Pathway Programs: Enter American Universities Without Exams

Entering a foreign university is a big challenge for international students: not only do you need to ensure that you have your English at a top level, but you also need to pass international exams, nail your application form, motivation and recommendation letters. Moreover, finding yourself in a new country and being immersed in a different culture may be very stressful. If that’s the list of things you are worried about, I know a perfect solution for you: Pathway program. Read on to learn everything about it.

What Is a Pathway Program?

Pathway programs in the USA and Canada, or foundation programmes in the UK and Australia, are special preparatory courses designed for international students planning to do their Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees abroad.

These courses are aimed at students who are not sure whether their English level is good enough to pass all the exams and study at the university or college. They offer intensive training in academic English, cover key study skills to help you adapt to the different educational system, and offer some introductory subject courses — to prepare you for a chosen course or help you navigate among a few options and set your mind on one of the degree programs.

Entry criteria for pathway programs vary. For entering a pathway to Bachelor degree programs, you will need to provide your high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA between 2.00 and 3.00 (out of 4.00), and proof of your English comprehension level, either as TOEFL or IELTS results (they will be lower than those required for entering a degree program and usually will determine how long your pathway program should be), or as an internal language test from the institution that arranges your program. For pathway programs that help you enter a Master’s course, you will need to provide your Bachelor’s diploma with a certain GPA and proof of your language comprehension level.

Pathway programs can last from 4 up to 12 months and usually take place during the academic year. After finishing your pathway program, you will have a summer break, and join your chosen course as a full-time student the next academic year. This is the easiest transition you could think of and you usually don’t need to take any exams.

On-Campus Pathway Programs

Some of the Pathway programs are arranged directly by universities or colleges and offer you a proper on-campus experience, helping you to settle in a new place and get you a real feel of student life before your main course begins.

It’s common to offer students a conditional admission into a university or college. It means that if you score a certain GPA on your pathway course, you will be automatically accepted into the chosen university.

However, conditions may vary. Some universities offer counselling and personal advice sessions instead. If that’s the case, you will have to submit the application, all supporting documents, and pass the interview as other applicants. After counselling sessions, you will know how to do it right and will have higher chances of getting accepted and even receiving a grant or financial aid.

Pathway Programs in Language Schools

Pathway programs can also be offered by language schools and corporate education providers. Usually, they collaborate with a few different universities, offering students a chance to learn more about them all and choose the most suitable option for them. The conditions for these programs also may vary: in some cases, you just seamlessly move into a chosen degree program; in others, you will need to go through a regular application process as described above.

If you want to go for a pathway course with LinguaTrip.com, check out one of our partner language schools ILSC Toronto. They offer a 24-week long pathway program, and right now you can book such a program with a massive 40% discount. Alternatively, check out academic English courses abroad. In FLS Saddleback College in Los Angeles, you can enroll in an intensive Academic English course and get ready for your studies abroad. Plan ahead!

The Benefits of Pathway Programs

To better understand why pathway programs are so great, let’s look at the ranking of American universities. In the USA, there are over 4500 universities and colleges, and they all can be divided into three tiers depending on the quality, cost and global recognition of their teaching.

• Tier-1 universities are the top higher education institutions like Harvard, Stanford, or MIT. The average acceptance rate for them is under 10%. You’ll need to pass up to four exams: to learn more about the exams that you need to take to enter a US university, check out my previous text. And you need to make sure that your motivation letter and references stand out. Not sure how to create a strong motivation letter? Ask our experts for assistance.
• Tier-2 universities are usually ranked in the top-30 or top-50 for specific subject fields. The application process here may be less competitive, but these institutions are still very prestigious in their fields and hence require a very strong application, including high grades and good exam results.
• Tier-3 includes the lowest grading universities and community colleges. The majority of them would not require any exams, but they are low in rankings and often do not even offer student visas support. I would always advise against going to these universities: you will get better value for money staying in your home country and attending university there.

When we are talking about pathway programs, it refers to tier-2 universities. Imagine getting into one of these universities without all the fuss and stress of taking exams and passing interviews. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?

Furthermore, pathway programs help you to boost a great range of skills before starting your degree course. They typically combine academic content with English language classes, study skills sessions, and cultural adaptation courses.

With a pathway program, you may get more time to choose your major. It’s quite often that when you graduate from high school, you have a long list of interests and aspirations and no clarity over which path to choose. Pathway programs allow you to try different courses and see which subject area and which program will work better for you. It’s a great way to try before setting your mind on one option. Check out this article for more tips on finding your passion.

Another great opportunity is to adjust to life in a new country. You will learn with other foreign students, getting used to an international community. After classes, you will be able to explore the city and embrace its lifestyle and culture. Even better if you choose an on-campus pathway program. This way, you will explore your future campus and become a part of your university’s community before starting your main course.

Remember also, that pathway courses offer a lot of insights into the education system of the country you’re going to, and assistance with your application process (where it is applicable). What do I write in my CV? How do I find an internship? How do I change my core subject? All your questions will be answered here by your academic advisor. So you will step into university life having a clear understanding of what to expect and what’s coming next.

If you feel that pathway program is for you, you can book a spot at one of the leading US programs at our website.

Top-4 On-Campus Pathway Programs in the USA

I strongly believe that on-campus pathway programs are the best option for you. That’s why I checked all leading US universities that offer pathway programs for international students and chose the top-4 for you.

Northeastern University

Located in Boston, just a 16-minute drive from Harvard, this is one of the top-40 universities in the USA. 92% of their students find a job within six months after graduation, and top employers include Bank of America, IBM, Dell, Microsoft, and Google. The Computer Science Department is really strong here so you may consider them if you are planning to specialise in software development or IT.

They have run the pathway program for over 20 years. The price starts at $18 300 and depends on the length of the program and chosen subjects. The higher your English level is, the less time you need to get to the university level.

Pace University

If you’ve always dreamed about studying in New York, that’s the university for you: their campus is located in downtown Manhattan. Another cool thing is that they provide at least 9 000 internships to their students. That means that you’ll get an extra line in your CV and earn some extra money. Finance, fashion, tech — all top players in these markets are located in New York, which means you can make the right connections while studying and get a cool internship or job later. Pathway programs here last from 4 to 12 months, prices range from $11 500 to $34 900.

University of South Florida

It’s your chance to study in Florida and enjoy its amazing climate with summer all year round. They are good in Architecture, Finance, Economics, Management, Music, and Religion. More than 75% of their graduates earn more than $60 000 a year and over 32% earn over $100 000 annually. The highest paid USF alumni & graduates are Finance Control & Strategy professionals at $107,000 annually. For your reference, the average salary in the USA is about $50 000.

You will especially love this university if you are a sportsman. There are a lot of Olympic champions studying there because they offer a lot of scholarships for sports. The starting price for their pathway program is $14 720 and you can go there for two or three terms depending on your English level.

Colorado State University

It’s a great choice if you want to truly immerse yourself into an American community: there are only 6% international students at Colorado State University. It’s ranked 56 for Undergraduate teaching quality so it does not come as a surprise that 84% of their graduates work in the field they have studied. It means that they do not end up as waiters or shop assistants, but actually do things they are passionate about. Their pathway program prices start at $19 170 for one semester, and you can take a one, two, or three-semester program here.

To find the university that is right for you, speak with one of our US higher education consultants. They can assist you with the selection of universities, submitting your application, and navigating you through the whole process.

Summary

Pathway programs are a great opportunity for international students to boost their language skills, explore their future campus and get immersed in the local lifestyle and culture. These programs can be arranged on campus by universities and colleges themselves, providing a smooth transition from the pathway to a degree course when students meet the required GPA score. Also, they can be arranged by language schools and other educational institutions in partnership with a few universities. In this case, students get private counselling on the application process as well as a chance to know universities and their programs better before making their final choice.

If you are not planning to use a pathway program and will apply to your chosen universities in the regular way, your exam results will be extremely important. We are always here to assist with your exam preparation: check out our IELTS and TOEFL intensive courses and one-on-one Skype lessons for GMAT, SAT and GRE exam preparation.