Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States of America and Belgium The US Experience: scholars September 2011

Education Advising Center Website - Phone Outreach Resource Library Fulbright Grants ResearchJournalism European Union Language Teaching Assistant Mission

Wide array of options Flexibility Internationalize your CV Opportunity to travel to the US Why go to the US

Teaching and classroom styles On-campus life and opportunities Ranking system Letters of recommendation Personal statement Differences to expect

Types of institutions Public Also called State Schools Private Possible religious affiliation Community Two-year schools Also called Junior College

o Accredited? o Size? o Location? How to choose a program? o Number of international students? o Majors offered? o Cost?

Chea Dept of Education Accreditation

$ 225 Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris, Arnhem Reading, listening, break, speaking, writing (4.5 hours) g/toefl g/toefl English tests € 185 Accepted by many but not all universities Listening (30min), Reading (1h), Speaking (11- 14min), Writing (1h) ishcouncil.org/b russels-exams- ielts.htm 250 Accepted by many but not all universities 3 hours, Brussels Score in 5 days rsonpte.com/PT EACADEMIC/Pa ges/home.aspx

12 to 18 months before departure: Evaluate your reasons June - September Select 5 or 6 universities on the basis of their programs, degrees offered, accreditation, level of selectivity, cost, location and size July - August Find out which standardized tests are required August - September Write to 5 or 6 universities to request application forms for admission and financial aid. October - February Prepare transcripts and literal translations,certified at the Commission Have professors send recommendation letters Send applications to universities well in advance of deadlines February - April Wait for letters from the universities. March - April Contact universities to which you have applied, but not yet received a response. April - June Accept /Decline offers from other universities where you were also accepted. Contact housing department and international student office. Dates to remember

Education USA – State Dept website

Master’s degrees Typically 2 years in length Doctoral degrees (PhD’s) Typically 4-6 years in length Graduate Education

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 gre o For admission to Business Schools o GRE Graduate Record Exam GMAT Graduate Management Admission Test

1.Choose 5-10 universities & prepare the applications for each one. 2.Determine which tests are needed to apply & take them (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT). 3.Look for financial support. 3 Simultanious Actions

1.Personal funding 2.Loan from a bank 3.Fellowship from U.S. university o Research assistantship o Teaching assistantship o Work Study (20 hrs/wk) 4.Scholarship from another organizations ◦ Fulbright ◦ BAEF ◦ Rotary ◦ Etc. How to finance your studies

Fulbright Grants

Education Advising Center Website - Phone Outreach Resource Library Fulbright Grants ResearchJournalism European Union Language Teaching Assistant Mission

Commission for Educational Exchange Between the US +Belgium “ to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries " former Senator J. William Fulbright established in 1946 Be an ambassador of Belgium to the US

Since 1946: – +300,000 Fulbrighters from +155 countries – foreign nationals to US for study, teaching, research – Americans have gone abroad 140 programs worldwide funded by the U.S. State Department through annual appropriations from the U.S. Congress Fulbright Program is administered by bi-national Fulbright Commissions. In non-Commission countries, the Fulbright Program is administered by the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy Facts & figures: Fulbright

Study Conduct Research For Fulbright Grant

Cash award of a travel grant up to 30,000 USD Health and accident insurance Visa sponsorship Prestigious title Benefits?

Belgian citizen Distinction every year or big distinction in the last year of study Must return to Belgium/EU for 2 years following grant No health insurance for state of MA Conditions?

How to apply? Preliminary Application Print + Send 3 letters of rec Final Online Application Provide letter of acceptance NotificationInterview

o Students, Researchers, Lecturers o Mid-career journalists o Language teaching assistants o Secondary school teachers Who can receive a scholarship?

October 31 Foreign Language Teaching Assistants Program October 31 Frank Boas Scholarships for Harvard October 31 Fulbright - Hays Journalism Grant October 31Summer Seminar in American Studies February 1Fulbright Award for Science & Technology March 1 Fulbright Awards for Research Scholars & Lecturers March 1 Fulbright - Schuman Grants April 30Fulbright Awards for Graduate Study Deadlines for Fulbright Grant

Other Fulbright Commissions Visit the Commission’s website in your home country for more information Austria Belgium and Luxembourg Bulgaria Cyprus: Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovak Republic Spain Sweden Turkey United Kingdom Russia Ukraine

 Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00 – 13:00  Closed to the public on Fridays  Phone calls: 14:00 – 16:00 Royal Library Albert I Boulevard de L’Empereur, 4, Keizerslaan B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 (0) Fax: +32 (0) Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States of America and Belgium