One of the greatest perks about studying abroad is the experiences students receive for the first time. Whether it would be your first time eating an apple pie, attending a rock concert, or seeing an amazing landmark.  Here at Al Jamiat, we are interested in hearing about your firsts and what they were like!

Shaheed Sabrin is a senior at USC School of Theatre, majoring in Theatre and minoring in Entrepreneurship with the USC Marshal School of Business. He was last Spring’s recipient of the Jack Nicholsan Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Actor and hopes to one day open a restaurant for his mother.

My first… time seeing the great pyramids of Giza

My first time seeing the great pyramids of Giza was such a rewarding and educational experience. I arrived in Egypt on my birthday, August 22nd, which was also the start of Ramadan. I contemplated not going with my University mates for the trip, but then realized the best time to go was with my school’s guided tour. I braced myself and overcame scorching summer heat in the midst of keeping my fast. As our bus approached the raised area of Giza, I stared in awe, wondering what genius went into constructing this massive structure of and all the history behind it. As soon as I stepped off the bus I was bombarded my children trying to sell me postcards for 5 Egyptian Pounds. Then, as I approached the entrance of the pyramids people tried hustling me into getting a 250 Egyptian Pound camel ride for only 2 minutes. I dismissed everything and headed straight for the pyramids.

Since the guards could tell I had some Egyptian in me, they rushed me to the front of the line where I approached a dark and humid entryway. My whole way up was extremely claustrophobic as the passage was narrow, but when I reached one of the areas that one of the tombs were held in, I took a breath of excitement. As I headed back down the pyramid, I made a promise to myself that I would not leave Egypt without knowing the significance behind Egypt’s fascinating monuments. Most of all, the great pyramids of  Giza inspired me to not just live in Egypt as a tourist, but as a student of the land, journeying into the unknown and educating myself all throughout the semester.

Interested in sharing your first experience?

Email allizon@al-jamiat.com with your story and see how you can contribute to the “My first…” feature!

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cc nimble photography

The idea of not being prepared or not knowing can be frightening. The world today relies heavily on Internet resources and it’s crucial to know them. There are multiple online sites that can really make your life easier. And while you’re transitioning into a new country and school, anything that could possibly make life simpler will be needed!

Here is a list of the top two sites for online calendars, music players, photo editors, and scholar search engines, all of which were resources I used non-stop as a college student.

Online Calendars: There is no option, you need a calendar/planner in college is you want to stay onto of your game. I suggest using an online calendar to organize class schedules, office hours, due dates, and meetings. It can start getting confusing if you don’t remember when and where you are supposed to be.

Google Calendar

30Boxes

Scholar Search Engines: Students write a lot of papers in college, so be prepared for tons of researching. Using a scholar search engine will provide you with scholarly literature that is more trustworthy and reliable than articles found with a normal search engine.

CrossRef

Google Scholar

Music Library/Player: If you are not the type of person to buy multiple songs from iTunes but still want to listen to good music, I suggest using an online music library or player. Playing music can do wonders for you. It helps some students work more productively and get in a better mood.

Grove Shark

Pandora

Photo Editor: Taking pictures is second nature while in college, and uploading them to Facebook is the obvious next step. Having an online picture editor is always handy to have around. You can use it for adding a fun effect to a picture of you and your friends, hiding that pimple you wish was never there, or straightening a tilted picture because your mom can’t hold the camera right.

Picnik

Phixr

Do you have any websites you can’t live without? Share what sites are the most helpful for you!

Allizon Munoz is a junior at Ohio Dominican University studying Public Relations and minoring in Marketing. She serves as the 2010-2011 Ohio Dominican PRSSA President and Vice President of Professional Activities for Delta Sigma Pi Omicron Tau.  Connect with her here: http://card.ly/allizonmunoz

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cc Alexandra Campo

The time is drawing near to begin preparing for school to start.  One of the best ways to make your transition to school enjoyable is by actually being excited about your plans!  Some may say they are about to leave everything they know, their comfort zone, but great things are coming their way.  One of the best things students can do is channel their nerves into excitement, and having school spirit is a great way to do just that!

School spirit is the pride you have for your university.  It shows others where you attend and why you are so proud to be there.  Having school spirit will provide a more positive atmosphere not just for yourself, but for your campus as well.  You form a special connection with your school and other students when you truly have school pride.

So how can you have school spirit?

Wear the gear. Get t-shirts, sweatshirts, lanyards, etc.  You can usually find these at your school’s book store and sometime they are even available for purchase online.  If you would rather not buy them, make them!  A great idea is to have a get-together with friends, maybe before a football game, and make your own shirts with iron-ons or fabric paint.  You’ll be creating something to wear all year long and great memories at the same time!

Display the logo. Make posters, buy stickers, or keep fliers with your school’s name or logo on them and add them to your desk, car, or dorm walls.  Simple and easy!

Tell the people you meet. It is effortless to say, “Hi! I’m (your name), a student at (university name).”  If you really love your school and want to represent them well, make them part of you.  When you mention what school you attend in your introduction, the other person will know you must be proud to be there.

Add it online. Post it, write it, blog it, or tweet it.  It is simple to add to your “About Me” sections on social media pages where you attend school.

Families can show spirit too! Get your family into the school spirit.  When they support you, it will help ease the nerves and fears of moving away.  When they have school spirit too, it really makes a difference!

And remember your loyalty and pride to your university should also reflect on the organizations you become involved in.  Whether it be a fraternity or local school organization, always be proud of everything you involve yourself in!

Allizon Munoz is a proud junior at Ohio Dominican University studying Public Relations and minoring in Marketing. She serves as the 2010-2011 Ohio Dominican PRSSA President and Vice President of Professional Activities for Delta Sigma Pi Omicron Tau.  Connect with her here: http://card.ly/allizonmunoz

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What is Goal Setting?

When a student first starts college, their main objective is to receive a degree but there are more things to be accomplished during their time in school.  Goal setting is the key factor to success and something every person should do to get the most out of their life.  It is human nature to set goals even if a person is not aware they are doing it.  Setting goals before a student begins their college adventure gives them a proper incentive, a vision, and moving force that drives them to success.

Types of Goals

Goal setting is thinking and putting aside certain objectives you would like to accomplish.  Some types of goals are short term goals, long term, academic, professional, and personal.  Being a student in college doesn’t mean all goals should revolve around academic success.   It is important to be triumphant in the academic realm of college, but it should be balanced with personal accomplishments as well.

SMART Goals

A great tactic to use when beginning your collection of goals is the SMART goal guideline.  This guide is provided by Goal Setting Guide, and is a great way to effectively set goals and aspirations that are attainable.

• S- Specific.  Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.
• M- Measureable.  If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. In the broadest sense, the whole goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, there is a success.
• A- Attainable.  When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. Your begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.
• R- Realistic.  Be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort! Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren’t very capable. Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!
• T- Timely. Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.

Here are some examples of goals that abide by the SMART guideline, and flourish in rewards: Make the Dean’s List (an academic achievement recognition), attend at least 10 campus events, join a student organization, be part of a focus group, write an article and have it published, give a public speech, talk to someone new every day, try new types of food every chance you get, ace all midterms and finals, see all the tourist attractions in your university’s city, etc.

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

When a student realizes their aspirations and what they want to accomplish, the most important thing to do is write it down!  Well not exactly write it down, let us keep up with today’s internet-driven world and use a website instead.  An easy and free way to keep track of your goals is through mylifelist.org.  This website is built to make goal setting a breeze.  You have six different categories to list your goals; Travel & Leisure, Relationships, Personal Development & Community, Career & Finance, Lifestyle & Culture, and lastly Sports & Adventure.

The Challenge

The hardest part about goal setting? Staying on track.  Students are motivated and determined when they begin school, but it is normal to lose that momentum later in the semester. They begin to have many more distractions and priorities sometime change.  It is a typical challenge for students to stay on track throughout the entire school year. That is why it is helpful to document the list of goals and read through them at different periods of time.  This will allow the student to evaluate themselves and it serves as a reminder of what they should still be working towards.

Allizon Munoz is a junior at Ohio Dominican University studying Public Relations and minoring in Marketing. She serves as the 2010-2011 Ohio Dominican PRSSA President and Vice President of Professional Activities for Delta Sigma Pi Omicron Tau.  Connect with her here: http://card.ly/allizonmunoz

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Most, but not all international undergraduate students want to end up with a bachelor’s degree.  This can be accomplished by going directly to a college or university that offers bachelor’s degrees, or you could attend a community/junior college first and then “transfer” to a university.  There are a couple of reasons why a student might choose to attend community/junior college:

1. It can be much more economical to attend a 2-year school first, as the costs are usually lower.

2. It is generally easier to get admitted to a 2-year school.  If a student does not have the academic qualifications to get into a university, they might choose to attend a community college first to finish some of their “general” classes and to establish a good grade average, and then transfer the classes to a university in order to then take the specific classes in their academic area of study

Learn more tips on finding a university here.

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Greetings! Today, I would like to invite you along with me to the University of Cincinnati, a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. UC enrolls just a bit under 21,000 undergraduates annually, with 83.3% of them coming from Ohio and the remaining percentage from across the US and around the world.

Getting to the International Students Website

From the main page, click on the Future Students link located at the top navigation bar; from here, find the heading called “Seeking Admission?” and click on International, Undergraduate. This link will take you to a website devoted to helping international students learn a bit more about UC, and also as a resource when applying to the university. Simple enough? I think so!

University of Cincinnati

The Campus

UC’s campus is a mixture of the old and new. It’s hard to pinpoint the architectural style of the entire campus because there is such a vast array. There is, as I have grown to expect, the old red bricked academic buildings floating around, but there are also very modern looking buildings and many unique sculptures. I don’t know if you can really say that there is a singular theme that unites the entire campus.

With that being said, do not misunderstand and believe that UC looks disjointed. On the contrary, everything seems to flow together to make one very interesting and lovely campus. Check out the photos below to see what I mean!

Residential Living

As far as residential living goes, all of the residence halls on campus are co-ed and also substance free. All of the rooms (whether it is community-styled or suite-styled) come equipped with Cable-TV, Internet, a microfridge (microwave and refrigerator), and completely air-conditioned. There are about 8 halls on campus at UC, and all freshmen are required to live in these halls during their freshmen year. One of the best things about UC’s residence halls is the fact that they never fully close — yes, even during winter breaks! — a particularly convenient option for international students who cannot go home during breaks.

Residence Hall

In terms of themed housing, UC’s Stratford Heights is home to the “special housing” (Learning Communities) that we are currently talking about. The one that carries importance for our interest is the Valentine House, otherwise known as the foreign language house.

Student Life and Activities

Like any other college camps, UC is flooded with a wide array of student organizations. With over 300 student clubs, 11 sororities and 21 fraternities, I think it’s safe to say that it’s hard to be bored unless you truly put some effort into it. According to a current UC student, although UC is only about 4% Greek, the Greek influence still plays a central role in the life of the student body. The leadership positions are usually held by members of the Greek community, and they usually tend to secure spots within UC’s Homecoming Court during Homecoming Weekend.

And, of course, what college review would be complete without a comment on the social life of the typical UC student. Although UC’s dorms are supposedly substance-free, UC as a whole is a wet campus. There are 2 bars that students (who are of age) can go to should they feel the desire to just stay on campus. As far as party life goes, since the dorms are substance-free, most of the parties will occur off-campus in fraternity houses or just your typical house party. The typical UC student does tend to party a lot, but if you’re not into that lifestyle, don’t be afraid. Cincinnati still has a lot to offer its many residents and college students in museums, restaurants, and other venues.

I know U - C it ...

International Students at UC

According to University statistics, UC has about 10% international students and a good assortment of resources available to them. Like most universities, UC has a special division designed to handle the needs of international students. UC’s International Student Services is this division of the University, a center that sponsors a special orientation for all first year international students. This orientation includes a tour of Cincinnati (the city and the campus), a run to the grocery stores for basic essentials, and also an airport pick up.

Along with this special orientation (a common feature at most universities), UC is also affiliated with ELS, a privately owned company housed at UC that allows for prospective UC international students to come early, teach said students intensive language, and offer them a contingent letter of admittance to UC (assuming they have met other Admissions criteria). According to a counselor within the Admissions office, this program is quite popular and incredibly helpful (especially among Saudi students).

In Conclusion …

Before I left UC, I asked the Admissions counselor what it was about UC that would draw international students to the university. According to her, the reason why UC attracts a respectable amount of international students is because of the post-graduation options available for undergraduates. She was speaking of UC’s co-op program and its ability to match up students with potential employers – relationships that could transform a typical co-op into possible employment after graduation. The reason why co-ops are so popular and successful at UC is because it actually started the co-op program. As you may know, this program was found to be so effective that other universities have also made it into their own curriculum. At UC, co-ops are required for Design, Engineering, and Science majors.

All in all, I think that UC is a good option for those who want to go to a big and public university without feeling too engulfed by the size. With its many resources, UC has a lot to offer its students, and I hope you will consider it as a possible option in your college list.  For more information about my tour, please read on. As always, please check out the campus pictures below (only a sampling!) featured in this photo album. Thanks for reading!

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1. Research different cell phone plans once you arrive. The US phone system is a little different from most other countries, and most service providers still require you to sign a contract for 1 or 2 years. While there are plenty of “pay as you go” options, some may end up being more expensive if you use your phone often. In the US minutes are used up/charge for incoming calls as well as outgoing.
   There are some national companies that have service all over the  United States, but service can be better or worse in certain regions depending on whether the carrier has a large presence or not. Its usually best to wait until you are in your dorm and ask others what service seems to work best on campus.
2. Download Skype at http://www.skype.com its free to use from computer to computer, and to use from computer to phone is quite inexpensive as well.  To use it from computer to phone, you will have to buy a Skype calling card, click here to see the rates to your country http://skype.com/price . Most newer laptops have a built in microphone, but you may choose to purchase one, or use your blue tooth headset.
3. Buy a phone card you will be able to use this with your cell phone and keep your calls back to your home country very low.
   Be careful when buying your card, as there are many scams involving phone cards. There are many legitimate sites like www.uniontelecard.com that allow you to compare rates and phone cards.
4. Using a webcam many newer laptops (even lower cost ones) come pre-equipped with one, which will allow you to not just speak but see your loved ones as well. If your laptop does not already have a webcam you can purchase one from most online stores in the United States or from any electronics or office supply store near your campus.
5. Social Media & Email these are quite obvious for keeping in touch with friends, but if your parents have not yet chosen to jump on the personal email or social media (Facebook, bebo, Orkut) you may be able to convince them to do so now. It will help you in keeping your family connections close, and allowing you to receive a virtual hug if you ever feel lonely or far away from everyone.

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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

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