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Teach Them to Fish: Principles and Procedures for Advising Undergraduate International Students

Teach Them to Fish: Principles and Procedures for Advising Undergraduate International Students. Nancy Keteku, REAC-Africa West & Central U.S. Embassy, Accra. Fundamental Principles. Teach students to think for themselves, take responsibility, and make their own decisions

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Teach Them to Fish: Principles and Procedures for Advising Undergraduate International Students

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  1. Teach Them to Fish:Principles and Procedures for Advising Undergraduate International Students Nancy Keteku, REAC-Africa West & Central U.S. Embassy, Accra

  2. Fundamental Principles • Teach students to think for themselves, take responsibility, and make their own decisions • Teach them how to do their own research • Don’t do anything for them that they can do for themselves • Always act in the students’ best interests • Set high standards • Be transparent in everything you do • Be honorable: don’t say anything you couldn’t say to your own children • Everyone should leave happier and more confident than when they came in • Learn from everyone you meet: this will make you a more respectful listener

  3. Help Students to Make Their Own Decisions • Stay home or study abroad? • What to study? • Career goals? • List your options, evaluate, and justify your decision • Listen to others, but don’t let them influence you

  4. Emphasize Using Their Time Wisely • Become a serious reader: read a book every week without fail • Use (proper) English at every opportunity • Become highly proficient on computers • Develop writing skills: keep a journal, write articles, essays, stories • Get involved in community service – it broadens and deepens your thinking • Learn to drive a car

  5. Educational Systems 6-3-3-4 or 6-2-4-4 = 16 No school leaving exam University eligibility: earn credits by passing classes in English, math, science, social studies, languages, etc. • 6-3-3-4 = 16 • WAEC/WASSCE • University eligibility: 5 credits including English and math, or 3 A-levels

  6. Characteristics of Undergraduate Education

  7. How the Curriculum Works

  8. What Does It Take to Earn a Degree?

  9. But the school offers 2,000 courses!

  10. What’s a Credit Hour? • Points awarded for each course you complete and pass • Theoretically, one hour per week of class time = one credit hour • Must earn a certain number of credits or points to qualify for the degree, usually 120-128

  11. Grades, grades, grades

  12. What’s a Major, and How Do I Declare It?

  13. Flexibility • Double major • Major and minor • Self-designed independent major • Off-campus independent study • Cross-registration • Internships • Research with Professor • Relevant campus jobs • Study abroad • Language immersion

  14. Classroom Responsibilities

  15. U.S. Study: Excellent Return on Investment • Students return home with big ideas • Able to create their own business • Practical experience • Global outlook and competence • Adaptable, confident • Analytical, problem solving abilities • Leadership, communication skills • No disruptions, finish on time!

  16. 5 Steps to U.S. Study

  17. Selection of Schools Help your students to determine their criteria, and then research to find their best “fit” • Academic strength in their course(s) of study • Cost and financial aid • Quality/competitiveness • Facilities • Living Environment: size and location • Housing: should be guaranteed • Special opportunities: sports, activities, internships, cross-registration, study abroad • Religious affiliation • Diversity • Retention, Graduation Rates

  18. Application Components:Neat, complete, professional • Application forms • Transcripts and results slips or certificates • School profile • Counselor’s or head of school’s report • Essay(s) • Teachers’ recommendations • Standardized test scores: SAT/ACT, TOEFL • Application fee (may be waived) • Financial aid certification and application

  19. The Year-Long Admissions Cycle

  20. Financing U.S. Education • The United States is the only country where universities award significant funding to international students • Knowledge and planning are the student’s/family’s responsibility • The United States expects families to pay as much as they possibly can • Each school has its own budget and policy for international financial aid • International aid is separate from U.S. aid • Plan your finances before you start

  21. Reality Check • Admission with full funding is highly competitive • Don’t apply to any schools that cannot fill your needs: academic, financial, or personal • Don’t apply for more aid than you genuinely need

  22. Student Visas

  23. Pre-Departure Orientation • EducationUSA welcomes all students who have been admitted to U.S. colleges and universities • PDO in December and July

  24. www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org

  25. http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

  26. Hard Work: The Only Way

  27. Can We Make It?

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