Education System
We suggest that you study the US system of education and pay close attention to how it differs from the Russian system. Please determine what level of education you would like to receive.
Undegraduate Level. It usually takes up to four years of college study to complete a program leading to a Bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). The Bachelor's Degree is almost equivalent to the Russian Diploma of higher education.
Who can become a student? A high school education is usually sufficient to become an undergraduate student. First-, second- and third-year students of Russian institutes of higher education can transfer into US degree programs. A college/university admissions officer will decide for what courses credits will be granted.
Graduate Level (aspirantura). A person who finished graduate school earns an M.A., M.S. or Ph.D. degree (Master of Arts, Master of Science or Doctorate of Philosophy). The Ph.D. is the highest scientific degree in the US. This degree usually requires at least three years of study and a dissertation defense. The Ph.D. is necessary for those who want to be researchers.
M.A. or M.S. degrees are awarded after two years of graduate studies. These degrees are beneficial for those who plan to concentrate on practical work, for example, in business (Master of Business Administration - MBA).
Who can get into graduate school? Those students who already have a higher education diploma or who are currently studying in aspirantura, may apply for graduate school in the US. Those who already have a Kandidat Nauk degree, may also apply for graduate school, but they should clarify whether it is worth it to repeat the graduate course of study (2-3 years).
Post-Doctoral Research. A person who holds a Kandidat nauk degree, may directly contact a university or research center regarding the possibility of conducting research or delivering lectures.
Keep in mind that the application process usually takes up to 15 months so one should start planning in advance. High school students should start preparing for undergraduate programs, 4th and 5th year university students - for graduate schools.
Unlike Russia, in the US there are no such organizations as the Ministry of Education or State Committee of Education that develop standard curricula and admissions requirements for both graduate and undergraduate students. Thus, they vary from university to university. In deciding where to study please pay close attention to whether a college or university is accredited by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation. The Accredited Institutes of Post-secondary Education catalog can be found in the Moscow US Education Advising Center.
Admission Process
Hundreds of thousands of students from all over the world annually come to the United States to study. If you are one of those who are planing to join this team, you will find this information very helpful to reach your goal.
Here are some steps you need to undertake and dates to remember in order to complete the application process successfully. These are suggestions, not strict deadlines |
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18-24 months
before departure |
Consult the nearest advising center , check for the information and resources available Evaluate your reasons for wanting to study in the US, taking into consideration:
- English proficiency and academic ability
- Motivation, objectives - why study in the US
- Your future plans - academic or employment possibilities
- Time required for an American degree
- Estimated cost of study and funding possibilities
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December-April |
Prepare for enrollment by selecting 15-20 appropriate institutions . Once you have located a suitable group of institutions that offer your field of study , compare them systematically. Look at them with respect to: your chosen field of study, degrees offered, accreditation, quality, easy of admission, location, size, cost, availability of financial aid, housing, approach to technology, international student service office, etc. Write to these universities to request further information including application forms for admission and financial aid.
Check for the information about scholarship and fellowship programs available at different US colleges and universities. If you need financial aid begin to look for sources . |
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April-July |
Write to these American universities to request application forms for admission and financial aid. |
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July-September |
Find out which standardized tests are required (TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.) and register to take them in October or November. |
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August-October |
Decide to which universities you would like to apply. Complete college application forms . Read all instructions carefully and fill the forms out neatly. Send applications WELL in advance of deadline. The sooner you send them, the more money the school has available, and mail from Russia may take a month or more to reach the states. |
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March-April |
Wait for acceptance and rejection letters. |
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April |
Contact universities who have not yet informed you of their decision. |
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April-June |
If you are accepted at more than one university, accept the offer at your preferred institution and decline the others. Contact university housing office to reserve housing for the coming year. Contact the university's Foreign Student Adviser for any specific information concerning arrival, orientation. Apply for a student visa . Attend a pre-departure orientation session at the Education Advising Center. |
Choosing University
| Choosing a College or University
There are many factors that will influence your choice of college or university. You need to do your research carefully to choose the school that will best suit your needs and talents. Weigh all of these factors and choose the institution with the best balance.
Accreditation Status. A basic indicator of the quality of any U.S. college or university is its accreditation status. It is important to check that all institutions you are considering are appropriately accredited. Unlike many other countries, the United States does not have a central government body that approves educational institutions. Instead, it relies on a system of voluntary accreditation carried out by nongovenmental accrediting bodies to ensure that schools meet standards. While almost all U.S universities hold widely recognized forms of accreditation, it must be noted that accreditation in the United States is a complex area; there are different types of accreditation (institutional and programmatic) and a large number of accrediting bodies. The Moscow EAC can advise you whether a particular U.S. degree-offering institution is appropriately accredited.
Ranking. There is no official list of the top 10, 20, 50, or even 100 universities in the United States. The U.S. government does not rank universities. Rankings that you may come across are usually produced by journalists and are likely to be subjective. They generally are based on a wide range of criteria that do not necessarily include academic standards or general reputation as a primary factor. Be particularly wary of rankings that do not explain the criteria on which the ranking is based. The more established rankings may give you a starting point for your decision; however, the "best" college or university for you will be based on many other factors, given below.
Degrees. Select schools that award the degree you wish to earn associate, bachelor's, master's or Ph.D.
Majors. Some large schools offer just about every area of study. Smaller schools are generally more limited. Find schools that offer a good selection of courses with a variety of faculties that specialize in different aspects of your field of study. This is especially important for graduate study. Although a university may offer a doctorate in your field, it may not have a program in the branch of that field that interests you. Also consider research facilities, computer centers, library holdings, and flexibility or variations in the program that interests you.
Selectiveness. This is the point in which you should be honest with yourself concerning your own academic background and intellectual potential. Strive for the best university you can get into, but be realistic. If your scores and grades are not at the top, you should not apply only to the most selective universities.
Faculty and Their Research. It is important for graduate students to consider these criteria. If you are planning to conduct research, you want to be sure that there are faculty at the university who will be able to help guide your research. Students can substantially benefit from making direct contact with researching professors at the beginning of the application process. Students applying for a graduate degree should keep in mind that they are evaluated and recommended for admission by a group of faculty members, rather than a central admissions office. The reputation of the department and its faculty is the thing to look for.
Type of Institution. Two-year or four-year, public or private religiously affiliated? Choose the institution best suited to your needs - community college, liberal arts college, or university, for example. Universities can be public or private, may be affiliated with a specific religion, or may admit only one sex. You should understand the differences before deciding.
Cost. Look for tuition and fees, room, and board. You will need additional funds for books and miscellaneous living expenses.
Financial aid. Be sure the institutions you choose do offer financial aid if you require it. Scholarships usually go to the students with the best academic qualifications or special talent in sports or the arts at the undergraduate level or significant research or work experience at the graduate level.
Location and Housing. Consider which state the school is in and whether it is located inland or on the coast. What is the climate in that area of the country? Is the campus setting city, small-town, or rural? Which of these settings would you be most comfortable in.
Size. Student population on U.S. campuses can range in size from 200 to 60,000 students. Check the size of the university and the size of the academic department. The size of the university will dramatically affect the atmosphere of the school. A large institution may offer a greater variety of subfields within a given discipline, but professors may be too busy to give students individual attention. A small university or college may offer smaller classes and more contact with professors, but the courses offered in your field may be too narrow. You need to weigh which is more important to you.
Internship or Overseas Study Programs. Many U.S. universities have incorporated into their curriculum internship (voluntary or paid work placements) or overseas study ("study abroad") programs that may be of interest to you, particularly if you are undertaking a professional master's degree.
Student Body. Consider factors such as male-female ratio, number of foreign students, average age of students, number of full-time vs. part-time students.
Housing. Is university housing in a dormitory or student residence hall available, or will you have to search for an apartment? Is housing available in the summer? If you plan to live off-campus, check if the school has a housing office to assist you.
Services. Check to see that the school has a foreign or international student office. Advisers in these centers can offer valuable assistance to students from abroad. Some schools may have intensive English classes, international organizations, sports teams or clubs, and musical or other activities that will be of interest.
Services for Students with Disabilities. If you have special needs, make sure that the university you choose can accommodate you. Allow plenty of time to correspond with colleges. It is advisable to begin your inquiries at least two years before you plan to leave for the United States. When you write for information from universities, give brief details of your disability and request information about assistance they offer to students like yourself. You may also want to contact the office on campus that deals with the special needs of students with disabilities to find out more about the services they provide. This may be a specific office, such as the Office of Disabled Student Services or the Office of Disability Services, or services may be housed within a general student services office on campus.
Some universities offer comprehensive programs for students with disabilities, while others make a number of special services available to such students. You should look at the services offered and compare them to your needs. Find out which services are provided automatically and free of charge and which services need to be pre-arranged and incur a charge. When you apply you will need to supply evidence to support the existence of your disability. If possible, try to contact a student at the college who has a similar disability to your so you can gain a more personal perspective. Students with disabilities can, with proper documentation, request special facilities or extended time to take the graduate school admissions tests and any examinations during the academic year. |
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Application Process
Each institution issues its own application form that requests for essential information which the institution will use to file and keep track of the student's application. You should read each application with care and submit all documents requested. The responses should be typed if possible. Be sure that you print and spell your name in exactly the same way in each part of the application. If your records are under a different name, be sure you indicate that on the application.
Example: Request for Application Forms and Cover Letter .
Certified Copy of Diplom in Russian
Make a copy of the original Diplom and have it STAMPED and SIGNED by the prorector or rector of the university. In addition, you may want the head of your department to sign it.
Certified Copy of Diplom in English
You must also include an English translation verified by a Notary, an official translating agency, OR the department of foreign languages at your university. If you have not yet received your diplom, you cannot send a copy of it. Universities understand this situation. If you are accepted, the university may ask you to forward a copy of the diplom once you receive it.
Certified Copy of Attestat in Russian and English
If applying to an undergraduate program, include a copy of your Attestat instead. Ask the school director to sign and stamp the Russian version, and have a Notary verify the English version of the document.
Certified Copies of Transcript in Russian and English
A transcript is a student's official academic record, listing all courses taken and grades received at the institution. Since most Russian universities do not issue official transcripts, you will need to prepare a substitute. It is better to translate the "vypiska from the zachetnaya kniga" since it is more complete than the "addendum to the diploma". You do not need to translate both of them. Make a copy of the Russian "vypiska" and follow the same translation procedure as for the diplom. Remember that the Russian version will still need to be stamped and signed by the appropriate officials at the university. The English version must be stamped and signed by someone who is officially allowed to verify translations.
Certified Copies of High School Transcript in Russian and English
If you are applying to an undergraduate program as a first year student, you should prepare, in Russian and English, a transcript of all of your classes in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh form. It is better to prepare your own transcript, since the "attestat" does not contain all classes. Ask your school director to sign and stamp the Russian version, and have a Notary, an official translating agency, or the foreign language department of a university verify the English translation. If you have not yet graduated, the transcript should include all classes completed so far and grades received.
Academic Admissions Examinations
Depending on the level of education and major you have chosen, universities will ask you to submit your score on the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, etc. This does NOT substitute for official scores sent by organizations administering these exams, like Educational Testing Service, College Board, etc. If you have not taken the tests or do not know your scores, simply write the date on which you took or plan to take the examinations. You can still mail your application to the university even if you haven't yet taken the exams.
Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose is an extremely important part of the application because it gives the faculty assessing your application their first impression of you as an individual. What are your motivations for study? Do you write clearly? Do your interests really fit those of the department or school? Can you communicate your ideas effectively? Are there special things about you that set you apart from other applicants and make you particularly desirable as a student? The purpose of writing the essay is to give a summary of your background, to show your academic interest and your future goals. All of this together should be a justification for why you want to study in that program.
Letters of Recommendation
When students apply to undergraduate or graduate programs in America, the application process usually includes at least three recommendations from teachers or professors who can honestly evaluate the student's academic ability and potential as a scholar. Send exactly as many as are required. Each recommendation should be signed by the teacher or professor and enclosed in an envelope. Letters should be in English or include a certified translation.
Evidence of Financial Resources
Depending on the university, you may be asked to provide actual proof of your financial status, either when filling out the application or after you have been accepted. This proof can be a stamped and signed letter from your and/or your parents' employers stating the monthly salaries, and/or official bank statements showing the balance in your account.
If you are unable to pay for your education, or can only pay part of the costs, indicate that you want them to consider you for all types of financial aid. Be sure to check all boxes indicating teaching and research assistantships and fellowships. (if applicable)
It is best to be completely truthful about your financial situation.
Non-refundable Application Fee
Most American colleges and universities do not consider documents without an application fee. This fee varies from $10 to $150 or more. If you cannot pay the application fee, enclose a letter explaining the reason you are not able to pay. Most institutions will not process your application without the fee. |
