International students accepted to U.S. universities have many questions, some of which we overseas educational advisers have no trouble answering. However, many unanswered questions frustrate both the departing student and the adviser and lead to a gap i
n information transmittal. How can OSEAS advisers
and campus orientation
personnel work together to bridge this gap and gain a better understanding of international students' concerns?
The first step is to be aware of the types of questions we advisers are faced with each spring as students come and proudly show us their I-20's and IAP-66's. Listed below are samples of questions students ask at the U.S.-Israel Educational Foundation in
Tel Aviv. I'm sure they are not unique to Israel, but vary slightly from country to country.
LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS:
- Will I be met by a university representative? - Do universities have housing for married couples? Do you really have to be married to get such housing? - Does the school have day care facilities and schools near by for dependents? - What type of public
transportation exists in the city I am going to? - Do I have to live on campus as a freshman if I am over 21? - Can I get along with my International Driver's License or should I take out a local state license? - Where can I live if the dorms close for th
e major holidays? - Should I bring my own computer or are computers readily available on campus? - What kind of safety measures exist on campus?
FINANCES:
- How do I get a social security number? - What type of banking arrangements exist on campus? - Can I transfer my tuition directly to the university's bank account? - Must I pay the entire year's tuition at registration, or can I pay in installments? - Ca
n I open a U.S. bank account from Israel before I arrive on campus? - Do I have to pay taxes on income from my grant? - Do I get my grant immediately upon arrival? - Can I apply for work during the first year of studies? Is work on campus readily availabl
e to international students? - Can my spouse apply for work? How soon after arrival can a J-2 request a work permit? - Can a foreign student apply for a loan from a U.S. bank? - Can I easily obtain a credit card? - How much will car insurance cost?
HEALTH INSURANCE:
- Should I take out an Israeli or U.S.long-term health insurance policy ? - Is the University's health insurance program sufficient? Does it cover everything? - Do you have more information on private U.S. health insurance policies? How much could a stude
nt with 1 or 2 dependents expect to paid monthly for health insurance? - Will the university's health insurance cover me immediately upon arrival? - If I have a J visa and have taken out health insurance coverage from a company in my country which meets e
very criteria but is not "ranked" according to the new rules, what will happen to me if I need coverage?
ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS:
- If I get financial assistance from the university for the first year, is that automatically renewed each year until I complete my studies? - Do I have to pass any placement exams once I've been accepted into a program? - As a transfer student, how long
will it take me to complete my BA/BSc or PhD? - Will the U.S. university/department recognize previous studies in my country and give me credit for courses completed outside the U.S? - Will this shorten the length of my program in the States? - Do you cho
ose an adviser for your PhD program or is one assigned to you? What happens if the "match" isn't exactly perfect?
LEGAL CONCERNS:
- How soon after beginning study can I transfer schools? - I'm finishing
my BA/Intensive English/etc program in the States and have an F-1 visa.
I'd like to continue for another degree/program. Do I need to leave the USA after completing the first degree
in order to get a new visa issued for the second? - If I enter on a government-sponsored J-1 visa, can I switch to a university sponsored J-1 visa once I am in the States? - Can an F-2 switch to an F-1 from within the States? Can a J-2 switch to a J-1 in
the same way? - Can someone on a work/diplomatic visa also study? Can they switch from a work to student visa from within the States? - If my spouse enters on a J-2 visa, can he/she study full time or part-time? - Can a J-2 study full-time and work part t
ime?
COUNTRY-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:
- Could I get the names of other Israeli students studying/who have studied at the school I have been accepted to? (We provide them with some of this information) - Is there a Jewish community in the area? - Does the university serve kosher meals?
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER COOPERATION:
Although most universities provide students with answers to many of these questions once they have been accepted to a program, it would be very helpful if overseas advising centers had access to specific pre-departure information well ahead in the pre-adm
issions process. Many students, especially those with dependents, base part of their decision on which schools to attend on personal and logistical as well as academic concerns. Having more detail on banking, finances, housing, schools, academic, legal, s
ocial and cultural expectations available in our advising centers would raise both the adviser's and student's awareness and bridge the existing gaps in information between our services.
HOW TO REACH OVERSEAS ADVISERS:
* Use AMIDEAST'S "Advising Quarterly"
as a primary source of informing
overseas advising centers of your campus orientations, housing, day care and other international student services.
Advising Quarterly, Att: Juleann Fallgatter, Editor, AMIDEAST, 1100 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036, Tel: (202) 785-0022; Fax: (202) 822-6563, e-mail: jfallgatter@amideast.org
* Keep a copy of the COLLEGE BOARD's
"1995-96 Directory of Overseas
Advising Centers" on hand for easy reference to our names, APO addresses, telephone, fax and e-mail addresses. Copies can be ordered from College Board Publications, Box 886, New York, NY
10101. (item #254186, cost $19.95 single copies)
* Direct dialogs with overseas centers world wide can be maintained through:
1) the OSEAS topic on the NAFSA Inter-L to reach OSEAS advisers worldwide. Use the OSEAS Topic on Inter-L (INTER-L@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU) - include OSEAS Topic in the Subject Line and specify topic or region, i.e. RE:O
SEAS:pre-departure orientation sessions or RE:OSEAS:Middle East;
2) the OSEAS-Europe@ibs.ee to reach OSEAS advisers in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Israel and the NIS.
3) the EAC-L@IREX.RU listserve to target messages specifically to advisers in the NIS.
We look forward to hearing and working with all of you!
Prepared by: Evelyn Levinson, Director, Educational Information Service, US-Israel Educational Foundation, Tel Aviv; Israel OSEAS-Europe Board Chair, 1996-97
Fax: 972-3-5162016; E-mail: elevinson@fulbright.org.il
Updated March 8, 1996
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