"The Experience"
Staying Healthy Abroad
Author: petersons, Category: College Search
As much as we may complain about our own healthcare system, it may never be more apparent to you how much we take for granted until you head off to a foreign land and find yourself in need of medical care. Many regions where students choose to study have similar healthcare procedures and facilities to what you’ll find here, but there are also many areas where there are huge differences in how even your basic healthcare needs are met.
Before you head over, make sure you know the lay of the land.
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Entering and Leaving the U.S. on a Student Visa
Author: petersons, Category: Getting Started for College
So, you obtained your visa and permission to enter the United States. Are you wondering what happens next?
First things first
For starters, you can finally start making your travel plans and packing your bags for school. However, don’t plan to arrive more than 30 days prior to the start of your program or you may be turned away at the border. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security precludes new students from entering the country more than 30 days prior to the start of school. (Continuing students may enter the U.S. at any time before their classes start.) Read the rest of this entry »
Getting Around Without Going Broke
Author: petersons, Category: College Search
Travel here. Travel there. Travel everywhere…and back again. It’s inevitable that besides just the obvious need to get to your destination, you’ll want to travel around while abroad and see as much as possible. The challenge is trying to do that without spending a small fortune. Fortunately, it’s common knowledge that most of us don’t have money to burn and there are ways, and agencies, which can help shave your costs.
Getting There and Back
If you’ve done much traveling by air, it might seem that your options are pretty limited as far as tickets go since they always seem to be non-refundable and unchangeable without paying a hefty fee. One-way tickets aren’t particularly useful since most countries won’t let you cross their borders without a return ticket in hand. If you buy a non-refundable roundtrip ticket, you’re stuck with setting a departure date for your return home months in advance — or with an expensive new ticket further down the road if you decide that you want to stay a bit longer and see the sights. Read the rest of this entry »
What to Expect When You Apply for Your Visa
Author: petersons, Category: Getting Started for College
In 2002, the U.S. implemented the use of biometric procedures to increase security and decrease the use of stolen or fraudulent visas. Visa processing times increased with these changes, but the U.S. Department of State recognizes that delays occur and attempts to decrease the wait time and make the application process as efficient as possible. However, delays are unpredictable so give yourself plenty of time and start your application well in advance of the date you want to come to the United States.
What does this mean for you? Read the rest of this entry »
Consider Taking the Road Less Traveled
Author: petersons, Category: College Search
The world is an enormous place, full of cultures and languages that many of us hope to see but which most of us will never experience except through National Geographic magazines and Travel Channel documentaries. And yet, when given the opportunity to study abroad in an unconventional location, many American students choose to stick with the familiar, choosing Western countries and cultures located primarily in Europe.
Why is that? Perhaps students fear the unknown, the uncomfortable, or the inability to communicate — or perhaps they just fear not having access to modern plumbing. Whatever the reason, maybe that’s not the case with you…or maybe it is. Wherever your thoughts lie, there is no better time than now to choose a study abroad location that will broaden your horizons far beyond traditions and cultures that you already know like the back of your hand. Read the rest of this entry »
Student Visas and Passports
Author: petersons, Category: Getting Started for College
To attend college in the U.S., you must first get permission to enter the country. To do so, you must meet stated requirements, which include that you must be healthy, law abiding, financially self sufficient, and prepared to leave once you have completed your studies.
Applying for a visa
The rules and regulations governing the entrance of international students into the U.S. are somewhat complicated. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you must submit to the U.S.consular authorities Form I-20 for an F-1 or M-1 student visa, or Form DS-2019 for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. You must also provide a valid passport from your home country. Read the rest of this entry »
Study Abroad Options for Disabled Students
Author: petersons, Category: College Search
If you’ve gone through life with a disability, you may have encountered hurdles along the way. Fortunately, ever expanding global awareness and education about disabilities has cleared some of those hurdles, enabling you to experience one of life’s most exciting, challenging, and transforming opportunities —studying, living, working, or volunteering abroad.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires international exchange programs, study-abroad offices and international community service projects to offer the same services to you as they do to everyone else. They may not be able to guarantee accessible services and sites everywhere, but they do need to assist you by finding and making international programs as accessible as possible. However, most programs don’t need a mandate to motivate them to help you fulfill your dream — they want to do it!
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Getting Started on an Education in the United States
Author: petersons, Category: Getting Started for College
America welcomes you
For years, America has enjoyed a healthy population of foreign students coming to the United States for top-notch education. Some of the world’s most brilliant minds have been educated in our schools, pursuing their futures while helping to contribute to the academic and economic well-being of the country.
The creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and changes to immigration laws saw a temporary decline in foreign-student enrollment from 2001 to 2004. The tightening up of the immigration process introduced more stringent procedures for issuing visas, more entry denials, and lengthier processing times. However, improvements in both government procedures and school recruiting efforts seems to have made a positive improvement. Though there are still problems to work out, the U.S. government wants its efforts to improve visa procedures and immigration policies to give a clear message to foreign students: America welcomes you and encourages you to apply to and enroll in American schools.
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Earning Credits for Your Study Abroad Experience
Author: petersons, Category: College Search
Before you head off to another country for a semester long immersion in cultural affairs, make sure you’ve got what you need — the ability to earn credits for your coursework while you’re there. With tuition costs rising every year, you want to make sure that you get a great cultural and educational experience as well as the most bang for your buck!
Get everything cleared ahead of time
Don’t assume that every program you see advertising for educational experiences abroad will enhance your academic record. They may offer a great experience, but they won’t necessarily get you any closer to graduation.
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Education USA Wants to Help You
Author: petersons, Category: Getting Started for College
It doesn’t matter if you’re Irish, Russian, Egyptian, Chinese, Jamaican, or any other nationality — when it comes down to moving to another country to attend university, you’re probably going to have a lot of questions. Moving to any country other than your own can bring on culture shock, and coming to the United States is no exception. In fact, some may even find it downright daunting!
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