WHAT'S IT LIKE?

"This is one area in which movies might actually give a good account of the advantages of a US university education, over the dull British experience." - A Harvard exchange student from Oxford.

All of the Universities and Colleges listed on this site (a "College" is a University without a graduate school), function within the Liberal Arts system of higher education. This means that their undergraduate students study a wide range of subjects, and that you must apply to the University itself, rather than to a specific department. Students within a Liberal Arts system have a lot of flexibility over which courses they choose, focusing as much or as little as they want during their first two years. After two years, students declare a Major area of study to pursue for the remainder of their degree. It is possible to study any subject that interests you, and often Professors will work with you to design courses closely related to subjects you would like to pursue.
The Universities listed generally work on a semester basis - that is, two semesters per year, lasting approximately 12 weeks a time, with mid-term and final exams in each. Most students take between 3 and 5 courses per semester, from any department. Individual courses vary, but you can generally expect to have 2-6 hours of class time per week per course, and a lesser amount of homework / coursework. Academics are rigorous, and depending upon the University, may also be extremely competitive for the highest grades. Grades are usually awarded on an A-D, F scale, and aggregated to form your GPA (Grade Point Average) on a scale of 0-4 (where an A is 4, B is 3, C is 2, and D is 1).

In terms of living, the vast majority of the Universities provide (and often require that you live in) on campus housing for the first two years of study. After this time there are many options available - continuing on campus, renting privately, joining a fraternity / sorority. Furthermore, many of the Universities have a system of residential colleges (yes, a bit like in Harry Potter) for students to live and eat in.

Fraternities and Sororities are private organisations, usually recognised by Universities, that offer a social network, eating, and often accommodation for their members. You can find out more details about specific Universities by visiting the "Schools" area from your profile as a registered user.

Finally, the width and breadth of the social, sporting, and extra-curricular opportunities available is inconceivably large, and so would require a separate article... to come soon.