What made you apply abroad?

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>Reading through this forum, it made me wonder "What makes all these people apply to USA/UK/Australia/Canda/etc etc?"
I've also noticed that so many of us applied to similar places, so that also made me wonder "Why exact those colleges?", too.</p>

<p>Well, also being the one who applied to USA, I'll start with my reasons:</p>

<ul>
<li>I always wanted to study abroad, in English language to be specific. I was somehow always drawn to colleges abroad, than to those in my country. </li>
<li>When I went on an exchange year to USA, one of the most popular topics at that school was "getting into college". So I decided to do some research, and found out that USA is a fantastic place for someone who is still undecided for their major - like me! :D I was really drawn to liberal arts education, and being allowed to be undecided for 2 more years max. (not a good idea to be undecided for 2 full years, I know, but still, option is there!)</li>
<li>Colleges in my country (as well as the most of the colleges in Europe) offer us to study only one thing. On the other hand, US colleges' core curricula often require students to take classes from various disciplines for well-rounded education. As I have eclectic interests in various fields, and I am still not ready to give up (for example) art for numbers, or numbers for humanities, or vice versa, it sounded great. </li>
<li>Beautiful campuses, great resources, fantastic facilities, extracurriculars and many of the top universities in the world are located there.</li>
<li>FINANCIAL AID for foreign students - not possible at most European U's (unless you're from EU, and I am not)</li>
<li>just the idea of being able to choose from various locations, sizes, communities etc.</li>
<li>I like living on different places, and I like English language :p </li>
</ul>

<p>I applied to unis and colleges that:
- have great financial aid for internationals
- are relatively close to major cities, but have the quiet small town/city feel
- have good programs in Art, Sciences, Humanities and/or Social Sciences
- have what appears to be intelligent and friendly student body that is not competitive among themselves
- have accessible teachers who can teach, and not many TA's teaching classes for undergrads
- I got a feeling that school actually cares about the students (as in, supporting them to do what they want, are well organized etc., if you know what I mean?)
- have relatively small class sizes
- have green lawns!!!
- not a deciding point, but have beautiful campuses
It's another story if I'd be accepted, but they're definitely worth a shot!</p>

<p>These reasons pretty much sum up my choices, what are yours? :)</p>

2

<p>Great environment~~</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
I've also noticed that so many of us applied to similar places, so that also made me wonder "Why exact those colleges?", too.

[/quote]

There are only few good colleges that give fin aid to internationals...</p>

4

<p>Btw, did you apply to Bryn Mawr? It meets every single criteria on your list!</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
There are only few good colleges that give fin aid to internationals...

[/quote]

Oh, haha, good point! But there must also be something in common that people liked besides the finaid :)</p>

<p>Oh, and really? Bryn Mawr meets all that? That's great but unfortunately, I didn't want to go to all-women's college. Not because of some prejudice towards women's colleges (or all girls-schools) because I know I am aware of their advantages, but simply, I'd go crazy if I had to be surrounded with girls all the time and didn't have any male friends on campus.</p>

6

<p>i applied because</p>

<p>-i loved the fact that i dont need to choose an exact course in my undergrad studies. i mean , back at home, i have to make choices that affect my future vocation at only 18. i still need time to explore what are my strengths and weaknesses and a college education in US gives me just the opportunity
-i've always wanted an overseas education but am too poor to pay full tuition. applied to US LACs because they give FA to intels and not to Ivies because they're out of my range, i think.
-possibly because i wanted a women's college not available in my country
-got rejected from undergrad med school in home country. possibly aiming to get into med sch but i know competition for US med schools are a million times harder for intels. nevertheless, as long as the chance exists, however small, it still gives me hope that i can fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.</p>

7

<p>I will apply because:
-the U.S. provides an u-grad experience that is extremely enrichning. (or at least, the colleges I plan to apply to)
-The simple idea that you can build friendly relations with world renown faculty is mesmerizing
-Offers flexibility in prospective majors.</p>

8

<p>natbam, did you apply to Bryn Mawr?</p>

<p>Yeah, admission to US med schools is tough for internationals, and even worse is that there is virtually no financial aid available...</p>

9

<p>i thought they get aid but only loan</p>

10

<p>American Pie?</p>

<p>j/k :D</p>

11

<p>

That's tough!</p>

12

<p>Of course taking out loans is always an option if you have a qualified co-signer, but I doubt that a lot of med schools will give out big loans to internationals. Just a numerical example: the cost of attendance for Harvard med school exceeds $60,000 a year, and that for four years (I think Harvard gives fin aid to a couple of internationals though). The cheapest public med school I am aware of is Mississippi and they still charge non-residents more than $35,000 a year for tuition, room and board.</p>

13

<p>^^ Is that how all the professional schools or grad schools are like (regarding finances)?
They're that expensive and above all, with little finaid available to internationals + the loans?</p>

14

<p>I think all professional schools (med, law etc) are like that. Grad school (as in math, physics, French, philosophy etc) is significantly easier to finance because there are a lot of fellowships and teaching and research assistantships for grad students which usually pay tuition and a modest stipend for living expenses.</p>

15

<p>That's comforting to know (but sucks for professional school students!)
And I think you're right because I've seen many scholarships being offered for people from my country to do Master's or PhD's in USA but rarely any were for undergraduate studies. (And I don't recall any for professional degrees either)</p>