Information about the educational systems of Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama that may be helpful to the U.S. college admission officers is presented. Background information about the countries and the current primary, secondary, and postsecondary educational systems are considered. For Brazil, information is presented about quality factors and curricula, and a list of universities and a glossary of educational terms are included. For Venezuela, information is also presented on the grading system, quality factors, and the North American Association of Venezuela. For Columbia, attention is directed to the academic bachillerato program, technical secondary education, commercial and agricultural schools and other offerings. Some common characteristics of the Central American countries are described. The percentage who attend secondary school in Central America varies from as low as 4 percent to as high as 15 percent. All Central American state universities are autonomous; however, the tradition of autonomy is not firmly established in all countries. All of these Central American countries are bringing into their curricula the concept of general education, or general studies, but the concept of general studies is meeting with varied reactions from students as well as faculties. The English requirement in Central American, Brazilian, Colombian, and Venezuelan schools is addressed. Recommendations and a bibliography are also presented for the Central American countries as a whole and for Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. (SW)