[MUSIC PLAYING]
MR. ALFRED BOLL: Good morning and good evening to our viewers
from around the world.
My name is Alfred Boll, and I represent EducationUSA
and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
at the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C.
The goal of today's Facebook Live
is to equip you with the knowledge and tools
necessary to better navigate the U.S.
college admissions process.
We want international students like
you to be able to study in the United States.
And 550 EducationUSA advisors in 180 countries and territories
around the world offer free advising services to help you.
During the program, we will be answering questions
from viewers.
So if you have questions on navigating the U.S. admissions
process, please post them at any time during this program
in the comments section below.
I am excited to introduce our speakers, who collectively
have a wealth of knowledge in the college admissions process.
Joining us virtually is Chenelle Goyen,
Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Georgia.
Chenelle manages the International Recruitment Plan
for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Welcome, Chenelle.
In our studio we are joined by Anna Wise, who
is the Associate Director of International Recruitment
at Towson University.
Anna serves as the university's NAFSA Region 8 International
Enrollment Management Liaison, and the Study Maryland
Recruitment Liaison.
I'm also pleased to welcome Joscelin Rocha-Hidalgo, who
is an international student from Bolivia.
Joscelin is currently pursuing her doctorate degree
in psychology at Georgetown University.
Ladies, thank you for joining us.
Joscelin, I wanted to start our discussion
by getting your perspective as an international student.
Can you share with us some of the common mistakes
students make during the application process?
MS. JOSCELIN ROCHA-HIDALGO: Yeah, of course.
I think I'm going to start first with my background.
I did my college degree at [INAUDIBLE] College in the U.S.
I'm originally from Bolivia.
So I went there and do my bachelor's degree in Kentucky.
And then now I'm doing my doctorate degree
at Georgetown University--
MR. BOLL: That's fantastic.
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: --in D.C. So I
went through the application process as an undergrad,
and also for a graduate school.
And I found myself doing this these mistakes sometimes
and found my peers doing these mistakes.
I wanted to share these with you all.
And I think the first one I want to share
is choosing only famous schools to apply to.
And it's such a common mistake.
When people start this mistake, it's
like wanting to go only to ivy schools.
The only famous schools I've seen on TV
is Stanford, Harvard--
but there's so many more.
There's so many universities, colleges around the U.S.
It's crazy that I only focus on 10, 15, that I've heard on TV.
So I will definitely suggest people to just search for more.
Spread out your research and look
for that tiny corner in Kentucky,
that tiny corner in Maine, even in states you haven't heard of.
MR. BOLL: That's fantastic.
That's great advice.
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: Yeah.
That's really something to look at.
Another thing I found it's being afraid of asking questions.
But please check the website before you do ask questions.
There are frequently asked questions, FAQs,
that you can look for in the websites.
Make sure to get informed.
And if there is none on the website,
don't be afraid to ask the people that are in charge.
It is their job to help you get into these universities too,
and guide you.
So ask for help.
Another thing-- when you're writing your personal statement
for any degree, please proofread it.
Ask for help to proofread it.
It's such a common mistake.
I was like, I'm perfect in English.
I don't need help.
We all need that extra--
you are spending hours on these papers.
Look for help to help you with those typos, and just phrases
that you think make sense in your mind.
But you probably have been reading it
for two hours or 20 hours, so it ends up making sense.
So you need help.
You need fresh eyes.
Also, I know there are many or Google websites that
teach you the samples for essays that you can write.
But guess what?
There are so many people looking at these papers, too.
You want to stand out.
You want to be unique.
So that's something I would definitely recommend.
And finally, another mistake that I
did while I was going through this--
I'm going to be--
as an undergrad I was going to be
spending four years in this town, in this university.
So don't ignore other aspects of the school,
such as location and weather.
Because you're going to be there for four plus years.
Might as well enjoy it.
And then again, please reach out for help.
That's a common mistake.
Don't doubt it.
Ask for anyone's help.
Yes.
MR. BOLL: Joscellin, thank you so much.
I mean, that is-- you make very good points.
Especially the one saying that there are 4,700
accredited colleges and universities
in the United States-- a wide variety.
And there's the right fit for everyone, for every student.
Right?
And that's something that EducationUSA advisors--
whose basic services around the world are for free--
are focused on, is helping students find the right fit
for them to succeed professionally, academically,
and personally.
So thank you for that message.
I wanted to follow up-- you mentioned that students often
don't reach out for help when they should.
And, of course, we have EducationUSA-- the Department
of State's network of advising centers around the world.
I think you used, engaged EducationUSA.
Can you tell us a little bit about-- would you give students
advice about how to engage EducationUSA around the world?
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: Yeah I was part of the EducationUSA
in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
I reached out to them, because I really had no idea what to do.
I found I had things on the internet,
but I really couldn't figure out what the right path was.
And it took a little bit for me to feel strong
and go ask for help.
They were so welcoming.
Like you mentioned, they're there to guide us.
And they just gave me all these wonderful resources--
not only online--
but also wonderful books that they have in their offices,
and guide you step by step on how the application
process works, the exams that you have to take,
where you can take them--
just every single part of it, they're
there to help you through it.
Also to read your papers--
those are the people that can proofread your essays.
I didn't have a computer at home.
I'm coming from a low income family.
I was really grateful that this office had computers
that I could use and internet that I could use.
Because I didn't have access to those at home.
So definitely I would recommend going to any EducationUSA
office.
They're more than welcome to help you and guide you.
I know it's a little bit embarrassing
to ask for questions, but shake it off.
Go for it.
MR. BOLL: Do it.
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: You can do it.
Yeah.
You just go and ask them.
And even to start with just I am embarrassed,
I don't know what to do.
Can you help me?
That's enough.
That's enough.
That's all you need to say.
And they're there to help you.
And I'm really grateful for all the people
I met during that time.
I also, through EducationUSA, got opportunity
to get opportunity funds--
a scholarship.
And I was able to apply to four universities in the U.S.
With all their application fees paid.
This scholarship was paying for all the expenses
before getting into a university.
So I think that's really helpful coming in from my background,
to get that kind of help.
And it's not just to help you--
EducationUSA Is not just to help you to get to the U.S.,
but they also expose you to different scholarships
and different ways that you can finance this possibility
of studying in the U.S.
MR. BOLL: That's great.
Thank you so much, Joscelin.
That was very valuable insight.
I know our viewers might have some questions for you,
so please hang tight.
We will get back to you.
Chenelle, I think this is the perfect time
to talk about admission timelines.
What advice would you give students on the best approach
for staying on track during the college application process?
MS. CHENELLE GOYEN: Hi, Fred.
Thank you so much for having me.
Yes, I would be happy to talk to you guys
about admissions timelines.
So yeah, know the deadlines and the timelines
of every university that you're thinking of apply to.
I am originally from South Africa.
So I know what it is to be an international student studying
here in the U.S. But working in admissions itself,
it's important to remember the U.S. timelines.
So we're going to start with the summer
and fall priorities here.
So in June and July, which is U.S. summer--
where in South Africa it's the winter--
you want to visit the universities
that you're interested in.
Narrow your search down to about five or so schools
that you're interested in.
And if possible, schedule a campus visit
at each of these universities during that summer break.
I came over and actually did that over my winter break
from South Africa.
But so going into August of that year,
you want to map out your final high school year.
Get a calendar.
Plan everything you have in that calendar itself--
everything from scheduling exams, taking the SAT,
get a study schedule, and then include your application
deadlines, as well.
In September, start looking at essays.
Research the essay topics at each of the schools
that you're interested in.
Go look and see what essay topics they've had in the past.
And then start gearing your essay writing
towards those same topics.
So for example, at the University of Georgia
we have an admissions blog.
And you can find our essay topics and examples
of great essays on that blog.
Our essays is not very wordy.
We require for students to write a couple of essays--
between 200 and 300 words.
So remember to look at each university
that you're interested in and see how long these essays
are supposed to be.
And focus on substance, and not necessarily word count.
Start early when you write your essays,
or once you have your essay topics in hand.
Answer the question that's been asked.
Don't recount.
You want to reflect and tell a story about yourself
within this essay.
Because this is really opportunity for you
in this application process to you
share a bit about your personality,
give the reader a glimpse of how authentic you really are.
And have at least one other person read over that essay
and make sure you review that.
So going into October, make sure you take SAT or ACT exams.
This is very important.
Again, if you're looking at different types
of universities, they might require SAT, they might not.
At the University of Georgia we require an SAT or an ACT
for our first year applicants.
Make sure you send your final scores
to each one of those schools that you're
looking to apply to.
In November, ask and gather for your recommendations
or your recommendation letters.
So get all your letters together,
and get them ready to be submitted.
In December, you submit and send your applications in.
I usually tell them most of the students who
apply to the University of Georgia
to get these applications in well prior
to the assigned deadline.
Don't miss these application deadlines.
In February, some of the students
will find that they would have to do interviews.
Some universities require interviews
within the application process.
For example, the University of Georgia,
we do not require that.
So we will not be doing interviews
with that application process.
In March, you pick your university.
I also recommend for students to look at a back up university.
So have a plan B and narrow down the universities
that you've researched so far.
In April, you can review your financial aid or scholarships.
At some schools he will have to indicate that you're
accepting the scholarship.
So it's important to understand which
schools and what requirements they have within this process.
In May, you will have to submit your commitment deposit.
So May 1st is the commitment. deposit deadline.
It's a national deadline.
So this is where you show the university your commitment
by your commitment deposit to secure your spot at your chosen
university.
Also research which schools are buying and non-binding
when it comes to picking your final school.
So, for example, University of Georgia--
we're non-binding when you're paying or making
that commitment deposit.
Over the summer, students attend orientation.
With my university students are required to attend orientation.
Make sure you allot of good amount of time
to be able to attend the specific assigned orientation
dates that you have available.
And then after that, you will start your selected university
in August, or in the fall.
MR. BOLL: Chenelle, thank you very much.
That is very valuable advice, which we appreciate.
Anna, we just learned about timelines
for taking admission tests.
And I'm wondering if you could tell us
a little bit about which tests are
necessary for international students
and how they go about that process.
MS. ANNA WISE: Absolutely.
Thank you, Fred.
So the first thing that I always like
to make sure international students understand
is that universities usually require
two different types of tests.
So the first one would be a test of academics.
So for instance, the SAT or the ACT Test for undergraduate.
And for graduate, you might have a GRE or a GMAP test.
And these are kind of testing some of the subjects
that you may have studied previously.
But then there's also tests of English proficiency.
So these might be a TOEFL test, a IELTS test, or a PTE test.
Now usually for these types of tests,
universities will say specifically.
We don't really care which one you want to take.
Right?
So if you want to take an IELTS, you
want to take a TOEFL-- people say, which is better?
It's really about what your preference is.
Universities, when they say it's the same for us,
it really is the same for us.
We're not going to prioritize one over the other.
But the other important thing to realize
is oftentimes students will think, OK.
I haven't taken an SAT or an ACT test,
so I can't apply to university in the U.S. Right?
We hear this quite frequently.
So as Chenelle was saying, some universities
do require the SAT and the ACT test.
So it's a very good idea for anyone applying
to U.S. University to try and take that test if they
have the opportunity.
But if for whatever reason your test
is not as high as you hoped, or whatever the situation is--
it's important to realize that some universities don't
actually require these SAT or ACT tests.
Now the reason for that is education systems
are often very specific per country.
The example I like to say is if I studied and took a Gaokao
test, I'm not going to do nearly as well as almost
any student in China.
Particularly, since I don't speak Mandarin.
But if I took a Gaokao test, I'm not going to do very well.
So it's not necessarily fair, is what some institutions believe,
for international students and for U.S. Students
to have the same level expectations for tests
like the SAT and the ACT, which are based on U.S. Education
system.
So it's always important-- which goes back
what what Jocelyn was saying-- is
you need to check the website.
Because the universities will say
very clearly what is required and what is not required.
So it is not a valid excuse for you to say, oh, I
didn't know you need that test.
Because it's going to be published.
But do realize that some universities
don't require the subject test.
Now all universities will require some type of proof
of English proficiency.
And the reason for that is English proficiency
says nothing about how intelligent you are
or how likely you are to be successful in university.
It's simply a skill that you need
to be successful in university.
The same way I would never do well on the Gaukau in China,
because I don't speak Mandarin-- it doesn't mean I'm
not intelligent.
It means I'm not going to do well there.
So the English test simply tests how prepared
you are with that skill.
So realize if somebody tells you this is a requirement,
they're saying this is the required
English level we think is going to allow you to be successful.
MR. BOLL: Thank you very much.
That's very good advice, Anna.
One of the questions we often get from international students
is about how they can finance their education.
Could you maybe tell us a little bit about that?
MS. WISE: Absolutely.
The first thing to realize is again, check the websites.
We keep saying this consistently.
But universities will usually post opportunities
they have for scholarships.
Now there are some private scholarships
that are available through companies, through EducationUSA
has some of that they offer.
You can research those externally.
But a lot of universities will also offer scholarships
based on academic merit, which means
how well you did in school--
sometimes based on test scores, sometimes
not based on test scores.
And when you hear a scholarship for academic merit, that
means really the university is rewarding you for hard work
you've done.
And that's, you could almost say, free money.
Right?
So that's money you want to always say yes and accept--
the same way Chenelle said sometimes
you need to say yes, I am accepting your scholarship.
Now the term financial aid can be a little confusing.
Because oftentimes that refers to financial aid
by the U.S. government-- not always, but sometimes.
So in that case, international students are unfortunately not
able to qualify.
So you must be clear on the difference
between financial aid and scholarships--
scholarships being usually either academic or athletic
based.
Now something else you can research
is some of these universities will have special scholarships
for Honors College.
So if you want to participate in an Honors College program,
you can oftentimes get an even higher scholarship.
I know at our university--
Towson University-- we have athletic scholarships,
we have academic merit scholarships,
and those can be combined with Honors scholarships
on top of it for international students.
MR. BOLL: Thank you very much.
That's fantastic perspective.
Do you want to talk about loans?
Is that--
MS. WISE: So loans are another option that's
becoming increasingly popular.
So these would be student loans.
Now oftentimes the most important thing to realize
is understanding what are the criteria--
so what are you signing up for.
So there are a lot of very strong financing loan
options available.
But you need to make sure you understand
what all the terms are.
Now I know this is something EducationUSA can help with.
So if you have heard about a student loan
and you want to learn more about it, then say, hey,
what precisely does this mean?
What am I signing up for?
When do I have to pay it back?
And how much do I pay it back?
Is this safe?
You can bring it to an EducationUSA advisor
and they can help you review and look at some of your options.
But that can be a very strong option for students.
Because, of course, a U.S. Education
is an investment in your future.
So if you receive that U.S. degree,
that can hopefully help you pay that loan back.
MR. BOLL: Anna, thank you very much.
Joscelin, can I turn to you for your perspective on this?
Can you tell us a little bit about your situation--
the difficulties you faced and what
your options were that you could consider in terms of financing?
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: Yeah.
I could not have afford paying a whole education in the U.S.
coming from the background I come.
So I did had to choose.
Like I mentioned, Opportunity [INAUDIBLE]
scholarship allowed me to pay for all the expenses
before that.
That's translations of papers-- that can become really pricey--
things to English, TOEFL, SATs--
so that scholarship allowed me to do that.
But I could limit it to only four universities or colleges.
So I had to choose really wisely which those four will be.
And so I had to choose which ones
will offer more scholarships to international students,
or which ones are more likely to offer scholarships
to their students in general, which
ones are more likely to just offer you grants.
And you can find those things in their websites.
So I was creating big data sheets
on how to get informed in those information
and understand the terms--
what's a loan, what's a scholarship.
A merit scholarship-- I didn't understand
those specific terms.
So I would really recommend getting informed on those.
And yeah, I was really lucky to get Berea College.
And you don't pay tuitions in college,
which is really unique.
So you get accepted and you have a full scholarship
for your tuition all ready when you get accepted.
But I also got some Merit scholarships
throughout the years that will allow me to pay for my expenses
as a student, lodging, and food related stuff.
MR. BOLL: That's fantastic.
Thank you for that advice and perspective.
It really does sound like financing,
like any other aspect of the application process,
involves really doing your research.
So 4,700 accredited colleges and universities--
many that are not the famous names,
but that have excellent resources--
professors teaching, students will have a great experience.
And so it's about doing the research
to find the right fit for you--
both in terms of the school as well as the financing.
Thank you very much.
Chenelle, can I turn to you?
Once students have gathered the right documents
and put together an application package,
can you share with us some things
that they should keep in mind before submitting
their final application?
MS. GOYEN: Yes, Fred.
I would love to share some of the notes I have here.
This is one of my favorite parts throughout the application
process here at the University of Georgia,
is really reading the applications
and getting an idea of the type of student
that is applying to the University of Georgia.
So how are you evaluated?
You want to pick colleges that reflect who you are
and what you want from life.
Review the college websites.
You have to talk to the school counselors
and consult, of course, with your family.
Spend quality time thinking about what
you want your college experience to be,
and make a list of these things.
And keep them in mind while crafting
the list of these perspective schools that you're looking at.
And what are colleges really looking for?
Ultimately, different schools are looking
for different characteristics.
Yet many have overarching qualities,
and that's sought by all.
But regardless of the school, the main characteristics
and admissions panel is looking for is number one,
an impressive academic career.
Show us that you do well in school, because you're
coming here for school again.
Demonstration of extracurricular activities
and leadership interests--
we value that.
Quality of your written work.
Make sure again, you revise those essays
that you've submitted to these universities.
And the last thing is getting some solid recommenders,
or letters of recommendation.
Then we're going to look at your academic progress and trends.
So your academic performance through out high school.
For us, there's not necessarily a minimum grade point average
or a class rank that's required.
But know that you are up against some
of the best and brightest in the world that's applying
to these U.S. universities.
The more rigorous course selection
you have and the better your grades are and the higher
your class rank, the more competitive
your application is going to be.
We also look at intellectual challenges.
We look at what academic challenges
the student had available, and what the student took,
as well as what the student didn't take.
So we wanted to see if the student did challenge
themselves within that academic environment,
or if they chose to take an easy route.
We also look beyond the transcripts,
at intellectual opportunities chosen both inside and outside
of the classroom.
And then we also look at work ethic, integrity, and maturity.
We look at all your writings, your transcripts,
the application items, your recs--
the recommendations, for evidence
of exceptional or poor maturity.
We look at your work ethic--
not just the jobs or employment that you had in the past,
but the effort of work that goes toward your goals,
and the exceptional or poor conduct records that
might come along with that.
But it's important for you to show us
that you're a hard worker in all the areas--
not just academically.
And then finally, we look at your professional discretion--
or the university then takes a final look
at the student as a whole, and the factors and the student
has presented.
And ultimately, we look at the challenges
that the student might have overcome,
whether it's significant, personal, or academic growth.
But ultimately, we're looking for a student
that has the potential to have a positive impact.
MR. BOLL: Chenelle, thank you very much.
That's excellent advice.
Anna, to wrap up our conversation
can you share with us how decisions
are communicated to students?
MS. WISE: Yes.
So this is always the very exciting part.
Some universities will actually make phone calls,
or WhatsApp calls, Skype calls, and tell you congratulations--
you're admitted.
I always love making those phone calls.
Other universities will give you decisions through e-mail.
Sometimes they'll send you physical mail with a letter--
usually a big envelope that says you've been accepted.
And actually, a lot of universities
nowadays have student web portals
that you can check and sometimes upload documents
and find out where am I in the review process.
So oftentimes for those universities
that do have web portals where they have given you access,
you can see your admissions letter there first,
before any place else.
So if your university is using a web portal--
and again, they will tell you that they're doing that--
make sure that you check that portal.
Because that will be the first place for it to be posted.
MR. BOLL: Thank you so much, Anna.
That's also a very valuable perspective.
And it's important for students to know where they stand.
And I'm sure universities are very conscious of the fact
that students are waiting and that a lot depends
on the decision that's being made.
OK.
So this was a very insightful conversation.
Let's now take some Facebook questions from our viewers.
So we have a question from [INAUDIBLE]..
Is there an age limit for college or university
applications?
Excellent questions.
Chenelle, can I turn to you for that?
MS. GOYEN: Yes.
So the University of Georgia, we don't necessarily
have an age limit.
However, we do require that these students
have finished high school.
Obviously once they get to campus,
some students are dual enrolled.
So we do have younger students on campus, as well.
But to give you a specific number,
we usually don't see any students younger
than the age of 16.
Usually it's from 17 onward is the age group we see on campus.
MR. BOLL: And what about an upper age limit?
I mean, I'm in my 50s--
which I am-- can I apply to college?
MS. GOYEN: That's a great question.
We actually have a program for 62 and plus
or over that can study here at the University, as well.
So it's open ended.
You can study for as long as you want and be a lifelong learner.
MR. BOLL: That's fantastic.
I mean, which again is part of the ethos
of American higher education across the board,
is that it is open to everybody.
Right?
We're trying to welcome as many students
as possible from around the world,
and as many diverse students as possible, in everything
that that means.
Going to our next question-- several viewers
have mentioned difficulty in financing their education.
They are asking more about scholarships,
specifically about how you go about looking for scholarships.
Anna, can I turn to you for that?
MS. WISE: Sure.
So as mentioned, there are a lot of scholarships
that are specific to specific universities.
There are also ones that are done through private companies
or organizations.
So if you work with EducationUSA,
you work with NAFSA.
You can find a list of some of those external organizations
that offer scholarship opportunities.
Otherwise, the best advice to get a scholarship
is really to focus on your strong application.
Because universities do have scholarship funding available.
But that funding usually goes to students
with very strong academics, very strong motivation,
very strong ethics--
all of those areas that Chenelle was talking about.
So yes, scholarships are possible.
You need to do research and you need to work hard to earn them.
MR. BOLL: Can I ask a follow up?
So for many American students applying to college, also
scholarships are always an issue.
And financing is an issue for everybody.
Many American students get sort of partial scholarships
depending on need.
Is that something that is the same
for international students-- that they
might be offered a partial scholarship or partial funding,
and then be asked to self-fund a portion?
MS. WISE: So usually that would be the case.
Usually students would receive a scholarship
that would not cover the full cost of tuition and housing.
So then oftentimes, students will
be funded by a combination of family members.
It is not a good idea to say OK, I know I'm coming to the U.S.
and I am going to work to be able to support
the rest of my education.
Because one of the very important things to understand
is if you come to the U.S. for a student visa,
you are there to study.
You're not there to work.
So that means that there is a limit on the type of work
students can do.
Students on F-1 student visa can work for up to 20 hours per
week--
on campus, only.
And that should not be considered
the primary source of your financing for your university.
That's very important.
So yes, there are scholarships.
Oftentimes there will be a difference
that still needs to be paid.
So usually you want to make sure that if your goal is to study
in the U.S., you've been identifying external sourcess--
whether it's a company, organization, government,
an uncle--
oftentimes, it's an uncle.
So yes, that's important to realize.
MR. BOLL: Thank you very much.
So we have a question from Danya,
who asks what are the main criteria for acceptance
into U.S. universities?
And so Chenelle, can I turn to you?
MS. GOYEN: Yeah.
So when it comes to the admissions process and things
that we look at that's the biggest admissions
items that we consider, it comes down to your merit scores--
so your high school GPA--
your grade point average coming in.
We're going to look at your SAT and ACT scores.
'Cause if students have a trend of doing well in high school,
we want them to come and continue
that trend here on our campus.
So your grade point average and your high school transcripts
and the courses you took in high school and the rigor
of the courses is going to be a very good indicator
of how successful you're going to be on our campus.
So that's going to be the main thing we look at.
So again, GPA, SAT or ACT scores--
and then we're going to look at the rest of your applications--
which includes the essay and everything else
we discussed a little earlier.
But do well in high school.
Have a good GPA coming out of high school.
That's going to be the biggest thing we're looking at.
MR. BOLL: Thank you, Chenelle.
So a question from Nathaniel on Facebook who asks,
how important are recommendation letters to U.S. institutions?
Anna, let me begin with you.
MS. WISE: So this will also depend oftentimes
on institutions.
Most universities do require recommendation letters--
but not all.
Recommendation letters are an excellent opportunity
to show some of your leadership skills,
some of your ethnic skills, and some things
that we can't necessarily see just from your grades.
So the important thing I always advise
students is recommendation letters are important.
So you want to make sure the teacher or principal or whoever
is writing your letter for you knows you and can
say nice things.
I always joke I don't have the person who doesn't
like you write your letter.
But they know you, they know how you work,
and they can say honest, truthful good things
about yourself.
The other thing about recommendation letters
is if a school tells you they require two recommendation
letters, don't think it is helpful to send 48.
Because some students will do that, and 48 letters
is too many.
They will not read all 48.
If they ask you for two, two is what you send.
MR. BOLL: Send two.
Got it.
So follow instructions.
MS. WISE: Follow instructions.
MR. BOLL: Got it.
Joscelin, can I ask you--
I mean, how did you approach recommendation letters
when you were going to college?
Was it easy to get?
Did you have to explain what these were?
I assume this is not something-- well,
we know this isn't something that
is common around the world.
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: Yeah.
I had an issue with parents will think or--
I don't know how to explain this.
But I personally thought it was just
a simple two lines, three lines of a recommendation letter.
That's not what it was.
I got informed.
I asked more questions to my EducationUSA advisor.
I would also limit them to only people who knew English.
And there were so many other people that could speak Spanish
and they have no English background,
that I could ask for a recommendation letter
and then get translations for those.
So definitely I will follow Anna's recommendation
to ask to someone who actually knows
you and can talk about you and your skills and all
those things.
As we mentioned earlier, this sometimes
you won't get the opportunity to interview.
All these papers are going to be the only things
that these people are going to see from you.
This is your way to present yourself
and how good of a candidate you are for the university
you're applying to.
So again, find people who know you and will
write things that reflect who you are in these papers.
MR. BOLL: That's very good advice.
Anna, can I follow up?
I mean, if a letter comes in a foreign language-- of course,
it depends on the university-- but will
many universities welcome that with a translation
into English?
MS. WISE: With a translation into English, absolutely.
I would not advise sending just a letter
without the translation.
MR. BOLL: Right.
MS. WISE: But as long as you include a translation
into English, absolutely.
MR. BOLL: So the main piece of advice
that I'm hearing from the three of you is find someone who
knows you well and who can really
testify to your qualities and write in detail about why
he or she is recommending you.
OK.
Thank you very much.
Very good advice.
So our next question says, almost all universities
in the United States look at extracurricular activities
that you have done-- so activities outside of school.
I'm an international student.
And in my country there are a few options
to do any extracurricular activities or classes
or activities.
Will that hurt my application?
Chenelle, what would you say?
MS. GOYEN: That's an excellent question, Fred.
And I can honestly say, coming from South Africa myself,
we didn't have a lot of extracurricular activities
available at my school.
Because my school was focused on students going to school
and doing well at school.
If you don't have a lot of extracurricular activities
available, that is OK.
However, do you show us that you are filling your time--
the free time that you have--
with positive or impactful things.
Whether that's a job, or volunteering
at a local orphanage--
the other thing that I would you advise students to do as well
is don't just submit an application
and say oh, I volunteer at the following places.
Tell us how long you volunteered there for.
Tell us how many hours a week do you spend there.
How many hours a week do you work, and what type of a impact
would this volunteer or work opportunity have on your life?
And you can share some of these things in your essays, as well.
And share with us that maybe your institution
or your high school does not have
a lot of these extracurricular activities available.
But show us that the ones that you have
plugged into, that you were involved,
and not only that-- you aspired to become
a leader in that area.
MR. BOLL: So it's not just about doing something extracurricular
that's organized, but about who you are as a person and whether
or not you're involved in your community and the wider world.
That's fantastic advice.
Thank you very much.
We now have a question that is coming
from a viewing group at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba.
For English language testing, can students apply only
using IELTS or TOEFL results?
Or are other exams accepted?
Very good question.
Anna?
MS. WISE: So again, the question is
going to be-- make sure you check the university website.
Because the university will usually
release a list that says these are different ways
that you can meet the English proficiency requirement.
For instance, for Towson University
we accept the Pearson test of English, as well.
We also will accept the Duolingo English
test, which we're excited about for undergraduate studies.
This is a test that you can take on your own.
It's a self-proctored test you can take on a computer.
So you don't have to travel, and it's a little bit
less expensive.
This is a new test that some universities are accepting,
and some are not.
Now other universities will also waive English proficiency
results if you have, for instance,
taken a Cambridge curriculum course or an IB course.
These are international types of high schools.
If you've taken a course in one of those types of education
systems, oftentimes universities will also waive TOEFL IELTS.
But the best advice is go to the university website where
they'll have a listing that says, this is what we accept.
And if you think that you might have an extenuating
circumstance, you can always reach out and say, hey,
I've taken this thing.
I've done this thing.
I studied here.
Would I be able to qualify for a waiver?
And the worst that will happen is they will say no.
MR. BOLL: Got it.
So do your homework.
MS. WISE: Do your homework, yeah.
MR. BOLL: OK, great advice.
Joscelin, just out of curiosity, which test did you take?
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: I took the SAT and the TOEFL.
MR. BOLL: OK, that's great.
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: Yeah.
And then for graduate school, the GRE.
MR. BOLL: The GRE for graduate school.
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: Yeah.
MR. BOLL: OK.
Thank you.
Our next question is do you have any recommendations for student
athletes looking for undergraduate studies
and scholarships, as well as short-term programs that
allow athletes to practice their sport and also study?
We know that that's one of the great assets of American
higher education-- is that you can both study and really be
an athlete, and do both well.
Chenelle, can I turn to you for that question?
MS. GOYEN: Yeah.
That's another great question.
And it kind of hits home with my background.
I came to the U.S. on a sports scholarship.
So I was a tennis player.
To answer the question about how do you get these sports
scholarships-- it depends on the type of sport.
It depends on if the university has that sport available.
And the other thing that I highly recommend for students
to look at who are interested in sports scholarships
is to look at several of the visions that's
within the NCAA body.
So for example, if you're looking at a large division one
school, you're going to get some high quality sports there.
So for example, at the University of Georgia
we had John Isner that played here,
and he played in Wimbledon this year.
The other options that student athletes should look at
is looking at division two schools.
Division two schools also offer athletic scholarships.
And the third option is to look at division three schools.
Now do remember, division three schools
do not offer athletic scholarships.
However, you can be on a sports team
and they can give you an academic scholarship.
So again, go do your research.
Connect with the coaches at the schools
that you're interested in playing in.
And if you have a sport that has immediate results,
so for example tennis-- if you have a ranking--
e-mail the coaches your ranking.
And tell him that you've looked at the school's roster
and that you think your ranking is
higher than some of the folks that they
might have on their roster.
And then you can start that communication with the coaches.
'Cause it also depends on what the coach's budget looks like
and how many scholarships they have
available for the following year.
But yeah, do that outreach kind of early on.
MR. BOLL: Chenelle, thank you very much--
and especially for sharing your personal story.
That's fantastic.
I want to point out that we did an EducationUSA
interactive webinar exactly fully on sports scholarships
a little while ago.
And that is available on YouTube and via the EducationUSA
website, to anyone who wants to see the full interactive.
We have a question from [INAUDIBLE]..
[INAUDIBLE] already has a Bachelor
of Science degree from his country,
and would like to know if it's possible to do
a second undergraduate degree in the United States.
It's a great question.
Anna?
MS. WISE: Absolutely.
[INAUDIBLE],, you can do a second undergraduate degree
in the United States.
So usually universities will have a system for you
to transfer some of your academic work
that you've done in your home country to our institutions,
to allow you to maybe take a little bit less
than a full four year academic load
in order to earn your second bachelor's degree.
But absolutely, you can get your second bachelor's degree.
Oftentimes students will do that because they
want to get more intensive understanding of the subject
matter, or possibly they studied commerce or business
and now they want to move over and study psychology-- get
a second type of subject area.
Absolutely, we would welcome you to apply
for a second bachelor's degree in the U.S.
MR. BOLL: That's great information-- and also the fact
that credits can be counted.
So if you have a degree, at least some part of that
is going to be counted-- most likely
toward a degree in the United States.
MS. WISE: Right.
The one thing I would say is if you
do have a bachelor's degree, every university in the U.S.
that offers a bachelor's degree has
a minimum amount of time you must
be studying at that university.
So do not think that oh, I already
have a bachelor's degree.
So I'll go for one semester and get my second degree
from Towson University or University of Georgia.
University of Georgia and Towson--
every university in the U.S. will
have a limit that says you must do-- usually it's
about one and a half years or two years worth of studies
in order for us to give you a new degree that
says Towson University, Georgetown University on it.
MR. BOLL: Got it.
Thank you very much.
Very valuable advice.
So our next question is do recommendation letters
and references need to be from a student's field of study?
Or could these be from people from other fields--
completely unrelated?
And again, very happy to see that this
is a question from our viewing group in Havana, Cuba.
Anna, can I ask you about that?
MS. WISE: Sure.
The most important thing about finding recommenders
is that they have worked with you
in either an academic, a professional, or a work
capacity.
So it does not need to be in the same subject area.
If you want to study history, it does not
need to be your history teacher who writes it for you.
But it doesn't have to be someone who can say how are you
when it comes to completing assignments.
Do you meet your deadlines?
Are you a hard worker?
So usually it needs to be somebody
who has seen you in an academic or in a professional.
So some universities will say yes, if you had an employer,
your employer can write you a recommendation letter.
MR. BOLL: Chenelle, anything that you
would like to add to that?
MS. GOYEN: Yeah.
I concur with Anna.
It is important for us to see in the letters of recommendation
that there is some substance written about the student
or the applicant.
So for example, if I read a letter of recommendation
that is only one paragraph, that's a little concerning.
Because it shows me that this person who wrote
the letter doesn't really know the applicant as well.
Usually when we see letters of recommendation
they will go from one to two pages
m where this person will explain how
the student handled a scenario or a challenging academic
task--
and how successful the student was after that.
And also, out of the letters of recommendation
we will find other information topics
that will help shape our understanding of the applicant.
So a student might not share that they have had,
let's say a tragic event that happened in their family
or in the past.
And sometimes the counselor or the school principal
will share that story or with that background
with us in that letter of recommendation.
And that will give us a good overview
of how mature the student is, and how
they've handled the challenges that's come upon their life.
MR. BOLL: Thank you, Chenelle.
Very good advice.
Joscelin, we have some questions for you.
Quite a few students online are asking
if you could repeat the names of the scholarships you received
at Berea and Georgetown.
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: Oh, OK.
So the one in Berea College-- the full tuition,
it's part of the-- it's a norm in Berea College.
Every student who gets admitted to Berea College in Kentucky--
they get already a full scholarship for tuition.
MR. BOLL: Automatically?
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: Automatically, as part of--
it goes through the application process.
When you're admitted you all ready
come with your full tuition scholarship.
It is a competitive school to get into.
But once you get into it, you don't have to pay for tuition.
It's also work study.
So we are required-- every student is required
to work for the university.
We do get paid some for it.
But it also goes towards the education expenses.
And that's how I got it.
And right now I'm doing my PhD programs.
PhD programs are a little bit different.
Some schools are going to give you also the full tuition
as part of that program.
Georgetown University is paying--
the psychology department is paid for the full scholarship.
I'm working again, for the university as a teaching
assistant and doing other research with them,
with the department, to pay for those tuition and expenses.
But they're giving me a stipend as part of their program.
This doesn't happen everywhere.
It's not with all the graduate programs-- especially masters.
Those are a little bit harder to get full tuition pay.
Mostly you have to pay at least half of it.
But PhD programs-- some of them are going to be more lenient.
And you get full funding and also
a stipend as part of the program.
MR. BOLL: That's fantastic.
So again, it sounds like do your research.
Look at all the schools, and look at the many options
out there--
4,700 accredited universities.
You know, EducationUSA, we want to represent
all of these schools.
And we we're always at pains to tell students look,
find-- do your research and find the right fit.
There are so many excellent places to get an education.
So we have a question from Monesha,
who is asking if we could speak a little bit
about the admission process for transfer students, which
is very interesting.
Chenelle, can I start with you?
MS. GOYEN: Yeah.
The transfer application process also varies among the schools
here in the U.S. So I'm going to use the University of Georgia
as an example here.
It is actually very easy to apply
to the University of Georgia as a transfer applicant.
You have to meet our minimum transfer requirements-- which
is 30 already transferable hours-- so 30 hours or more.
And you have to have a 3.2 GPA or higher with that
to be considered for admission.
So in other words, you don't need
an SAT or ACT score when you're applying as a transfer student.
The one note that I would throw out there with this is
if you're applying from an international university--
so a university outside the United States--
we do require that students have to submit
a TOEFL or a IELTS score to show us that English proficiency.
So our minimum TOEFL score is 80 or above.
So again, 30 transferable hours, a 3.2 GPA,
and a 80 on the TOEFL, and you will be strongly considered
for admission.
MR. BOLL: That's fantastic.
Thank you.
Very interesting perspective.
Our next question is whether or not
colleges and universities will accept credits
from international schools.
And I take that to mean both universities, which
we've talked about, but as well as secondary schools.
Anna, you mentioned that you would maybe
want to talk a little bit more.
MS. WISE: Sure.
So a lot of U.S. universities will actually
recognize major international curriculums.
For instance, if you have attended a Cambridge School,
IGCSE school, IB school--
a lot of those universities realize
that you're doing very high level academic work.
And based on your examination results
that you used to graduate, you can receive transfer credits.
So for instance, Towson University--
and again, it's all going to be posted on the university
website.
But Towson University does offer credits
for students taking AS levels or A levels in a Cambridge
curriculum.
We also offer credits for students with an IB diploma.
So if students graduate with a full IB diploma,
we feel that is equivalent your first full year
of academic studies at Towson University.
So while a traditional program is
four years, if come in with an IB diploma
you may graduate in three years.
So each university will have a different system.
But a lot of universities, particularly
those that have strong international populations,
realize the value of the subjects
that your studying and will transfer those secondary school
examination results in.
MR. BOLL: That's fantastic.
Thank you very much.
Very good information.
So unfortunately, we are almost out of time.
I would like to thank each of you.
And first of all, ask you to share a final thought
for our viewers.
Joscelin, can I turn to you?
MS. ROCHA-HIDALGO: Yes.
Oh, final thoughts-- I have so many thoughts
to share with you all.
I will recommend ask for help.
Don't doubt that there are many people who
are happy to help you and willing to help you.
So reach out to them.
And also, do your work.
Look around the websites.
Do research.
There are so many places that you can apply to.
Some of them are going to be better suit for you
than others.
And that's what you should do before you apply--
find the right place for you--
the one place that makes you happy academically and also
personally.
MR. BOLL: Thank you so much.
That's great advice.
Chenelle, can I turn to you in Georgia?
MS. GOYEN: Yeah.
I usually tell most applicants that they're
about to embark on the most epic journey of their life.
And I think it's important for you as an international student
to understand the value in finding the right fit.
You're going to be at a place for four years,
as Anna indicated, or longer.
And yeah, it's important to realize that this
is a fun part of your life.
Make sure the institution that you're choosing
can help shape you and help you reach your dreams
and aspirations, and help find your passions.
MR. BOLL: Thank you so much.
That is fantastic advice, and a great spirit
for students to come with in approaching
their undergraduate studies and studies generally.
Anna, can I ask you-- final thoughts for us?
MS. WISE: I would agree very much
with Joscelin and Chenelle's recommendations.
The other thing I would say is it's
very easy to be overwhelmed by this process--
and to say this is very complicated,
this is very scary, and this is not possible for me.
The important thing to realize is
there are currently over one million international students
studying in the U.S. from hundreds of countries.
Those students all started just like you.
You already have access to EducationUSA,
which is a top tier program that will help you for free.
You have access.
Make sure you take advantage of what they can help you with.
Make sure you ask questions and realize a U.S. education
is not some impossible thing that no one can ever achieve.
It's possible.
There are students who started just
like you, who are sitting in seats similar to Joscelin here.
So make sure that you say encouraged,
you ask questions, work with EducationUSA,
and really think about your process step by step, one piece
after the other.
Because if you think about it as I
have to do all of these things, you may feel overwhelmed.
So I just think piece by piece, step by step.
It's possible.
MR. BOLL: That's fantastic vision, advice,
and perspective.
It's all possible.
There are a million students currently that have done it.
And you have EducationUSA to help you along the way.
Thank you so much.
I really want to thank you for joining us today.
And, of course, a special thank you to our guests--
Chenelle, Anna, and Joscelin.
A very special thanks to our viewing groups joining us
from around the world--
and especially those at EducationUSA Nicaragua,
EducationUSA Medellin, at the U.S. Embassy
in Havana, Cuba, the U.S. Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, the
U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, and many other groups
around the world.
You can find more information about studying in the United
States by visiting the EducationUSA website
at www.educationusa.state.gov.
There you can find information on the five steps to U.S.
study, locate an EducationUSA center in your country--
one of 426 around the world, connect
with us via social media, learn about both in-person
and virtual upcoming events, research financial aid
opportunities, and much more.
Thank you and please join us for future EducationUSA
interactive web chats.
And on a final note, I would just
like to share this quote by Deputy Secretary of Education
Mitchell "Mick" Zais.
And goodbye, from Washington.
For more infomation >> PREÇO das BOLSAS nos ESTADOS UNIDOS na BURLINGTON! Dicas e Preços TOMMY | GUESS | CALVIN KLEIN... - Duration: 35:14. 
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