Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

• Location: New York, USA,
• Year of foundation: 1932,
• Number of students: about 1300,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: mixed.

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (Vaughn College) is a private institution of higher education offering programs in the directions of engineering and aviation.

The educational institution has a long history, having started its activity in 1932. Several aviator pilots and designers of the First World War joined forces to open an institution for the preparation of future engineering specialists. At that time, it was named after Casey Jones, then it was renamed the College of Aeronautics and only in 2004 it received its current name. Today, about 1,300 students who have arrived from different countries to receive competitive specialized education are studying at the Vaughn College campus. They are studied by a staff of highly qualified specialists, each of whom has academic degrees and work experience in their field, as well as actively participates in research activities. Due to the small number of students, teachers have the opportunity to pay attention to each student, helping them to master academic material and develop in-depth during extracurricular activities.

The outstanding results obtained by graduates every year during exams and during the employment process confirm the high quality of education. The American college is constantly in the rankings of leading specialized institutions in many aspects of academic and extracurricular activities, attracting hundreds of applicants to the campus every year.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What factors are considered when evaluating U.S. universities, and how reliable are current rankings?

That's an interesting topic. The criteria used to evaluate universities vary by ranking. For nationwide rankings, factors like class size, teacher salaries, and the number of faculty members with advanced degrees in their field are common considerations. If a ranking focuses on student satisfaction, the criteria will differ. However, rankings don't always align with individual student needs and should be considered alongside other factors.

The educational process of each of the programs is focused on obtaining applied professional skills through the use of modern aircraft, engineering installations, cooperation with leading organizations in the aero- and engineering fields of production.

Students can participate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program.

The Vaughn College Residence is a three-storey building, opened in 2008, with 185 beds in single, double, triple and quadruple rooms. Combined into small but spacious suites, the rooms have a shared bathroom and a small foyer where you can store common things.

The building has a number of common areas that make your stay more comfortable.:

• On the ground floor there is a fully equipped kitchen, a living area with a TV,
• On the second floor there is a multifunctional hall for group work, self—study, and events.,
• On the third floor there is a fitness center with strength and cardio equipment.

There are also laundry rooms on the second and third floors. There is a cafeteria in the west wing of the residence, open on weekdays and Saturdays.

When choosing to stay at the residence, students should arrange a meal plan for the semester. It represents a certain number of meals in the main dining hall, college cafeterias.

Outside of the classroom, students participate in themed clubs, professional organizations, honorary societies, interuniversity sports competitions, and national competitions. Thanks to the modern equipment of the center, they also actively work in research fields together with qualified mentors and researchers. All extracurricular activities are a great addition to the academic process, as they help students acquire useful social skills, develop talent, and implement ideas.

There are more than 20 thematic communities on the campus, united in three areas of interest:

• Professional organizations: National Society of Black Students, Society of Women Engineers, Women in Aviation,
• Academic groups: Unmanned aerial vehicles, Robotics, Creation of NASA rovers,
• Social societies: Billiards, Ping pong, Christian fellowship.

A fitness center opened in the residence allows students to follow an active lifestyle, devote time to strength and cardio training. It employs professional specialists who will support students in achieving any athletic goal, whether it's gaining muscle mass, stretching or losing weight.

Students can join one of the national teams that regularly train and compete against other colleges and universities in competitions. The campus hosts classes in sports such as volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer, and others.

Throughout the year, Vaughn College organizes a number of festive and entertainment events aimed at bringing together the student community. Students participate together in parties, quizzes, national cuisine days, and help with Christmas and Graduation balls as musicians, presenters, and photographers.

• Accreditation by the U.S. Commission on Higher Education, responsible relevant authorities,
• The student—teacher ratio is 14:1, which provides students with comprehensive support and attention to progress.,
• "Highest Mobility" Award among 2,137 colleges in the USA — The New York Times 2017,
• One of the best undergraduate colleges in the US News&World Report 2017 ranking,
• Partnership with national and international organizations of the engineering and aviation industries,
• High percentage of graduates' employment,
• More than 93% of students receive financial assistance,
• Active extracurricular activities during studies in the USA.

Vaughn College is located in one of the residential areas of New York - East Elmhurst. The facility is adjacent to LaGuardia Airport, covering an area of 35,000 square feet.

The campus infrastructure includes:

• Lecture halls with interactive equipment,
• Computer labs,
• Specialized engineering studios,
• Flight Simulator Center with Frasca 241,
• Three Redbirds and one CRJ-700 Canadair regional jet training aircraft,
• Residence with fitness center,
• A large library with a reading room and areas for group work,
• Outdoor sports grounds,
• Recreation and self-study areas.

The college boasts one of the most modern facilities in its scientific field — students are studied on innovative simulators, using high-tech equipment kits to gain not only theoretical knowledge, but also applied skills.

The academic year includes two semesters and several session periods.:

• Fall semester: September-December,
• Spring semester: January-May,
• Summer sessions: May-June, July-August or May-August, depending on the chosen program.

Classes are held on weekdays: from Monday to Friday in the morning and afternoon. Rest is provided on weekends, national and international holidays, and during seasonal vacations.

An approximate list of additional expenses includes:

• Registration fees, deposits,
• Accommodation, meal plan and related expenses,
• Use of technologies and laboratory equipment,
• Books, educational materials for personal use,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Additional academic opportunities,
• Personal expenses.

Applicants will have to go through several registration stages:

• Filling out the online form, providing the required documents,
• Payment of the registration fee,
• Passing an interview, possible entrance exams,
• Obtaining an official invitation to study,
• Making deposits to book a place on the course, in the residence,
• Arrive on campus to start classes.

Employees will help candidates in passing each of the stages, including in the preparation of the necessary documents and obtaining a visa.

Vaughn College welcomes approximately 470 new students each year.

According to statistics, 88% of graduates are employed or continue their academic path within one year after completing the program. If a student has not been able to find a job, the institution will cover the costs of an educational loan.

Applicants arriving at the college from other countries must have a passport, a visa or a US residence permit, and health insurance. Depending on the chosen program, the admission criteria will vary:

• Academic certificates: high school diploma/bachelor's degree/master's degree,
• Scorecards, exam results,
• Language test results: TOEFL (from 77) or equivalent.

The college awards a number of scholarships each year based on academic merit and extracurricular success, provides financial support programs for students in need, and also assists in organizing third-party assistance from partner organizations, the U.S. government. To cover part of the cost of tuition, students can take advantage of the Work-Study program, which allows them to work on campus for the duration of the program.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision