University preparation in Washington 2024

Entering a foreign university is an exciting event. At the same time, the transition from elementary school student status to foreign university student status doesn't always go smoothly. One quickly adapts to a new environment, but for one person it becomes a real test of strength.

It is impossible to enter many foreign universities immediately after school without additional education. One of the most economical ways to enter a foreign university is to prepare for a professional program (basic course) at a foreign university.

University preparation Washington will help quickly adapt to life in a new country, successfully prepare for entrance exams, and provide the opportunity to receive an education as a citizen of that country. All courses are developed according to the requirements of leading foreign universities and are taught by experienced teachers. Many courses include not only language education, but also courses in the core subjects need to be successful at chosen university.

• GCSE (Certificate of Secondary Education). This 2-year GCSE preparation program is designed for students aged 14-16. It provides theoretical study of the subject, as well as some practical work. At the end of the course, students take a final exam. The grades obtained are taken into account when entering A-level courses and the upper grades of professional colleges.
• One level. This is a traditional program that prepares schoolchildren aged 14-16 for university. It is designed for 2 years. After receiving a GCSE certificate, students who want to enter a prestigious university choose subjects that are directly related to university progression.
• Foundation. This annual program is the best solution for Year 11 graduates. Its main goal is to prepare applicants for admission to a foreign university in their chosen field of study. As part of the foundation program, students will acquire all the necessary basic knowledge and improve their language skills to the required level.
• Undergraduate Pathway. Preparation for a foreign university under this program is highly desirable. It combines an intensive English language program with academic skills development. Its graduates are guaranteed entry into their chosen programs at American and British universities. And all this because these programs have a narrow range of majors. These are business, public policy, engineering, computer science and food technology. The duration of education is 1-3 semesters (depending on the level of language knowledge).

• Different teaching methods, a different culture, the need to perceive information in a non-native language, a new time zone, climate - all of these affect adaptation and academic performance. At the same time, there is more freedom in college than in school.
• Pre-university programs are designed to help young people "integrate" into the educational system of another country: to improve their language, to familiarize themselves with the knowledge testing system, and to prepare for best universities in Washington . Moreover, it is important for schoolchildren that they get used to the culture of learning within a year, based on a balance of freedom and responsibility, and "learn to learn".
• These guys learn to never be late to class (generally speaking, never), to write their own term papers instead of downloading them from the Internet, and to interact with their peers from different countries. They also get used to living on their own - cooking their own meals, planning their expenses, taking public transportation, borrowing books from the library, and never (in fact, never) missing return deadlines.
• 100% of the young people who complete these programs are ready to study and live as students there. They are confident in their abilities and often go on to more prestigious universities than planned.

What preparatory programs are available in Washington?

Studying at an American university consists of several stages - obtaining a bachelor's degree, obtaining a master's degree and obtaining a doctoral degree.

There are several ways to become a student at the American University - entering and completing a pre-university program in the first year after graduation, transferring from educational institution or completing a master's or doctoral program after graduating from higher education. For each category of students, there are pre-university programs for entry into American universities.

Pathway

Pathway is the most popular U.S. college preparatory program for foreigners, conducted on a university basis to prepare applicants for admission to a specific university. The main advantage of Pathway is the timing of its implementation (only 1 or 2 semesters) and the fact that it allows to immediately enter the second year (or second semester) of study at the university of choice. To enter, need a secondary education certificate and successfully pass a language test (IELTS no less than 5.5 or TOEFL no less than 61-79).

Foundation

This program would be the best choice for applicants who do not need academic preparation but need to improve their English. Unlike the UK Foundation, the US program prepares students for language testing, not for university entrance. The foundation program lasts for 3 or 4 semesters, which is equivalent to 1 academic year. To enroll, will need a secondary education certificate and successfully pass a language test (IELTS no less than 5.0 or TOEFL no less than 70-80).

International Baccalaureate (IB)

This is a universal and quite effective pre-university program. It lasts 2 years, includes study in 6 subjects and offers access to many international universities. The depth of knowledge gained and the practical guarantee of entry into a top university can make up for the lack of long-term study. To enter, need a secondary education certificate and a successful language test (IELTS no less than 5.5 or TOEFL no less than 40-45).

Pre-Masters / Pre-MBA

This program is for those who already have a higher education diploma, but wish to earn a master's or doctoral degree at a U.S. university. The education lasts for 1 or 2 semesters, depending on English proficiency. To enroll, need to earn a bachelor's degree, successfully pass a language test (IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 550 PBT / 213 CBT / 81 IBT) and work in a management position for at least 2 years to pursue a Pre-MBA.

Whichever way choose to enter a foreign university, will need to undergo the necessary language education. Language knowledge must be officially confirmed by an international certificate, for which must pass an exam (English - IELTS / TOEFL, German - TestDaF, French - DELF / DALF, Spanish - DELE, Italian - CILS / CELI, etc.) The level of language proficiency varies from country to country, university to university, profession to profession and level of education (Bachelor, Master, MBA). Some universities and colleges accept even if the score is not very high, but usually require a language level of no less than B2-C1. In most cases, applicants can choose English courses even in non-English speaking countries. However, learning the language of the country will help adapt more quickly and may give an advantage in future employment.

Applicants who do not have the necessary academic preparation and do not have sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction need help - a professional program that will help enter university. This will enable to adapt to the country, improve language skills to the required level and gain academic skills to continue studies at a foreign university.

Undergraduate Admission Preparation Program

Preparatory programs that allow to enter a foreign university (bachelor's degree) in a different country may have different names (foundation, university articulation program, high school year, etc.) All these programs are designed for foreign students and combine intensive language learning with subject development study skills for future specialization. Usually, the program is based on the study of special subjects of foreign languages. Preparation can be general or specialized (for example, for those who will enter business professions, engineering, law, social or natural sciences, etc.)

At the end of the preparation program, an examination is taken and the results are accepted by the university. Usually the average marks in the main subjects are taken into account (their list and number depend on the country and the direction of further studies chosen by the university). Successful graduation allows to automatically enter the first year of a bachelor's degree at a partner university without passing an entrance exam. At other universities, a matriculation certificate significantly increases chances of being accepted. Many universities abroad exempt foreign applicants who have received such education from taking language exams (80-100% of them usually enter the university of their choice).

The duration of the program is from 6 months to 1 year (depending on the level of language skills, the level of preparation for the basic school subjects and the student's abilities). Education usually takes place abroad - on the basis of universities and colleges. To enter, need a secondary education certificate and, usually, must first pass a language exam. Most universities and colleges accept students over the age of 17, but there are exceptions.

Preparatory courses for entry into the magistracy

Preparation for entry into the Magistracy (Pre-Master's Program, PMP) can last 1 or 2 semesters (depending on the student's academic and linguistic preparation). To enter, will need a bachelor's degree and successfully pass a language test. Magistrate applicants require a higher level of language proficiency than bachelor's degree applicants. Some programs, such as the Pre-MBA, also require at least 2 years of management experience. In rare cases, there is a minimum age limit, for example, for some MBA programs, the minimum age is 35. As part of the program, they learn a specialized language, study the subjects of their future profession, attend lectures, receive credits for the master's program, and gain study skills. Upon successful completion of the program, students will enter the first or second semester of the master's program.

To enter most professional magistrates, additional tests are required - GMAT (for business majors, MBA), GRE (for other majors), etc. Prep courses help prepare to pass these tests.

Note that in many countries, when applying to a master's program, the field of study of the bachelor's degree should, as far as possible, coincide with the direction chosen in the master's program (for example, a bachelor's degree in economics, which may be problematic for an LLM program, is almost impossible to enter into a technical specialty).

Matriculation programs start at $17,000 per year. In many ways, the cost depends on the prestige of the educational institution as well as the type of program itself: typically, programs for yesterday's students are cheaper than for those entering a master's program.