yale (1701) are the best known, though not necessarily the best. Also Princeton, Chicago, Columbia, Cornell (partly private, partly run by New York State University, and many others. Yearly fees are high -$8,000 plus. State Universities.Large with many campuses located across the States - California (9 campuses of which Berkeley and University of California at Los Angelos are the foremost), Illinois (30,000 students), Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, etc. Small, with fewer campuses - New Hampshire, Virginia, etc. Most homes are within commuting distance of a State University (95% of Florida's population is within commuting distance of one of the State University's Campuses). But for students who cannot commute, yearly residential fees are from $3,500 upwards.

Institutes of Technology.There are many of these. California, Massachussets, Illinois all have high reputation. CollegesWell-known but small - Amherst, Antioch, etc. In addition many other colleges do very good work. Community Colleges and Technical Schools.Non-residential: within commuting distance of all students. Students in Community Colleges and Technical Schools can learn a skill, while at the same time preparing for the first two years of a degree course. Some Community Colleges concentrate

on business.