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College vs. University in the U.S.: What's the Difference?

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College vs. University in the U.S.: What's the Difference?

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The difference between a college and a university in the U.S. may not always be apparent to students who grew up in other parts of the world. The word "college" doesn't have the same meaning in every country, which can create confusion for prospective international students interested in studying in the U.S.

"In Spanish, 'colegio' means high school," says George DaPonte, director of international admissions at the University of Tampa in Florida, citing one example.

For this and other reasons, some prospective students may pass over U.S. schools that have "college" instead of "university" in their name, admissions experts say. By doing so, students could miss out on a school that may have been a good fit.

While some four-year postsecondary institutions in the U.S. have "college" in their name and others have "university," both types grant undergraduate degrees. Here are some things to keep in mind when researching U.S. institutions that call themselves colleges and those that identify as universities.

Oftentimes schools with "college" in their name are smaller institutions that emphasize undergraduate education, Johanna Fishbein, head of university advising at the United World College of South East Asia's Dover Campus, an international school, said by email. This is not a strict rule, since there are a number of exceptions.

What Is the Difference Between a College and University?

Colleges are often smaller institutions that emphasize undergraduate education in a broad range of academic areas. Universities are typically larger institutions that offer a variety of both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Many universities are also committed to producing research.

Some colleges, known as liberal arts colleges, give students an education in a broad range of academic areas as opposed to having them specialize early in one particular subject.

Prospective students may also sometimes mistakenly believe liberal arts institutions only focus on the humanities, admissions experts say. But many of these schools offer degrees in science fields too.

Another common misconception is that schools with "college" in their name don't offer much in the way of research opportunities, said Fishbein, who serves as president of the International Association for College Admission Counseling. But, for example, 65 percent of Franklin and Marshall students participate in research before they graduate, Mankus says.

Another type of school in the U.S. with "college" in its name is a community college. These are two-year schools that grant associate degrees and career-related certificates. Community colleges vary in enrollment size - some are large, despite having "college" in their name.

Some students begin their education at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor's degree.

Many schools with "university" in their name are larger institutions that offer a variety of both undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

But it is a misconception that all schools with "university" in their name are big, says Chelsea Keeney, assistant director of international student recruitment at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Also, not all universities are public. Private universities include, among many institutions, some of the Ivy League schools, like Princeton University.

Sometimes adding to the confusion for international students, Keeney says, is the fact that large universities are often made up of smaller divisions called colleges. Each of these colleges has a specific academic focus, such as business, engineering or social work.

And liberal arts-type study is not exclusive to small colleges. Some, but not all, universities have a core curriculum for undergraduates, meaning students take a variety of general education courses before focusing on their major.

By nature of their size, large universities tend to offer a wider array of research opportunities than small colleges. "But undergraduate students may need to compete with graduate students for resources and opportunities," Fishbein said.

Which Type of School Is Right for You?

Mankus from Franklin and Marshall says prospective international students may want to keep their options open by applying to different types of institutions in the U.S. She says students often learn new things about themselves and their options later in the application process.

"If some place really interests you or some place just sounds so tantalizing, even if it's not that same type that you think you might want when you start out, keep it in the mix," Mankus says. "What harm could it do?"

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College vs. University in the U.S.: What's the Difference?

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The difference between a college and a university in the U.S. may not always be apparent to students who grew up in other parts of the world. The word "college" doesn't have the same meaning in every country, which can create confusion for prospective international students interested in studying in the U.S.

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How to Make a Career Choice When You Are Undecided

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How to Make a Career Choice When You Are Undecided

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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing a Career

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Choosing a career can be hard when you have no idea what you want to do. Follow these steps to find an occupation that is right for you.

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What skills (soft skills and hard skills) would you need to have in order to work in that profession? For example, I need to learn how to drive a vehicle or I need to learn to use a specific computer software, or I need to be able to get along with others and practice teamwork )

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What skills (soft skills and hard skills) would you need to have in order to work in that profession? For example, I need to learn how to drive a vehicle or I need to learn to use a specific computer software, or I need to be able to get along with others and practice teamwork )

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HOW TO SET SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS (WITH EXAMPLES)

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HOW TO SET SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS (WITH EXAMPLES)

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Goals are the roadmap that takes you to where you want to get in your career. Even if every plan doesn't work out exactly as you hope it will, determining objectives keeps your focus clear. Establishing what things you'd like to accomplish professionally can help you become a more effective and driven employee in the long and short term.

What Are Career Goals?

A career goal is an objective that you pursue in your professional life. They're clear statements of what you want to achieve and an understanding of how you plan to get there. Goals can vary significantly between individuals.

Specific career goals can even differ between two individuals in the same industry. Take a lawyer, for instance. One employee of a law firm may have a long-term career goal of making a measurable positive impact on their community. Another is motivated by the eventual end-goal of making as much money as possible. Both are working the same job, but they have very different career goals.

Why Is Goal-Setting Important?

Planning and goal-setting are important considerations to make in your career because they'll give you insight into whether you're doing your job well enough to meet these personal expectations. Thinking about what you want to accomplish, in the short-term, and eventually in the long-term, makes you a more prepared, strategic, and focused employee.

Without setting goals, you can never be positive about how far you've come. They tell you how well you're doing, growth-wise, and what areas you may be lacking in. Meeting short-term goals can be a rewarding encouragement of your performance. Accomplishing long-term goals can shape what your professional future will look like.

What Are Short Term Career Goals?

Many people think of short-term goals as the stepping stones to meet the bigger targets you have in the long-term. They're realistic things, and you can accomplish them in a couple of months to a year with a definitive endpoint. Short-term goals can be attached to a grander scheme or be stand-alone objectives to better yourself and your work.

Review the following list of short term career goals to see if any of them can be a helpful challenge for you.

1. Learn a new skill. While learning a skill is a process that you'll have to keep up with beyond the time boundaries you set for your short term goal, it can be a great choice to get the ball rolling. Think about the industry you work in and what position you currently have. Seek out skills that will be beneficial to this role.

For example, if you work in advertising but don't have a lot of experience with marketing on Instagram, you could take an online course focusing on this platform specifically. Learning a new skill can be a useful short term goal for keeping your mind sharp and improving your resume's qualifications.

2. Make a professional website. Having a digital impact and identity can be very important to your professional success. A potential employer or client interested in knowing more about who you are and the work you've done will turn to the web for more details. Creating a website can improve your professional appearance and make you more accessible to new opportunities.

Examples of where to make a website include:

3. Take a class to improve your communication. Communicating effectively is a huge part of a business running smoothly. Improving your communication skills can enhance your workplace relationships and productivity. In addition to meeting the necessary goals collectively as a team, communicating effectively with your supervisors and co-workers can also help you down the line in your career.

Examples of courses that help with communication skills include:

4. Read a book relevant to your field. Reading books relevant to the position you work on is a practice that can help your learning abilities expand and gather new information about emerging topics in your field. Committing to a book is an excellent short-term goal because the length of time it will take is defined by the number of pages. There's a clear point of completion and a wealth of knowledge to receive that can improve your work.

What Are Long Term Career Goals?

Long term goals take more planning, commitment, and time than short-term. They're a trajectory point for where you want your career to go in the coming years, as opposed to months. Long-term career goals are broader than short-term ones. They don't have a defined timeline and may take many years to reach.

Consider the following popular long-term career goals.

1. Earn a degree. While a college degree does have a distinct timeline, it qualifies as a long-term goal because it takes many years and a lot of dedication to complete. Attending college and receiving a degree at any level is the first long-term goal that most people set in anticipation of securing their future careers.

2. Getting a promotion. This is a common long-term goal in the professional world. Receiving a promotion is an honor that describes your work ethic and strong performance over the years with your employer. It shows a distinction that you've been successful at your job and is a good barometer to measure your professional accomplishments. Working your way towards meeting this milestone can take anywhere from one year to a few.

3. Get published. Getting a scholarly journal, article, or book published can be a considerable accomplishment in many fields. It's a long-term goal that can be off-putting to many professionals because of the effort and time it takes to complete.

You may not be an expert writer, but you could be an expert in the information you have to tell. If you work in an industry or niche that could have a readership, consider dedicating some time to the pursuit of getting your written work published.

4. Attain a leadership position. Being offered a leadership role within your company demonstrates a readiness to take on more responsibility for managing other associates. Becoming a supervisor in your industry can take longer than getting a yearly salary increase. But, it's an excellent long-term goal to set because it can end with you receiving perks such as more professional freedom, decision-making duties, and a potential pay raise.

How to Set Your Career Goals

Setting your short and long-term career goals is a personal matter that depends on what's important to you and what can benefit your growth as a professional. Establishing goals can be stressful, but doing so can improve your performance and happiness at work.

Consider the following tips for how to set your short and long-term career goals.

1. Be realistic. One of the key aspects of goal-setting is being realistic in what you're trying to accomplish. Many failed career objectives, usually short term, are due to a lack of realism. A goal that's out of reach from the start likely won't be achieved successfully.

Imagine you take on the short-term goal to become fluent in Spanish in the next three months without any prior experience. Becoming fluent in a language in this timeframe is nearly impossible. The task is far too large to be done successfully, which will leave you feeling discouraged and defeated.

Setting realistic goals is crucial for meeting your short-term objectives.

2. Make the goals specific. A mistake that people make when setting goals is making their objective too broad to be achieved. Deciding that your long term goal is to be happier or be rich doesn't speak much to the details of what this endeavor will entail. Instead, consider what will make you feel happier or richer, and create an outline for how you plan to get there.

Specificity makes it easier to follow the path that leads to meeting your goal.

3. Create a game plan. Strong planning skills account for many professionals meeting their long and short-term career goals. Once you've decided what you want to accomplish, you need to figure out how to do it.

Deciding on the steps of your plan for how to achieve your goals include:

Establishing a timeline for completion

Creating specific milestones

Outlining the smaller steps towards meeting the goa

4. Take on new challenges. The point of working towards a goal is to challenge yourself. The things that come easiest to you aren't the situations that make you grow and improve as an employee. It's difficult tasks and objectives that help your career in the long run.

Don't shy away from a long or short term goal that's challenging to you because that's probably the one you should go for.

5. Be positive and flexible. You never know what life will throw at you. Whether it be personal, financial, or professional hurdles, you're going to face some form of difficulty when it comes to meeting your goals. This can be especially true of long term goals that may span over multiple years.

Be open to changes that come your way, adapt your plan of action to work towards your goals, and keep up a positive attitude. Perseverance and optimism are the two magic ingredients of accomplishing any long or short term goal.

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How To Set Short And Long Term Goals (With Examples) - Zippia

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Goals are the roadmap that takes you to where you want to get in your career. Even if every plan doesn't work out exactly as you hope it will, determining objectives keeps your focus clear. Establishing what things you'd like to accomplish professionally can help you become a more effective and driven employee in the ...

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Think about one obstacle you might face which makes it difficult for you to achieve your goal. What obstacle is it, and what would you do to try to make it happen, anyway?

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Think about one obstacle you might face which makes it difficult for you to achieve your goal. What obstacle is it, and what would you do to try to make it happen, anyway?

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What do you want to study once you graduate ? Will you be enrolling in college or university? What college or university are you planning on attending? 

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What do you want to study once you graduate ? Will you be enrolling in college or university? What college or university are you planning on attending? 

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List two long term goals you can have once you graduate from high school. Long term goals between graduating from high school and the next 5-10 years. 

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List two long term goals you can have once you graduate from high school. Long term goals between graduating from high school and the next 5-10 years. 

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List three short term goals that can be accomplished between now and the end of the school year.

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List three short term goals that can be accomplished between now and the end of the school year.

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List three long term goals between now and when you graduate from high school. If you are a senior, what long term goals could you think about already for the next 2-3 years that can be accomplished by the time you finish college or university.

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List three long term goals between now and when you graduate from high school. If you are a senior, what long term goals could you think about already for the next 2-3 years that can be accomplished by the time you finish college or university.