Learn about the American higher education application process, I-20 issues, university costs, housing, and more. Speak with representatives about admissions tests and test preparation including TOEFL®, SAT®, GRE®, and GMAT®. A face to face meeting is the best time to explore opportunities for higher education in the United States and ask questions about scholarship opportunities. The Al Jamiat / US Educational Group Tour is free of charge and open to the public.

Fall 2011 US College Fair Schedule

Beirut, Lebanon         October 4th, 2011
Movenpick Hotel & Resort – Raouche
Fair Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (English)
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (Arabic)

Amman, Jordan        October 6th, 2011
Sheraton Amman Hotel
Fair Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (English)
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (Arabic)

DAMMAM FAIR HAS BEEN CANCELED
Dammam, Saudi Arabia      October 8th & 9th, 2011

King Abdullah National
Ceremonial Hall
Dharan & Jubail Highway
Fair Time: 6 p.m.– 10 p.m. (2 days)

Salmiyah, Kuwait   October 11th, 2011
Marina Hotel
Fair Time: 6 p.m.– 9 p.m.
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (English)
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (Arabic)

Doha, Qatar October 13th, 2011
The Diplomatic Club
(near the Ritz Carlton)
Fair Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (English)
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (Arabic)

Muscat, Oman     October 15th, 2011
Grand Hyatt Hotel
Tour Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (English)
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (Arabic)

Dubai, UAE October 17th, 2011
Movenpick Hotel
Fair Time: 7 p.m.– 10 p.m.
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (English)
Event Details & List of Universities Attending (Arabic)

See you then!

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Albion College – Albion, Michigan
Diablo Valley College and the International Education Center – Pleasant Hill , California
IE University – Segovia, Spain
Mass Pharmacy – Boston , Massachusetts
Miami University of Ohio – Oxford, Ohio
Murray State University – Murray , Kentucky
North Carolina State University – Raleigh, North Carolina
Northwestern University in Qatar – Doha, Qatar
Oglethorpe University – Atlanta, Georgia
Old Dominion University – Norfolk, Virginia
Purdue University – West Lafayette , Indiana
Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester, New York
Roger Williams University – Providence, Rhode Island
Rutgers University – New Brunswick, New Jersey
Salve Regina University – Newport, Rhode Island
San Jose State University – San Jose, California
Savannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, Georgia
Southern New Hampshire University – Manchester, New Hampshire
State University of New York- Brockport – Brockport, New York
Suffolk University – Boston , Massachusetts
Sweet Briar College – Sweet Briar, Virginia
Syracuse University – Syracuse, New York
The American University in Cairo – Cairo, Egypt
The University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa
The University of Toledo – Toledo, Ohio
University at Buffalo – Buffalo, New York
University of California – Irvine – Irvine, California
University of California – Riverside – Riverside, California
University of Evansville – Evansville, Indiana
University of Kansas – Lawrence, Kansas
University of Miami – Miami, Florida
University of Michigan – Flint – Flint, Michigan
Willamette University MBA – Willamette, Oregon
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester, Massachusetts

Check back in a few weeks for more information on each university

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Since advisors are an available resource, please take advantage of them.  Your advisor can be a sounding board for any major academic decision you make, from choosing your major to going abroad for a semester.  They can help you keep track of which requirements you have yet to complete, a particularly difficult task especially if you are trying to double major or do a minor.  As someone from your discipline, advisors can also keep track of your progress and advise you to take certain classes to learn important skills and/or methodology.  They can tell you about research opportunities in your field and help you with applications to graduate school and for scholarships and fellowships.  They can even provide advice on your career plans, particularly if you plan to go into academics.

Because of the wide variety of benefits that come from having an advisor, it is important that you cultivate a good relationship with your own advisor.  You should take at least one class with him/her so that he/she has some grasp of your current academic level, particularly in your chosen field.  You should not hesitate to meet with or contact your advisor if you have a question.  You do not necessarily need to flatter your advisor or anything like that.  But it is best that you not anger your advisor by acting blatantly disrespectful or by showing no interest in your academics or his/her advice.  He/she is there to help you, not to bother you.

Unfortunately, not all advisors are equal.  Just as some academics are far better researchers than they are teachers, and vice versa, some advisors simply do not know how to advise very well.  They may try to push you along a certain path without any regard for your personal interests or predilections.  They may completely fail to inform you of any research or scholarship opportunities or even to keep track of your academic progress.  Or they could just have bizarre personality quirks that make interacting with them extremely uncomfortable.  In such circumstances, what can you do?

Well, so long as your advisor is not the only expert at your college in your field (which is particularly unlikely if you are at a university), then you can always switch advisors.  Sure, you may have some uncomfortable interactions with your original advisor when you have to tell him/her that you want to switch.  All you can do is bear it and try not to make him/her mad.  Try to downplay any conflict and make it sound as though it is not the professor’s fault.  Chances are that you will not have to interact with that professor much more afterward, but it is still best not to burn your bridges.  If you are going into academia, that professor will be your senior, and you do not want your senior angry with you.

Another thing you can do is to take the initiative with your advisor and ask a lot of questions.  Some advisors may just be too busy to think about helping you as much as you like without prodding.  If you constantly ask your advisor about research and scholarship opportunities, your academic progress, graduate school, and requirements and whatnot, they will have to answer you.  You will get a lot more from your advisor if you play an active part in your relationship, even if your advisor is good, so it can only help even more so if your advisor does not seem to be attentive enough.  If your advisor still does not answer your questions often or to your taste, then please switch.  Do not put yourself through unnecessary stress by dealing with a bad advisor for four straight years.  Just remember that you have to do some of the work yourself.  Your advisor is there to assist you, not to hold your hand.  Yes, some advisors do that, but better to be diligent than to be disappointed by a busy, inattentive advisor.

Photo credit: Nazareth College

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The fair is open to everyone interested in studying in the United States! Whether you want to study Art, Engineering, Graphic Design, Business, Pharmacy, Computer Science or any one of the hundreds of majors offered by our universities – make sure you come to the college fair!

Make sure you register for the event TODAY – we will all be waiting for you at the fair!

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The Pros and Cons of College Living Options

If you’re a freshman, on-campus living is probably your only option. Sophomore year on, however, the world is your oyster and you’ve got a choice between living on or off campus. There are pros and cons of each living situation and you have to determine the best option to match your lifestyle to decide where you’d like to live.

On-campus living means dorm life, or if you’re lucky and your college has them, a campus apartment. Most campuses have several options for dorms.

Pros

• Vicinity- You’ll be right in the middle of everything, near your classes, the library, the student center, etc. You’ll likely be able to walk everywhere and given how close you’ll be to your classes, you’ll be able to pop in and out of your room between classes.
• No bills- All of your living costs will be covered through financial aid or tuition. You’ll never have to worry about the cable or the lights going out.
• Cafeteria- Everyone needs to eat and campus cafeterias will provide plenty of great food options to meet most any tastes. Given most college students have neither the desire, nor the skill to cook 3 meals a day, that’s a pretty nice perk.

Cons

• Lack of privacy- Having a roommate and living with 200 other students means your privacy will be limited. Someone (usually many people) will know nearly everything you do. Rumors run rampant and news travels at the speed of light.
• Lack of control- Dorms have rules and there will come in a time in your dorm life when you would like to break a few, but breaking rules will usually mean losing your housing.
• Public showers- If you are living in a dorm, prepare for public showers and the daily toting of your personal bath items down the hall in your fluffy robe. There’s nothing like a row of public showers to make you love a pair of flip flops.

Off-campus living will mean renting an apartment or possibly a house with a few of your college buddies. Many rental options cater specifically to the local college market and there should be rental options in most college towns.

Pros

• Freedom- You are free to do what you want at your off-campus apartment (granted your roommates and landlord approve). You can throw a party, light candles and hang out with your buds all night.
• Privacy- You may luck up and have your own room at your apartment, but even if you have to share a room, you’ll have much more privacy than in a dorm. Sharing a house with even 5 friends is a lot more private than a hundred or so.
• Space- While most dorms are just one room, an apartment, or house, will usually give you multiple rooms and overall more living space.

Cons

• Bills- You will have responsibility for rent, utilities, cable, phone, internet as well as groceries, paper goods and cleaning supplies. There is a lot of responsibility and if these responsibilities are not taken care of, your utilities and services could be discontinued or, even worse, you could be evicted.
• Cooking- You won’t have the luxury of the cafeteria with off-campus living and unfortunately, most college students aren’t the best cooks. Unless you or one of your roommates is an aspiring chef, your meals will likely suffer or you’ll end up spending a lot of money on pizza and Chinese take-out.
• Safety- Campuses are usually well-monitored by security, well-lit and overall safer than areas off campus. You’ll need to be extra careful when travelling to and from your off-campus housing, especially at night.

The decision to live on or off campus is a major one. Make sure you take the pros and cons of each option into consideration before you make a decision on where you’d like to live. It’s all about what’s important to you.

Photo credits (creative commons) by Paco Seoane

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Try and consider the various areas of study carefully.
As a student, you will have to decide the occupation you wish to pursue in future.  This will in a big way help you to make your decision. There are many colleges in the US that offer unique programs of study to students that happen to be outside mainstream areas of study. You may be opting for subjects such as Agriculture, Industrial engineering etc. These are a few examples of study courses that are not found in every college or university. It is natural for you to be undecided. Do not be in a rush. Take your time and try not to make this decision based on an area of study. It is seen that an average college fresher is likely to change their major almost 5 times before graduation.

You need to compare the tuition rates of different colleges.
You will have to consider the cost to attend college as that is important. You have to make a list of different colleges and see what courses they offer and what their tuition rates are. You may have to apply for educational loans or take financial assistance from home to study. Thus, you aim should be to identify the best college that offers the courses you wish to study at a reasonable price.

How much time it takes to commute?
This is also a factor that you may have to consider while choosing the college for yourself. Do you want to stay closer to home or would prefer to move far away. If your college is within the driving distance, then you can drive down to college and pursue your studies. Or else you may have to apply for hostel accommodation.

Decide on a college where family and friends are studying.
It is always advantageous to join a college that family and friends already attend. You may feel a bit isolated in an unfamiliar environment. But if you have known faces around you it can give you the desired confidence. You will excel in your studies and spread your wings sooner than expected.

Visit the College Campus
If you visit the campus of your prospective colleges, it will help you to reach a better decision. You have to feel comfortable in the college environment where you wish to study. Facts and figures will not be able to give you enough information about a place. When you visit the college campus in person, you will see for yourself the campus life that exists there and that will help you to make up your mind. After you have considered these factors carefully, it will be easy for you to choose the right college to study. These study years are invaluable as it prepares you for the future. You will have to make sure that you are able to select the college that will help you to study the courses you want and make you realize your dreams.

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First off, pick a major that caters to your interests, passions, and strong suites. This will give you more motivation in researching the major, the professors who teach in the major, and the opportunities you’ll receive during and after your college degree with your selected education path. Every school has stronger or weaker colleges of business, social sciences, physical sciences, etc. If your heart lies with science, go with a school that offers more opportunities in that field.

When you visit the campus, make sure to talk to people that deal directly with your possible major. Visit the clubs associated with the major, so you can talk to students and ask them about the experiences they’ve had over their past few years and how they feel about it. Ask yourself if you relate to the type of individuals that end up in that field. Talk to advisors specifically dedicated to the subject. This will give you insight into what type of people are going down your desired path, what type of professors and courses you’ll be dealing with, and it will give you a broader perspective of the experiences you will encounter during your time in college.

If you still feel unsure, or what to leave yourself options later down the line, mainly register for classes that will apply towards general education. This way, if you decide a year or so in that you want to change majors or head down a different path, you never really wasted any time in getting your degree. When I entered college as a biology major, I mainly took general education courses. I ended up deciding two years into my major to switch to psychology, and even though the course paths were very different, I had already completed much of my general education and still had biology classes that went into a minor.

Do not stress if you are not 110% sure about what you want to do with the rest of your life. Even if you do feel that sure, you most likely aren’t. Take it slow your first year or two in college, keep your eyes and ears open , and plan accordingly to make any last minute changes.

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The scholarships are not for full tuition – they range from $1,000 to $7,000 – so currently they are only accepting applications from students ALREADY in the United States. The stipend will help pay for housing, books, etc, but is not enough for tuition.

Please be sure to complete the entire application before sending it to them. They have a limited team of application reviewers so be sure to follow the instructions!

RFI Scholarship Application Download

Criteria for Prospective Iraqi Student Applicants:

• Completed RFI application which includes application form, and possible phone or in-person interview.
• Financial need
• Applicants must be Iraqi citizens in Iraq or Iraqi citizens displaced from the recent war and living abroad.
• A strong desire and commitment to helping with the reconstruction of the Iraqi state or society.
• Strong performance in secondary school along with any post-secondary school education.
• Demonstrated leadership and social consciousness

Purpose

Thank you for your interest in RFI’s scholarship program. The 2010 application cycle is now open. Please carefully read through the 3-page application (link below) and complete it fully before submitting. Applications can be returned via email to Scholarships@RallyforIraq.orgwith the applicant’s last name and “Iraqi Scholarship Application” in the subject line. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with preference shown toward earlier submissions. Applicants will hear back from RFI within two weeks to one month of their submission. We may request phone or in-person interviews from final round candidates, if possible.

RFI stipends will range from $1,000-7,000 for this school year. Please read the information below for details regarding eligibility and preferred qualifications. Questions about the application process can be directed to Scholarships@RallyforIraq.org

RFI Scholarship Application Download

Application Process and Continued Eligibility:

1. Complete and submit the application form.
2. Upon applicant’s acceptance to a college, graduate program, or recertification program, he or she must provide proof of acceptance prior to receiving funding.
3. The granting committee will meet to select scholarship recipients after the RFI application deadline. Applications will be considered on a strictly blind basis, in other words, the Board will not know the names of applicants prior to making their decision.
4. RFI will provide scholarship funds directly to the school where the recipient is planning to study. Exceptions will be made for books and living expenses on a case by case basis.
5. RFI will request proof of enrollment from the student as well as the school at the beginning and end of each semester. In the case that the terms of the award are violated, RFI will request for the student or the school to return the award and the student will be ineligible for future consideration in the granting process.

We are SO excited to share this with you & hope you will take advantage of this awesome opportunity! GOOD LUCK!

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Learn more and read short profiles on the schools attending in our guide (coming soon!).

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott, AZ & Daytona Beach, FL – Contact

Everett Community College – Everett, Washington – Contact

Fairleigh Dickinson University – Multiple Campuses – Contact

Michigan State University Dubai – Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Contact

Murray State University – Murray, Kentucky – Contact

Ohio State University – Columbus, Ohio – Contact

Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester, New York – Contact

Roger Williams University – Bristol, Rhode Island – Contact

Savannah Collage of Art & Design – Savannah, Georgia – Contact

Sylvan Learning Centers – Contact

The Princeton Review-Scoreplus – Contact

Troy State University – Multiple Campuses – Contact

University at Buffalo – Buffalo, New York – Contact

University of California Riverside – Riverside, California – Contact

University of Colorado, Boulder – Boulder, Colorado – Contact

University of Kentucky – Lexington, Kentucky – Contact

University of Michigan, Flint – Flint, Michigan – Contact

University of New Haven – New Haven, Connecticut – Contact

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Tuesday November 10th, 2009
11 am – 3 pm
Location: Auditorium of Higher Colleges of Technology Men’s College – Ras Al Khaimah
Fair Flyer and More information
Register

And don’t forget, if you can’t make it on Tuesday in Ras Al Khaimah, be sure to catch us in Dubai on

Wednesday November 11th, 2009
6pm – 9pm
Movenpick Bur Dubai
Fair Flyer and More information
Register

Want to see learn more about the Universities and Colleges at this fair? Be sure to review the AlJamiat- US Educational Group Fair Guide & become a fan on Facebook to keep up on all the best information on applying to US Colleges & Universities!

See you at the fair!

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