Panel discussion Student experience - Ellen Van Acoleyen: Faculteit Economische en Bedrijfswetenschappen

University of Pennsylvania- Joris Vandendriessche: Faculteit Letteren

University of Minnesota- Katrien Lindemans: Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid

Stanford University, Law School

Research experience - Bernard Vaneerdenbrugh: Faculteit Farmaceutische wetenschappen

Purdue University- Prof. Koen Geuten: Faculteit Bio-Ingenieurswetenschappen

Yale University

Student experience - Ellen Van Acoleyen: Faculteit Economische en Bedrijfswetenschappen

University of Pennsylvania- Joris Vandendriessche: Faculteit Letteren

University of Minnesota- Katrien Lindemans: Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid

Stanford University, Law School (LLM)

Research experience - Bernard Vaneerdenbrugh: Faculteit Farmaceutische wetenschappen

Purdue University- Prof. Koen Geuten: Faculteit Bio-Ingenieurswetenschappen

Yale University

What, when & why in the States?What do you do nowadays?

1. Admissions universities, admission procedures and scholarships• Selection: Study Masters • Admission: Study Masters• Selection: Research• Admission: Research • Scholarships: Study & research

2. Living in the US3. After the US experience?4. Other questions?

Question categories

Selection: Study Programme/Institution• How do you start looking for a programme?

• How do you find the right university and course that fits with your study area?

• Can you choose any university?

• Is it hard to get in contact with the best universities such as Brown or Harvard?

• Is the level of education much higher in the US than in Belgium?

Admission: Study Programme/Institution• What kind of student is suitable to go to the US?• How do you organize it to be accepted by a university?• Do you need to have a certain (average of) grade to be accepted at the

universities? • What items of your CV and cover letter strengthen your chances for admission?• What are the chances of studying in the US?• the grades in KU Leuven are quite low as opposed to US universities. Are the

admission committes aware of this?• Is it better to have an European/Belgian Master before going to the States? Will

this affect your application? • What about all the required test results common for US students (GRE, ...)?• How long does it take before you get confirmation of the university if you are

admitted? • How do you prepare yourself to get the best out of the study in the US?

Selection: Research

• Why did you decide to do research in the US?

• What are the PhD possibilities in the US?

• What are the procedures in order to find a PhD promotor or a post-doc position?

• How can I contact professors in US? Tips about how to make a great impression on professors?

Admission: Research

• What are the basic 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 combine a Master with a Phd to re-orient your research (when you already have a Belgian Master & phd)?

Scholarships for study and research

• How do you have to apply for a scholarship?

• Do you have to apply for an American grant or is it possible to receive one in Belgium which has the advantage of Belgian social security?

• Are there scholarships or ways that a person with family can go and study there?

• • Can you have a job to finance my education if you don’t have a scholarship?

Living in the US

• What is the difference with living/studying/performing research in Belgium?

• Is it difficult to integrate in the US?

• How difficult is it to attend a college, with no background or family in the States?

• Social security? Do you stay a member of your Belgian security system?

• If one would take along his significant other: how feasible would it be for him/her to find a job?

After the US experience?

• Is there a guarantee of employment after studies?

• Is it possible to study in the US and stay there after graduation?

• How do you find work in the US?

Other Questions?

One golden tip… to have success in the US?!

Thank you to all the speakers and members of the panel!