¡VIVA! - PROGRAM SAMPLER

GOAL Identify practices related to choosing a major EXPLORACIÓN 2 30 treinta La elección de una carrera universitaria Since the Spanish-speaking world covers so many nations, there is a lot of variety in the educational systems within those countries. However, most countries share some important differences from the U.S. educational system. In the Spanish- speaking world, higher education is heavily state- subsidized, so tuition is almost free; as a result, public universities see large enrollments. Spanish and Latin American students generally choose their carrera universitaria ( major ) when they’re eighteen, which can be during their last year of high school or their first year of college. In order to enroll, all students must complete a high school degree, known as the bachillerato . In countries like Bolivia and Mexico, the last year of high school ( colegio ) tends to be specialized in an area of study, such as the arts or natural sciences. ( Colegio is a false cognate. In most countries, it means high school, but in some regions it refers to an elementary school.) Students then choose their major according to their specialization. Similarly, university-bound students in Argentina focus their studies on specific fields, such as social or natural sciences, design, and business, during their five years of high school. Based on this coursework, Argentine students choose their carrera . Finally, in Spain, students choose their major according to the score they receive on the prueba de aptitud (skills test or entrance exam). University graduates receive a licenciatura , or bachelor’s degree. In Argentina or Chile, a licenciatura takes four to six years to complete, and may be considered equivalent to a master’s degree. In Peru and Venezuela, a bachelor’s degree is a five-year process. Spanish and Colombian licenciaturas take four to five years, although some fields, such as medicine, require six or more. Imagine, getting the equivalent of a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree with little or no cost to the student! How does that compare to your own college costs? Estudiantes hispanos en los EE.UU . In the 2017–18 academic year, over 15,000 Mexican students (almost 2% of all international students) studied at U.S. universities. Venezuelans were the second largest Spanish-speaking group, with over 8,000 students. BAJO LA LUPA Universidad de La Habana en Cuba Additional Reading