The U.S. Educational System

The United States does not have a national school system. Nor, with the exception of the military academies, are there schools run by the federal government. But the government provides guidance and funding for federal educational programs in which both public and private schools take part, and the U.S. Department of Education oversees these programs.

In the United States, a college is an institution of higher learning that offers courses in related subjects. A liberal arts college, for example, offers courses in literature, languages, history, philosophy, and the sciences, while a business college offers courses in accounting, investment, and marketing. Many colleges are independent and award bachelor's degrees to those completing a program of instruction that typically takes four years. But colleges can also be components of universities. A large university typically comprises several colleges, graduate programs in various fields, one or more professional schools (for example, a law school or a medical school), and one or more research facilities. (Americans often use the word "college" as shorthand for either a college or a university.)

Every state has its own university, and some states operate large networks of colleges and universities. Some cities also have their own public universities. In many areas, junior or community colleges provide a bridge between secondary school and four-year colleges for some students. In junior colleges, students can generally complete their first two years of college courses at low cost and remain close to home. Unlike public elementary and secondary schools, public colleges and universities usually charge tuition.

The Fulbright Program in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange (Bulgarian Fulbright Commission) was officially inaugurated on February 9, 1993, under a ten-year bilateral agreement between the Governments of the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria.

The main function of the Commission directly derives from the goals of the Fulbright Program worldwide and consists in administering the exchange of Bulgarian and American scholars, students, teachers, school administrators and professionals and disseminating information about opportunities for study, research, teaching and lecturing in the U.S.

Educational advising is another major activity of the Commission that has dramatically expanded since the opening of the Advising Center in 1994. The Center offers ample information and guidance on educational opportunities in the U.S., admission procedures at U.S. universities, financial aid, paper-based and computer-based testing, language training, the annual Fulbright and other competitions etc. There are regular individual and group sessions from Monday through Friday. Annually, the center services about 17,000 visitors, email and phone inquirers.

To make educational opportunities in the U.S. more widely known in Bulgaria and ensure a broader participation of candidates in the Fulbright competition, the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission has opened nine local information centers in the cities of Plovdiv, Burgas, Veliko Turnovo, Rousse, Stara Zagora, Varna, Sliven, Smolyan, Vidin and Shumen.

The manifold activities of the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission are publicized by a quarterly Newsletter (now available on Internet: http://www.fulbright.bg/en).

Student Advising

Applying to study in the United States is not a simple process, but there are good resources available to help you understand what to do. The United States Government provides education information centers in nearly every country, and there are also extensive Internet resources. As you make your plans, the best way to start is to visit the closest U.S. educational advising center. At the center, a well-trained educational adviser and a comprehensive reference collection will help you get familiar with the applications process, select the institution, seek financial aid, and prepare for the required standardized tests (TOEFL, SAT, GRE).

Testing

If you want to enter an American college or university, you are required to take certain standardized tests such as TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, or LSAT.

For information on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), please visit: http://www.usmle.org/.

Bulletins of information with application forms for these tests (except for the LSAT) are available at the advising centers.

Colleges and Universities in the U.S.

To obtain further information on the colleges and universities, you may wish to visit American Universities, Peterson's Educational Center or Accredited Online Colleges.

Visa Information

For further information about visas, please visit our Student Visa page.