U.S. Higher Education: Opportunities for International Students and the College Culture & Environment Jennifer Himmelstein

Specific Sponsorship Programs Fulbright Foreign Research Scholarship Fellow Program (Ph.D. level) Fulbright Foreign Student Program Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA) Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship program The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD)

Other Strategies University Exchange Programs/Study Abroad: – Institute of international Education – International Research and Exchanges Board – Association for International Practical Training University Specific International Student Programs e.g. ERA Senegal Virginia Tech Contacting University Professors Directly – Research Assistantships – Teaching Assistantships

Where do I go? Around 15% of graduate-level students in the US are international (Council of Graduate Schools) Can look at national university rankings to pick school Majority of accredited U.S. colleges are good (take location, school size, and courses offered into account) Many schools offer services for people who do not have English as their 1 st language

University Culture Need to be internally motivated – Classes are mostly PowerPoint – Deadlines are not flexible Very test driven (not participatory) Might have to do group projects Diverse student body-race, intellect, opinions etc.

Undergraduate Student Life Live in dorms Eat in large dining halls Join clubs/teams Internships and skill building (volunteer work, professional societies) are important Find your niche/support network

Graduate Student Life Smaller circle of friends-department is your ‘community’ Not as many clubs/groups available for graduate students Rarely provide student housing, rent apartment/flat and cook for yourself Make the most of your experience!! Mixture of classes/teaching/research Join professional societies & attend conferences/meetings (network!)

Questions?