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.

March 2010 US College Fair Schedule

Beirut, Lebanon         March 13th, 2010
Movenpick Hotel & Resort – Raouche
Fair Time: 1 p.m.–5 p.m.

Amman, Jordan        March 16th, 2010
Sheraton Amman Hotel
Fair Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.

Kuwait City, Kuwait   March 18th, 2010
Marina Hotel
Fair Time: 6 p.m.– 9 p.m.

Manama, Bahrain     March 20th, 2010
Sheraton Hotel
Tour Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.

Dubai, UAE              March 22nd, 2010
Movenpick Hotel
Fair Time: 6 p.m.– 9 p.m.

Muscat, Oman          March 24th, 2010
Grand Hyatt
Fair Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.

We hope to see you there! Send us a message or leave a comment if you have any questions!

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

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!

Tip One: Pre-Register

By filling out your registration form online here before the fair you will save time and avoid a line when you arrive. If you are registering for Beirut, Amman or Aqaba you will receive a barcode to use during the fair. All you need to do is have the universities scan your code and they instantly have your information. It is a simple and easy process.

Tip Two: Do your Homework

Before coming to the fair take a look at the list of universities attending. Learn more about the schools you are interested in and see what programs they offer. You will not have time to talk to everyone at the fair so pick your priority schools you definitely want to meet. There are short bios of each school available online here.

Tip Three: Be Prepared to Answer Questions

Have you thought about what you want to study? Universities may ask in what programs you are interested in, your current year in school and average test scores or grades. It is helpful to have these answers ready for conversation. The representatives will be better able to answer your questions knowing more information about you.

Tip Four: Be Prepared to Ask Questions

It is also a good idea to prepare some of your own questions. What do you want to know about a university’s admissions process, academics or social life on-campus? These university representatives are here to answer your questions. They want you to learn as much as possible about their school. There are no stupid questions – so please ask away.

Tip Five: Pre-Register!

Wait, did we already mention this? You must be registered to enter the fair so there is no reason not to register before you show up. Save yourself the hassle and time by skipping the long line. Here is the registration link one more time in case you missed it.

Learn more and read short profiles on the schools attending in our guide.

American University of Cairo – Cairo, Egypt – Contact

Arizona State University – Prescott, Arizona – Contact

California State University, Fullerton – Fullerton, California – Contact

College of the Desert – Palm Desert, California – Contact

DePaul University – Chicago, Illinois – Contact

Diablo Valley College – Pleasant Hill, California – Contact

Emporia State University – Emporia, Kansas – Contact

Florida Institute of Technology – Melbourne, Florida – Contact

Indiana University-Purdue University – Indianapolis, Indiana – Contact

Lasell College – Newton, Massachusetts – Contact

Marquette University – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Contact

Mercer University – Macon, Georgia – Contact

Michigan State University – East Lansing, Michigan – Contact

Michigan State University Dubai – Dubai, UAE – Contact

New York University Abu Dhabi – Abu Dahbi, UAE – Contact

Ohio University – Athens, Ohio – Contact

Oklahoma City University – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Contact

Pace University – New York, New York – Contact

Parsons the New School for Design – New York, New York – Contact

Purdue University – West Lafayette, Indiana – Contact

Roger Williams University – Bristol, Rhode Island – Contact

San Jose State University – San Jose, California – Contact

Savannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, Georgia – Contact

Score Plus/Princeton Review – Middle East – Contact

Stony Brook University – Stony Brook, New York – Contact

University of Arizona – Tuscon, Arizona – Contact

University of Bridgeport – Bridgeport, Connecticut - Contact

University at Buffalo – Buffalo, New York - Contact

University of California, Riverside – Riverside, California – Contact

University of California, San Diego – San Diego, California – Contact

University of Central Florida – Orlando, Florida – Contact

University of Colorado, Denver – Denver, Colorado – Contact

University of Evansville – Evansville, Indiana – Contact

University of Hartford – West Hartford, Connecticut – Contact

University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa – Contact

University of New Haven – New Haven, Connecticut – Contact

University of Oregon – Eugene, Oregon – Contact

University of Toledo – Toledo, Ohio – Contact

Veritas Prep GMAT Preparation - Contact

Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond, Virginia – Contact

Youngstown State University – Youngstown, Ohio – Contact

If you are a University interested in joining us on a future fair, please contact us through our college and university website, US Educational Group.

The session speaker, Dr. Zuhair Humadi is the brainchild of the Iraq Education Initiative and a graduate of the US educational system. He will discuss ways that the admissions offices will be able to collaborate with the scholarship initiative to admit qualified students to their programs.

To begin building a directory of Universities that accept international students without the SAT requirement and that offer ESL and conditional admissions programs we are encouraging all admissions officers to add your information to the College & University Directory.

Session Information

Title: GS210: The Iraqi Educational Initiative: Opportunities for Collaboration
Begin Time: Thursday, 5/28 – 9:15 AM
Audience: General Professional Interest
Description: Presenters will discuss the possibilities for collaboration between institutions of higher education and the Iraqi government. The Iraqi Educational Initiative will invest heavily in the educational system to develop the human resources of the country. The goal is to make Iraq a center of learning in the Middle East through investments in all levels of education.
Chair: Zuhair Humadi, PhD, Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister

http://acsearch.nafsa.org/KCSessions.aspx
Search for “Iraq”

Stop by our booth #1445 at NAFSA for a chance to win a free full page ad in the November issue of Al Jamiat!

See you at NAFSA!

The US Embassy Visa Counsel spoke to the audience about the process of applying for a student visa to the United States, the type of information that will be needed for a successful interview, and the numbers of students who have been approved for a visa in the past year. The students and their parents reacted very positively to the information as there is confusion about the US visa application process, and kept the US Embassy visa counsel very busy all night asking questions.

“I was very happy with the outcome of the Kuwait fair, we had three completed applications that I already faxed to my office.” Mr. Wes Roy, Associate Director of Admissions, Roger Williams University

Did you attend the fair? How was your experience? Write a short review of your visit to the Kuwait fair below and let us know!

Our next stop on the Middle East US College tour is Manama, Bahrain – with the fair on March 17th, 2009 at the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel.  While things started off a little slow but students and visitors began coming in after a short while and everything went great.

There was a very significant amount of Saudi Arabian students who had driven over from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and told us there was a 4 hour delay on the bridge to cross. The students visiting the fair were 60% Bahraini and 40% Saudi and many of the students were interested in graduate programs.

“The fair went very well and we had a steady stream of interested students”  said Stephanie Enstice, Florida Institute of Technology

Did you attend the fair? How was your experience? Write a short review of your visit to the Bahrain fair below and let us know!

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/headline/iraq-education-initiative-visa-application-process-embassy-iraq/ http://www.al-jamiat.com/headline/iraq-education-initiative-visa-application-process-embassy-iraq/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:24:48 +0000 aljamiat http://www.al-jamiat.com/?p=497 With the excitement building, the questions mounting, and the pilot class of the Iraq Education Initiative moving closer to beginning their educational journey in the United States we have fielded many questions about various aspects of the scholarship and answered a few in this article. While there are still many unknowns and pieces of the program that are still coming together, we were fortunate enough to speak with representatives of the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq who have worked hand-in-hand with the Director of the Iraq Education Initiative to ensure success for the Iraqi students heading to colleges and universities in the United States.

Iraqi students in Babil Iraq, CC license lakerae

We all know what a speed bump the visa application process can be for unprepared students, and until a few months ago, Iraqi students accepted into American universities were required to leave Iraq and apply for their student visa at a “regional office”.  Regional offices are located in Syria, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan where the Iraqi students would have to travel for their interview and return to receive their stamped visa – a huge financial and stressful burden on the applicant and their families.

Mr. Jeffrey Lodinsky, the General Consul at the new US Embassy in Baghdad spoke to us this week about the many changes and initiatives that they are undertaking to streamline the student visa application for Iraqi students.  Since August 2008, student visas have been processed in Baghdad, the Embassy has “most modern facility, our interview windows are the most modern in the world” said Mr. Lodinsky, and is well equipped to deal with large numbers of visa applicants.  “We encourage Iraqi students both in the region and in Kurdistan to apply at this location, we have a culturally sensitive staff and Arabic speakers who understand” the unique applications from Iraqi students.

Mr. Lodinsky explained that one of the priorities of Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who has now departed from his post in Baghdad, was to ensure that the first clients served by the new Embassy were student visas.  Ambassador Crocker felt that it was crucial for long term bilateral relationships to accommodate Iraqi students interested in higher education in the United States.  Several hundred students have already received their F-1 visas, and are already at colleges and universities around the US.

Efforts are underway to expand the visa reciprocity between the United States and Iraq, which will allow F-1 students to receive more than the current 3 month, single entry visa.  In comparison to most F-1 students from other countries who receive 5-year multiple entry visas, allowing them to visit family in their home country during summer vacation or winter break, the Iraqi student will face a much more restrictive visa.  Students will be required to reapply for their visa renewal at a US Embassy if they leave the United States in order to be allowed to reenter. Changes to the student visa may be available in the coming months.

The procedure for the actual application is identical to that in other countries, there is no specific paperwork required, however, Colleges and Universities should explain that the students must be prepared for the interview at the Embassy and bring all the required documentation.  Colleges and Universities must be cognizant that the lack of postal services in Iraq will require they send time sensitive documents such as the I-20 to the students via air courier (such as DHL or similar) and not regular post.  The Embassy officials encourage students to apply as early as possible, as they do expect that the application will take several weeks to process, allowing the student to receive their I-20 as early as possible will increase their chances of a successful visa application process.

“This is a special group of foreign students, and
I really encourage the universities to think of these
students in a different way, be mindful of
their heritage” – Helen LaFave, Cultural Affairs Officer

“This is a positive for students, for universities, for US-Iraq relations, it’s a positive in every way” said Ms. Helen LaFave, Cultural Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Baghdad, “but one of the things universities need to think about is that this is a whole population of Iraqi students, not just another block of international students”.  While there has always been a flow of Iraqi students heading to the United States for higher education, as far back as the 1920’s and 1930’s, there has been a multi-decade gap where the Iraqi population has been very isolated from the US.

“These students have been through a lot in the last 50 years, this is a special group of foreign students, and I really encourage the universities to think of these students in a different way, be mindful of their heritage, and not treat them the same way as students coming in from other countries”

The Embassy officials spoke of Fulbright Program and caliber of students the program has sent.  Feedback from the students and the universities show the Iraqis are welcomed into the class room, they are engaged and active both within the classroom and out in the college community. The students are settling in to their dorms, making American friends, and taking every advantage of the Fulbright scholarship in the best way possible.  According to their previous experience, this is not uniformly true, there are Fulbright students from other countries, who are overwhelmed by the experience and retreat to their dorm rooms or even drop out.

“Iraqi teachers are notoriously difficult graders, a “C” in Iraq is a “B” or “A”
anywhere else, I have interviewed Fulbright students who
had mostly “B”s and “C”s on their transcripts”
Mr. Jeffery Lodinsky, Consul General – US Embassy Baghdad

In speaking with some university admissions officers and advisors, they relay that they are impressed with the quality of the students coming from Iraq. While they study and work hard, they do not avoid contact with other students or just sit in their dorm room.  Ms. LaFave added that the students bring a tremendous amount of diversity and enlightenment to the university campus, higher education institutions are eager to Iraqi students apply there, “educationally they are very impressed”.

All the Embassy officials encouraged admissions officers to review the transcripts of the Iraqi applicants carefully, and note that there is no grade inflation of any kind in Iraq.  “Iraqi teachers are notoriously difficult graders, a “C” in Iraq is a “B” or “A” anywhere else, I have interviewed Fulbright students who had mostly “B”s and “C”s on their transcripts”  said Mr. Lodinsky.  He continued “The Iraqi students are very interesting but may not have the array of extra curricular activities that an American student may have”.

Monument to Unknown Soldier, Baghdad. Photo by: Robert Hardin University of Oregon

While students now do have the opportunity to take the TOEFL at many locations around the country and the GRE twice a year, Ms. LaFave stresses that these are “raw scores, preparing for these standardized tests is not an idea that has permeated this society” and admissions officers need to take into account when comparing the scores of international students from countries such as China and India who generally study intensely for the standardized tests. The SATs are currently not offered in Iraq, however, there are plans to begin administering the test inside the country this year.

Ms. LaFave had noted earlier that Iraqi parents “live for their children’s education” and with the new Iraq Education Initiative will be pushing their kids to apply to study in the United States. She went on to say “Iraq is very interested in engaging with Americans people to people, through education and through students. Iraqis are a fascinating engaging people, universities will find them to be a great addition to their campus”.

With the tone of the discussion with the Embassy officials so positive throughout the conversation, the collaborative effect of assisting students through the visa application process both from the Iraqi government and the US Embassy is evident. It will be a team effort to ensure the success of these students, and colleges and universities are encouraged to look at these students and if there will be active recruitment efforts, to think about how to welcome them onto campus. Many of the students will need some extra assistance to adjust to their new environment and become a successful and engaging part of the campus experience.

More information from the US Embassy Baghdad – http://www.iraq.usembassy.gov

Subscribe to our blog and receive updates on new posts automatically