American higher education In USA, students can choose to go to collegeafter high school. (Or they can choose to go straight to the workforce after high school.) They have the option of attending a two-year community college before applying to a four-year university. Admission to community college is easier, tuition is lower, and class sizes are often smaller than at a university. Community college students can earn an associate degree and transfer up to two years of course credits to a university. College and university students need to pay tuition, but many earn scholarships or receive loans. Although admission policies vary fromone university to another, most determine ad- mission based on several criteria, including a student’s high school course of study, high school Grade Point Average (GPA), participation in extracurricular activities, SAT or ACT exam scores, a written essay, and possibly a personal interview with a representative from the admission office. Most students in USA take the SAT (known as Scholastic Aptitude Test) or ACT (American College Testing) during their final year of highschool. Each university sets a minimum SAT or ACT score that a student must achieve in order to gain admission. These are standardized quantitative examinations. The SAT tests critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills. The ACT tests English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning, and includes an optimal writing test. Extracurricular activities may include scholastic clubs, athletic teams, student government, and philanthropic clubs. Voluntary participation in these kinds of activities is an indication that a student has learned valuable life lessons, such as teamwork, leadership, or civic responsibility. University students pursuing a bachelor’s degree are called “undergraduates”; students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree are called “graduate students”.Most universities give undergraduate students aliberal education, which means students are required to take courses across several disciplines before they specialize in a major field of study. Graduate and professional programs, such as medicine or law, are specialized. All degree programs require students to complete a minimum number of credit hours in order to graduate. Selection for admission to a graduate program is based on several criteria. These include completion of a bachelor’s degree, the student’s undergraduate coursework and GPA. Students are also expected to write an essay as part of their application or to submit a writing sample. Most master’s programs require students to have a minimum score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. American university education Questions Previewing 1. In the United States, what choices do the students have after high school?