Monday, February 28, 2011

Learn How Graduate School Admissions Committees Interpret Your Undergraduate Grades

If you are planning to apply to graduate school in the USA, early planning during your undergraduate program and knowing what graduate admissions committees consider most important when reviewing applications, can significantly increase your chances of getting accepted to a great program.

Daniel Chatham, Dean of Admissions at a top graduate school in California, sheds light on the graduate admissions process from the perspective of the admissions committee in his blog: insidetheadcom.com.
Click on the link below to read one of his recent posts about how graduate admissions committees interpret students' undergraduate grades:

http://www.insidetheadcom.com/applications/how-to-admissions-committees-interpret-undergraduate-grades/

To learn about different graduate school options still available for Fall 2011 and receive personalized education planning and application support, contact American Education Partners' experienced school placement advisors at: info@americanedpartners.com

Monday, February 21, 2011

Does Applying to Grad School Early Improve Your Chances For Acceptance?

If you are hoping to enroll at a competitive graduate school in the USA this year, do your chances for acceptance depend on when you submit your application? What does applying to graduate school early say about you to the graduate admissions committee?

Daniel Chatham, Dean of Admissions at a graduate school in California, sheds light on the graduate admissions process from the perspective of the admissions committee in his blog: insidetheadcom.com.
Click on the link below to read a recent blog post about applying early to graduate school:

http://www.insidetheadcom.com/applications/does-it-pay-to-apply-to-grad-school-early/

To learn about different graduate school options still available for Fall 2011 and receive personalized education planning and application support, contact American Education Partners' experienced school placement advisors at: info@americanedpartners.com

Monday, February 14, 2011

Budget Cuts at State Universities in Fall 2011

Students planning to attend state colleges and universities this Fall will likely be affected by additional cuts to their state's education budgets. These cuts will affect students in the form of fewer classes, more crowded classes, and higher tuition fees.
California, which has the largest public college and university system in the United States and is one of the most popular study destinations for international students, is expected to be the most severely affected by these education budget cuts.

To learn more about this issue, click on the following story published by InsideHigherEd.com:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/01/11/brown_budget_proposal_in_california_slashes_higher_education_spending

Students who are planning to apply or have already applied to a state college or university, may want to consider applying to one or two private colleges or universities that offer a similar program. Most private schools offer a similar or higher level of academic study, smaller class sizes, a more personalized education experience, and scholarship opportunities for qualified international students.
For assistance in ffinding and getting accepted to the right college or university for your American education program, contact American Education Partners at: info@americanedpartners.com
We look forward to helping you reach your education goals at the school that is best for you.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Financial Planning For An American University Education

The College Board (http://www.collegeboard.com/) has created a financial planning tool that allows students to compare the costs of attending over 3300 private and public colleges and universities throughout the USA.
This tool helps you plan your American education program in two important ways:

1) Comparing the cost of schools you are interested in to find the best value.
2) Seeing each school's costs over the past several years to estimate how their prices may increase during your program.

Click on this link to view the College Board's financial planning tool:
http://chronicle.com/article/Interactive-Tool-Tuition-Over/125043/

You should only use this financial planning tool as a first step in determining which schools are the most affordable and offer the "best value". Each school provides different amounts of financial aid for international students so it's important to research what kind may be available to you before making your final school decision. American Education Partners' school placement advisors can help you search for scholarship opportunities as well as provide other services that simplify the college or university application process. Contact an AEP placement advisor at: info@americanedpartners.com to learn how we can assist you.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Taking Short Cuts In Your Education May Cut Your Education Short

As the cost of an American university education continues to increase each year, it becomes more of a challenge for current and potential international students to find the money needed to complete their education from good, reputable schools. With this increased challenge, comes an increased need to seek maximum value at minimum cost. If you are an international student trying to start or complete your university program in the USA, be careful to avoid taking risky short cuts that might jeopardize both your investment and your future goals. Here are some things to watch out for:

1) Schools with VERY low tuition fees - Low-tuition schools do not always equal low-quality, but always compare the prices of schools you are considering with 2-3 other similar schools/ programs (same school type, degree program, accreditation type, number of program hours, etc.). If everything except price is equal, find out what current and former students say about the school.

2) Schools that do not provide important information on their websites -  Schools that do not show basic information like fees, admissions requirements, course descriptions, campus photos, etc. that you need to make an informed decision may be trying to hide something. If you are required to call or give your email address to get this information, it is a sign that the school is very heavily sales-driven and want to get as many students as quickly as possible.

3) Schools that guarantee job placement or future immigration status to international students - Paid work opportunities for international students are possible through certain U.S. government-approved programs, but any school that promotes job placement or a pathway to immigration status as one of its main selling points is probably less concerned about the quality of its academic program and support services and may actually be in violation of U.S. government regulations. 

4) Education short-cut advice from your friends - It may be difficult to ignore trusted friends, but we've seen far too many disastrous results when international students to try take short cuts or "work the system" in order to finish their education program to faster or more easily. Such short-cuts may be difficult or impossible to reverse and could result in losing your student visa status and ability to remain in the United States.  
Here is a link to a video clip that shows a private university that was recently shut down by the U.S. government over allegations that it violated several laws and was a "sham" school: 
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_17151508?nclick_check=1

An investment in an American education is one of the most important investments you can make in your future. When done the right way, students are rewarded with valuable knowledge, skills, and cultural experiences that will open doors to many great opportunities in the future.
If you are planning an American education program or the next step in your American education, American Education Partners (AEP) can provide reliable information and support from our U.S.-based staff or one of our many overseas representatives. Contact AEP by email: info@americanedpartners.com to find out how we can help.