As American enrollment rises at foreign universities, college recruiters from around the globe continue to seek out qualified American students to fill quotas. If you’re looking to expand your horizons, meet new people, and experience new cultures, here’s what the landscape looks like, and how you can take advantage of study abroad programs without breaking the bank.
According to “Open Doors 2008,” a report released by the Institute of International Education, the number of Americans studying abroad has jumped 150 percent over the last decade. In 2006-2007 (the last year for which data was available) almost a quarter of a million Americans headed abroad to study–compared to fewer than 100,000 for 1996-1997.
While increased cross-cultural awareness among college-bound students has contributed to overseas enrollment, foreign recruiters are noticing another contributing factor. This fall, the National Association for College Admissions Counseling conference in Seattle hosted representatives from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, Seoul National University in South Korea, Jacobs University Bremen in Germany, and the University of Limerick in Ireland. Their goal: to fill university seats with qualified applicants.
The Benefits of Study Abroad Programs
If you’re interested in studying abroad, you may be wondering how foreign universities differ from colleges in the United States. One difference is a more focused approach to study. American universities emphasize a well-rounded education, which means that if you’re studying medicine, you may still have to suffer through a course on postcolonial literature. In contrast, foreign universities sometimes offer early specialization, allowing you to skip the coursework that doesn’t interest you. Sam Dresser, a freshman at Scotland’s University of Edinburgh, found his niche in logic, psychology, and introductory philosophy courses after reading Sartre and Nietzsche in high school. “My math and science grades were not so good,” says Dresser, “so I loved the idea of only studying what I’m interested in.”
While Dresser discovered his path, the Scottish university system still allows for exploration outside of his specialty. English Universities offer an even more specialized approach, generally requiring three years of coursework. If you already have an idea of what you’d like to study, English or Scottish universities might be an ideal choice for you.
Ivy League Prestige–Without the Tuition or Competition
In addition to a narrower academic track, many foreign schools offer international experience and training comparable to the American Ivy League at a significantly lower cost. At Scotland’s St. Andrews University, where enrollment of American students recently jumped to 1,230, up from less than 200 a decade ago, many students end up paying tuition comparable to out-of-state tuition at an American public university.
Although competition is tight for students of host nations, Americans often have an easier time landing seats at foreign universities. According to Stephen Magee, St Andrews’ vice principal, “Am I wrong to say I don’t care if they can’t get into Harvard?”
The Value of a Dollar
If you decide to study abroad, the weak dollar means you may have to consider your wallet. For an economical study-abroad experience, there are a few strategies to help you keep your costs down. This might mean considering places outside of Western Europe and the industrialized world. According to “Open Doors 2008,” American students are gravitating toward less expensive options.
During 2006-2007, the number of American’s studying in China stood at 11,064–an increase of by 20 percent over the previous year. Compare that to the 1995-96 academic year, when only 1,396 Americans chose China for study abroad programs. Asia at large saw an increase of 20 percent, while the number of Americans studying in Africa increased by 19 percent. For Middle Eastern and Latin American programs, the increase stood at 7 percent.
Keep It Short
Although many Americans have elected to go abroad for the full course of their degree programs, financial expediency might make it difficult for you to stay abroad a full four years. All the same, you can still enjoy a richly rewarding experience–at a fraction of the cost–by keeping your study abroad time short. According to “Open Doors 2008,” about 36 percent of Americans who study abroad go for only a semester, while 55 percent choose short-term programs. Short-term programs can range from a summer, to a January term, or any program from two to four eight weeks during the academic year. Short term programs serve the largest number of students studying abroad, including students of community colleges, or students with financial needs that prevent them from staying abroad for extended periods of time.
With foreign recruiters on the hunt, enrollment up among American expats, and economical options for study abroad gaining in popularity, you should have plenty of strategies to help you travel the world on a shoestring.
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A two year college located in Dearborn in the state of Michigan of United States, Henry Ford Community college is a liberal art college. Helping out students who wish to complete their studies online the college also offers extensive support and services for all types of students, in house, and online.
Admission
Open admission policy is followed by the college. Transfer students are not ignored. However both SAT and ACT scores are important. Life experience is not accepted but dual credit and advance placements are accepted as admission credits. Transfer students are not ignored.
Programs Offered
Associate degrees and certificate programs in liberal arts, culinary arts, science, health science, and fine arts are offered by the college. Distance learning program enables student not able to attend regular classroom lectures to complete their online degree successfully. Career opportunities are improved with academic support services like early morning classes, learning center, pre-admission summer program, and tutoring. Among regular degree courses are personal and culinary services, security and protective services, health and clinical services, computer science, parks, recreation and fitness, communication and journalism, visual and performing arts, business, management, and marketing.
Unique Features
It is one of those colleges included in the university directory of state of Michigan and United States where the comparative numerical strength of women students are greater than men. Extensive avenues of sports and extra-curricular activities are also offered by the college.
Accreditation
Accreditation to the college has been granted by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Michigan Commission on College Accreditation.
Student Support
Henry Ford Community College provides extensive supports along with remedial instructions, career and employment counseling in various aspects, PT cost defraying employment, on campus day care facilities and on campus library. Counseling includes career and academic counseling and employment services. Freshman Orientation program, personal counseling, veterans counseling, placement services and adult students re-entering services are also offered.
Financial Aids
Henry Ford Community College offers federal, state, local, and institutional grants, scholarships, and student loans. Aids are applied using the FAFSA form. Financial assistance is also available for students in the college in form of merit based scholarships. One can view the details at the state university website.
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A two year college located in Dearborn in the state of Michigan of United States, Henry Ford Community college is a liberal art college. Helping out students who wish to complete their studies online the college also offers extensive support and services for all types of students, in house, and online.
Admission
Open admission policy is followed by the college. Transfer students are not ignored. However both SAT and ACT scores are important. Life experience is not accepted but dual credit and advance placements are accepted as admission credits. Transfer students are not ignored.
Programs Offered
Associate degrees and certificate programs in liberal arts, culinary arts, science, health science, and fine arts are offered by the college. Distance learning program enables student not able to attend regular classroom lectures to complete their online degree successfully. Career opportunities are improved with academic support services like early morning classes, learning center, pre-admission summer program, and tutoring. Among regular degree courses are personal and culinary services, security and protective services, health and clinical services, computer science, parks, recreation and fitness, communication and journalism, visual and performing arts, business, management, and marketing.
Unique Features
It is one of those colleges included in the university directory of state of Michigan and United States where the comparative numerical strength of women students are greater than men. Extensive avenues of sports and extra-curricular activities are also offered by the college.
Accreditation
Accreditation to the college has been granted by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Michigan Commission on College Accreditation.
Student Support
Henry Ford Community College provides extensive supports along with remedial instructions, career and employment counseling in various aspects, PT cost defraying employment, on campus day care facilities and on campus library. Counseling includes career and academic counseling and employment services. Freshman Orientation program, personal counseling, veterans counseling, placement services and adult students re-entering services are also offered.
Financial Aids
Henry Ford Community College offers federal, state, local, and institutional grants, scholarships, and student loans. Aids are applied using the FAFSA form. Financial assistance is also available for students in the college in form of merit based scholarships. One can view the details at the state university website.
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A community college located in Jackson County of Michigan State in United States , Jackson County College , it is well know for the high quality online education offered for the serving area as well as for the entire country.
Brief History
Originally set up as Jackson Junior College in 1928, electors of Jackson County voted to reincorporate the institution as one of the community college districts under Public Act 188 of 1955 in the year 1962. A charter was approved by the same voters in 1964 and that is funding source for the community college till now. Part of a small city it is located in suburban setting at around 6 miles away from the downtown.
Campus
Main campus of the college is located in the Summit Township ; the Flight Center is located at Jackson County Airport and the Vocational and Technical School in Adrian . Besides there are Lenawee Flight Center at Adrian , LeTarte Hillsdale Center at Hillsdale and the college also has a virtual campus for online education and providing degrees. A new campus also came up at Campus View dormitories in 2007.
Admission
Open admission policy is followed and dual credits, advance placements, and life experience are all accepted as admission credits.
Programs Offered
As many as 48 degree and certificate programs at affordable costs are offered by the college for the residents of Jackson County and Michigan . In addition the college offers associate degrees and transfer options. Classes are available year round in multiple formats including both traditional classroom format and education online.
Unique Features
Distance Learning, dual enrollment of high school students, ESL, independent study, internship as well as combination of career and liberal arts are some of the unique features of the academy.
Accreditation
Jackson Community College has been accredited till date since 1933 by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Student Support
Jackson Community College offers extensive student supports in form of extensive undergraduate evening and early morning classes, remedial instructions, and counseling. Such counseling is provided on employment, financial aid, freshman orientation, placement services, and special services for transfer students like pre-admission transcript evaluation. Services for students with disabilities are also provided.
Financial Aid
Jackson Community College offers all financial aids extended by federal and state governments, local authorities and institutions and it has program participation agreement with US Department of Education for providing Pell Grants and other Federal Aids to eligible students. Besides these; scholarships and loans are also available.
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