​The U.S. Education System Explained for Students Educated in the Moroccan System

One way to better understand the U.S. Education System is to look at what is the same, and what is different. This is written with Moroccan students in mind, but should apply to most students throughout parts of the world that attend schools in countries inspired by the French educational model. Note: much of this does not apply to students attending American Schools abroad. 
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Let’s start with a few similarities between the education systems in Morocco and the United States.

• Mandatory Education: In both the U.S. and Morocco, some education is mandatory, and students are not required to graduate from high school.
• Entry tests: In Morocco, students must take the exams to enter into higher education beyond high school. In the USA, most selective universities also require either the SAT or ACT exam. The SAT exam can be taken in Morocco at AMIDEAST in Rabat.
• Types of Universities: There are both private and public schools in both. 
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Then there are differences. These are some of them.

USA vs Morocco Grade Comparison Chart | Source: ScholarPro Grade Chart

• USA Colleges are Communities: Most US colleges and universities want students to be more than "academics." They want students to participate actively as part of a community, to make their schools more diverse, and more interesting. That’s part of why they want to attract so many international students! As a result, preparing for selective US universities requires more than just high test scores and good grades. It also requires students to excel in challenging coursework, to get letters of recommendation from their teachers, and to participate in activities outside of school.
• Career Choice is More Flexible in USA: Career choice in Morocco, and in much of the world, tends to happen during high school when you pick your educational track. For example, you may decide to choose a vocational track that doesn't lead to advanced studies, or focus your efforts on literature and language or math and sciences. In the United States, while you should start considering your career path during high school, and experiment with courses to confirm that interest, the commitment expected is small.
  • In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 1/3 of college students change their college major at least once. About one-third of students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs changed majors. In the USA, about 1/2 of students wind up working in a field closely related to what they studied in college.
• The Cost of Higher Education in the USA is High: University in the USA tends to be expensive, ranging from as low as about $2,500 per year for foreign students at some 2-year community colleges (example here), to up to around $40-60,000 per year for some Ivy Leagues, without including living expenses. University in Morocco is free or very inexpensive in comparison. Many students in the USA tend to graduate with high student loan debt as a result of the expenses. 
  • “Among the Class of 2018, 69% of college students took out student loans, and they graduated with an average debt of $29,800, including both private and federal debt. Meanwhile, 14% of their parents took out an average of $35,600 in federal Parent PLUS loans.” Most students pay about $400/month for their student loans.  https://studentloanhero.com/student-loan-debt-statistics/
  • Funding education in the USA is a complex topic, and while it's not easy, students who are highly motivated can do it, and they *do* do it all the time. EducationUSA centers can help you plan your finances in detail at no cost. They also have offices with AMIDEAST in Rabat, Morocco, as well as in other cities around the world, and they offer free advising. Their advisors even say that Skype may be an option for Moroccan students outside of Rabat.  
• Educational paths are similar, but not the same: The degree paths are different.
  • Middle School (note: in Morocco, “college” is what in America we call “middle school” or “junior high.” You may need to start collecting your grades/transcripts from your last year of middle school for consideration for US college entry.
  • High School: Morocco has 3 years and USA has 4.  To enter as a freshman, colleges in the US will want to see your last 4 years of academic performance.
  • College/Bachelor’s Degree/"license" Programs: In Morocco you get the license after 3 years. In the United States, a Bachelor’s Degree requires 4 years
  • Graduate School/Master’s Degree programs: To enter a Master’s Degree program in the USA, you need a 4 year college degree. Some students start the first year of a Master’s in Morocco, and during it, they apply for a Master’s degree program in the USA. Graduate school program durations are also different in the USA and in Morocco. 
• Application Processes Differ Greatly. 
  • Preparation timelines are different: For undergrad, the application process starts earlier. Students begin to think about college preparation in the equivalent of Moroccan “college” / middle school. For all levels, most colleges start in August or September, and applications are typically due between October - January, approximately 8-11 months prior to college entry. International students will want to start taking tests, like the SAT, as early as grade 11.
  • USA Decentralized entry-requirements: Entry requirements to USA colleges and universities vary from one place to the next. There is no centralized system to handle applications, and students must learn what each college and university requires. There are common ways to prepare, however, which brings us to the next point.
  • The application process is more holistic in the United States. This means that in general, universities are more interested in the "whole student."
    • As a result, testing matters, but is less important than in Morocco where about 2/3 of your grade is based on exam scores. In the United States, your test scores are not part of your grade at all. Universities look at test scores to consider students for entry, but they look at other factors as well. 
      
      
• Grades Matter in USA Admissions, but Grading is different.  In Morocco, there are grade requirements that guarantee you entry into certain universities. In the USA, grades are not a guarantee for entry into most 4+ year universities, but grades are important. To understand how Moroccan grades convert to the US system, you can find varying charts online. These show you how credential evaluation services will convert grades in order to create a Grade Point Average. While the charts vary, this shared image from ScholarPro gives you a general idea of what your USA Grade Point Average would look like. You can click the image to go to the ScholarPro site to learn more.  Consulting services offered through counselorchloe.com can help students understand this better. Later, look forward to a likely blog post focused on this topic, which will explain in more detail. 
  
  
• There are more universities in the USA. There are more than 5,000 universities in the United States, whereas there are under 300 in Morocco. With so many options, there are also more types of universities in the USA, including community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public universities, private vocational colleges, and much more. You can find more information on that in the Step-by-step International Student Guide posted on this website. 

Implications of the differences

• You need to play for how you'll pay. You’ll need to play for how to pay for college in the USA. Unless your family has the funds, scholarships and Exchange programs can be one way. While most US Universities do not give students international financial aid, there are some that do offer funding for excellent applicants. You can contact this website to request the information. 
• Know the entry requirements for each college/university. Because the academic paths are a little different, you may need to prepare accordingly.
  • For example, for entry to an undergraduate program, if you’re coming from the Moroccan system, you’ll need to provide transcripts translated from your last year of middle school and all years of high school.
  • For graduate school, since the license in Morocco only covers 3 of the 4 years typically required, some students start the first year of a Master’s in Morocco, and during it, they apply for a Master’s degree program in the USA.
  • Since the application processes are decentralized, make sure that you know what each college requires from its international applicants. Most colleges have a special page dedicated to informing international students of their needs. 
• Prepare early, make timelines, and checklists. For most degree programs, you’ll need to start preparing early. For coaching to keep you on track, contact us to discuss consulting services.
  • Transcripts/coursework: you’ll need to prepare to get transcripts and have them translated. How many years you’ll need to share will depend on whether you’re entering into an undergraduate or graduate school program. For undergrad, you’ll probably need to share the equivalent of grades 9-12, which in Morocco is the last year of middle school through the terminal year of high school.
  • Letters of recommendation: start thinking about which professors can write your letters. You’ll probably need 3, as well as a letter from your school counselor, or if you don’t have one, then possibly from the head of your school.
  • Extracurricular: Many US colleges and universities will want to know that you do more than just get good grades. Extracurricular activities can include involvement in sports, leadership in student clubs, volunteering for causes you believe in, playing a music instrument, dedicating yourself to some personal interest or hobby, working a job, or even just helping your family.
  • Entry exams: make sure you know which exams you need to take, look for study materials, and prepare in advance. Probably you’ll be looking at taking the TOEFL, as well as a college entry exam that might include the SAT for undergrad, or the GRE or GMAT for graduate school.
  • Essays: most universities in the United States will require you to write an application essay. Many use what is called the Common Application, which is an online application that allows students to apply to more than 700 colleges. You can find the 2019-20 application essay prompts here for some examples. These could change for future school years. Note: as a 'best practice,' you should plan to write your essays in English. When students write essays in another language, often the translation into English leaves a lot "lost in translation."
  • Funding: if you're going to need scholarships to pay, start looking for ones you can apply to. You can start by looking at the International International Scholarships section of this website. Most scholarships will require many of the same materials that USA universities ask for, like essays, letters of recommendation, and examples of leadership or extracurricular experience. 

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