getting ready for us universities nist february 2013

7/29/2019 Getting Ready for US Universities NIST February 2013

1/20

Researching North

American Universities

Year 12 Lunch

Workshop


2/20

Naviance your first stop

How to Navigate and Search for your

long list


3/20

Differences in Colleges and Universities

A two-year college - Associates Degree or the first two years of universitystudy

Many students use this as an economical way to study the first two yearsof a university degree and then simply transfer to a nearby school.

A four-year college or university - Bachelors Degree.

Therefore, a university offers both the Bachelors Degree and graduate degreessuch as the Masters (M.A.) and Doctorate (Ph.D.).

A university tends to maintain research requirements for its instructors and isthus usually a more "research-focused" institution.

This in turn allows them a certain degree of recognition, attracts a largerstudent body and affords them the capacity to offer higher learning optionsthan a college can offer.


4/20

Research Considerations

ADMISSIONS

What standardized tests are required for admission(SAT I, SAT II, TOEFL, IELTS, ACT)?

When is the admission deadline: What percentage ofapplicants were accepted last year?

How selective are the admission standards at thisinstitution?

Transcript, IB Predicts

Does this school offer Early Decision/Early Actionadmissions (U.S. only).


5/20

EVALUATING YOUR COLLEGE LIST

ACADEMICS

Does this university have the major/programs in which I aminterested?

What is the student/faculty ratio for undergraduate courses?

How many courses do most undergraduate students take eachsemester?

Who teaches introductory courses, faculty members or teachingassistants?

What is the average class size of freshman introductory classes?

What is the format of school calendar (semester, trimester,quarterly, etc.)

How many hours/courses will I need to graduate?

When will I need to declare a major?

Does this university offer dual-majors?


6/20

ACADEMICS

Does this university offer a cooperative education program?

What opportunities are there for independent study?

Are there exchange programs with other universities?

What opportunities are there to study abroad?

Are internships in my field available?

What percentage of students goes on to graduate school?

What percentage of students return after theirFreshman year?


7/20

STUDENT BODY

What is the size of the Freshman class?

What is the total enrollment for this university?

How diverse is the student body (economically,

geographically, culturally, etc.)

What is the male/female ratio? What is the general orientation of students

(academic, scientific, social service, arts, etc.)?


8/20

STUDENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

Will I be assigned an international student advisor? Is there an international student center or club on

campus? Will I be assigned an academic counselor or a faculty

advisor to help me choose my courses? Is there a career-counseling center to help with resume

writing, interviewing, and job placement?

Is there a personal counseling center available? Will I have access to a health center on campus during

holidays and summers?


9/20

STUDENT LIFE

Are there theatres, concert halls, or art galleries

nearby? Are there movie theatres, restaurants and sportscomplexes nearby?

Does the university regularly sponsor dances,

concerts, guest speakers, etc. Is there an extracurricular activity in which I have

an interest on campus?

Are there intramural sports available?


10/20

STUDENT LIFE

What percentage of students live on campus andwhat percentage commute?

What role do fraternities and sororities play oncampus?

What are the most popular activities/clubs on

campus? Are cars allowed on campus?

What is the crime rate on campus?

Does the school have an honor code?


11/20

HOUSING AND DINING FACILITIES

Are the dorms co-ed or single sex?

Will dorms be available after my Freshman year?

Are there fraternity/sorority houses available?

How close are the dorms to the classrooms and diningfacilities?

Are there special dorms available (language, honors,international, etc)?

Are most Freshmen dorm rooms single, double, triple orquad?

Are there a variety of eating plans available?

Is housing available?


12/20

CAMPUS FACILITIES How is the library (to study, do research, convenient hours,

etc.)? How are the recreation facilities (gym, track, pools, etc.)? How are the sports facilities (tennis courts, fields, weight

rooms, etc.)? How accessible are the computer labs? How are the music practice rooms? Is the student center a comfortable place to hang out?

Is there a place to practice my religion on campus? What tools are requested? (Some schools require you tobring your own computer)


13/20

COST AND FINANCIAL AID

What is the total cost to attend this university (tuition,room and board, books and supplies, travel expensesand living expenses)?

Are there any special fees for my particularprogram/major (lab fees, materials cost, etc.)

What percentage of students receive financial aid? What is the average financial aid package?

Does this university offer financial aid/or scholarshipsfor international students? Are there opportunities for finding jobs on campus?


14/20

SAT TEST FACTS

All students should take the SAT I starting Year 12and if possible SAT II Subject Tests in June. SAT IISubject Tests should be taken in the subject matteryou feel confident.

Not all universities require the SAT I or SAT II Subjecttests. Be sure to check the university website,application, or any other literature you receive. Also,

look for the admission requirements listed forspecific universities on Naviance.


15/20

SAT Subject TEST

The following are SAT II Subject tests that offered:

German, Literature, Italian, French, Latin, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, ModernHebrew, U.S. History, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, World History, Math IC, Math IIC

Please note they are not all offered each testing date. Check www.collegeboard.com

for the correct dates and times.

Scores MUST be sent from the testing agency.

REMEMBER YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING YOUR OWN TEST SCORES TO

THE UNIVERSITY.

Universities only accept official scores for admission.


16/20

THE TOEFL/IELTS

If your first language is not English or if you do not have thefollowing passports: US, UK, Canadian, Australian, or New Zealand;you will be asked to take the TOEFL or IELTS test.

The results of this test are good for 2 years so we advise you to takethe TOEFL in the summer of Year 12 .

It is usually advisable to take the TOEFL or IELTS since it is designedfor students whose first language is not English. This test scoredoes not replace the SAT verbal. A high TOEFL or IELTS score willallow admissions offices a better perspective of your English

proficiency requirements for university application and admissions.

You MUST designate which universities will receive your scoresfrom TOEFL. NIST cannot do this for you. Scores must come fromthe testing agency.


17/20

Canadian Universities

What You Need To Know

Canada offers a multicultural environment

with vibrant cities, beautiful spaces, and

friendly people.

The education system is also highly regarded

for its high quality, affordability, and

renowned university-level research.

Canadian universities, are considered to be

equivalent to those in other Commonwealth

countries and the USA.


18/20

CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES

GENERAL INFORMATION In Canada, a universityis a place that awards Bachelors,

Masters and Doctoral degrees.

All universities offer bachelors degree programs, which

require 3 or 4 years of full-time study. A 4 year honorsdegree often requires a higher level of achievement and isusually a minimum requirement for graduation.

The IB Diploma is usually considered for both admission andtransfer credit to the Undergraduate programs.

A strong emphasis is placed on a students academic recordfor admission and entrance award purposes.

REMEMBER Your first semester grades in YEAR 13 alongwith your IB predicted grades are the most important for

Canadian acceptance.


19/20

Cost, Employment,

Scholarships, and Financial Aid

Tuition fees for international students will vary across the

country. Fees are set directly by the university under the

jurisdiction of the province.

Scholarships are generally based on academic merit, and

students are often automatically assessed for scholarships

when they apply for admission to university.

Full-time international students are allowed to work on

campus part-time during the school year and full-time duringthe summer.

There are many private and public organizations that provide

funding for international students in Canada.


20/20

Great Websites

For Universities in the USA

NIST uses Naviancehttp://connection.naviance.com/nist

College Board Onlinewww.collegeboard.org

Petersons Education Center www.petersons.com

Worldwide information on Universitieswww.braintrack.com

IELTS Thailand: www.britishcouncil.org/thailand-exams-ielts

TOEFL http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/

ACT www.actstudent.org

For Universities in Canadawww.studyincanada.com and www.aucc.ca

MacLeans Universities Guide www.macleans.ca

Ontario Universities Application Centerwww.ouac.on.ca

getting ready for us universities nist february 2013

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