Hello and welcome to a short webinar hosted by the Commission for Educational
Exchange between the United States Belgium and Luxembourg. In addition to
administering the Fulbright programs for Belgium Luxembourg and the European
Union the Commission for Educational Exchange also offers educational
advising for students in Belgium who are thinking about studying in the United
States. EducationUSA makes applying to a U.S. college or university clearer by
identifying your five steps to U.S. study. In today's video we'll talk briefly
about the process of researching your options and ultimately choosing a
university. The United States has over 4,000 accredited universities to choose
from and each offers a different experience. Before you decide where you
want to go to university you will want to take into account what personal
academic and professional goals you have for your future and how your university
experience can help you achieve them. When choosing an institution you will
have the choice between a public and private university. The major difference
between public universities and private colleges lies in how they are funded
this affects students because funding is tied to tuition prices. Most public
universities and colleges were founded by state governments, some as early as
the 1800s, to give residents the opportunity to receive public college
education. Today state governments contribute funding to cover the
operating costs of public universities which means that money raised from
tuition does not need to cover all the university's expenses, tuition may
therefore be lower at a public university especially for students from
that state. Meanwhile, private colleges don't receive funds from state
legislators. They rely heavily on tuition and private contributions.
This means tuition rates are generally higher. Another difference between
private and public colleges is their size and the number of degrees they
typically offer. Private colleges tend to be smaller than public universities. One
example of a large public university is Ohio State University home to 42,000
undergraduates! Students who want a wide choice of majors can find them at public
universities where undergraduates are enrolled in academic programs ranging
from traditional liberal arts to highly specialized technical fields.
Private colleges tend to offer a smaller range of majors but often have a
particular academic focus -- for example the liberal arts or engineering and
computer science. Americans also distinguish between four-year
university colleges where the end result is a bachelor's degree and two-year
community college's or junior colleges where the end result is an associate's
degree. Keep in mind that although there is technically a difference between a
college which offers only undergraduate or bachelor's degree programs and a
university which offers both undergraduate and graduate programs many
Americans use these terms interchangeably.
Moreover, some institutions like Boston College in Massachusetts and the
College of William and Mary in Virginia are in fact universities with
undergraduate and graduate programs that have retained their original designation
as colleges. When choosing a university it is necessary to consider the
university's academic profile, however it is also important to consider other
factors like the overall student experience at the university, cost and
financial aid options, and support services for international students. When
choosing a university it is necessary to consider the university's academic
profile or the type of students that they admit to their university. Focus on
the majors and minors offered to ensure that you will be able to study the
subjects you are interested in. In addition consider the selectivity of
this university admissions process. Most colleges will have statistics about the
level of students that they will admit so it is important to understand the
academic rigor a certain University will have over another when considering the
school's academic profile. Don't forget to look into other factors like class
size. Large universities may tend to have larger classes with 200 students in a
lecture hall or to assign teaching assistants rather than professors to
lead entry-level courses. Smaller universities or more specific programs
will have more limited offerings but may offer smaller class sizes, entry-level
courses taught by professors, and more research opportunities for
undergraduates. Another important factor to consider is the overall experience a
university can provide. Campus life is more important in the United States than
in Belgium and students entire lives tend to revolve around their university.
Some universities are in big cities and others are in small college towns or
more rural areas where the campus life is much more important. Figure out what
you like and narrow down your university choice to cater to your preferences. Do
you want a diverse student body with lots of international students? Do you
want to live on campus in a dorm with other students? Do you want to
participate in clubs or join a fraternity or sorority? Asking these
questions to yourself will be helpful in finding the perfect fit for you.
Finally, universities offer a wide variety of support services and
resources that can help you feel more at home as an international student in a
foreign country. These range from career centers that can
help you develop an American-style resume and land a summer internship to
international student offices that can answer your visa questions. There are
over 4,000 accredited universities in the United States so the sky is the
limit! Do your research by perusing college and
university websites using university search engines, visiting campuses or
taking online virtual tours, and taking advantage of in-country alumni networks.
Of course you can always contact your local EducationUSA Advising Center for
personalized advice. The right university for you is out there you just have to
look!