Planning ahead is probably the biggest key to lessening the stress and amount of time you’ll have to spend in the books. Keep up on your course work and schedule hourly allotments of studying before the big test. This won’t leave you opening your book at 11:00 pm the night before your test.

Studying in groups or with a partner always helps out. We learn information better by teaching the material to someone else. It causes us to use the information in new ways and forms better memory circuits in the brain. This can also make studying more enjoyable than slaving away by yourself. Make sure to study with someone who is going to reciprocate the effort and not just goof off the whole time you hang out.

Review your material at night before you go to sleep. Studies have shown that we commit most of the information gathered throughout the day primarily during sleep, so reviewing before you hit the sack will give you an edge up on those flashcards you’ve been looking at all day. On top of that make sure to get plenty of sleep, at least 6-8 hours. It’s unhealthy for the brain to go without much needed sleep, and you perform worse under less sleep. Caffeine helps you relieve the feelings of grogginess but it doesn’t erase sleep deprivation and won’t help your brain perform at maximum capacity.

The study aides you choose can be powerful tools, so find out what works best for you. You can rewrite your notes or outline the book, make flashcards, read, or just review your old work. Always try and use the information you’ve learned in situations outside of the classroom. Reusing information given in lecture in new and novel ways helps you understand it better and commit the concepts to memory. Caffeine is great in moderate doses, as is chewing peppermint gum which will actually boost your cognitive focus, but no matter what testimonials your friends give you, stay away from ADD and ADHD medications because they are not only illegal to take but they are highly addictive and can cause serious complications.

Take it slow and divide your study load up into manageable bunches, be healthy, stay calm and your studying will prove to be productive and easy going instead of stressful and unsatisfying.

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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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“College” and “university” mean the same thing in the United States.   For example, there is a Boston College and a Boston University, and they are two different institutions.  Both offer Bachelor’s Degrees and both offer Master’s Degrees, and both are very competitive with their admissions standards.  The major differences are that colleges tend to be private and not all of them offer graduate degrees.  Universities are normally larger and most do offer graduate degrees.  If the school has word “state” in the title, then you also know that is very likely to be a “public” institution.

There are also community colleges or junior colleges.  These institutions offer Associate Degrees, which are two-year degrees, and the tuition is generally cheaper that a college or university, but some community colleges do not offer on-campus housing.  Community colleges are normally public institutions, while junior colleges might be public or private.

Two important things to remember about this information:

1. There is no difference in quality between attending a “public” institution, and attending a “private” institution.   They both offer a variety of degrees and they both offer necessary and required student services.  Private or public really just indicates where the majority of funding is coming from to operate the school.  Public schools do get some of their funding from the government, so they are normally able to charge a lower tuition, while private schools depend on tuition for a large part of their income so their tuition is usually higher.

2. Most students that attend a community college or junior college will transfer after year one or year two to a university to finish a bachelor’s degree.  Most careers require at least a bachelor’s degree, but there are some technical careers where an associate’s degree provides sufficient training and education.

Learn more tips on finding a university here.

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Bigger Is Better…But wait!
These schools make the top rankings. We’ll define them as schools with more than 35,000 (a number I picked, by looking at the size of some Big10 schools, and going down a bit). Schools in the Big10 and Eastern Conferences, schools renowned for their football teams, are schools that would qualify.
Big schools offer a larger variety of stuff. There’s not a much better way to describe it, they offer more stuff. This stuff ranges from majors, classes, degrees, people in classes, classrooms, residence halls, activities on and off campus, opportunity. Bigger schools tend to have more money, which means they might have access to more scholarships and opportunities for international students. They will tend to have better sports programs, because these programs will have access to more funding.
So it’s simple, bigger is simply better…but not really. Bigger schools have their downfalls, too. Many students veer away from bigger schools, fearing they will be lost in the mass of student. Classes tend to be larger, which does not allow for personal one on one time with professors. While students may have a professor for every class, they are often dependent upon teaching assistants for individual help.

Medium is Mediocre…Maybe Not
These are schools like my alma-mater (where I went to school). They have under 30,000, but more than 10,000 students.
While they might be medium in size, their academics often can be as good as those of the larger schools. They will have similar on-campus programs and housing options to that of the big schools, scaled down only slightly. Classes tend to be a bit smaller, and interaction with professors is a bit easier. More classes might be taught directly by teaching assistants, but these classes are the introductory classes. Academics are often comparable to that of the larger more prestigious, just unknown because they’re size. They are often a little cheaper than big name schools, but offer similar opportunities. I admit, I am partial to middle sized schools.
I went to a medium sized school, and must admit I don’t understand what would drive people away from them. Again, the size can be intimidating to many students. These schools are often said to have the appeal of a big school and the feel of a small school. For students who want to live on a big school campus, the small school feel can be claustrophobic.

Small Stinks…Says who?
Small schools, those with less than 10,00 students by my definition, have their own perks and disadvantages. These are often schools which are less well known. They are often private schools or sometimes community colleges. They offer even more individualized opportunities, and a close knit community. Often, they don’t have quite the same opportunities that a larger or even medium sized school might have. Class selection is much more limited, but most classes (even the entry level) tend to be taught by professors.

Elissa Yonkers is a recent graduate from Bowling Green State University, with a Bachelors of Science of Journalism with a focus on Public Relations, and a very strong minor in German. With several internship experiences under her belt, she is looking to widen her experience and knowledge with a job in corporate communications, public affairs, or work in a public relations agency. Connect with her here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/elissay

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Starting small is the simple difficulty of living in a college town and not owning a car. Unless a student attends a college in a big city (New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago etc.) with a reliable mass-transportation system, even getting from point A to point B in a college town can be difficult.

Students walking to class - CC License by cuatower

Walking

The simplest option is to walk everywhere. It is a good source of exercise, you learn the sights and sounds of the area, and it’s environmentally friendly too! Of course, if your campus is in the mid-west, north east, or central United States, this might not work so well, unless you are a fan of freezing.

Many campuses are “walking campuses,” meaning they are designed to be traversed by foot, the towns they are built in usually are not. While walking to and from the grocery store, hauling ten pounds of groceries and a case of Coca-Cola in negative nine degrees Celsius, while the wind blows in your face at thirty two km/h , and it snows constantly, is a unique cultural experience; it is one most people would prefer to avoid.

Bikes

Bicycles offer the same seasonal, reasonably cheap, option. A bike, without to many fancy features or options, will cost anywhere between 60 to 300 dollars. Really nice bikes can cost up into the thousands. A good bike lock, which is a must with any bike, will be between 10 and 30 dollars. A helmet is also highly recommended. Students can find bikes, locks and helmets at major stores (Walmart, Target, Kmart, Mejier), as well as sporting good stores (Dunhams, REI, Sports Authority).

Biking to Class CC License by michaelsarver

Getting around on a bike is obviously faster, and like walking is a healthy and eco-friendly mode of transportation. Many campuses have bike racks, where students can park and lock their bikes up, in front of the dormitories as well as academic buildings. Many off campus places, such as the store, do not have such bike racks, and so students will have to be creative in how they lock up their bike.

American bikes are also often not designed with baskets or places to put books or bags, and so transporting things that don’t fit into a backpack can be difficult. Baskets and racks can be bought separately, and self installed, but this can be costly. Storing the bike in the winter months can be tricky. Leaving it locked up at the bike rack is often the only option for students living in the dorms. Those renting an apartment could take it inside, depending on the space issues.

Buses

While most cities will have some sort of bus system, the reliability of the system will vary from city to city. Asking other students whether taking the public transportation is worthwhile, is recommended. Even if no one you know has used it, many students will have heard if it is reliable or not. If it is, Google Maps can help you find bus stops and routes. There is an option, after finding a car route from point A to point B , to choose “public transportation” as the means of transportation. The directions will tell you when the bus leaves, if you have to change buses, as well as how long the trip should take.

Another form of mass-transportation is offered by larger Universities. Most universities offer buses, which travel around campus and off campus. These buses are usually free to students and often go to such places as the local grocery store or large stores, the mall, and other popular places or off-campuses residences. Some buses may even go to popular off-campus housing for students. Like mass-transportation, the reliability of the University bus-system varies, but with enough time set aside, the system like this can be useful for those without a car.

Bus on Ohio State University Campus, CC License by liangjinjian

Taxis

Taxis are probably the most expensive way to get around. Prices will vary from city to city, but they are generally very reliable. Cabs are often the transportation of choice, when students are out on the town late at night. While they do not line the streets of American college towns, cabs can be found in the yellow pages (http://www.yellowpages.com/).

Cars

Friends with cars are perhaps the most essential part of living in a college town without a car. Students with cars are most of the time willing to help those without get around. Asking for a ride can be awkward at times, if it is not offered. Although, if a friend of yours is going to the grocery or out to the mall, asking to go with them, is often not a problem. Don’t be offended if they say no, they most likely have a valid reason for turning you down, most likely scheduling issues. Probably the most important thing to remember is: Make sure not to just be friends, because they have a car. People will be offended and may not want to give you a ride, if you only ask to hang out with them when you need a ride

Finally, students without cars are not stuck in their dorms or apartments, doomed to live alone and bored for their entire college career!  A combination of the options mentioned above are just some the ways a student to get around town as easily as if they owned a car.
Elissa Yonkers is a recent graduate from Bowling Green State University, with a Bachelors of Science of Journalism with a focus on Public Relations, and a very strong minor in German. With several internship experiences under her belt,  she is looking to widen her experience and knowledge with a job in corporate communications, public affairs, or work in a public relations agency. Connect with her here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/elissay

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Well you would be wrong! Many well ranked, highly respected colleges and universities have rolling admissions. These institutions do not have a “hard” deadline by which your application must be received but instead continue to accept applications until the class is full.

If you were not accepted at your chosen schools, your first choice, or even if you changed your mind about wanting to attend a specific college, look around, you may find a school with rolling admissions that you can still apply to.

For many students in the United States, applying later in the year will reduce chances of finding scholarships or financial aid. For international students, the main issues center around the time it may take to gather required information such as:

- TOEFL results (TOEFL testing and registration centers) http://www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=toefl

- Official or notarized copies of your original high school transcripts (if you are applying for undergraduate/bachelors degree) or university transcripts for graduate study

- Official or notarized translated copies of your original documents

- Official results of any standardized tests (SAT, GMAT, GRE, etc) – each university has different requirements

- Letter of recommendation from an academic source (teacher, advisor, principal, etc)

- Proof of funding (you must prove you are able to pay for all your expenses at the university by showing bank statements, scholarship letters, etc.

Most, if not all, community colleges offer rolling admissions, and can be a great way to start your US college education (read more about community colleges here). You can click here to find a list of some 4-year colleges and universities that offer rolling admissions for undergraduate programs (this is not a comprehensive list).

However,  just because a school has a late application deadline or rolling admissions, it does not guarantee your acceptance even if you are a well qualified applicant. Schools often use a first-come-first-serve process that will grant admissions to students who applied earlier but may not have been as qualified as you. Housing, financial aid, and merit scholarships are usually awarded in this fashion as well and may mean you miss out on campus living if you apply late.

Rolling admissions is a great flexible tool that can help some students who had reasons for being unable to apply early.  Its always recommended that you apply as early as possible and, as an international student, start your application and college research process as early as possible.

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Scholarship info:

International and Undocumented Student Scholarship $1,000 Deadline 7/15/2009
Live abroad and want to study in the US? Does your citizenship status prevent you from enrolling as a US student? myUsearch will award a $1000 scholarship to the student who can best answer how the completion of a US degree will impact their life, their family and their home community.

The scholarship is open to any students who have completed the myUsearch matching questionnaire, are NOT a US citizen and will begin their first semester at an accredited US undergraduate institution on or before October 1, 2010 (transfer students are also eligible). Start scholarship application

Let us know if you are chosen for the scholarship and good luck!

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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.

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Community Colleges are a very important part of the American university system.  They provide a wide range of academic and professional programs. The most popular program is the two-year university-transfer Associate’s Degree in which students finish the first and second years of their bachelor’s degree, and then transfer to a four-year university to complete the third and fourth years of the BA or BS degree. Most large community colleges offer a wide variety of courses, so that students can progress in their majors as well as complete their general education requirements for university. Community colleges also offer one- and two-year certificates and degrees in many areas of professional and technical training for career preparation

Lower Cost of Tuition

Studying at a community college is generally much less expensive than studying at a four-year university. Many American and international students attend community colleges to save money so they will have more financial resources available when they transfer to a four-year university. For example, at a community college in Washington State, the average international student may be able to save as much as $15,000 over two years before transferring to a university.

Excellent University Transfer Programs

An Associate of Arts degree, which takes about two years to complete, is generally equal to 50% of the required credits for a Bachelor’s degree. Specially trained advisors are available to help international students with every step of the university transfer process, from first enrollment at the community college through graduation and transfer to a four-year university. A two-year graduate will have the advantage of having American course work, grades, and teachers’ recommendations that will make it much easier to gain admission to a university.  In other words, the student transferring from a two-year program has a kind of “insider’s advantage”, and will also find it much easier to choose the right university program in the huge US university system, and will more easily avoid expensive mistakes.

Small Classes and High Quality Instruction

Community college classes are usually quite small and provide students more classroom interaction and more individual attention from their instructors. Most university-level classes have a maximum of 25-30 students per class, while English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are usually even smaller. All instructors who teach in community college academic classes must have a Master’s degree, and over 16% possess Doctorates (Ph.Ds.) Community colleges do not use graduate Teaching Assistants to provide instruction.

Faster English Language Improvement with Host Family Program

Unlike four-year universities, community colleges usually do not have dormitories or student housing. This is not really a disadvantage, however, because international students who live with host families will improve their English much more quickly than students who live in dormitories or apartments. Of course, many international students do choose to live in apartments near college and often share in order to reduce costs.

Meeting English language proficiency requirements for admission

International students seeking admission to university-level classes at a community college need to meet the college’s English language proficiency requirement, normally a minimum TOEFL exam score. Many international students enroll in a community college ESL or Intensive English program specifically to improve their English and then move into university-level academic programs.

Personalized Advising Services

Most community colleges offer international students personalized advising and services through their international education offices. At Pierce College, our international program is small and friendly and advisors and staff know each international student by name. Students receive help in many areas, from visa issues and academic advising to  finding a doctor or dentist, or to adjusting to life in the United States. Our International Programs office also organizes social and cultural activities. At Pierce College, we help our international students to have the best experience possible, both academically and personally, during their stay in the U.S.A. and at our college.

 Copyright Al Jamiat 2006
by Pierce College International Programs, Pierce College, Lakewood, Washington State
http://www.pierce.ctc.edu

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