Education System StructureEducation System Structure

High Schools

Vocational Institutions

Junior or Community

Colleges

Master’s Degree Study

Undergraduate Programs

Professional Schools(Medicine, Theology,

Law, etc.)

Doctor’s Degree Study

Postdoctoral Study and Research

Why Study in the US?Why Study in the US?

Academic ExcellenceAcademic ExcellenceVariety of Educational Variety of Educational OpportunitiesOpportunitiesCutting-Edge TechnologyCutting-Edge TechnologyOpportunity for Research, Opportunity for Research, Teaching, and TrainingTeaching, and TrainingFlexibilityFlexibilitySupport Services for Support Services for International StudentsInternational StudentsCampus LifeCampus LifeGlobal EducationGlobal Education

Choosing a College or UniversityChoosing a College or UniversityDo ask yourself these questionsDo ask yourself these questions

What kind of education do I What kind of education do I want?want?What are my career goals? What are my career goals? Am I willing to move away from Am I willing to move away from home and to a new country ?home and to a new country ?Have I considered the total Have I considered the total education cost as well as living education cost as well as living expenses?expenses?Have I determined what type Have I determined what type of credentials my future career of credentials my future career path requires?path requires?Are the American universities Are the American universities or career school’s degree or career school’s degree programs recognized by the programs recognized by the government of my countrygovernment of my country

Hmmmm..

Factors to considerFactors to consider

Academic fieldsAcademic fieldsDegreesDegreesRankingsRankingsLocationLocationTotal cost for your Total cost for your educationeducationTOEFL requirementsTOEFL requirementsSAT/ACT TestingSAT/ACT TestingGRE/GMAT TestingGRE/GMAT TestingAccreditationAccreditation

Choosing a University

REPUTATION

SIZE

LOCATION

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

COST

FACILITIES

FINANCIAL AID

COURSE SELECTION

WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU ?

Rankings Rankings ––vs- the Right Matchvs- the Right Match

RankingsRankings

No No ‘‘officialofficial’’ rankings rankings

Usually provided by Usually provided by magazinesmagazines

Vary greatlyVary greatly

May miss great May miss great smaller schoolssmaller schools

The Right MatchThe Right MatchSpecific to your needs Specific to your needs and interestsand interestsBased on you Based on you personallypersonally

Identifies the Identifies the institutions where you institutions where you are most likely to are most likely to succeed succeed

4 4 –– Year Year Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

• More than 600 public and 1,600 private four-More than 600 public and 1,600 private four-

year institutionsyear institutions

• More than 600 majors offeredMore than 600 majors offered

• No central authority over higher educationNo central authority over higher education

• Accrediting associations establish quality criteriaAccrediting associations establish quality criteria

ChoicesChoices

Over 3600 undergraduate institutionsOver 3600 undergraduate institutions

Over 1700 graduate programsOver 1700 graduate programs

Field of StudyField of StudyCheck that your specialization is available at the Check that your specialization is available at the university you are consideringuniversity you are considering

Check the web page of the department of your Check the web page of the department of your major area of studymajor area of study

Examine the biographies of the professors Examine the biographies of the professors teaching in that departmentteaching in that department– Do any work in your specialty field?Do any work in your specialty field?– Contact professors that interest youContact professors that interest you

Would you want to work with them?Would you want to work with them?

Is their research and work interesting to you?Is their research and work interesting to you?

InternetInternet

1.1. www.educationusa.state.gov www.educationusa.state.gov

2.2. www.studyusa.comwww.studyusa.com

3.3. www.petersons.comwww.petersons.com

4.4. www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com

5.5. www.princetonreview.comwww.princetonreview.com

How do I know if a How do I know if a School is Accredited?School is Accredited?

Check the materials that a school sends Check the materials that a school sends out to see if they identify their accrediting out to see if they identify their accrediting bodybody– Be careful of licensesBe careful of licenses

Check the website of the regional Check the website of the regional accrediting body accrediting body www.chea.org

Time Table

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

J an

FebMar

Apr

May

J un

J ul

Aug

Conduct research, take tests, request application forms

Apply

Acceptance notice, apply for visa

Depart for the U.S.

Early Application Has Advantages

Preparing Your ApplicationPreparing Your Application

Application Forms and InstructionsApplication Forms and InstructionsEducational Documents (Transcripts)Educational Documents (Transcripts)Statement of Educational PurposeStatement of Educational PurposeLetters of RecommendationLetters of RecommendationEvidence of Financial ResourcesEvidence of Financial ResourcesEvidence of English Level Proficiency Evidence of English Level Proficiency

(TOEFL)(TOEFL)

Essay / Statement of Purpose

Your uniqueness

Your purpose of study, ability,

future goals, contributions

How the university meets your

needs and expectations

Be specific and concrete

Test InformationTest Information

TOEFL (Test of English as a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)Foreign Language)

Standardized Academic Test Standardized Academic Test (SAT) and/or ACT Assessment (SAT) and/or ACT Assessment TestTest

Graduate Record Examination Graduate Record Examination (GRE)(GRE)

Graduate Management Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Admission Test (GMAT)

Cost$ of a U.S. EducationCost$ of a U.S. Education

TuitionTuition

Books and SuppliesBooks and Supplies

Housing and FoodHousing and Food

Personal ExpensesPersonal Expenses

Medical InsuranceMedical Insurance

Useful Websites for $ AidUseful Websites for $ Aid

www.finaid.org

www.iefa.org

www.freshinfo.com

www.edupass.com

www.FundingUSstudy.orgwww.FundingUSstudy.org

Check university websitesCheck university websites

www.FundUsStudy.orgwww.FundUsStudy.org

Choose Region

~Southeast Asia~

Choose a Country

Choose a Scholarship

BRIDGING FUND PROGRAMBRIDGING FUND PROGRAM(BFP)(BFP)

To support the application process to US To support the application process to US higher education institutions for students higher education institutions for students who are who are highly qualifiedhighly qualified but unable to but unable to cover the expense of applying, and who cover the expense of applying, and who are not eligible for or funded by other US are not eligible for or funded by other US Government-sponsored exchange Government-sponsored exchange programs. programs.

BFP ApplicationBFP Application

Students must apply to accredited Students must apply to accredited institutions independently (at the graduate institutions independently (at the graduate or undergraduate level)or undergraduate level)

Students are responsible for the entire Students are responsible for the entire process.process.

Criteria for BFP SelectionCriteria for BFP Selection

Quality of academic backgroundQuality of academic background

Work & extracurricular experienceWork & extracurricular experience

Leadership potentialLeadership potential

Financial needFinancial need

Likelihood of acceptance to a U.S. Likelihood of acceptance to a U.S. university with financial aiduniversity with financial aid

10 Ways to make the most out of 10 Ways to make the most out of Studying AboardStudying Aboard

1.1. Prepare before you leavePrepare before you leave

2.2. Attend OrientationAttend Orientation

3.3. Develop an education planDevelop an education plan

4.4. Understand the U.S. education Understand the U.S. education systemsystem

5.5. Get to know your advisorGet to know your advisor

6.6. Practice your EnglishPractice your English

7.7. Participate in classParticipate in class

8.8. Experience the cultureExperience the culture

9.9. Get involvedGet involved

10.10.StudyStudy

Foreign Students Yesterday,Foreign Students Yesterday,World Leaders TodayWorld Leaders Today

Could you be next???

Mikhail Saakashvili-President of Georgia

(Columbia University)

Wangari Maathai-

Nobel Peace Prize Winner from Kenya

(University of

Pittsburgh)

Kofi Annan-UN Secretary General

(Macalaster College)

Gloria Arroyo-

President of Philippines

(Georgetown University)

King Abdullah of

Jordan

(Georgetown University)

Thank You and Thank You and

Good Luck!Good Luck!