success in the u.s. · • what are the most important criteria for acceptance besides grades? work...
TRANSCRIPT
Success in the U.S. Presented by Erica Lutes, Executive Director
March 7, 2013
Questions from you (KUL)
• What are the PhD possibilities in the US? • What are the basis requirements of application to get into a PhD
programme? • What are the most important criteria for acceptance besides
grades? Work experiences, lab experiences? Connections? …? • Is it possible to apply for a PhD from msc first year student? • When can you start to apply for a Phd if you want to begin in
September 2014? Can you start now? • Do the PhD-years in the US count for Belgian pension? • How do I work as a medical doctor combined with a PhD in the
US?
Mission
Education Advising Center
Website
Email - Phone
Outreach
Resource Library
Fulbright Grants
Research
Journalism
European Union
Language Teaching Assistant
Why Study in the U.S.
• Wide array of options
• Flexibility
• Not just academic study
• Internationalize your CV
• Opportunity to travel to the US
Undergraduate vs. Graduate Study
o Undergraduate Education= Bachelors
4 years
Graduate Education
Degrees taken after bachelors
2 years for a masters (1 year LLM)
PhD longer in US
Differences to Expect
• No central government authority
• No ranking system
• Application process-
– letters of recommendation
– personal statements
• Teaching styles
• On-campus life
How to choose a program? o Accredited?
o Size?
o Location?
o Number of international students?
o Majors offered?
o Cost?
Understand your admission
requirements
Gather your educational credentials
Take your standardized tests
Request your recommendation
letters
Write your personal statement
Entrance Exams
o For admission to Graduate Schools
(except Law and Business programs)
o Subject-specific tests required for certain programs
o New test starting Fall 2011
o http://www.takethegre.com/
o For admission to Business Schools
o http://www.mba.com
GRE Graduate Record Exam
GMAT Graduate Management Admission Test
English Tests
• $ 240
• Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris, Arnhem
• Reading, listening, break, speaking, writing (4.5 hours)
• http://www.ets.org/toefl
• http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/
€ 185
Accepted by many but not all universities
Listening (30min), Reading (1h), Speaking (11-14min), Writing (1h)
http://www.britishcouncil.org/brussels-exams-ielts.htm
250
Accepted by many but not all universities
3 hours, Brussels
Score in 5 days
http://www.pearsonpte.com/PTEACADEMIC/Pages/home.aspx
TOEFL Registration
City Testing Format Fee Test Dates
Brussels TOEFL iBT $240
$240
$240
$240
$240
Fri., May 17, 2013
Fri., May 31, 2013
Sat., Jun 08, 2013
Fri., Jun 14, 2013
Sat., Jun 22, 2013
Liege TOEFL iBT $240
Fri., Mar 22, 2013
Recommendation Letters
• Professors, administrators, or employers
• Choose someone who knows you well
Who can write them?
• Academic and/or professional work
• Specific examples
• Potential to do well
What should they include?
Personal Statement
Academic & professional
goals
Be clear and concise
Be persuasive
Show that you are the
right “match”
3 Simultaneous Actions
1. Choose 5-10 universities & prepare the applications for each one.
2. Determine which tests are needed to apply & take them (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, etc).
3. Look for financial support.
*Source: Open Doors Report, 2012
Personal &
Family Funds 50%
U.S. Colleges &
Universities 42%
Foreign Govt or University 4%
Private Sponsors (U.S. & Foreign)
3% U.S. Government 1%
Primary Source of Funding (International Graduate Students, 2011 - 2012)*
Financial Aid
Financial Aid
EducationUSA.state.gov
• 82% of PhD candidates, 55% of Master’s candidates are funded by their universities
STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
• 56% of PhD candidates, 41% of Master’s candidates are funded by their universities
Humanities and Social Sciences
• University funding is rare: most students are funded by loans arranged through universities or private sources
Other Professions
(Business, Health, Communications, Education, Law)
Financial Aid
EducationUSA.state.gov
Up to 20 hours per week (part-time) when school is in session and 40 hours
per week (full-time) during school vacations/breaks
Eligible while enrolled full-time in an academic program
Depends on availability - average earning can be $1,500 - $2,500 per year
On F-1, J-1, or M-1 visa - check with international student adviser on-
campus
On-Campus Employment
Financial Aid
Fulbright Grants
Mission
Education Advising Center
Website
Email - Phone
Outreach
Resource Library
Fulbright Grants
Research
Journalism
European Union
Language Teaching Assistant
“ to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries " former Senator J. William Fulbright
Fulbright
• Cash award of a travel grant up to 30,000 USD
• Health and accident insurance
• Visa sponsorship
• Prestigious title
Benefits?
• Belgian citizen
• Distinction overall
• Return to Belgium/EU for 2 years after grant
Conditions?
How to apply?
Preliminary Application 3 letters of rec
Final Online Application
Provide letter of acceptance
Notification Interview
October 31 Foreign Language Teaching Assistants Program March 1 Frank Boas Scholarships for Harvard March 1 Research Scholars & Lecturers March 1 Fulbright - Schuman EU Grants March 1 Graduate study and research for a PhD
Deadlines for Fulbright Grant
• Boas Scholarships for Harvard
• Ambassador Fox Award
• M. Nicholason Award
• Fulbright Alumni Association Award
• University of Chicago Alumni Award
• Columbia Club of Belgium Award
• Harvard Club of Belgium Scholarship
Grants for General Studies
Internships in the US
The Department’s goal in creating the program was to provide a ‘true learning experience’ for international students that will ‘reinforce their academic study’, that is ‘an integral part of [their] ongoing education’, that will enhance their skills ‘through exposure to American techniques, methodologies, and expertise.’
An intern must be a foreign national who is:
(a) currently pursuing a degree outside the US
(b) Has graduated within 1 year of start date
(c) Maximum 1 year
(d) Minimum 32 hours/week
Internships
Where to begin…
1. Search websites by location, industry, job function, time of year and keyword.
2. Speak with anyone with US contacts, especially in your fields of interest. 3. Meet with these individuals for advice about your internship search.
Not many scholarships for internships
Logistics
• Internships can be paid or unpaid.
• Academic credit is a possibility
• Could cost between 700-1500 USD to secure a visa – Negotiate covering cost of visa by employer
• Develop expectations AHEAD of time
• Start early! • Follow instructions • Adapt your CV/cover letter • Americanize • Addressed properly • Remember who you contacted and when • Multiple languages
Tips
After you have a DS-2019 form
•Be sure to have all basic requirements a general visa apphttp://belgium.usembassy.gov/applying.html. •Check to see that you have the requirements for a J visa: (http://belgium.usembassy.gov/exchange_visitors2.html): •Original, signed DS-2019 Form •SEVIS fee payment receipt http://www.fmjfee.com/ •DS-160 (online application) •DS-7002 (Training/Internship Placement Plan) •Proof of financial support •Call 02-788-1200 to set up an appointment at the US embassy in Brussels. Have your credit card ready as the call will cost 15 Euros
Additional Resources on Internships
• Yale University Career Services Website:
http://www.yale.edu/career/students/intern/create.html • Mount Holyoke College Career Services Website:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/cdc/internships.html
For more information about internships: http://www.fulbright.be/Other_Possibilities/Student_Employment_Internships.htm
EducationUSA New FB application
Other Fulbright Commissions
Visit the Commission’s website in your home country
for more information
Austria www.fulbright.at
Belgium and Luxembourg www.fulbright.be
Bulgaria www.fulbright-bg.org
Cyprus: www.fulbright.org.cy
Czech Republic www.fulbright.cz
Denmark www.daf-fulb.dk
Finland www.fulbright.fi
France www.fulbright-france.org
Germany www.fulbright.de
Greece www.fulbright.gr
Hungary www.fulbright.hu
Iceland www.fulbright.is
Ireland www.fulbright.ie
Italy www.fulbright.it
Netherlands www.fulbright.nl
Norway www.fulbright.no
Poland www.fulbright.edu.pl
Portugal www.ccla.pt
Romania www.fulbright.ro
Slovak Republic www.fulbright.sk
Spain www.fulbright.es
Sweden www.fulbright.se
Turkey www.fulbright.org.tr
United Kingdom www.fulbright.co.uk
Russia http://fulbright.ru
Ukraine www.fulbright.org.ua
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Royal Library Boulevard de L’Empereur, 4, Keizerslaan
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
[email protected] www.fulbright.be
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Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States of America and
Belgium