She may be a superstar, but just like any mother, Angelina Jolie is concerned about the state of schools today.

She may be a Hollywood superstar, but just like any ordinary mother, Angelina Jolie too is worried about the state of schools in US of A.

“I wish there was a book every parent could read that tells you how to navigate through the school system, and how to tailor the education system for your children and their interests,” the mom of six tells the Independent. “I’m personally getting a lot more involved with their different tutors and teachers.”

Jolie’s, whose children are enrolled in the Lycée programme French schooling system in several different countries, including New York, Prague and Venice, believes that there is a lot to be learned outside the classroom.

“But we have different teachers from different cultures in our house, who travel with us. Not only nannies but teachers,” she says. “To us it’s about building a team around us where we can all be enhanced culturally and they can help with following a curriculum legally.”

“I do think we live in a different age and the education system hasn’t caught up with our children and our way of life,” she says. “But we travel and I’m the first person to say, ‘Get the schoolwork done as quickly as possible because let’s go out and explore.’ I’d rather them go to a museum and learn to play guitar and read and pick a book they love.

“I feel that there’s got to be a new way to tailor things more directly to our children,” she explains. “Considering the amount of information we have today, the internet and online books… We as parents need to think about how we can shake it up and make it better.”

Tej Kohli says the only way to make an education system strong is to add more extracurricular activities to the syllabus. For more updates on US study places, keep reading Tej Kohli Blog.

Tej Kohli says there are four primary objectives that all future MBA students should have, and it is really important to find a program that can effectively help you attain these goals.

1. Prepare yourself for GMAT and TOEFL
2. Short list colleges and evaluate their MBA programs
3. Creating a strong application package
4. Developing skills that are important for success in MBA program

Before joining a pre MBA program Tej Kohli gives a list of questions which you should consider to evaluate how well a program can help you realize these four aims.

• Does the program offer complete test preparation?
• Does it offer classes for all sections of the GMAT and TOEFL?
• Does it offer opportunities to develop computer test-taking skills strategies and to take practice tests on computer?
• Are there experienced university placement advisors who can help you find and evaluate M.B.A. programs? There are many types of M.B.A. programs and international students can be confused by the amount of information and choices that are available in the U.S.A.
• Does the program offer assistance with creating an effective M.B.A. application package, which includes help with preparing applications and the supporting documents that emphasize your strengths (essays, resumes, statements of purpose)?
• Does the program offer skill building that will help you succeed in an American M.B.A. program? Such skills would include:

Effective communication for class discussions, teamwork projects, internships, and communication with professors.
Presentation techniques, including presentation technology (e.g. PowerPoint).
Research and writing skills used in an M.B.A. Program.
Other skills important for academic success (e.g. listening, pronunciation, reading, study skills).
Knowledge of American academic, business and general culture.

Tej Kohli says once you find an answer to these questions you will be able to find the best MBA program. For more informative articles by Tej Kohli, keep reading this blog.

Nowadays, there are plenty of scholarship programs for students which provides the students with a multi-disciplinary learning opportunities. Basically, these are programs created by the inspiring teachers from India and abroad.

Many foreign universities too are now offering scholarships to deserving students. So, if you too are planning to study abroad, just give it your full effort. Who knows who may bag a mighty scholarship for a university abroad.

Tej Kohli is an expert on foreign education and offers tips to students on a variety of aspects. Tej Kohli blog is a place to find all the latest information on studying abroad.

At present in order to get a professional job, a college or university graduate with a bachelor’s degree may want to consider graduate education.

 In some countries, international students are only permitted to study at a graduate level. This is because different countries have different requirements, and a student should inquire about the credentials he or she will need to get a job in their country before applying to a postgraduate course in university.

 Usually, international students are able to qualify for the jobs they want after they complete their master’s degree. A post graduate dgree is usually required in fields such as library science, engineering, or social work. Nowadays, M.B.A has become an extremely popular degree that usually takes two years. Some Master’s programs, such as journalism, takes just one year to complete.

An academic master’s program include fields like history and philosophy. These degrees are considered stepping-stones towards a doctorate.

A major chunk of time spent within a master’s program goes in to classroom study only. A master’s degree candidate usually must prepare a long research paper called a “master’s thesis.”

Tej Kohli on the Doctorate (Ph.D.) Degree in America.

Many graduate schools consider the attainment of a master’s degree the first step towards earning a Ph.D. (doctorate). However, some other schools allow students to prepare directly for a doctorate without earning a master’s degree. It may take three years or more to earn a Ph.D. degree. For international students, this time may be as long as five or six years.

During the first two years, most doctoral candidates enroll in classes and seminars. For at least another year, students will conduct firsthand research and write a thesis or dissertation. This paper must contain views, designs, or research that have not been previously published.

A doctoral dissertation is a discussion and summary of the current scholarship on a given topic. Most U.S. universities awarding doctorates also require their candidates to have a reading knowledge of two foreign languages, to spend some required length of time “in residence” attending class regularly, to pass a qualifying examination that officially admits candidates to the Ph.D. program, and to pass an oral examination on the same topic as the dissertation.

Tej Kohli himself is a graduate from the prestigious IIT, Kanpur. Tej Kohli blog is a place to find all the information on education in the US.  For more information keep reading Tej Kohli blog.

Course of study

U.S. students normally learn a vast range of subjects when in college. A lot of students do not specialize exclusively in one field until the graduate school.

The initial two years of college are called the “freshman” and “sophomore” years respectively. A certain schools need freshmen and sophomores to take courses in different areas of learning such as literature, science, the social sciences, the arts, history, and so forth. Bot of them are collectively called “underclassmen”.

The “junior” and “senior”, or third and fourth years, are known as the “upper classes”,while the students are known as juniors” and “seniors”- “upperclassmen.”Upon entering the junior year, students must choose a “major” field of study and take a specific number of courses in this department, or field. Some schools also allow students to choose a “minor” field. The students usually have time to choose several other “elective” (extra) courses in other subjects.

Every student is assigned a “faculty advisor” who teaches courses in the student’s major field. This advisor also helps the student select a program of study.

Each international student will also have an “International Student Advisor”, who helps them adjust to U.S. life, takes care of their visa and other paperwork problems, and conducts activities for them.

 Classroom learning

Classes may vary from large lectures for several hundred students to smaller classes and seminars with only a few students. Students who enroll for lecture courses are often segregated into smaller groups, or “sections”. The sections meet separately to discuss the lecture topics and other material.

Professors typically assign a textbook and other readings every week. They also need several written reports each term. A student will be expected to keep up to date with the required readings in order to join in class discussions and to understand the lectures. Science students must also spend time in the lab.

Academic year

The school usually begins around August or September and continues through May or June. International students are advised to enter U.S. universities in autumn since majority of new students enter at this time, they can adjust together. Furthermore, a lot of courses are designed so students will take them one after another, starting in autumn and continuing through the year.

The academic year at many schools comprises of two terms or semesters. Some schools also use a three-term calendar known as the “trimester” system. Still others divide the year into the “quarter” system of four terms, inclusive of a summer session which is optional.

Credits

All courses are worth a number of “credits” or “credit hours.” This number is approximately the same as the number of hours a student spends in class for that course over the weeks. A course is normally worth three to five credits.

A full program at most schools is twelve or fifteen credit-hours. International students should enroll to a full program during each term.

Transfers

If a student takes admission in a new university before finishing a degree, most credits earned at the first school can be used to complete a degree at the new university. Hence, a student can transfer to another university and still graduate within the usual time.

Marks

Professors give each student a mark or “grade” for each course. The marks are based upon:

• Classroom participation – Discussion, questions, conversation; Students are expected to participate in class discussions, especially in seminar classes. This is often a very important factor in determining a student’s grade.
•  Midterm examination – Usually given during class time.
•  Research or term papers, or laboratory reports.
•  Possible short exams or “quizzes” – Sometimes the professor will give an unannounced “surprise quiz.” This doesn’t count heavily toward the grade but is intended to inspire students to keep up with their assignments and attendance.
•  Final examination – Held some time after the final class meeting.

 Advanced placement

Certain colleges and universities award college credit to students for work they have done in high school. A few other schools also give advanced standing to students who prove that they have achieved college level proficiency in a certain subject.

This implies that a freshman, can take courses normally only open to sophomores.

The school may probably require the students to take a test to prove that he or she can do sophomore-level work, or the school will give advanced placement to a student who has scored exceptionally high on college admission exams. Students who have completed “A” levels at home often receive advanced placement standing.

In the next post on the series of Education System in America, Tej Kohli will talk about the Post Graduate education system. Tej Kohli is an expert career advisor and guide, who’s helped many students attain their goals. For more education tips from Tej Kohli, keep reading this blog.

They say young generation is the future of an economy, then who better to design the future than they themselves.

The U.S. State Department of Energy is sponsoring, for the fifth years, the Solar Decathlon, wherein twenty international college student teams will compete with each other to build solar powered homes. The objective and winning criteria obviously being energy efficiency. But that’s not all, students must also be creative with making the homes attractive, affordable, and sustainable. Basically, a home for a common man.

The Solar Decathlon guidelines are to make a home that:

• Is affordable, attractive, and easy to live in

• Maintains comfortable and healthy indoor environmental conditions

• Supplies energy to household appliances for cooking, cleaning, and entertainment

• Provides adequate hot water

• Produces as much or more energy than it consumes.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the teams spend nearly two years designing and building their homes.

Tej Kohli wishes all the 20 teams best of luck, may the best team wins! Keep reading Tej Kohli blog for more updates.

State Schools

A state school is run and managed by a local or state government. All the 50 states in the US have at least one state university and probably several state colleges.

Private College or University

These schools are run and supported privately and are independent of government control. The fee is usually higher than that of the state schools and are often smaller in size than state schools.

Two Year College

High school graduates can take admission in a two-year college and earn an Associate’s degree. Some of these colleges are supported by state, or are public with others held privately. Before joining a two year college a student should first find out whether an associate’s degree will quality him or her for a job in their country. In some countries, students should have a bachelor’s degree to get a good job. Such students usually transfer to four year universities, where they complete their bachelor’s degree in another 2 years.

Community College

A community college is a 2 year state or public college and usually serve a particular community be it s city or a county. Many of the students live at their homes and commute to the college everyday. Others are evening students who wok during the day. International students are often welcome at community colleges. Community colleges also offer special services like free tutoring, ESL programs, housing and advising services etc.

Professional School

In a professional school a student is trained in diverse fields like art, music, engineering, business etc. some colleges are part of universities, while others are separate entities.

Institute of Technology

These colleges have a minimum of four years courses in the fields of science and technology. Some institutes have graduate programs too.

Technical Institute

Tej Kohli says that a technical institute is one that trains students in fields such as industrial engineering or medical technology. Although the program may prepare you for the career you want, the degree may not be at par with a college or university degree.

Church-related School

A lot of US colleges and universities were founded by religious groups. And most often than not these schools prefer to admit students who are members of the sponsoring religious group.

This post is a part of the Tej Kohli Education blog’s series of education system in America. For more informative posts on this topic keep reading Tej Kohli‘s blog.

The US education system presents students with a wide spectrum of choices. Whether you are an international students, or an American student, the country has plenty of institutions, programs and locations to suits everyone’s needs. The choices are so enormous that an average student will likely be overwhelmed. Hence, to make the whole process of choosing a college easier on you, Tej Kohli blog has complied some useful tips for students. To begin with, a student must carefully observe how each location and program are pivotal in attaining their academic goals. To make an informed choice, Tej Kohli suggests students to first understand how the US education system works.

So lets start by understanding the basic education hierarchy.

Like most other nations, students in US also complete 12 years of primary and secondary education. After earning a diploma or certificate from the secondary school also known as high school, a student is eligible to take admission in college, university, vocational (job training) school, secretarial school, and other professional schools.

Primary and Secondary School

Primary and Secondary Education: It usually begins at the age of 6 for American children. After attending 6 years of primary school, they move on to the secondary school where they can undertake either 2 three programs or a three year program and a four year program. This phase comes under the purview of middle school/junior high school and. Senior high school respectively. In US, these 12 years of primary and secondary education from first through twelfth are referred as grades.

Higher Education

Once a student completes his twelfth grade, they can them move on to college or university level education. This is known as the higher education and before undertaking such course in the US, you must first confirm which level of education in your country corresponds to the 12th grade in the USA. Seek guidance from your educational advisor whether you must spend some extra years preparing for admission in US.

Study at a college or university leading to the Bachelor’s Degree is known as “undergraduate” education. Study beyond the Bachelor’s Degree is known as “graduate” school, or “postgraduate” education. Advanced or graduate degrees include law, medicine, the M.B.A., and the Ph.D. (doctorate).

Keep reading for more informative articles by Tej Kohli.

Dual enrollment colleges have got a whole new connotation these days. Gone are the days when such programs referred to high school students studying part-time at a community college. Nowadays, the dual enrollment programs gives students an opportunity to start studies at the university. Until now community college students have to complete a 2 year associate’s degree and then take transfer to a university to complete two more years of study, also known as 2+2 model. The new dual programs have changed this model and allow qualified students to start studying in a university-level upper division or socialization coursework along with their community college diploma.

Dual enrollment programs have many advantages students can access advisors at both schools for immigration and academic purposes. Students know where they can transfer after one year of studies. They have more flexibility with making a class schedule, and may use facilities such as the library, email accounts, health services, and residence halls. These benefits are in addition to the unique advantages offered by community colleges including lower tuition rates, smaller class sizes, access to English Language Programs, and greater access to advisors and student programs. Students who are accepted to dual-enrollment programs will have the traditional transfer model available to them if they wish to attend another university as well.

So if you are considering schools that offer dual-enrollment, be sure to ask about the following issues:

1. If the program is available to international students;
2. The application requirements and deadlines;
3. The distance between the community college and the university, and what transportation options are available;
4. The difference in tuition rates and how those are paid;
5. How enrollment in courses is verified by each institution to ensure that immigration status is maintained; and
6. Which academic programs at the university accept dually-enrolled students.

Tej Kohli is an expert on matters related to education abroad, especially in the US. Keep reading Tej Kohli‘s blog to find answers to all your queries.

One example of a dual-enrollment program is at the University of Washington Bothell (UWB). Cascadia Community College, the newest two-year college in Washington, shares a campus with UWB. This co-location is ideal because students become familiar with both institutions and all of their shared resources. Students can avoid commuting between schools. Additionally, when students complete a transfer from the college to the university, they will not have to move to a new residence. All of their friends and advisors will also be at the same campus.

We hope you found this article by Tej Kohli quite useful, for more such articles, tips and information keep reading Tej Kohli blog for Study Places in US.

Every year a lot of international students flock to the US to pursue their higher education. These students come from various ages and professional backgrounds. These students come to the U.S to take up traditional language programs or various cutting-edge professional programs with focus on different majors like medicine, technology or business.

Nowadays, the trends of studying abroad is changing with more and more students/professionals taking specialized and certificate training programs offered by reputed American universities to acquire both knowledge and practical know-how in a variety of domains.

Taking a certificate or short-term training program in the USA is a good decision. When you receive a certificate from a reputed school, it implies that you have been taught by experts in the field. It shows that you are serious about developing your career and that you have relevant, detailed knowledge in your field that can make you more valuable to your company. In the rapidly developing technology market, many professionals find it convenient to undertake educational programs to maintain their professional excellence. Plus, it can be a powerful tool in achieving a long-desired promotion or giving your career a fresh start.

Choose from various program options

A lot of professionals come to the U.S.A for staying updated with latest technologies. Plus there are short courses available in Medical and IT field to help participants update their credentials for better career opportunities.

Tej Kohli also recommends students with no prior work experience to also apply for short term courses in American universities.

The major advantage of certificate and short-term programs is that they emphasize a practical approach. These programs can include lectures, discussions, guest speakers, field trips and company visits. Project-based class work helps students apply what they have learned to real-life situations. Students learn to work effectively in teams while using the language skills they have acquired.

Students receive a certificate upon the successful completion of their course. Tej Kohli blog is guide for all Indian students seeking to undertake a higher education in the USA.