The Ins and Outs of Studying Abroad

                BY VIOLETA P. HUGHES

Summer is here and you've got time on your hands to do a lot of thinking. Perhaps you've considered studying in the United States. Well, if you don't have anything else to do until June, this might be a good time to start finding out how to go about it.

How do you know which school is right for you? When should you start working on your application? How do you find out about scholarships for Filipino students and how do you maximize your chances of' getting one? What should you do to improve your chances of getting accepted? Read on and you'll find out.

First of all, you should ask yourself why you want to study in the US. Why do, you want to do it? Is it because you have a friend who is studying there and you want to prove that you can do the same? Did you hear about a school which offers an academic program that you cannot pursue anywhere else? Or has a favorite aunt offered to take care of your expenses in the US because of your excellent academic record?

           WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU

These and other questions may be plaguing you right now. However, the first question that you should probably answer is whether studying in the US is the right decision far you now. Can you wait until you have an undergraduate degree? Should you work for a couple of years before you embark on a graduate program? You should have clear and definite answers to these questions because they will help you make other decisions.

Studying abroad is like getting married: the first few months are heaven, but after the excitement wears off and you come down to daytoday realities, it can sometimes be really rough. Unless you have a clear idea of why you want to study abroad you may not be able to stick it out. Remember that you will have to adjust to a million new things: new ways of doing things, a new academic system, a new language, new food, a new climate, new people, a new home, and so forth.

          THE LANGUAGE PROBLEM

You may think that since you speak English, language will not be a problem. But this is a mistake, especially if you go to the Deep South or a school in Brooklvn. New York. American English as it is spoken in the United State sounds different, and your ears still have to get used to hearing it before you understand everything that's being said. By the same token, you also have to adapt our Taglish to make sure that the language you're speaking is understood by the American listener. You have to drop some of the Taglish expressions which do not translate on the other side of the Pacific. A good book to help prepare you avoid some of these pitfalls, and to make yourself understood in the US is "A Dictionary of Philippine English by Isagani R. Cruz and Ma. Lourdes S. Bautista (1995, Anvil Publishing Co.).

In addition to being prepared for a different kind of English, you should also prepare for a different way of life. Although Filipinos are the most Americanized of all Asians because of our long and constant exposure to the American culture, actually living in an American city can give you a jolt. It is the difference between knowing something and actually living it. As you make these adjustments, you will sometimes wonder why you have taken on this tough assignment when life is so easy at home. Some students have actually repacked their suitcases and, returned to the comforts and good food of home. This is when you need a clear idea of your goals and objectives.

Another item you should think about is, if you're married and have children, can you stand being separated from your family for one academic term? Or one year? If you don't think you can stand the separation, can you afford to bring your family with you? Remember that, depending on the kind of student visa you will get, your spouse and children may not be allowed to work in the US. The other thing to consider is, what will your spouse do if working is not an option? These are important items that deserve a lot of deep thought and many conversations with your spouse before you take any more steps and start spending money on postage and overseas telephone calls.

          WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO

Should you start your graduate program or your undergraduate studies in the United States now? Remember that Filipino students complete high school at sixteen, two years younger than the average American student who graduates at eighteen. At this age, American students are considered legally independent. They would have been working and earning money since they were sixteen, and would have been making many decisions without their parents' knowledge and sometimes, consent. Many have decided to live on their own, taking on the financial responsibilities, that come with independence. One of the consequences of this decision is that they have to work to pay for their tuition, room and board. Some at this age are married and have children, or run their own businesses. In other words, you will find yourself among students who are vastly different from you. This can be disconcerting, since you may not have many things in common; or exhilarating, if you look at it as a learning situation.

With this in mind, it may be a good idea to spend a few months as a wage earner before embarking on this new stage in your life. For one thing, it will be a break from sixteen years of studying. You might also get a more definite idea of what you really want to study. The experience could prove useful in your course of study. Of course, you will earn money which you will need when you start the application process. Depending on your finances, it can be expensive!

Let's say you have answered satisfactorily the questions above. What next? You should decide which part of the United States you want to be in. Would you love to learn how to ski? If so, then you should pick a school in the northern part of the country. However, if you think extreme cold temperatures will kill you, then try to gain admission somewhere in the South where you can enjoy the . same degree of heat and humidity that you're used to in the Philippines.

          GETTING MORE INFO

Where can you get information on American universities? If you're in Manila, go to the PhilippineAmerican Educational Foundation PAEF located at 6811 Ayala Ave, 10th floor, Ayala-FGU Center, 1200 Makati (02-812-0822) Reader, please note that this is a new location since 2001. They have a library which carries university bulletins and brochures. As you look through these brochures, there are some aspects you should take into consideration. First of all, is the school accredited by an accreditation group? How big is it and is it located in a town or city? What degrees are offered? How many professors have advanced degrees? How many international students are enrolled in the school? Does it have an office which has been set up to take care of the needs of international students? How much is the application fee? Most important, does it offer any scholarships that you can apply for? If you are lucky enough to have access to the World Wide Web, you can get this information through your computer. Many educational institutions in the United States are now on the World Wide Web.

After you have picked several choices, write to the schools and ask for their application packets. Some of these schools will be on the Internet, which means that you can communicate with them by Email. This will save you money for postage since you can Email your request for their application packet.

For the next few steps, you will need a financial backer or a healthy bank account. American immigration regulations require that any foreigner who wants to study in the U.S. needs to meet two basic qualifications: English proficiency and financial capability. To prove that you are proficient in English, you have to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam with the minimum score required by the school you are applying to. The minimum score varies. For example, if you apply for a master's program in education, you may need a minimum score of 550; however, if you want to be in the KBA program, many of them will want you to have a minimum of 600 to be considered. You can find information on TOEFL schedules and sample tests at PAEF.

          THE MONEY FACTOR

The other basic qualification is financial capability. You can fulfill this requirement by submitting' a statement from your bank that you have the minimum amount required by the school to finance your studies for at least one year. This amount will vary according to the school, and may range from $10,000 to $25,000 a year. The other way to finance your studies is to get a scholarship. There are many scholarships you can look into, although there are more for graduate

Students. Small fouryear colleges usually have scholarships for undergraduate international students based on academic ability or financial need. One churchbased fouryear college in Ohio granted a full scholarship to a student from Latin America for her entire program because of her outstanding academic and leadership qualities. Some large universities with very active athletic programs give scholarships based on athletic ability. So, if you are a tennis star or a diving wonder, ask if you can apply for one.

Graduate students interested in scholarships have several options. They can apply for a university fellowship, for example, by writing to the Dean of the Graduate School. This is the best type of scholarship as it pays for tuition for the whole year and entitles you to an adequate monthly stipend which will comfortably take care of your living expenses. Depending on your academic performance during your first year, you would also be assured of a teaching or research position during the rest of your program.

Just what is an "assistantship"? Basically it is a scholarship given to graduate students that entitles them to a tuition waiver, and also, gets them a modest monthly stipend. It can be a teaching, research or administrative assistantship, i.e. graduate students will be assigned to either teach, help with research, or work in an office twenty hours per week to pay for the scholarship. To apply for this, you write to the department chair and enclose your most glowing letters of recommendation. Other sources of funding may be found in a book published by the International Institute of Education (IIE), "Funding forU. S. Study: A Guide for Foreign Nationals."

When you gain admission to the school, you will receive an official document from the school called the Certificate of Eligibility. This is the document which entitles you to apply for a student's visa at the American Embassy. Then, the hard part begins as you join the long lines on Roxas Boulevard and you begin what may be a most exciting time in your life.

At the time this article was written, Violeta P. Hughes was a coordinator
at The Ohio State University's Office of International Education.

© 2005-2006 Violeta P. Hughes-Davis
All rights reserved.