Can I just recommend one quick thing that will help improve the first impression you give the admissions counselor reading your application? Especially if you are a graduate student applying for a Masters or PhD program.

cc license, garrettc

Sign up for a new email address

All of you. Seriously. You can’t submit your application to a professional program with an unprofessional email address like shakiralover@hotmail.com or ilovegirls@hotmail.com – just go to Gmail and sign up for a new email address. Preferably just your name, like ahmedghamdi@gmail.com

Why Gmail? Well because they pay me millions of dollars to endorse them. Just kidding, it’s because you can easily FORWARD all the emails you receive there to the email address you check most. That means you will never miss an important email if you don’t check your new account every day. Pretty awesome, right?

Just like you would be underwhelmed if you went to a college fair and met a University representative in a ratty t-shirt, jeans and a shibshib, think of the first impression the admissions officer is getting of you.  So instead of applying online and emailing the admissions office from your personal email address, yalla, sign up for a nice shiny new email address that will make you look well dressed.

I promise you the admissions officers will appreciate it. Its one of the things they mention as a “never do” when talking about filling out applications.

So now that you signed up for the new email address, go ahead and register for the Fall fair in your city or register to get more information from colleges and universities if we aren’t coming close enough this time.

See you at the fair!

As with applications to any college, you must research the university you are applying to, making sure they are properly accredited and offer the degree you are seeking.  This can be a little more difficult to do with online only universities as the website may appear very professional and legitimate – while the school may offer a degree that may not be fully recognized.

However, many large and prestigious schools such as Columbia and Harvard now offer undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs that are fully online, giving students unable to travel to the US a great opportunity.  While these programs are not inexpensive, sometimes costing the same as an on-campus experience, they may allow you to attend college without leaving home. We encourage you to read through the university’s offerings, to calculate the costs, and to see whether you would benefit from a traditional campus experience before choosing a program to commit to.

One thing to remember, online degrees are not an “easy” way to receive a bachelors or masters, they are just as much work and effort as attending class in person. You will be expected to “attend” class, take exams, complete group projects, and interact with your classmates, if you are unprepared, your grades will reflect that. Online degrees can be the answer for many students, but as with everything you must study the positives and negatives before deciding on your course of action.

Lewis & Clark Community College - CC license

By University Language Services

Lower tuition isn’t the only reason that millions of students every year decide to attend community colleges.

With careful planning, transferring to a 4-year college or university from a community college is often easy. That makes community colleges an attractive, affordable option for students throughout the U.S. and around the world.

What is a community college?

Community colleges award associate’s degrees, usually after two years of classes.

Many U.S. students attend a community college directly after graduating from high school. Community colleges also attract older, “non-traditional” students who live near the school.

Students who attend community colleges aren’t required to earn an associate’s degree before transferring to a 4-year college or university. In fact, some students attend a community college for just a year before transferring to a different college.

Why consider a community college?

At many U.S. colleges and universities, all students are required to take a core group of classes that provide them with a solid educational foundation. This may include beginner math, English, economic, history and science classes.

Students majoring in engineering, literature or anything in between will have to earn these credits before earning a bachelor’s degree. Taking these classes at a community college often is less expensive than taking the equivalent courses at a 4-year college or university.

Many students then transfer to a 4-year college or university for their major classes and to earn a bachelor’s degree.

How do you decide which classes to take?

You can transfer most (and maybe all!) of your community college course credits if you carefully choose your classes.

West Virginia Northern Community College - CC License

Every 4-year college and university independently decides if it will award academic credit for any or all of the courses taken at another school. This means that one college may award you credit for, say, a political science class you completed, but another college may not.

Fortunately, community colleges know that many of its students eventually will transfer to a 4-year school, and many make it very easy for students to do so.

Check if your community college has articulation agreements with nearby 4-year colleges and universities. An articulation agreement states what classes, coursework or credits a specific 4-year school will accept from the community college.

For example, the articulation agreement may specify that an associate’s degree from your community college will earn you credit for a precise series of courses from a specific 4-year college. Or the articulation agreement may specify exactly which courses will earn you credit at the 4-year college or university.

Attending a community college also may provide you with other benefits when it is time to transfer.

For example, the campuses in the University of California system give students attending community colleges in the state first priority for admission over other transfer students.

I’ve enrolled in a community college. Now what?

Speak with academic counselors at your community college and at any of the colleges or universities where you are thinking about transferring. They can help you choose classes that are most likely to transfer. Academic credit probably won’t be guaranteed, but you have a better chance than by simply guessing which courses you should take.

Keep your syllabus and other important papers from each community college course you take just in case your new college has questions about what you learned. And pay attention to your grades! They could determine whether you are accepted into a 4-year college or university, especially if you are applying to a competitive school.

You’re not done yet! Remember to closely follow the application deadline and requirements for the 4-year colleges or universities where you want to apply. For example, if you are an international student you may have to submit your TOEFL score and secondary school academic records with their English translations.

Community colleges are different than 4-year colleges and universities. Many community colleges do not offer dormitories or as wide a variety of student clubs, activities or sports. But if you are looking for an affordable way to get a U.S. education, a community college may be the answer.

About University Language Services:

Since 1983, University Language Services has specialized in the translation of academic transcripts, records and personal documents. Its website and blog provide assistance to international students in the United States and American students who wish to study abroad.

ULS translates, transcribes and interprets 150+ languages and dialects from its international headquarters in New York City and affiliated offices around the world.

]]> http://www.al-jamiat.com/finding-college/community-colleges-affordable-option-education/feed/ 3 http://www.al-jamiat.com/featured/best-value-universities-in-the-united-states/ http://www.al-jamiat.com/featured/best-value-universities-in-the-united-states/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:06:08 +0000 aljamiat http://al-jamiat.com/?p=285 Debt, debt, debt, student loans, lower paying jobs for college grads, spiraling tuition costs, and excessive cost of books and campus life mean that many students are graduating already buried under debt.  Its time for students to make better informed financial decisions about their education. Whether its choosing to go to an In-state college, community college for a year or two as a bridge to a 4-year institution, or fighting harder for a full or partial scholarship there are some colleges and universities out there that are still a fantastic value.

We have rated and chosen 5 universities from 3 different admissions categories, Most Selective, More Selective, and Selective. We would love to hear your comments and suggestions for other readers.  You may notice most of the schools are Public Universities, as we reviewed various institutions the difficulty in choosing a private university with a better value especially in the More Selective and Selective categories became overwhelmingly difficult.  Do you agree or disagree with this list? Leave us comments at the end of the post and register for blog updates!

Most Selective Admissions Institutions

University of Virginia – Charlottesville, Virginia.
Web site: http://www.virginia.edu
Most Selective rating for admissions.
Tuition1: In-State2: $9,450 ($20,173 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International3: $29,790 ($40,473 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 19,784
Consistently ranked as one of the top public4 universities in the United States.

College of William & Mary Image by David Burns under Creative Commons license

William & Mary – Williamsburg, Virginia
Web site:  http://www.wm.edu
Most Selective rating for admissions
Tuition: In-State: $10,246 ($20,600 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $29,326 (39,600 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 7,890
Featured on Princeton Review as a “Best Value” http://bit.ly/1xBj

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Web site: http://www.umich.edu
Most Selective rating for admissions
Tuition: In-State: $12,439 ($24,181 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $33,201 ($47,083 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 41,042
Consistently ranked as one of the top public4 universities in the United States.

University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley, California

University of California Berkeley Students Image by jeroen020 under Creative Commons license

Web site: http://www.berkeley.edu/
Most Selective rating for admissions
Tuition: In-State: $8,932 ($26,586 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $29,540 ($47,194 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 35,409

Rice University – Houston, Texas
Web site: http://www.rice.edu/
Most Selective rating for admissions
Tuition: In-State: $30,486 ($43,583 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $30,486 ($43,583 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 5,039
Consistently ranked in top 10 of all universities in United States

More Selective Admissions Institutions

University of Kansas – Athens, Georgia
Web site: http://www.ku.edu
More Selective rating for admissions
Tuition: In-state: $7,042 ($17,860 with Room and Board)
Out-of-state: $17,119  ($26, 281 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 30,120

University of Kansas Jayhawk Mascot Image by Home Town Invasion under Creative Commons license

University of Georgia – Athens, Georgia
Web site: http://www.uga.edu
More Selective rating for admissions
Tuition: In-state: $6,030 ($16,758 with Room and Board)
Out-of-state: $22,572  ($32,242 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 25,467

Ohio State University – Columbus,Ohio
Website: http://www.osu.edu
More Selective rating for admissions
In-State: $8,679 ($16,460 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $21,918 ($29,998 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 53,715

University of Florida – Gainesville, Florida
Website: http://www.ufl.edu
More Selective rating for admissions
In-State: $3,790 ($15,740 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $21,400 ($33,350 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 51,761

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minnesota
Website: http://www.umn.edu
More Selective rating for admissions
In-State: $10,860 ($18,086 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $14,800 ($22,086 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 51,140

BONUS SCHOOL
SUNY – Stony Brook – Stony Brook, New York
Website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/
More Selective rating for admissions
In-State: $3,896 ($12,620 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $8,700 ($14,630 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 24,000

Selective Admissions Institutions

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Illinois
Web site: http://www.siuc.edu
Selective rating for admissions
Tuition: In-State: $9,186 ($20,750 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $18.708 ($31,200 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 21,387
University of Mississippi – Oxford, Mississippi
Web site: http://www.olemiss.edu
Selective rating for admissions
In-State: $5,180 ($18,430 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $12,235 ($25,462 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 17,600

West Virginia University – Morgantown, West Virginia
Web site: http://www.wvu.edu
Selective rating for admissions
In-State: $5,100 ($11,380 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $15,768 ($22,048 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 28,110

Image by jwowens under Creative Commons license

University of Oklahoma – Norman, Oklahoma
Web site: http://www.ou.edu
Selective rating for admissions
In-State: $7,420 ($15,909 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $17,400 ($25,890 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 20,915

Arizona State University – Tempe, Arizona
Web site: http://www.asu.edu
Selective rating for admissions
In-State: $5,400 ($18,045 with Room and Board)
Out-of-State/International: $17,949 ($30,320 with Room and Board)
Total enrollment 2008: 53,200

1 : Tuition in the US is calculated for a full year (2 semesters) not including the summer session.
2 : In-State is an resident of that state
3 : Out-of-State means any student who is not a resident of that state or an international student
4 : Public universities are founded and funded by the state

Copyright Al Jamiat 2009
info@al-jamiat.com

For the second time this academic year, the College of William and Mary has been ranked among the country’s top values in public universities. In its 2009 annual college rankings of best bargains, The Princeton Review listed William & Mary third among its top public universities.

“It’s always satisfying when kind things are said about William & Mary,” said President Taylor Reveley. “William & Mary does provide an education of extraordinary caliber for far less money than other schools of comparable caliber. We’re delighted that The Princeton Review agrees.”

Thursday’s announcement came with an added bonus – national television exposure. The “Today” show, NBC’s popular morning show, ran a full segment with co-host Meredith Vieira on The Princeton Review rankings – including a feature on William & Mary. The segment, which included video footage of faculty and students on campus, gave special recognition to the College and its place as one of the country’s No. 3 best value. The set was also decorated in colors from a number of the top universities, including a green and gold pennant from William & Mary. The rankings were also highlighted Thursday in USA Today. The country’s largest newspaper partnered with The Princeton Review this yearto present the rankings.

William & Mary was one of two Virginia schools among the top three public schools — the University of Virginia claimed the top spot. Swarthmore College was ranked the country’s best value among private colleges. The Princeton Review, known for its college guidebook and test preparation services, ranked the top 50 public and top 50 private universities. The rankings, based on surveys of administrators and students, focused on a combination of factors such as academics, cost and financial aid.

Thursday’s news comes on the heels of several other rankings this academic year highlighting the College, including an announcement in October that Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine listed William & Mary as fifth among its top 100 universities that combine “outstanding economic value with top-notch education.” The College was featured on Kiplinger’s Web site with an audio slideshow and online tour of William & Mary as a “best value.”

In August, William & Mary was listed 32nd overall and sixth-best public university, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of undergraduate programs. Earlier in August, the College was ranked 49th overall – based on a different methodology – by Forbes magazine. In July, Forbes also ranked Virginia as the country’s best state for business. Virginia topped the Forbes list, according to the article, in part because of “top colleges like the University of Virginia and William & Mary.” In July, The Princeton Review also ranked William and Mary and its Swem Library eighth in the category of “Best College Library.” In October, Financial Times ranked the William & Mary’s Mason School of Business’ Executive MBA program as one of the top 100 programs in the world. The program ranked 41st among U.S. schools and 94th worldwide.

Thursday was also the second time this academic year that William & Mary was mentioned on the Today show. In September, co-host Matt Lauer and television personality Al Roker came to town for a special show featuring Colonial Williamsburg. When hundreds of William & Mary students, faculty, staff and alumni arrived to greet them, Roker mentioned the College several times during the show and even donned a Tribe baseball cap.

Original Article: http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2009/william-and-mary-featured-on-today-as-a-princeton-review-best-value-001.php
Copyright College of William & Mary