The structure of universities in the United States is as diverse as American society itself, with different schools having different positions that suit various students. Furthermore, students can easily transfer between different schools. This seems unimaginable in China; however, it is effortlessly achievable in the United States.
In China, it is almost impossible for a college student to transfer to another university for a bachelor's degree, let alone change majors within the same school. Under the current examination system, one exam determines a lifetime; students are placed into isolated categories based on their scores, labeled by society, and unable to change their circumstances. As a result, all students seem to be molded from the same mold, making it difficult for them to highlight their individual characteristics.
In the United States, there are nearly 4,000 universities, each with its own position. These include community colleges that offer vocational education and foundational education for the first two years of university, liberal arts colleges focused on elite undergraduate education, universities geared toward professional development, and research universities.
For example, the universities within the University of California system are all research universities, such as the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, Los Angeles. In contrast, the 23 universities in the California State University system are all teaching universities, such as San Francisco State University and San Jose State University.
A saying goes in California: If you are very good at studying and come from a wealthy family, go to Stanford (private prestigious university); if you excel academically but come from a less affluent family, go to the University of California, Berkeley (public prestigious university); if your studies are average but you are wealthy, attend the University of Southern California (private top 30); and if your studies are average and you are also not wealthy, go to a California State University (public teaching university).
Importantly, these differently positioned universities offer pathways for mutual transfer. For instance, students can transfer from community colleges to research universities, and transfers between different types of universities are highly flexible. As long as students have good grades and decent language skills, every international student can find their suitable study program and their preferred major in the United States. It's fine if one cannot decide on a major at the beginning of university; through a period of study and adaptation, they will find what works best for them! Even former President Barack Obama transferred from a liberal arts college to Columbia University for undergraduate studies and then attended Harvard Law School. This diversity and flexibility in higher education allows various students to discover their own academic paths and gain suitable educational opportunities.