myUface Blog

That depends on the student and the university.  myUface simply facilitates a connection between U.S. universities and students.  If a student is very appealing to a university, there’s a good chance they will offer the student a tuition discount of some kind.  If, on the other hand, a student is not a great fit for a university, the university might not accept the student at all, and probably will not offer any financial assistance.

So by using myUface you’re not guaranteeing yourself financial aid.  HOWEVER, by increasing the number of universities who see your application, you do increase the chances that at least one of them will be interested enough to offer financial assistance of some kind.

Here at myUface we just announced that we would send the information of students who finish their myUface application by December 31st to U.S. universities, for free.  This is an excellent opportunity for you to market yourself to a number of U.S. universities, and we encourage you to take advantage of it.

But this is not the only deadline that matters for international students, of course.  Every scholarship program, every university, every consulate has hard deadlines that you as an international student must meet, or your dream of studying abroad may not occur.

Tragically, every year hundreds – if not thousands – of talented international students miss out on great educational opportunities for the simple reason that they wait until the last minute to fill out their applications.  As a result, they miss deadlines, or submit poor application materials.

Conclusion?  One of the most important pieces of advice we can give you is this:  DON’T PROCRASTINATE.  “Procrastination” means putting off doing something important and doing something frivolous instead.  Generally speaking, we procrastinate because we feel nervous about a particular task, and rather than face that nervousness, we find something “easy” to do.  We tell ourselves that we can always do the more difficult task later.

Of course, the truth is, every day we wait to do that important task, it becomes harder and harder.  Soon, we find ourselves running out of time, and a task that would have been easy is suddenly difficult – or even impossible.

DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!!  In May, we posted a list of some online information about procrastination and how to fight it.  You may find these resources useful now, as you look ahead to approaching deadlines.  Most importantly, realize that the easiest solution to procrastination is to JUST DO IT – just start working on what needs to be done.   I know it can be hard, but the results of hard work are worth it!

Over the past few weeks we’ve made some pretty major changes to the myUface application.  The purpose of these changes is to provide you with more opportunities to share meaningful information with U.S. universities.  Our new application sections will make the myUface application much more useful for our university partners.

For those of you who have already filled out most of an application, don’t worry, you don’t have to start over.  You simply have a few more section you can now fill out.

Those sections are:

• Testing information – we’ve given you a place where you can input your standardized test scores.  We have listed pretty much every conceivable test, but don’t worry – you don’t need to fill them all out.  You only need to fill out the tests required for the program you’re interested in.
• Attach Files – here you can attach a Resume / CV, recommendation letters, and a writing sample / essay.  Do you absolutely need to do these things? Well, no.  Should you do these things if you want universities to get a complete picture of who you are?  Yes.

For those of you who’ve been using the application for awhile, you’ll also notice that we’ve changed the look and feel of the site a little bit.  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us via this form, or send us an e-mail:

blog@myuface.com

We are constantly seeking to improve this service, so please let us know if there’s some changes you’d like to see.

This week is International Education Week, and you can take advantage by learning about the array of events going on around the world.  IEW events are great places to learn about U.S. universities and academic programs, and to meet and network with other students who may share your interests.

You can read about IEW here, and an online directory of events is here.  You can also contact your local US Embassy, or check their website.  Finally, your friendly neighborhood Education USA Advising Center should have all the information you need to take advantage of International Education Week.

Via the always-useful Education USA Weekly Update, here are some MORE scholarships that are available. These deal with much more specific audiences (Fulbright alumni and students interested in the “critical” languages).

Remember also what I said yesterday:

that Education USA and their advising centers are a unique resource for international students.  If you haven’t been to one,  use this center locator and see if there’s one near you.  I learned of all of these scholarships through Education USA, for example, and you can learn about these and more at a local advising center.

Now, on with the scholarship info:

SCHOLARSHIP FOR FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MORITZ COLLEGE OF LAW

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law’s LL.M. program is pleased to announce a new scholarship initiative for Fulbright Scholars. Fulbright Scholars who are admitted to the LL.M. program will be granted partial tuition waivers reducing their tuition costs to in-state tuition levels (i.e., approximate value of $15,000 USD for the 2009-2010 academic year).

The Moritz College of Law is part of the largest university in the United States: The Ohio State University. The Ohio State University is located in Columbus, Ohio – the state capital and 15th largest city in the United States. Columbus is home to federal and state government and vibrant legal and business communities. Columbus is easy to navigate, but offers big-city amenities like art galleries, professional sporting events, theater, and great restaurants. Columbus is centrally located, making it an easy flight or drive to many other major U.S. cities.

There are nearly 4,000 international students at Ohio State, hailing from 107 countries. More than 1,600 international scholars visit campus each year. The Moritz LL.M. Program is limited to just 25 students, which allows us to provide personal attention. The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law LL.M. Program: World-class education, small-town feel.

For more information, program description, and application information, visit: http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/programs/llm.

Contact information: Assistant Dean Jessica Richman Dworkin, dworkin.12@osu.edu, 614-688-5328.

—————
Jessica Richman Dworkin
Assistant Dean
International and Graduate Programs
The Ohio State University
Moritz College of Law
55 West 12th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
614-688-5328

KATHRYN DAVIS FELLOWSHIPS FOR PEACE: 30 FULL-TUITION FELLOWSHIPS TO STUDY CRITICAL LANGUAGES SUMMER 2010

Deadline to apply, February 1, 2010

The Monterey Institute of International Studies is pleased to announce up to 30 full fellowships—including tuition, room, board and books to attend Middlebury Language Schools, June – August 2010. These fellowships link two affiliated institutions known internationally for language and international study: the Monterey Institute and Middlebury College. To be eligible for fellowships, candidates must be admitted to a degree program in international policy, international business, or teaching foreign language, for Fall 2010.

In the fourth year of this program, these fellowships are made possible by a $1 million gift from Kathryn Davis to address today’s critical need for more effective language proficiency. The award covers the cost of tuition, room and board to attend the Middlebury summer Language Schools. Fellowship recipients will study Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Russian through the Language Schools’ signature immersion model: “No English Spoken Here.” This intense study, equivalent to a full year of college-level language learning, will allow students to enhance language skills to meet enrollment prerequisites at the Monterey Institute for Fall 2010.

“Fellowships for Peace” recipients will be chosen on the basis of academic credentials, experience, and commitment to building a more peaceful world.

Languages of Study at Middlebury College’s Language Schools
Fellowships are offered only for the following languages and levels:
• Arabic – beginning or intermediate
• Chinese (Mandarin) – intermediate
• Japanese – intermediate
• Russian – intermediate
AND

Programs at the Monterey Institute of International Studies
Fellowships are offered only for students admitted to one of the following master’s programs:
• International Business – MBA
• International Policy Studies
• International Environmental Policy
• Public Administration in International Management – MPA
• Teaching Foreign Language

Qualifications
By the time of enrollment at the Monterey Institute in Fall 2010, students must demonstrate that they meet the language proficiency requirements for their program of study.
MBA, International Policy studies, International Environmental Policy and MPA students are required to be at the following levels by the time of enrollment at the Monterey Institute:
• Arabic: Ready to begin studies at the second or third-year college level.
• Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Russian: Ready to begin studies at the third-year college level.

Teaching Foreign Language students must be at the minimum fourth year college-level in their desired teaching language.
One summer of intensive immersion language at the Middlebury Language Schools is the equivalent of one full year of college language study during the regular academic year. Students who successfully complete their studies at Middlebury should meet the Monterey Institute entry requirements.

Contact Information
Monterey Institute of International Studies
Admissions Office
460 Pierce StreetMonterey, CA 93940 USA
831-647-4123
800-824-7235 (toll-free from inside the US)
admit@miis.edu

www.miis.edu

Via the always-useful Education USA Weekly Update, here are some scholarships that are available at certain institutions.  I’ve listed three here and I’ll list two more in tomorrow’s post.

As an aside, it’s a common theme of this blog that Education USA and their advising centers are a unique resource for international students.  If you haven’t been to one,  use this center locator and see if there’s one near you.  I learned of all of these scholarships through Education USA, for example, and you can learn about these and more at a local advising center.  Anyway, on with the scholarship info:

INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AT ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY – UP TO $16000 PER YEAR

Roger Williams University is a 53-year-old independent, coeducational liberal arts university that has quickly established itself as a leader in higher education. A dynamic educational environment in which students live and learn to be global citizens, the University is committed to its mantra of learning to bridge the world. With 40 academic programs and a robust array of co-curricular activities available on its waterfront campus in historic Bristol, R.I., RWU looks to a set of core values in fulfilling its mission to prepare students for life as 21st century citizen-scholars. Under the leadership of President Roy J. Nirschel, Ph.D., the institution has achieved unprecedented academic and financial successes. In 2009, U.S. News & World Report named RWU the seventh-ranked baccalaureate college in the north.

International Presidential Excellence Scholarship $16,000 per year
Minimum GPA required for consideration-3.5

International Achievement Scholarship $10,000 – 13,000 per year
Minimum GPA required for consideration-3.0

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Wesley Roy
Associate Director, International Admission
Roger Williams University
One Old Ferry Road Bristol, RI 02809 USA
1.401.254.3500 / 1.401.254.3557
wroy@rwu.edu
www.rwu.edu

RHODES COLLEGE OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – $5,000 – $32,000 PER YEAR

Rhodes College is a small liberal arts and sciences college located in Memphis, Tennessee.

International students are eligible for scholarships at Rhodes valued at US $5,000 to $32,000 per year. There is no separate application process for these scholarships; students must simply submit the application and supporting documents for admission to be considered. Scholarship amounts are based on academic merit, standardized test scores, extracurricular accomplishments and letters of recommendation. There are two additional fellowships for which international students may apply: The Taylor Fellowship for Physics, valued at up to US $15,000 per year, is designed for students who are passionate about physics (www.rhodes.edu/finaid/1413.asp) and the Bonner Service Scholarship, valued at US $12,500 per year, is designed for servant leaders and students excited about community service (www.rhodes.edu/finaid/611.asp). Please see www.rhodes.edu/internationaladmissions or email Lauren Sefton at
SEFTONL@rhodes.edu for more information about the admission process and scholarships at Rhodes College.

For additional information, please contact:

Lauren Sefton, Associate Director of Admissions: SEFTONL@rhodes.edu
Rhodes College, Memphis, TN USA / www.rhodes.edu

PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT RAMAPO COLLEGE, NJ -$20,000 PER YEAR

Greeting from Ramapo College, NJ!

Ramapo College offers the most prestigious award the “Presidential Scholarship” to qualified international students which is a $80,000 award to be used over four years ($20,000 per academic year) commencing in Fall 2010. The criteria to be selected for this award are the following;

- Minimum of 3.5 GPA in high school
- SAT scores of at least 1230 in Critical Reading and Mathematics

Currently most of our international students are receiving the Presidential scholarship and I am very confident that many of your students will be eligible for this award which covers all their tuition for the 4 years of their undergraduate degree.

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as fifth in the north in the Top Public Universities-Master’s category, Ramapo College of New Jersey is sometimes mistaken for a private college. This is, in part, due to its unique interdisciplinary academic structure, its size of more than 5,660 students and its pastoral setting in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains on the New Jersey/New York border.

Distinguished by its innovative mission, Ramapo College is supported by its Four Pillars of Learning – International, Intercultural, Interdisciplinary, and Experiential. Ramapo College provides an International focus in nearly all fields of study, preparing students to become globally well-versed and to take advantage of new opportunities in an increasing interdependent world. Ramapo College of New Jersey is listed in the December 2008 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine as among the “100 Best Values in Public Colleges” for 2009. This is the fourth consecutive year Ramapo has been included in the “100 Best Values in Public Colleges.” The college was ranked #66 in the country, and one of two colleges in New Jersey in the Top 100. Ramapo College also is one of 212 institutions recommended by The Princeton Review in the “Best in the Northeast” section in the 2009 edition of The Best Northeastern Colleges.

Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include nursing and social work. In addition, Ramapo College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels. The College also offers three graduate programs as well as articulated programs with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New York Chiropractic College, New York University College of Dentistry, SUNY State College of Optometry and New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

Undergraduate students choose to concentrate their studies in one of five schools with more than 700 course offerings and 40 academic programs. Ramapo College boasts an average student/faculty ratio of 18:1 and average class size of 23, affording students the opportunity to develop close ties to the College’s exceptional faculty.

For further information, please contact:

Rajesh Adhikari
Assistant Director for Int’l Students and Scholars
Roukema Center for International Education, ASB 123
Ramapo College
505 Ramapo Valley Road
Mahwah, New Jersey 07430

Phone: +001 (201) 684-7567
Fax: +001 (201) 684-7989
Email: radhikar@ramapo.edu
www.ramapo.edu/international
www.ramapo.edu/academics

When international students learn about what we’re doing at myUface, and learn that it’s free, they often ask a simple question:  “Do universities pay myUface?”

The answer is no, they do not.  In fact, as of now, myUface is free for EVERYBODY – free for students, free for universities, free for people who simply want to learn.  There’s not a single service we charge for.

We don’t charge universities for one simple reason:  we want as many universities as possible to come to myUface and learn about our great students.  If we charged them fees, that would keep some of them away, which would lessen the chances of you finding a great university.

Everything at myUface is free.  We like to think of it as a community of students and universities, more than a service or a product.

SEE MORE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The way myUface works is simple. You create an online application. Universities search our database and find students (like yourself) who fit their needs. Then they contact you.

But we’ve got another way of helping you contact U.S. universities. If you finish your myUface application by December 31st, we’ll take your information and send it to universities ourselves.

That’s right – your application, sent to universities in the U.S., for free – BUT ONLY IF YOU COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION BY DECEMBER 31st!

So get working on those applications!  And remember, we’re here to help.  Ask us questions about the application, we’ll answer them.

Want to know more about myUface?  GO TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

It’s been about three weeks since the last post.  For this, I sincerely apologize.  I’ve been working with the other members of the myUface staff to redesign the site somewhat, and make it more usesufl for students.  More on that in the coming days.