|
Preparing for College in the US
|
|
Preparing for College/University in the US
Hylton G. McWhinney, PhD Last Updated 10/1/05 Planning AheadPlanning for college is a long tedious and detailed process. It
would be an ideal situation if your high school counselor were somewhat
knowledgeable about the US system of high school course credits. Nevertheless,
most International High Schools are at least on par with their US counterparts
in terms of the content and contact hours for the arts/humanities, science,
mathematics and languages. Students should start very early in their
preparation to satisfy the equivalent of the following courses, which form the
backbone of the mandated core curriculum requirements for most colleges in the
US. A strong knowledge base in these subjects will reflect in solid scores in
the SAT and ACT. A good background in computer applications (word processing,
search engines, spread sheet operations, etc.) pays rich dividends in college.
Grades in the last two years of high school weigh heavily in the evaluation
process. Ø English: 4 credits/years (English I-IV) Ø Mathematics: 4 credits (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and Pre-calculus) - Calculus Ø Sciences: 3 credits (to be selected from Biology, Chemistry or Physics) Ø Social Sciences: 4 credits (World Geography, World History Studies, U.S. Government and Economics, and U.S. History) Ø Foreign Language: 3 credits (Levels I-III proficiency in the same language) – French & Spanish Scholarships and Grants from CollegesStudents classified as International Students do not receive US federal financial aid. Nevertheless you can apply for scholarships funded by the university, specific academic departments, alumni and other entities. Bear in mind that these scholarships will have criteria to be satisfied for an award to be made. The international student’s best bet for a scholarship is through superlative academic performance, merit and athletics. As a result of equalization in college athletics sports, many more athletics scholarships are now available to females than in the past. Applying to CollegeYour high school transcript and scores on the standardized exam (SAT/ACT), along with other requirements (essays/interviews), are used to assess you for admission. Contact the university directly or access them on their web
pages for information. Most states now have a common application for state
funded schools, available in electronic format. Therefore you can apply to
several schools simultaneously. International students should adhere to
deadlines. You may need to ask for help from your counselor or principal in
filling out the For non- electronic applications, type or print clearly in black ink. Blue ink does not copy well SAT/ACT Standardized Tests The tests primarily used for admission to colleges are the ACT and the SAT. These tests are used with your high school record to evaluate your level of academic knowledge. While the SAT and ACT are not the only factors taken in consideration, they do provide a significant amount of weight. Colleges are giving student diversity added weight as a criterion for admission. They are looking for involvement in extra curricula activities (athletics, high school organizations and volunteer work). A well-rounded student is attractive. International students should plan to take the test as early as possible (typically the year before graduation). If you are not as successful as you had hoped to be, then you have adequate time for review and test retake in order to meet application deadlines. If you have a selection of colleges you are interested in attending, be sure to request that your tests scores are sent to them. SAT There are two versions of the SAT. The SAT-I is used as a general entrance exam; the SAT-II tests are subject based tests which are equivalent to a placement test (equivalent to advanced level placement*) The new SAT-I measures the student skills in three sections (writing, critical reading and math). Testing in this new format started in March 2005. The score range is from 200 to 800 on each section. The perfect score for all three sections is 2,400. On the old format the perfect score was 1600, with a national average between 1000 and 1040 for the year 2004. Changes to the new sat format include the addition of a writing section and algebra II while analogies and quantitative comparisons are out. Reading passages are much shorter than the previous SAT passages. The algebra section is equivalent to three years of a high school math preparatory course for college (includes geometry, arithmetic and algebra). Of critical importance is the writing section (a student written essay): This essay challenges penmanship (write legibly so that the essay can be easily read); your ability to choose a position and provide supporting arguments to justify your position. A student who is superfluous and has the ability to summarize arguments should do well on this section. This part of the test lasts for 25 minutes. It should be noted that essay writing has historically been used by many good colleges to screen applicants. While there is no information on national average scores on the new test, I believe that a score of 1800 on the new test would be quite impressive. Subject tests are administered through the SAT II exams. These are a “battery” of one hour, generally multiple choice tests which is intended to measure the student knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge of an academic subject. The level is somewhere between the “O” level and “A” level requirements in the British system. You can get materials and other information at www.collegeboard.com. ACTEnglish, math, reading and science reasoning are evaluated by the ACT. The English test assesses punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, strategy, organization and style. The math test covers pre-algebra, elementary and intermediate algebra, coordinate and plane geometry, and trigonometry. The reading test evaluates reading comprehension. The science-reasoning test measures problem-solving skills required in the sciences which includes biology, chemistry, physics and the earth/space sciences. The national average score on the ACT typically lies between 19
-23 with the highest score at 36. You can access registration information and
materials on the web at
www.act.org. Placement/Assessment testsStudents may be accepted conditionally or unconditionally, based upon their high school performance, SAT/ACT scores, and placement/assessment tests. You may thus be required to successfully complete developmental or remedial courses in reading, writing and math. (Texas public schools, college and universities are required by law to assess students' reading, writing and math skills to ensure they have the academic skills to perform effectively in college. For example, some schools may use the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) test, formerly known as the TASP test) Exemption from developmental/remedial courses depends upon your high school course levels, grade point average, and performance on the SAT or ACT tests. Compare your choicesA comparison of your college choices is a very good idea, that is, if you have choices to make. There are three important criteria. (1) Entrance requirements (2) cost (3) type of college. Start out by making a list of the things that are important to you, preferably in a table or chart form. Ranking the importance of each criterion is also a good idea as it helps you to focus on what is really tangible to your selection. Support servicesServices that help you adapt quickly to college life, make you successful in your academics, help you integrate in new college cultures and establish you as belonging to the environment are very important to the choice you make. Size of the college and reputation should be considered. Student instructor ratio is extremely important especially in upper major and minor fields. The lower the ratio, the better is the situation. You should also consider the distinction of the faculty. Their reputation translates to you. The Cost of CollegeThe cost of attending college varies among institutions and even within those of the same system. Private colleges tend to be the most expensive, while two-year community and junior colleges are the least expensive. Non-resident (out of state and international) student tuition and fees costs are considerably higher than that of resident (instate) students. Housing and boarding costs are separate and represent a significant ‘chunk’ of your college cost. A comparison of published estimated costs for 16 semester credit hours (undergraduate) at a public university in the State of Texas for one semester, for the 2005 fall semester is given as follows.
· *Tuition and fees are subject to annual increases. · * Based on the above estimate, annual costs would be for resident (~$12K) & non-resident (~$21K). The College You ChoseA sound choice in college selection is one of the most important decisions for a prospective student. If presented with several plausible options, the student should choose the college that appeals the most to him or her. In order to make the best choice, one needs to be aware of the many types of colleges in the US. These are: Two-year/four-yearTwo-year colleges are of the following types: Community college, Junior college or a named college such as ‘Mac College’. Programs offered in these colleges can typically be completed in one or two years, which may lead to an associate degree. These programs fall into two categories; Transfer – freshman/sophomore core curriculum courses transferable to a four-year college. Terminal – technical programs in fields such as cosmetology and X-ray technician. Two-year colleges generally have open admissions and costs less to attend. Four-year institutions grant undergraduate bachelor's degrees, through the offering of courses from freshman to senior years. Master’s and doctoral degrees are also offered by many four-year institutions. Students generally matriculate in colleges or schools in these institutions. Classification of Universities and Colleges The Carnegie Foundation System of University Classification stipulates the following descriptions: (a) Doctoral/Research University (Extensive); (b)Doctoral/Research University (Intensive); (c)Master's Colleges and Universities I; (d) Master's Colleges and Universities II; (e) Baccalaureate Colleges (Liberal Arts); (f) Baccalaureate Colleges (General) (g) Baccalaureate Colleges (Associate's). The Doctoral/Research University (Extensive) is the highest ranking. In addition to providing an extensive amount of undergraduate programs the institution awards 50 or more doctoral degrees per year in 15 or more disciplines. Four-year institutions usually have significant infrastructure and resources for academia, athletics and extramural activities Colleges are also categorized by their funding sources and their
historical development. These categories are: public; private; religious
affiliated; minority (HBCU, Hispanic, Native American, etc.); same sex;
specialty major (law, engineering, business). When You Get to College: Success is the GameThe following serve as key points towards a successful college/university career. 1. Remember that you are in college for only one reason: To do the best you can in all that you do. 2. The library and its resources are your friend 3. Find and get to know at least one individual on campus who cares about your survival. 4. Identify support resources on your campus and use them in a positive manner 5. Establish a daily schedule and routine and adhere to it to it. 6. Do not displace class and study time with work time. 7. Find ways to improve your study habits and efficiency 8. Become a part of at least one study group 9. Visit with your instructors during office hours and out of class time. Have well thought out questions to ask and show lots of initiative. 10. Continue to improve your critical thinking skills. 11. Choose teachers who stimulate and motivate your learning. 12. Try to be involved with a research group as early as possible 13. Make a few good clean friendships 14. Get involved in campus activities. 15.
Take your health seriously. You should already have placed considerable
importance in the health resources offered by the college during the evaluation
process. Visit the Health center as soon as you get there. Athletics and the NCAA – The Eligibility Question The NCAA oversight focuses very strongly on maintenance of amateurism, drug free participation, student athlete eligibility and recruitment. You may access the website at http://www.ncaa.org The prospective college athlete should at an early stage acquaint himself/herself with the rules regulations and procedures of NCAA eligibility at the earliest possible time in high school. If you are uncertain, find some one who can help in setting the right course towards eligibility. The rules governing agents and eligibility are straightforward. To maintain amateur status and NCAA eligibility, a student-athlete cannot have an agreement with an agent until his or her eligibility expires. The student must be cleared through the NCAA clearing house prior to participation in NCAA sanctioned activities. Recruitment rules are very complicated. All high school students should familiarize themselves with the NCAA rules by having access to the publication: “Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete”. A free copy is available by calling (800-638-3731). The “Guide to Academic Standards for Athlete Eligibility” addresses academic criteria for international students entering in the fall 2005. The NCAA regulates against the use of agents through Bylaw 12.3.1, which says, "An individual shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she ever has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in that sport. Further, an agency contract not specifically limited in writing to a sport or particular sports shall be deemed applicable to all sports, and the individual shall be ineligible to participate in any sport." - www.ncaa.org Immigration IssuesMany changes have been instituted in immigration requirements for International students seeking to study in US institutions. The agency in charge of immigration matters is The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The following should serve only a guide for prospective students. Specific information should be sought through the University’s International Student Office or the aforementioned immigration agency. Financial SupportProof of financial responsibility must be shown to facilitate the issuance of a Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-I) student status. This proof comes in the form of: Ø An Affidavit of Financial Support
Ø
Supporting Evidence of Financial Support Course Load and Health InsuranceInternational Students must register for a full semester course load (minimum of 12 credit hours for undergraduate and 9 hours for graduate) to remain in legal status. Additionally they are required to have an approved health insurance plan that meets certain requirements. Health plans typically run between $250- $700 per semester. SEVIS FeeAll International students are now required to pay a fee of $100, which is separate from the Visa application fee. This is the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System fee (I-901, Fee Remittance for Certain F, J and M Non-immigrants) www.FMJfee.com The International Student Checklist University Issued Documents for Visa Application
Visa Application
Make Proper Arrangements to Travel and Arrive in the
Country by the Latest Approved Arrival at University
Scholarship Sources for Citizens and Permanent Residents
1) Bell
Labs Fellowships for Under Represented Minorities
|
|
To submit an article please contact
webmaster at Copyright © 2010 by [Community of
Harbour View]. All rights reserved.
|