Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission
Education: the American Way
Romanian-US Fulbright Commission Fulbright Educational Advising Center (FEAC)
UNDERGRADUATE NEWSLETTER
Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue
SECTION 1: FEAC CORE SECTION 2: FEAC NEWS SECTION 3: EDUCATIONUSA NEWS SECTION 4: WISDOM OF THE MONTH Table of Contents: Section 1: FEAC CORE • • •
Close up on US study: Comprehensive support at US universities University highlight: University of Pennsylvania: Preparing students for success Student highlight: Laura Micu, UPenn
Section 3: EDUCATIONUSA NEWS • •
COLLEGE MAJORS 101 Imagine yourself on a US campus
Section 4: WISDOM OF THE MONTH
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Section 2: FEAC NEWS RESOURCES • New energy at FEAC: An internationally-savvy US student on internship at the Advising Center • FEAC’s Facebook page makes new friends • Connect to US culture: ZOOM in on America UPCOMING EVENTS • Learn how to ace your undergrad application to US universities: New round Jan-Feb 2011 • US study and EducationUSA support prominent at RIUF 2011 this March: Bucharest, Timisoara, Iasi • Want to go to university in the USA? Great news: FEAC undergrad outreach is on! PAST EVENTS • Students of the “Cosbuc” National College in Bucharest explore US study • Liberal arts education makes new friends in Bucharest • Ivy League highlights • Wide-ranging partnerships for promotion of US study: New approaches • International College Fair participants say YES! to study abroad with FEAC support • Increased visibility for US study at college fairs in Bucharest and Cluj
This Newsletter is produced by the Fulbright Educational Advising Center in Bucharest, Romania. If you wish to subscribe to or cancel your subscription to this newsletter, please contact feac@fulbright.ro.
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SECTION 1: FEAC CORE Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue Close up on US study: Comprehensive support at US universities By Shandin Rickard, US student from Oregon State University on internship at FEAC
Yale University Library
It can be daunting as an international student to consider committing to years of study in a foreign language, far from home and your support network. You may already know about the quality of the education you will receive by studying in America and about the opportunities you will have to pursue many of your passions through classes and extra-curricular activities – but did you know that US universities also provide international students with a broad network of resources and services to help ensure academic and personal success? It’s true! Check out the list below to explore just some of the free services you can expect to encounter at a US institution. You will see that international students are important assets on American campuses.
Academic advisors Academic advisors are a brilliant and necessary resource to help students plan and undertake their university education. The advisors go over the academic offer and help students pick the classes which might best suit their needs as well as interests, and are able to help students construct term-byterm plans for registration. International student and scholar services US universities love their international students and they offer them extensive services. These services provide students with free consultation during business hours and emergency resources when necessary. Students can get answers to legal questions about visas and other documentation, queries and concerns about housing, academic as well as personal issues. International mentoring and tutoring Most universities will have a program that offers mentoring and tutoring to international students free of charge. These programs will match an incoming student with a more senior student who will help with the adjustment process by tutoring them in study techniques, showing them around, pointing out campus resources, cultural events and resources – and often becoming a friend! Library resources The libraries at US universities house thousands of resources from books to magazines – any form of media that may be of use. There are quiet sections, study rooms, computer stations, and laptops that are available to check out for 2-3 hours at a time. Copy machines, printers, and scanners are also available, but generally charge a low fee per page. Library websites are very useful, and lately many universities have also developed a “Text a Librarian” feature which allows students to text a question and a librarian will send a reply.
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Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue
SECTION 1: FEAC CORE Cultural centers and student groups US universities have hundreds of student groups that are welcoming and easy to join! Whether you’re interested in sports or outdoor activities, student government, media, or you have an academic focus, there will be an organization for you! One can also find an international student group or groups and possibly Cultural Centers that will put on cultural events for the community. Career services These offices put on information sessions and workshops about job searching, internships, resume and cover-letter writing, interviewing, and more which can help a student be more effective in searching and applying for jobs. Many university Career Services Centers also offer one-on-one consultation and advice, resume feedback, and mock interviews, all by appointment. Writing center Some allow students to submit a piece of writing which will be reviewed and edited. What they all offer is tutoring in effective college writing techniques. There are group workshops and individual tutoring sessions available – students just need to make appointments and bring copies of their work. Computing help desk An office or center students can turn to for help on issues with their technological devices: laptops, computers, and sometimes even phones and gaming consoles. They sometimes offer software workshops in which students can learn how to use software effectively. Math and/or Science centers Some universities have peer and faculty-staffed math and/or science centers where students can go for individual or group tutoring sessions, sign up for study groups, use computer resources, and learn about research or project opportunities in their field of interest. University highlight: University of Pennsylvania: Preparing students for success By Laura Micu, UPenn junior and FEAC friend The University of Pennsylvania, fondly known as UPenn or Penn, is part of the Ivy League along with other top colleges such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Ranked #5 as an educational institution in the US, and #12 in the world, Penn is divided into 4 undergraduate schools: The School of Arts and Sciences, The Wharton School of Business, The School of Engineering, and The School of Nursing. Regardless of what you’re interested in, Penn probably offers it, and at the highest level of quality. If you’re interested in something not readily available as a major, you can also personalize your own major. Especially if you’re interested in Economics, Psychology, or Business (Penn’s Wharton School is the best in the world for undergraduate and graduate business education), Penn is the best place for you. If you’re interested in Engineering or Science, this is also the place for you. Our school of Engineering is recognized as one of the best in the country and in the Ivy League. In addition, you can deepen your studies by pursuing a joint Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in one of Penn’s many graduate schools. Continued on page 4 3
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Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue
SECTION 1: FEAC CORE You don’t only get a great education at Penn: you get an affordable one. Penn commits to offering full financial support to its students once they are accepted, international students included. That means all you have to do is convince the admissions committee that you deserve a Penn education; once you’re in, they will give you all the financial support you need to attend. And Penn has a no-loan policy. That means all the money you get is in grants or as part of a work-study job. You don’t have to pay back a penny. Statue of Benjamin Franklin on the UPenn campus
Are you looking for a great community? Then this is the place for you. Known as the Social Ivy, Penn students combine hard work with fun socializing and partying. Selected carefully by the admissions committee and further shaped by the opportunities and education received at Penn, students are friendly, ambitious, successful, and overall just impressive and great to be around. At Penn you can find people who started community service projects in Africa, people who are Olympic athletes, and others who have started 3 companies by the time they were 20. Penn is rated as a very hard college because of its curve. To enhance the difficulty of its courses and bring them to a higher level, the university is organized so that most courses you will take in your undergraduate years will be graded on a curve. That means your grade will be decided based on your performance relative to your classmates. Because at Penn everyone is incredibly ambitious, getting a good grade means you have to work at least twice as hard as at most other colleges. At Penn you build endurance and focus, and earn a degree that everyone will appreciate for its value. Finally, there’s more to Penn than schoolwork and friends. Many people do their own research; sometimes even multiple research projects! The university normally pays for the expenses of undergraduate students who present posters to conferences. In addition, many students who do research receive funding for their projects through the university and get published in top journals while working with some of the best professors in their field. The university encourages research and scholarship, along with academic achievement. If you are interested in other areas than research, there are over 200 clubs to join and even be a president of. If you’re looking for a club that does not exist, you can start your own! Penn’s supportive setting can help you get the guidance you need for success. You will have academic advisors, learning instructors, psychologists, fitness advisors (through the PennFit program), librarians, writing advisors, public speaking advisors, etc. All you have to do is reach out, and you will have the help you need. With its great administration and endowment, Penn can give you the education you want and the resources to achieve pretty much anything you imagine. It’s a little world of excellence to prepare you to succeed in the real world.
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Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue
SECTION 1: FEAC CORE Student profile: Laura Micu, UPenn By Laura Micu, UPenn junior and FEAC friend
7:30 AM. My day starts. I get up, ready for a good workout session at the gym followed by a great breakfast while planning my day. 10 AM. History class. I take my laptop and prepare to resist all temptation to use Facebook and E-mail and instead take notes and listen. It’s not hard; the lectures are so interesting! 12 PM. Lunch with one of my professors. Isn’t it great that the university pays for you to have lunch and learn a lot about an interesting professor you admire? 1 PM. Time for some studying! 3 PM. Statistics class. This one is a biggie. 3-hour long, and really challenging! 6 PM. Dinner, then a fun dance practice with my fellow team members. 9 PM. Home from dance. Dealing with administrative duties for the two clubs I’m president of. 10 PM. Going to the library to start cracking that tough statistics problem set. 12:30 AM. ZZZZzzzzz... This is a snapshot of what my typical day looks like. Replace the first gym session with more studying and you have a version of my mid-term season days. Life at an Ivy League is exhausting, but incredibly exciting. I started out without any Olympiad performances or special talents. I was a jack of all trades. While I was at the Goethe German School in Bucharest, I knew quite a few languages and was doing my best to find a passion to really pursue. I had done lots of swimming, lots of skiing, played bridge competitively, taken a shot at Cisco certifications, won debate competitions, and opened the first student club in my school. I was definitely active and engaged, but no competition for the people who had won Chemistry and Physics competitions abroad (like my current roommate, also Romanian). So, the Ivy League was out of reach for me, or so I thought. Yet, in junior year I found out about the Harvard Summer School program. Eager for a taste of college life in the US without any risks, I jumped at the opportunity, fundraised across my family, and packed my bags. In Boston I had a great experience, won a best friend for life, and got to feel the thrill of college freedom as well as the sting of all-nighters. Having survived it, I returned home with a clear decision: I wanted to go to an Ivy League university. I fended all laughs and questions about how I could get in without any medals in international Olympiads and went to Fulbright. There, I got some great advice and studied hard to ace the SAT. With some not-too-shabby essays to go along with that, I proved all doubting voices wrong.
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Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue
SECTION 1: FEAC CORE At first insecure, I ended up having a great experience at Penn. I got to have Thanksgiving dinner with my admissions officer, be the main coordinator for the International Orientation Week, get an academic recognition scholarship, and make a ton of great friends. For the past two and a half years (I am a junior now) I have been taking amazing courses both in my majors and outside of them. I’m majoring in Psychology and Economics, with a minor in Statistics. I’m undertaking two research projects on my own, with different famous psychology professors for my majors, and taking honors classes that make my brain smoke. Outside of my majors I have had the opportunity to do the work of a real consultant for a local business for an entire semester, as well as consult for Microsoft in another semester. On top of that, I am a competitive ballroom dancer, as well as the president of the ballroom team and president-elect of Psi Chi, the international honor psychology society. Had anyone showed me a snapshot of my representative day and current situation when I was in high school, I probably would have laughed at them. But, going to Penn helped me reach heights I never thought I could. The unique combination of amazing classes, great professors, endless opportunities, and most of all great people is what defines Penn as one of the best universities in the world. With the continued support system that Penn encourages, I know that I will be involved with the university not just now, but throughout my entire life. I am a part of Penn, and Penn is a part of me. Looking back, this was the best choice I could have made. With its support network and its way to encourage people to develop as academics, professionals, and human beings, Penn prepares you for success. The most important lesson I have learned at Penn is to never compare myself to others. No matter how good you think you are, you will always find someone better on this campus. Instead of trying to fight them, let them inspire you and become your friends; admire and appreciate everyone else for their success, then look ahead and aim for your own. There’s enough space for everyone to be successful in their own way.
SECTION 2: FEAC NEWS RESOURCES New energy at FEAC: An internationally-savvy US student on internship at the Advising Center By Shandin Rickard I am an undergraduate student from Oregon State University (OSU) in Oregon, USA on a 10 week internship here at the Fulbright Educational Advising Center (FEAC) in Bucharest – and I’m very excited to be here! My purpose is to help the FEAC assist ambitious Romanian students in their pursuit of an American education, and to learn from the students and staff the significance, structure, and scope of international education and exchange from a non-US perspective. From now until mid-March I can be found in the FEAC during public hours to help Romanian students any way I can, and outside the FEAC doing outreach and promotional activities. I will be an excellent resource for discussing US culture, admissions, academics, etc. – come talk to me! 6
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Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue
SECTION 2: FEAC NEWS A little about myself: I am originally from southern California but have spent the last 15 years in rural, coastal Oregon. I love the outdoors: snowboarding, wakeboarding, camping, fishing, hiking, and going to the beach and the river; simply connecting with nature is very important to me, and is easily done in the Pacific Northwest! I also love films, theater, literature, rock’n’roll, sports, games, and most of all travel! This coming June (2011) I will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature paired with a minor in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship – so any students interested in Liberal Arts or Business are welcome to “pick my brain” for tips, advice, and information. Bucharest is the farthest east I have ever been, and I am delighted with the opportunity to absorb the culture! I look forward to meeting you all! FEAC’s Facebook page makes new friends This winter has seen an unprecedented surge in online US admissions events - undergrad EducationUSA webinars on topics ranging from identifying the right US schools for you to obtaining a visa for US study, CollegeWeekLive virtual educational fairs and US university tours - alongside FEAC’s busy October-January events calendar, all reflected in our Facebook page. Our 4-month old Facebook page has connected over 350 US admissions fans with the recent trends in US higher education, newest resources and US application strategies. You too can get a US education. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fulbright-EducationalJoin us at Advising-Center-Bucharest-Romania/146966812005466. Connect to US culture: ZOOM in on America This vibrant online publication is the brainchild of two Information Resource Centers within the US embassy in Poland. Curious about rodeo’s role in shaping early US culture? Dreaming about going on a road trip along California’s scenic Highway 1? Interested in international cultural figures who have become famous in the USA? Read the Oct.-Jan. issues of ZOOM in on America, available at http://www.usinfo.pl/zoom/! As a bonus, you’ll also find out the ins and outs of America’s top winter game. UPCOMING EVENTS Learn how to ace your undergrad application to US universities: New round Jan-Feb 2011 A new Undergraduate Admissions Training program is set to start on Jan 25. The eye-opening sessions scheduled every Tuesday 3-5 pm will highlight US application tips and strategies leading to success, that is admissions and funding. You’ll learn how to select the right US study programs for you and get practical advice on how to connect with your dream American universities, how to negotiate strong recommendation letters and assemble a US application that shows that you are a good fit for the US campus of your choice. Full details about starting your successful journey to US universities at http://www.fulbright.ro/ educational-advising-center/39-about-feac/295-calendar.html#link7.
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Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue
SECTION 2: FEAC NEWS US study and EducationUSA support prominent at RIUF 2011 this March: Bucharest, Timisoara, Iasi Attend the spring edition of the 2011 Romanian International University Fair (RIUF) organized in Bucharest on March 12-13, in Timisoara on March 15, and in Iasi on March 17 to meet FEAC representatives and learn about the exciting study opportunities available at US colleges and universities. Do you know what the US holistic approach to the admissions process entails? Find the answer to this question and explore US education during the presentations we will be holding covering undergraduate applications. The financial aid offered by US universities and the comprehensive admissions support available at FEAC will round off these eye-opening sessions. FEAC will also have a booth at the Bucharest location, so make sure you come by to discuss US undergrad admissions with us! We will be posting RIUF news and insights on our Facebook page. Check it regularly for updates! Want to go to university in the USA? Great news: FEAC undergrad outreach is on! This spring, FEAC representatives will be interacting with students from a wide range of high schools from Bucharest and beyond. Our US study awareness-raising campaign started on Jan. 14, when “Cosbuc” students discovered higher education the USA style. They will continue honing their US admissions skills and strategies by participating in our Undergraduate Admissions Training program, starting on Jan. 25. Next up is the International Computer High school of Bucharest (ICHB), which we will be visiting on Jan. 26. Are you interested in US education? Would you like to learn more about the American university system and the funding available for international applicants? Take initive, tell your teachers about FEAC and contact us at feac@fulbright.ro to discuss a FEAC presentation in your high school. We look forward to visiting you! PAST EVENTS Students of the “Cosbuc” National College in Bucharest explore US study On Jan. 14, 9th-11th grade students of the “Cosbuc” National College in Bucharest visited FEAC for a comprehensive introduction to US undergraduate education. Guided and inspired by their US English teacher Hannah Halder, former Fulbright grantee to Romania, the students had the opportunity to interact with Corina Varlan, a Romanian freshman at Grinnell College in the USA, who shared her enthusiasm for US study and for liberal arts education. Liberal arts education makes new friends in Bucharest Corina Varlan, a thriving freshman at Grinnell College, Iowa, who enjoyed the support of the Fulbright Educational Advising Center during her application to US study, returned to the Center to share her happy US educational experience with local students on Jan. 11. Corina enthusiastically described her life in the US, as well as the academic excitement she is getting from her wonderful school. Romanian high school students attending were won over by the liberal arts education system in the USA. Continued on page 9 8
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Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue
SECTION 2: FEAC NEWS The liberal arts education presentation was followed by an ad-hoc Grinnell club for Romanian students who had applied to the school and who enjoyed Corina’s insights into the admissions process, as well as her appreciation of the US higher education system and its comprehensive, life-changing impact on Romanian students. Ivy League highlights Laura Micu, a blooming junior at University of Pennsylvania, was Santa’s gift to the students who attended the presentation of Dec. 21. Back to Romania for the Christmas vacation, Laura shared her life experience and academic development on an Ivy League campus ranked 5th in the US News and World Report 2010. She revisited her application process for the benefit of the participants and pointed out helpful strategies for winning admission to extremely competitive schools and excelling at top institutions. Laura also shared the challenges and joys in her university life, which includes two majors, a minor, and tons of extracurricular activities. Read more about Laura’s UPenn experience and about UPenn in the CORE section of this Newsletter. Wide-ranging partnerships for promotion of US study: New approaches In cooperation with the best high school in Oradea (ranked 10th in the nation), the TOEFL iBT testing center in Oradea and the School Inspectorate of Bihor County, FEAC developed an innovative top-down approach to promotion of US study. In addition to offering a presentation on US undergraduate study opportunities to approximately 100 high school students, on Nov. 29-30 the advising center organized a 2-hour workshop for English teachers from all the schools in the county. Thanks to the generous support offered by the School Inspectorate of Bihor County, a record number of 31 English teachers from across Bihor attended the workshop. Warm thanks to our local partners and to the 31 new ambassadors of US education! International College Fair participants say YES! to study abroad with FEAC support On Nov. 16, 21 high ranking international institutions, including 14 US colleges and universities, together with FEAC and the US Consulate, provided insights into study abroad opportunities and the benefits of attending a global university. The first stop in Bucharest of the CIS European Tour was exceptionally well-attended – FEAC’s intense efforts to partner with more than 20 high school principals so as to promote the event to a wide audience were rewarded by a record audience: over 300 high school students, teachers, and parents from Bucharest and beyond visited the 90-minute fair. US study fans enthusiastically stopped at the FEAC booth to learn about the many ways they can enjoy EducationUSA support towards a successful US application. Increased visibility for US study at college fairs in Bucharest and Cluj Advising Center staff gave prominence to US study opportunities in the Romanian International University Fairs held in Bucharest and Cluj on Oct. 30 and Nov. 2. FEAC held four 1-hour presentations in prime time and shared a booth with Pepperdine University. All four presentations were well attended and the booth was flooded by visitors throughout the day. Based on the number of in-house produced handouts and materials distributed, we connected with over 500 potential students in the USA. 9
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Bucharest, January 24, 2011 Volume III, Winter issue
SECTION 3: EDUCATIONUSA NEWS COLLEGE MAJORS 101 College Majors 101 was created to educate high school and undergrad students about college majors and the careers to which they can lead. Each major has its own "channel" presenting descriptive information, along with typical positions held by people who have majored in a particular area. Two particularly valuable sections of each channel are the lists of related student/ professional associations and the list of links to relevant trade publications. Often overlooked, these key sources of information can yield insider information not to be found elsewhere. Each channel also includes a list of "featured" colleges and universities offering the major, links to related news stories, and much more. Much of the site's content is delivered through videos. Valuable resource for anyone researching college majors and career paths. More at http://collegemajors101.com/! Imagine yourself on a US campus Wondering what your day will look like on a US campus? Visit the colorful picture gallery at http://www.america.gov/multimedia/photogallery.html#/30145/ college_life/ to browse some of the many facets of the bustling social and academic life at a US school. Building eco-friendly houses, competing in intense college sports, studying in a top notch library, fundraising for worthy causes… what does your ideal US college experience include? Respond on our Facebook page!
SECTION 4: WISDOM OF THE MONTH “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.” Robert Frost
Need more info? Comments? Suggestions? Public Hours at the Fulbright Educational Advising Center: Tue: 1:00 - 7:00 pm
Wed-Thu: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Phone no.: 021-231 9015
E-mail: feac@fulbright.ro
Website: http://www.fulbright.ro/educational-advising-center.html Facebook: Fulbright Educational Advising Center, Bucharest Romania Location: no. 2, Ing. Costinescu St., Sector 1, Bucharest 011878, Romania
All articles are contributed by FEAC staff Mihaela Arsene and Sinziana Medvetchi, unless otherwise stated. 10
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