fulbright undergraduate newsletter summer-fall 2011

SECTION 1: FEAC CORE

SECTION 3: EDUCATIONUSA NEWS

SECTION 2: FEAC NEWS

Section 1: FEAC CORE

• Close up on U.S. study: So, If It Isn’t Like in the Movies, What Is a U.S. High School Like?

• University highlights: New York University Abu Dhabi; University of Richmond, VA

• Student highlight: Ana Neferu, University of Richmond

Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission Fulbright Educational Advising Center (FEAC)

Bucharest, September 26, 2011 Volume III, Summer-Fall issue

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Education: The American Way

Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission

• U.S. Culture: “Zoom in on America” • The U.S. Embassy’s Information Resource Center:

Your Link to U.S. Society, Government, and Businesses

Upcoming Events

• Undergraduate Admissions Training at FEAC • Visits by Stanford University, Wellesley College,

NYU Abu Dhabi • Libraries’ Night on Oct. 1: FEAC-U.S. Embassy

Special • FEAC U.S. College Profiles • EducationUSA Webinars, Your 5 Steps to U.S.

Study • Common Application Questions? Nov. 2 Webinar • The EducationUSA-CollegeWeekLive Partnership:

International Day, Oct. 13 • Want to Study in the USA? FEAC Undergrad

Outreach Is On! • U.S. Study and FEAC Support: RIUF 2011—

Bucharest Oct. 22-23 and Cluj-Napoca Oct. 25 • International Education Week, Nov. 14-18 • University of Richmond Highlights: 3 Romanian

Success Stories on Dec. 20 • Ace the SATs with FEAC Help. Upcoming Test

Dates in Oct.-Dec.

Section 4: WISDOM OF THIS ISSUE

www.fulbright.ro/educational-advising-center.html

This Newsletter is produced by the Fulbright Educational Advising Center in Bucharest, Romania.

If you wish to subscribe or cancel your subscription to this newsletter, please contact [email protected].

UNDERGRADUATE NEWSLETTER

SECTION 4: WISDOM OF THIS ISSUE

Section 3: EDUCATIONUSA NEWS • Harvard Increases Financial Aid to Low-income

Students • Top Research Facilities on U.S. Campuses

Section 2: FEAC NEWS • 6 x Princeton • Pre-Departure Orientation • U.S. Study Outreach Outside Bucharest • FEAC’s Global Records: Financial Aid from

U.S. Universities • American Educational Realities at U.S.

Culture Club • U.S. Culture Club through Iconic Movies • U.S. Culture Club on Demand during

Vacation! Resources

• Website Expansion: Romanian Students in the USA

• Comprehensive Virtual Advising • FEAC Facebook Page Anniversary • Fall Internships at FEAC • U.S. Universities Excel! Rankings Show It • Key Financial Aid Info • FEAC’s Bilingual Website • FEAC Develops Innovative Media Resources



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Close up on U.S. study: So, If It Isn’t Like in the Movies, What Is a U.S. High School Like?

By Connie Goddard, Ph.D., Peace Corps Volunteer to Romania 2009-2011

“What’s a profile?” a Romanian student attending college in the United States might be asked when describing his or her experience in high school at home. That was one of the first questions I asked a student while I was doing practice teaching in Târgovişte as part of the training to become a Peace Corps volunteer. I soon learned more about profiles and a lot of other differences between schools in România and in the U.S. while teaching English for two years in a liceu located in the far

northwestern part of Transylvania. Though students are students and schools are schools -- and there are a lot of positive aspects of schools in România -- if you are thinking of attending college in the United States, you could be better prepared for the application process if you knew something about the differences. As for how students’ course work is organized in a system without profiles, read on. But one of the reasons we don’t have profiles in the U.S. is that we tend to discourage students from making career choices until after they graduate from high school – or even college. Also, a college isn’t a colegiu, either. It’s what you do after high school, unless you choose to (or need to) get a job. Sometimes a college is part of a university; sometimes it stands alone. Further, secondary school in the U.S. means high school, not the last two years of şcoala generală. And ninth graders are called freshmen, 10th graders sophomores, 11th and 12 graders juniors and seniors. The same terms are used for the four years of college, or university. So, what else is different about high schools in the United States? For one, you could be suspended – a serious offense – for even displaying (let alone using) a cell phone during school hours. There’s also nothing like the Baccalaureate in the U.S.; however, most college-bound students take at least one rigorous standardized test of mathematical and verbal ability in the process of applying. And cheating on these tests is nearly impossible, as students usually take them sitting at computer terminals. In sum, there are a lot more rules and regulations at U.S. high schools – and they tend to be enforced. One of the aspects of having more money to fund schools – in addition to providing more extensive facilities – is that there is money to pay for staff members who enforce those rules. Okay, that’s the tough stuff. What are some other differences? For one, teachers regard learning as an interactive process, and students are expected to participate in class discussions. Frequently, this means expressing – and defending – your own opinions. As a college student in the U.S., you will be expected to do this even more than in high school – so be prepared. You will also be expected to write papers, and not just in literature or history courses (so you might work on your word processing skills). You’ll also need to learn to cite sources – that means where you found a piece of information. (No, saying Google won’t do.) Though U.S. students are as capable of downloading from the internet as Romanian students are, U.S. teachers in competitive high schools are rigorous about not allowing it.

www.fulbright.ro/educational-

advising-center.html


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(And any good teacher can tell when a student has “pirated” – or plagiarized – from someone else’s work, even if that student’s native language is English.) But I said enough of the tough stuff; so, how are U.S. high schools organized if not by profile – and what are the consequences? One of the positive aspects of Romanian schools is that students tend to be very supportive of each other (which includes, alas, better students “helping” others on tests). One of my theories is that drug use and other kinds of self-destructive behavior are less common in România because schools, and families, provide lots of emotional nurturing, and perhaps do so better than does our more competitive, individualistic system. Though U.S. high schools have certain requirements about which courses have to be taken and in what sequence, each student’s schedule is determined individually (and electronically) each semester. Standard requirements are four years of English (literature, grammar, and writing), three years of math, two or three years of social science (history, psychology, etc.), two years of a “lab” (see below) science, at least two years of a foreign language (essential for college-bound students), physical education each year, and various electives such as art and music. Students often begin the day in an advisory or “homeroom” – an advisor is equivalent to a diriginte - and they remain with this one group of students all four years. But for the rest of the day, they may be in classes with a different group of students each period. School days tend to last longer, and are usually composed of nine 40-minute periods, with five-minutes breaks between (and when the bell rings, be there or be tardy). However, students’ schedules are the same every day – or almost the same. Classes like English and math are considered “majors” and held daily at the same time each day; music and art and shop work (such as mechanics or computer assisted design) are called “minor” subjects and may meet only two or three days a week. Students may also have study halls – huge classrooms where they can do homework – or class periods in the library (called a resource room) or computer lab. And they have lunch periods, plus lockers in the hallway, and often a swimming pool – three things my Romanian students said they wish they had in their school. For science courses, students spend part of the time in a laboratory doing experiments – cutting up a frog to learn about digestion, growing plants to learn about genetics and photosynthesis, and mixing chemicals or making a catapult to learn about molecular structure and the principles of mechanics. Another difference my Romanian students have noted is that U.S. schools are more practical, or less theoretical. U.S. students surely have more opportunities for “hands-on” activities (though these seem to be on the rise in Romanian schools, in part because computers make many things possible). Less popular among my Romanian students is giving oral reports in front of their classmates – something U.S. students have been doing since grade school – and group projects. But both, and especially the former, are likely to be part of college courses in the United States. In American high schools, it’s the students who move around. Teachers usually have their own classrooms, or share one with another teacher, which means the classroom “belongs” to the teachers, not to the students. To my mind, there are two benefits to this: For one, teachers can leave their own supplies and other teaching materials in the room, display student work on the walls, and keep a particular project going from one day to the next. And for another, I think students behave better when they are “guests” in someone else’s room – I was lucky; as a visiting teacher, I had my own classroom. And I noted that students were more focused and attentive when in “my” classroom than in “theirs.” Continued on page 4






Teachers in high schools may have their own offices as well, or at least a desk in a corner of a department (i.e., “catedră”) – there’s no standing outside the sala profesorală or cancelaria waiting to see a teacher. And college professors – in the U.S., that term is reserved for postsecondary teachers –usually have their own offices; further, they are required to have office hours and heartily encourage students to come talk with them. (Note: teachers are not called “teacher,” or Ms. Connie either; they are called Mr. Smith, Ms. Jones, or Dr. Green as most college-level teachers have doctorates). Professor Green is reserved for professors of some distinction. Okay, I hope you are still ready to try for a year in a U.S. college – you will probably have to work harder than you would in a university here, but you may also find yourself exposed to opportunities you never dreamed existed. And, some of those opportunities will develop in what we call extracurricular activities: political groups, volunteer work, as well as sports, among them. These are far more abundant in the U.S. – and can provide some of the most valuable experiences you will have.

My hope for you is not only that you have these experiences – but that you bring home what you learned so you can make a strong contribution to your own country. In founding the Peace Corps 50 years ago, U.S. President John Kennedy called on U.S. to “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” So, keep that in mind, vă rog. Connie Goddard taught for two years in a Romanian high school as a Peace Corps volunteer. She has a Ph.D. in education from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has taught at all levels in American schools and colleges.

University highlight: New York University Abu Dhabi By Justin van Dyke, Outreach Coordinator, NYU Abu Dhabi Global Partner

New York University has designed a visionary new model for higher education at the crossroads of the world—NYU Abu Dhabi—combining the best of a research university education with the advantages of a liberal arts, sciences, and engineering curriculum. Are you interested in becoming part of the next generation of leaders dedicated to the creation of new knowledge? Do you have a global citizen’s outlook, a leader’s purposefulness, and an understanding that the future is for the bold, not the conventional?

NYU Abu Dhabi has an unblinking commitment to select the most accomplished and promising students around the globe to be part of this unprecedented endeavor in higher education. NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU’s Washington Square campus in New York City form the backbone of a fully interconnected Global Network University. As one of its two major portal campuses, NYU Abu Dhabi establishes a powerful environment for faculty and students to access the NYU global network and contributes to the ambitious trajectory of Abu Dhabi as an entrepreneurial capital of ideas and talents. NYU Abu Dhabi is deeply rooted in the history of NYU and it is also writing the University’s next chapter. NYU Abu Dhabi is only the newest addition to one of the foremost research and teaching universities in the United States. Since New York University’s founding in 1831, its academic excellence has been rooted in and strengthened by the energy and diversity of New York City, and so it continues across the globe. Continued on page 5


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Through both portal campuses and its network of global academic centers, NYU offers its undergraduates an exceptional liberal arts curriculum; dynamic learning and mentoring experiences with a renowned, award-winning faculty; fellowship with a diverse and enthusiastic student body; and ongoing interaction with the intellectual and cultural life of our local communities. NYU Abu Dhabi is the logical next step in NYU’s long-term endeavor to expand opportunities for its students worldwide, but it is the University’s tradition of excellence that lent its leaders the courage to develop a new paradigm: the university as a dynamic global network. The Cosmopolitan City

A city of 1.2 million, Abu Dhabi is located in the heart of the Middle East on the southern coast of the Arabian Gulf. It’s the capital of both the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. International residents from 120 countries make up 80 percent of the population and join the Emirati citizens who trace their history back to the settling of Abu Dhabi in 1760. You’ll hear English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Farsi, Tagalog, and French spoken as often as Arabic in this global crossroads. Abu Dhabi is at the forefront of building one of the world’s next great idea capitals. The city has developed a progressive agenda in health care, the arts, economic and environmental sustainability, educational and human development, and the advancement of women— with impressive resources supporting the vital talent and infrastructure required to both achieve and leverage these advances. Together, this strategic location and forward-looking commitment create a dazzling array of opportunities for learning, research, and innovation. Guided by your NYU Abu Dhabi curriculum and community explorations, you’ll be in and of Abu Dhabi as well as in and of the world through extensive regional travel and study away in the NYU Global Network University. The Campus

The Downtown Campus is located just off the Corniche, the city’s prestigious boulevard that faces the waterfront and features parks, jogging and bike paths, restaurants, a boardwalk, and a public beach. The Downtown Campus facilities are tailored to meet the unique requirements of NYU Abu Dhabi programs; the classrooms and library have the newest technology and wireless Internet access throughout.

Your Professors

In small classes that typically have eight to 12 students, you’ll have unparalleled access to your professors, who are not only inspiring teachers but also renowned scholars and caring academic mentors. They’ll challenge you to think swiftly on your feet, strengthen your thought processes, formulate profound questions, and write with unfailing persuasion. They’ll enable you to be a producer of new knowledge, not just a receiver of existing knowledge. These scholars have joined NYU Abu Dhabi specifically because they believe undergraduates are capable of collaborating with them

on cutting-edge research—and because they simply love to teach. The relationships you form with your professors will be some of the most important of your life, helping to shape who you are and how you will shape the world. Continued on page 6





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NYU Abu Dhabi’s Students

At NYU Abu Dhabi, you will join a student body that is astoundingly diverse—an unparalleled, broadly international, incredibly sharp, inventive, fun, and adventuresome group of peers. The Class of 2014 is NYU Abu Dhabi’s first class of students. These 149 students represent 39 countries of origin and speak a total of 43 languages. Academically, they come from the top of their classes, but they bring with them a remarkable range of achievements from far beyond the classroom. As athletes, they play basketball, cricket, field hockey, rugby, table tennis, and squash. They ride horses, bike BMX, race

dragon boats, and practice yoga. They’re singers, dancers, harpists, cellists, pianists, and more. NYU Abu Dhabi’s student body brings traditions and customs from all over the world to form a truly global community. As an NYU Abu Dhabi student, you will have the opportunity to share your own talents with this extraordinary group. NYU Abu Dhabi Vice Chancellor Al Bloom describes the inaugural class as “the most talented in the world. . . . They bring a remarkable array of interests and experience to a uniquely diverse and exciting undergraduate experience. They are students who engage the examina-tion and shaping of thought with passion and rigor.” The first Romanian student started his exciting NYUAD academic experience this August. Watch for his profile and his inspiring notes in the Spring Newsletter.

University Highlight: University of Richmond, VA

By Ana Neferu, junior, Catalina Cumpanasoiu and Alexandra Badiceanu, freshmen, University of Richmond

Right now, no other school in the U.S. enjoys as much media attention as the University of Richmond. President Barack Obama had his most recent speech here on campus! He was invited on campus by the former Virginia Governor and current Senate Candidate, who is a professor here. But the university has much more to offer than political leadership. It has already become our home.

Located in a suburb of Richmond, the capital of Virginia, 2-3 hours away from Washington, D.C., the University was formed from the union of a former all-boys college with a former all-girls college, historically separated just by a lake and conservative mentality. Originally just another Virginian school, University of Richmond now enrolls about 3500 students from 47 U.S. states and 70 countries and is rapidly assaulting national liberal arts college rankings, U.S. News currently situating it on #27. As proven by rankings, this is a great university, but it is much more than numbers. The people here make everything worth it. The professors are truly passionate about their subjects and can make you enthusiastic even for a subject you would normally hate or find boring. The small teacher:student ratio gives you the opportunity to get to know your professor. It is so useful to be able to talk to your teacher whenever you want or to ask for a piece of advice regarding your homework, project, or just life. Continued on page 7




Bird’s eye view of the UR campus


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UR has an excellent but challenging academic program. Undergraduates can get a degree in one of three schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, the Robins School of Business (ranked No. 12 by BusinessWeek), and the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, the only one of its kind in the United States. All students start in the School of Arts and Sciences, but when choosing a primary major, they are formally admitted to the school the major is associated with. Regardless of the school they formally belong to, anyone can take courses in any other school, or major or minor across different schools. Freshmen choose each semester a first-year seminar from dozens of options across departments, and everyone has to take at least one class in 6

different “fields of study” to ensure exposure to all liberal arts skills. Classes have a high emphasis on interdisciplinarity and cooperation, learning by community service, or solving real life issues as part of assignments.

Complementing academics, UR has one of the biggest undergraduate summer research programs in the country. Last summer, the university funded 217 students, with many others being funded by professors’ external grants. You can do research in any discipline, from sciences to history, art, or foreign languages. Most research takes place on campus, but sometimes your project makes you travel. Some of our friends spent their summer studying climate change effects on plants in an Oregon forest, scuba diving in Florida Keys to study tropical reef sponges, studying indigenous populations in Central America, or doing archaeological excavations in Greece. The very high quality of research is proven by the countless UR students who win prestigious national scholarships or get into the very best graduate schools. Class of 2011 alone sent UR students to graduate schools such as Harvard (a Romanian student), UC Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia, MIT, Oxford etc. Besides academic excellence, the school is known for its endowment and for its generous financial aid and scholarship programs. The most sought after program, yet probably most accessible to Romanian students in particular is Richmond Scholars, offering free tuition or free tuition + room and board to about 75-100 outstanding applicants each year. Anyone who applies before December 1st is considered, and citizenship does not matter. The program has two selection phases, the second of which invites you to a 3-day all-expense paid visit on campus for an interview and other events. Once enrolled, Richmond Scholars have additional benefits such as priority class registration, free tickets to many cultural events on campus, or a $1,000 stipend for any educational experience otherwise not funded. All 7 Romanian students currently on campus are recipients of this scholarship. The University of Richmond has a very strong international component. 10% of the student body is international, and represents 70 countries. More than 40% of students study abroad at least one semester, and study abroad is encouraged by all departments. International education is so important here, that it has its own building and an international cafe with food from all over the world. Nobody can graduate without proficiency in a foreign language (Romanian counts!). The campus is always vibrant and full of life. Student organizations constantly organize thematic events. Opportunities for community service abound. High-quality artistic performances, played by students or in-house or visiting professionals, take place almost every week. You can always go to an interesting lecture on any topic you can imagine, held by special guests such as Nobel laureates or other renowned personalities in their fields. Famous entertainers and music artists come on campus frequently.


No pipeline rally at UR


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Last but not least, you can always display school pride at athletic events. Our athletic teams are in Division I, and our school mascot is the most unique and original in the United States: the Spider!

The other students are also wonderful persons. Each of them has a passion and something they want to study. The average student is by definition an overachiever. They take challenging classes, are actively involved in at least two organizations, usually play a sport or an instrument, have done at least one summer of research and usually continue during the school year, have had some sort of school-related international experience, have a few jobs, do community service that ranges from teaching English to refugees in the community to going to relief missions in Haiti, all this while partying hard and making friends.

With its excellent academics and opportunities for involvement in the local and world community, the University of Richmond is the perfect place to make you grow as an intellectual and as a person. As our athletic motto states, it’s a great time to be a Spider! Student Highlight: Ana Neferu, junior at University of Richmond, VA

There is this common misconception in Romania that participating in national and international Olympiads is necessary and sufficient for getting admission to U.S. schools. Still, many Romanian students went to great schools without any sorts of Olympiads, proving that they are not necessary. I am here to prove that they are not even sufficient.

In high school, I was subscribed to National Chemistry Olympiads. Every year I came back with some prize, and at the end of my sophomore year, I even got a bronze medal in the Yakutsk International Olympiad. I first became interested in U.S. study after hanging out at Olympiad-related events with older students who were applying. I picked up concepts such as liberal arts, top-notch science facilities, or learning outside class, which made me decide to apply.

What I didn’t pick up was the application process. Once Olympiads were over, I went back home, to Drăgăşani, Vȃlcea County, where nobody was familiar with the U.S. school system. I didn’t think much of the importance of extracurricular activities, because I had a VIP ticket to U.S. colleges: an international medal! I learned about the process by myself, with Internet as the only source, but often did not distinguish reliable from unreliable information. Distance did not make it possible for me to come to FEAC for advice during the week, when the Center was open. Looking back, I totally don’t blame the 12 huge-name schools I applied to for rejecting me. Then I enrolled at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Chemistry. Taking advantage of a special relationship I had developed with a professor back in my Olympiad days, I started research with her. At the same time, I realized that everything I eventually learned about applying to U.S. colleges was going to be wasted forever. So I plucked up the courage and decided to apply again. This time I had not only first-hand experience with the application process, but also a great support system I could use anytime, now that I was living in Bucharest: the Fulbright Advising Center.

Continued on page 9

UR campus in the spring





My new list of colleges didn’t only include super-famous schools. UR was one of the first on the list, because I knew two Romanian then-freshmen there, who told me about this scholarship program called Richmond Scholars which in the final stage invited you to an all-expense paid interview on campus. So I jumped at this opportunity to set foot in the U.S. at least for a visit, in case I still didn’t get in. Having passed the first stage, I wrote a kick-ass additional essay about my research experience which eventually brought me the biggest scholarship available. My plan of visiting the U.S. worked: in mid-March I was crossing the Atlantic for the first time, on UR’s money.

But they also had a plan: they wanted to show off their extremely beautiful campus, amazing science facilities, and very welcoming community, to make it irresistible in my mind. Their plan worked too. I did not say yes on the spot, but after getting an acceptance email from a much higher ranked school, Northwestern, I found myself looking for reasons to reject the offer so I could go back to UR.

Three years later, I am still pleased with my decision. UR has given me everything I wanted for in a school and a lot more. First of all, it has helped me find and refine the interests that define me: scientific research, environmental issues, and giving back to Romania. Then it helped me pursue and even combine them. And finally, it has exposed me to a world of opportunities, from friends from all over the world with more different opinions than I ever imagined the planet has room for, to introducing the President of the United States to me. I was able to take my passion for chemistry to an entirely new level by doing high-quality scientific research. I have worked in two different labs, the first of which I basically joined in orientation. I was awarded two summer fellowships for full-time research, and most likely will have a paper published in a top scientific journal by the end of my junior year. I am currently helping organizing the Southeastern Conference of the American Chemical Society, where I will also present the results of my research.

I had a vague interest in environmental issues even before developing an interest in chemistry, but could not find many opportunities to get involved in Romania. Now I am minoring in Environmental Studies and am very actively involved in the main environmental club on campus. It was an Environmental Studies class that urged me to change research labs. At first, I was researching measuring techniques for water pollution levels, but after studying about how America has no room for any more waste, I decided to stop measuring and joined a project that synthesizes drug precursors without generating waste. For an Environmental Economics class, I wrote a complex research paper about Roşia Montană, and now I am trying to figure out ways to publish it in Romania. More recently, for the President’s visit, I participated in a non-violent rally to urge him to stop the Tar Sands Pipeline, in solidarity with thousands of people, including UR students, who got arrested across the U.S. for protesting.

As early as my first year, UR already taught me a lot about teamwork, leadership and management skills. With those in hand, I finally found an effective way of giving back to Romania. I became the Director of Study Abroad Projects in the League of Romanian Students Abroad. I and other volunteers have been able to help students like me, who live too far from the Fulbright Commission to be able to access verified high-quality information about study abroad.

My huge merit scholarship and extra financial aid make attending school almost for free, but I still work for extra money. My first 2 years, I used to write a blog about my campus activities for prospective students, to convince them to apply to UR. Now I replaced that with working as a Phonathon Caller, where I update alumni about campus life and raise donations for the University. I am also a teaching assistant for organic chemistry labs, and peer tutor for courses in chemistry, math, economics and environmental studies. Continued on page 10



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One thing I did not take advantage of has been the fashionable study abroad. And not because the school does not offer many incredible programs my friends constantly brag about on Facebook. But there are only 8 semesters I can spend here, and I don’t really want to lose one of them. I am already in my second part of college, but I am sometimes still in awe thinking of how lucky I am to be here. 6 X Princeton

6 friends of the Fulbright Educational Advising Center have increased the Romanian contingent at the second best university in the United States according to the U.S. News & World Report 2011. Their relationship with the EducationUSA Center in Bucharest goes a long way. They:

- participated in our comprehensive 10-hour training program on undergraduate admissions; - scheduled repeat individual advising sessions; - enjoyed FEAC’s thorough critique of their admissions essay; -were inspired by the U.S. university highlights organized by FEAC and featuring Romanian students thriving at top U.S. schools; - attended (and loved!) the U.S. Culture Club sessions held in spring-summer 2010; - took the SATs at our Advising Center, and much more. The Joy after U.S. Admissions: Pre-Departure Orientation July 7: Pre-Departure Orientation, that is a full-day event meant to facilitate students’ academic and cultural adjustment in the U.S. Participants got insights into U.S. campus life and culture during presentations and best practice sessions. FEAC undergrad and grad advisees from all over the country who have worked closely with our center and won admission to exciting U.S. universities (Princeton, UPenn, Richmond, Colby, Trinity, SCAD, Grinnell, etc.), international campuses of U.S. schools (NYU: Abu Dhabi), and U.S.-like institutions (Jacobs in Germany, a U.S.-style school modeled on Rice University, TX) learned from a range of experts who are FEAC friends: Romanian students and alumni of U.S. universities (Ioana Liane Georgescu, rising senior at Mt. Holyoke College, Razvan Isac, Dickinson College alumn), Laura Mattes, U.S. Fulbright Junior grantee, Laura Gavinski, U.S. consular officer, Nathan Merlin, FEAC intern from Oregon State University. U.S. Study Outreach with American Corner Craiova

High school students in the wider Craiova region had fresh opportunities to learn about the U.S. admissions process through a series of comprehensive educational events organized by FEAC in close cooperation with the vibrant local American Corner on May 17-18. Students and teachers at the foremost high schools in Craiova - “Fratii Buzesti”, “Elena Cuza” and “Carol I” - eagerly explored the opportunities that the U.S. offers to international applicants, academically and extracurricularly.



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Productive Promotion of U.S. Study Facilitated by American Corner Baia Mare

The northernmost American Corner in the country inspired and facilitated a comprehensive outreach program in which the FEAC representative introduced the students at two of the foremost high schools in Baia Mare to the exciting undergraduate study opportunities available in the USA, then provided the occasion for them to learn more about the U.S. admissions process during the workshop held at the American Corner in Baia Mare. U.S. undergraduate study has thus made more than 200 friends! FEAC Sets New Global Records for Undergraduate Financial Aid from U.S. Universities

The 2011 Financial Aid Table recently released by FEAC is the 7th edition of a global project which combines information on need-based and merit-based aid offered by accredited colleges and universities to undergraduate international students from all major sources. Every world region is represented in the table, and FEAC proudly reports that Romania has set 8 records in terms of the generous financial FEAC friends attracted from Grinnell C, Stetson U, Trinity C, U of Richmond, Colby C, Morehead State U (2011 admissions), Louisiana State U, and Nicholls State U (2010). Out of the 13

European countries that topped the 2011 worldwide list, Romania has succeeded in setting the second best record! American Educational Realities of the 1950s Explored at Culture Club: “Dead Poets Society”

“I.L. Caragiale” National College in Bucharest housed the first U.S. culture club featuring “Dead Poets Society”. Set at a conservative and aristocratic U.S. boys prep school in the 1950s, this memorable movie tells the tale of an English teacher (played by Robin Williams) who inspires his students to change their lives of conformity through his innovative teaching of poetry and literature. The movie occasioned insightful discussions of the student-teacher interactions and their life-changing effects in the context of holistic education on American campuses.

U.S. Culture Club through Iconic Movies: “Shawshank Redemption”

After spending 6 hours in class, around 25 students chose to stay on for 3.5 hours and enjoy the U.S. Culture Club. “Shawshank Redemption” highlighted key U.S. cultural snapshots and the power of hope, perseverance, and human resilience. The movie offered an interesting portrayal of freedom and a fresh approach to education, a great starting point for a discussion on the flexibility and multiple benefits of a U.S. education.

Culture Club on Demand during Vacation!

The U.S. Culture Club built around iconic movies took off so well this spring that high school students suggested further sessions exploring U.S. history and diversity. As such, the U.S. Embassy helped U.S. develop two sessions on Native Americans around “Thunderheart” and “The Last of the Mohicans”. As always, the movies were preceded by a historical, economic and political contextualization and followed by in-depth conversations and insightful comments on U.S. history and values. Continued on page 12



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The two U.S. culture sessions drew high school students from all over Bucharest and U.S. study and the benefits of a U.S. education were visited as well. Resources

Website Expansion: Romanian Students in the USA – Undergraduate Study

The FEAC section of the Fulbright website is featuring a revamped and enriched Student Updates section: new student highlights, all for undergraduate study, have been developed, with a link to the Undergraduate Newsletter where they were originally presented. Enjoy our students’ inspiring self-reports which document their enriching time in the USA at

http://www.fulbright.ro/educational-advising-center/47-romanian-students-in-the-us-undergrad-study.html.

Comprehensive Virtual Advising: The Enriched FEAC Website

The new sections on the FEAC site highlight U.S. universities and their educational and financial offers. U.S. universities and the like (http://www.fulbright.ro/educational-advising-center/71-us-universities-and-the-like.html) features five loving profiles of U.S. institutions and one of a U.S.-like school in Europe inspired by Rice University, TX. The university profiles were authored, at FEAC’s suggestion, by Romanian students in the U.S., admissions directors, and U.S. Fulbright grantees, originally for our Undergraduate Newsletter. U.S. university weekly news (http://www.fulbright.ro/educational-advising-center/39-about-feac/400-us-university-weekly-news.html) is produced by EducationUSA and includes the latest updates on U.S. scholarship opportunities, as well as exciting campus news. FEAC Facebook Page Anniversary

September 15 marked our Facebook page’s anniversary – thank you to our over 700 friends for an interactive and exciting first year together! Stay tuned at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fulbright-Educational-Advising-Center-Bucharest-Romania/146966812005466 for more insightful news on U.S. higher education.

From the Students to the Students: Fall Internships at FEAC

6 internships – 2 graduate and 4 undergraduate – have taken off! Our interns come from “Cosbuc”, “Vianu”, “Mihai Viteazul”, “Lazar”, ASE and SNSPA and bring a variety of skills and one common passion for U.S. study. Continued on page 13





They are involved in research projects on U.S. universities, EducationUSA promotional activities, educational video editing and production, translation projects and more. The internships will close on December 20 but you’ll have the chance to meet the FEAC valiant team on Oct 1 – Libraries Night – and at RIUF on Oct. 26. Until then meet some of our interns in the picture.

U.S. Universities Excel! Rankings Show It: Shanghai and U.S. News & World Report

Visit http://www.shanghairanking.com/index.html to explore the most recent Shanghai rankings of university education worldwide. Although rankings are subjective and just one of the criteria you can use to select the U.S. schools to apply to, they are well loved and make interesting news. Enjoy the exciting info on U.S. schools: 8 out of the 10 best world universities are in the U.S., with Harvard as #1. An added bonus: the site also features rankings organized by field of study, with multiple entries in the sciences, languages, and many others in between. Curious which schools are considered best U.S.-wide? Access http://www.usnews.com/ for full details and visit our center to map your route to your dream U.S. college! From FEAC with Love: Key Financial Aid Info

The EducationUSA community, together with the students it serves, treasures the Undergraduate Financial Aid Table put together every year by U.S. expert Nancy Keteku, with contributions from all the EducationUSA advising network. The most recent version encompasses over 1,000 U.S. universities and their financial aid policies towards international students. FEAC has prepared the Romanian version of this invaluable research instrument for prospective applicants by adapting it to the Romanian students’ needs. As a rule, Romanian students land merit scholarships and this summer they have attracted over 1 million U.S.D from U.S. institutions: 860,000 USD in undergrad scholarships

and over 170,000 USD in grad ones. Visit FEAC and ask for the Red File: you, too, may be able to attract significant funding!

FEAC’s Bilingual Website Caters to Teachers and Parents, Too: Resources in Romanian

When applying to U.S. universities, your support system can really make a difference. FEAC is here to help you along, and chances are your parents, friends, and instructors are also taking an interest in your U.S. admissions efforts. To help everyone be on the same page, FEAC has created a series of ap-plication prep materials in Romanian. Go to the Testing section of our website to check out the full info we’ve included on the SATs and TOEFL, and be on the lookout for the Romanian translation of the “If You Want to Study in the United States” undergraduate volume set to be added to the site. In the meantime, check out the English version at http://www.fulbright.ro/media/media/If%20You%20Want%20to%20Study%20in%20the%20US_UG_2010.pdf.


FEAC Fall interns (group 1)




FEAC Develops Innovative Media Resources With approx. 66,000 page views and 53,000 unique page views over the past academic year, the FEAC website continues to be the premier online resource that connects Romanian applicants to current, complete, and unbiased info on U.S. study and financial aid. To bring visitors closer to the unique U.S. higher education system, our advising center has launched a video campaign. The first videos were filmed in July and August: inspiring footage of successful applicants’ reflections on the

U.S. application, recommendation letters, test prep, and U.S.-like schools in Europe. Next steps? Editing and posting online our emerging video library. Watch for an enriched, inspiring website!

Connect to U.S. culture: ZOOM in on America

The brainchild of two Information Resource Centers within the U.S. embassy in Poland, this vibrant monthly publication offers insights into U.S. cultural symbols and values. Wondering what you’ll become savvy on after reading the May-September issues? You’ll love the breadth of topics: the Library of Congress, the American flag, Peter Falk a.k.a. Detective Columbo, the Liberty Bell, and baseball in the movies. Happy browsing at http://www.U.S.info.pl/zoom/!

The U.S. Embassy’s Information Resource Center: Your Link to U.S. Society, Government,

and Businesses

The IRC boasts a reference collection of some 400 titles including encyclopedias, handbooks, yearbooks, and directories on a wide range of U.S. culture topics, about 30 journals (Newsweek, Time, The New Yorker, Columbia Journalism Review, Journal of Politics, Journal of Democracy, and more), specialized on-line databases such as Factiva, Lexis-Nexis, EBSCO, Stat-USA, as well as a collection of video documentaries and DVDs on American topics with re-broadcasting rights which can be used by Romanian educational institutions. Access http://romania.usembassy.gov/resources/irc.html to learn about the complex reference services provided by phone, fax, mail, and e-mail; take part in the October 1 IRC-FEAC special event to learn more about U.S. culture and education!

Upcoming Events

Apply, Be admitted, Get Financial Aid. Learn how at Undergraduate Admissions Training!

Interested in living a vibrant college experience in the U.S.? During Sept. 20-Oct. 18, Tuesdays, 3-5 pm, join us for a new Undergraduate Admissions Training program. The five sessions will highlight U.S. application tips and strategies leading to success: admissions and funding. You’ll learn how to select U.S. study programs and connect with your dream American universities. You will master the art of negotiating strong recommendation letters. You’ll explore efficient self-marketing techniques that’ll make you a memorable candidate. The result? Your well-rounded application will show that you are a great fit for the U.S. campus of your choice. Details about starting your successful journey to U.S. universities at http://www.fulbright.ro/educational-advising-center/39-about-feac/295-calendar.html#link27!





New EducationUSA Partnerships in Support of Your U.S. Admission: Stanford University,

Wellesley College, NYU Abu Dhabi

The Fulbright Educational Advising Center joined forces with three top U.S. schools to map out an intense joint outreach program during Sept. 27-30 at a number of Bucharest high schools: George Cosbuc, ICHB, Mihai Viteazul, Saint Sava, and Tudor Vianu. Hundreds of students will be informed and inspired by our dynamic team that’ll highlight the beauty of undergraduate education in the USA and the unique diversity it offers applicants. We will also spell out U.S. admissions strategies and best practices for full success. To reach out to applicants that don’t attend these sessions, FEAC will enrich its media library with video interviews with the university reps. Updates coming up soon on Facebook!

Libraries’ Night FEAC-U.S. Embassy Special: Oct. 1

Want to discover the New World, meet some Americans, and have some fun? The Embassy Library (also known as IRC, Information Resource Center) is participating in the Romanian “Libraries’ Night” of October 1. The Embassy Library will be open from 8:00 p.m. October 1 to 1:00 a.m. on October 2. Visit to enjoy the U.S. Embassy’s Information Resource Center brand new space and take part in presentations on IRC services (treasures waiting to be discovered!) and studying in the U.S. (fabulous campuses, exciting academic experiences, generous financial aid packages from U.S. universities, as well as tips for joining the 2,200

Romanian students in the U.S.). Vibrant documentaries on the U.S. will be screened and much more. Register with your full name at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=275387169146531 or [email protected], no later than Thursday, 29 September. ID required for security check. Directions: take bus 301 to Baneasa shopping center and get off at stop Ambasada SUA. Additional info available at 021-200-3693; 021-200-3692; 021-200-3705. Meet us there! FEAC’s College Profiles: Your Bright Window on U.S. Universities

Choosing a handful of schools to apply to out of the over 4,900 accredited colleges, universities, and institutes that make up the U.S. educational system is a tough challenge, but FEAC is here to make it a lot easier on you! The magic red Financial Aid File, an essential resource in the school selecting process put together by EducationUSA and adapted by FEAC to suit Romanian applicants’ needs (visit us to check it out in the study room!), has inspired us to create 1 page profiles of the universities consistently offering generous funding to internationals. An eye-opening tool compiled by FEAC staff and interns that combines statistics with glimpses into a college’s campus life, strongest programs, and admissions difficulty index. The profiles will be available on the FEAC website too, stay tuned!





Forget about Distance: EducationUSA Webinars, Your Virtual 5 Steps to U.S. Study

Want to select universities, write a great admissions essay, and get financial aid the EducationUSA way? Visit the Calendar section on our website and the Events tab on our Facebook page to keep up with upcoming free EducationUSA virtual sessions. Topics

to look forward to this fall include steps 1 and 2: Researching Choices & Tests (Sept.-Oct.) and Apply & Be Admitted (Nov.-Dec.). Stay tuned for details on the next three steps to a successful U.S. application! In the meantime, check out recordings of past sessions at http://www.fulbright.ro/educational-advising-center/39-about-feac/295-calendar.html#content. Common Application Questions? Answers in the Nov. 2 Webinar

Are you in the midst of putting your U.S. application together or just started learning what U.S. admissions and the Common Application are all about? Whether you’re a student, teacher, counsellor, or parent, save the date: on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 4:30 pm Romania time, the EducationUSA center in London is organizing a webinar dedicated to the CommonApp. We’ll be back on our site and Facebook with details. The Happy EducationUSA-CollegeWeekLive Partnership: International Day, Oct. 13

EducationUSA will be partnering with CollegeWeekLive for Inter-national Day, which will take place on Thursday, October 13, between 12 noon and 2 am Romania time. Make sure you don’t

miss this free online U.S. admissions event tailored to the needs of the non-U.S. college applicant! The fair’s offerings include the opportunity to chat live with admissions reps from hundreds of U.S. colleges and to watch real time presentations from U.S. university and EducationUSA experts on topics like choosing a U.S. college, application requirements, attracting financial aid, applying for a U.S. student visa, cultural adjustment in the U.S. etc. More info soon, on our Facebook page and at http://www.collegeweeklive.com/en_CA/guest/app-agenda. Want to Study in the USA? Great News: FEAC Undergrad Outreach Is On!

Are you interested in U.S. education? Would you like to learn more about the American university system and the funding available for international applicants? Take initiative, tell your teachers about FEAC and contact us at [email protected] to discuss a FEAC presentation in your high school. We look forward to visiting you! U.S. Study and FEAC Support Prominent at RIUF 2011 Fall Edition: Bucharest Oct. 22-23 and

Cluj-Napoca Oct. 25

Ready to get closer to U.S. study? The exciting opportunities available at American colleges and universities will be highlighted by representatives of the Fulbright Educational Advising Center during the fall edition of the 2011 Romanian International University Fair (RIUF) held at Sala Palatului in Bu-charest and at the Students' Culture Hall in Cluj-Napoca.

Continued on page 17





We will be offering interactive presentations in both cities. In Bucharest, we’ll also have a booth – do look us up! We will be posting RIUF news on our Facebook page – check it regularly to make sure you register in time for the presentations.

Celebrating International Education Week, Nov. 14-18, FEAC style

International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of America’s efforts to promote programs that prepare U.S. citizens for a global environment, as well as attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. Every year, the Fulbright Educational Advising Center organizes International Education Week dedicated events, both at FEAC and in high schools, that capture the spirit of this special opportunity, and this year will be no different. Expect exciting events, some featuring St. John's University, NY! University of Richmond Highlights: 3 Romanian Success Stories on Dec. 20

Did you enjoy the student highlights and the fond profile of University of Richmond in this issue? Ana Neferu, junior & Catalina Cumpanasoiu and Alexandra Badiceanu, freshmen at University of Richmond in Virginia and stars of the FEAC Core section, will be Santa’s generous gift to FEAC advisees this winter. Join us for a festive session of group advising to learn about the beauty of U.S. undergraduate studies and the various unique opportunities for personal and academic development that their U.S. program affords! Community involvement highlights are also guaranteed – see you there!

Ready, Steady, Ace the SATs with FEAC Help. Upcoming Test Dates in Oct.-Dec.

Most colleges in the USA use the SAT Reasoning and Subject tests as objective tools for evaluating a student's college readiness and knowledge about various academic subjects. Visit us to access our great resources, all free, to prepare for the upcoming SAT test administrations on Oct. 1, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3, as well as for those in the upcoming academic year (in Jan., May and June 2012). FEAC is one of the four SAT testing centers in Bucharest. You are most welcome to take the tests with us. Please bear in mind that our testing capacity is limited to 18 seats for SAT I and 13 for SAT II, so register early to secure a seat. Best of luck!

Harvard Increases Financial Aid to Low-income Students (adapted) Harvard College will expand its investment in undergraduate financial aid this year by more than $10 million, providing a record $166 million in need-based scholarships to undergraduates. Beginning in the fall of 2012, financial aid will be further increased for low-income students. For more information, please visit http://hvrd.me/p8hE6P.




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Top Research Facilities on U.S. Campuses “Popular Science” magazine named the Wind Research Center at Texas Tech University one of the 25 “coolest labs in the United States”. Testing at the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center (WiSE) at Texas Tech helps to measure and develop materials to withstand tornados. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/oqGGjm.


SECTION 4: WISDOM OF THIS ISSUE

“A liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of a

liberal education is the act of teaching.”

(A. Bartlett Giamatti, former president of Yale University)

Public hours at the Fulbright Educational Advising Center (FEAC):

Tue: 1:00 - 7:00 pm Wed-Thu: 1:00 - 5:00 pm

Phone no.: 021-231 9015

Website: http://www.fulbright.ro/educational-advising-center.html

Facebook fanpage: Fulbright Educational Advising Center, Bucharest Romania

Location: no. 2, Ing. Costinescu St., Sector 1, Bucharest 011878, Romania

All articles are contributed by FEAC staff Mihaela Arsene and Sinziana

Medvetchi, unless otherwise stated.

Need more info?

Contact us!

Comments? Suggestions?

E-mail us at:

[email protected]

fulbright undergraduate newsletter summer-fall 2011

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