myUface Blog

Today we have good news to report:  in the two weeks since we’ve announced the myUface site and tried to spread the word about it, over 200 students from all over the world have signed up and started an application.

Now, you may be wondering, Is this really good news? After all, if there are more students, doesn’t that mean more competition?

The answer is no, and here’s why:  the more students that sign up to myUface, the more universities in the U.S. will be interested in our database.  The more universities are interested, the more the database will be searched.  The more the database gets searched, the higher the chances that your application will be noticed by a university in the U.S.  So, 200 applicants is good news for all of us.

That’s one of the things we hope distinguishes myUface from other student placement sites (aside from the fact that myUface is free for everyone):  here, we’re trying to build a community of students. When one member of that community wins, we all win.

Tomorrow we’ll talk a little bit more about our two hundred applicants and what needs to happen for them to get their applications ready for U.S. universities!

Over the past week we’ve had hundreds and hundreds of new users visit the site.  I wanted to take a moment and share with you some resources we have that may be of interest to you:

First, we have two myUface guides:

1. The Advantages and Disadvantages of a University Education in the United States
2. Looking for a University in the United States

You can donwload both of these guides (for free of course) here.

Second, you should check out our Series:

1. Should you study in the U.S.? A comprehensive and honest guide to the benefits and disadvantages of a U.S. education (April 2009).
2. Looking for a U.S. University – All of the information you should consider in selecting a U.S. university – including some things you may not have thought about (May 2009).
3. Finding Financial Aid for your U.S. Education – Need help paying for a U.S. education?  Here’s a guide to how to look for and secure financial support.  It’s not easy, but it’s worth a try (June / July 2009)!
4. Preparing For A Visa Interview – A three part series on the misconceptions many students have about student visa interviews (July 2009).
5. Universities in the Fifty States – we look at what it would be like to live as an international student in each of the fifty states.
6. Writing Essays for University Applications – full of advice on how to write, edit and submit an essay with your university application.

According to this article in the Washington Post, thousands of students who had planned on attending “traditional” four-year institutions are choosing instead to go to community colleges.

Community college enrollment in the Washington region rose by nearly 12,000 students this fall, a 10 percent bump. The recession diverted large numbers of high school seniors from four-year colleges to less-expensive two-year colleges.

“I’ve heard stories of high school students who were accepted at U-Va. or Virginia Tech, and what their parents have done is ask them to wait out a year, come here for a year, purely for economics,” said Deborah DiCroce, president of Tidewater Community College in the South Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Fall enrollment at Tidewater was projected to rise to 30,500 this year from 26,898 last year.

As a result, community colleges have expanded their faculty, and increased their working hours.  At some community college campuses, you can take classes at midnight!

What does this mean for you?  It means that you might consider community colleges as a first step in the American educational system.  More and more, they are attracting high quality students, high quality professors, and high quality technology – and offering it to students at a fraction of the cost charged by “traditional” universities.

Are you looking for a high quality education in the United States, but don’t want to spend four years away from home or hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition?  Community colleges might be the answer you’re looking for.  Community colleges generally offer two-year degrees, called “associates degrees,” in a variety of fields.  Generally speaking, community colleges provide education in emerging technologies or in technical skills.

Dr. Jill Biden, an instructor at community colleges herself, and the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, toured some community colleges alongside President Obama, and had this to say:

Every day in my classroom I also see the power of education to break down barriers and to open students’ eyes to the possibilities around them.

I saw that power again as President Obama and I toured several high-tech classrooms and spoke with students who are being trained in cutting-edge and emerging technologies to meet the workforce needs of their region. There is no doubt that the education gained on [community college] campuses . . . will provide the knowledge that will power the American and global economies of the 21st century.

I have always said community colleges are one of America’s best kept secrets – and I am so pleased that now we have a president who is highlighting their contribution, making a historic commitment to higher education, and bringing more and more students to [community] colleges . . . so they, too, can gain the skills and the confidence they need to succeed in a new era.

You might want to consider a community college for your U.S. education.  Barack Obama certainly thinks so!

Take a moment and read this article about Abilene Christian University and its decision to integrate mobile technology – iPhones and iTouches – into its classrooms.  Fascinating, huh?

A few points:

• this is the kind of innovation that goes on all the time at U.S. universities, and makes them the best in the world
• notice that such innovation doesn’t only happen at the big famous schools everyone has heard of.  How many international students have heard of Abilene Christian University?  If this mobile learning trend succeeds, my guess is this university’s profile is going to go way up.

What do you think?  Can you imagine learning with an iPhone?

Today on our tour of U.S. States:  North Dakota, the Peace Garden state.  Hey, that sounds nice!  Who doesn’t like peace and gardens?

The rugged wilderness of North Dakota

Activities

Once again, we’re in a state where most of the activities involve putting on a good pair of boots and going out to see Mother Nature in all of her glory.   As this list of activities from North Dakota’s tourism site shows, there are A LOT of different ways you can experience the beauty of North Dakotan wilderness.   North Dakota offers more opportunities than most states to see nature via horseback or motorized vehicle (such as an ATV, or All-Terrain Vehicle).  The state offers a unique chance to see a lot of untouched wilderness – it is the 19th largest state, but is has the 3rd least amount of people.  This means a lot of empty space.

Extracurricular activities

Sports and outdoor activities.  That’s what you can expect the focus of extracurricular activities to be.  Of course, like every other state, universities in North Dakota will have all the usual activities too (drama, debate, etc.).  But if you go to North Dakota and fail to experience the out-of-doors, you’ll be missing out.  Expect a special emphasis on winter sports such as skiing, hockey, etc.

Social Activities

Universities in North Dakota will offer a very eclectic mix of social activities.  The universities will be in medium-sized towns with all of the amenities, so if you’re a lover of all things urban, you’ll be able to survive.  At the same time, the universities will be home to many students from rural areas.  The mix of rural and urban student populations creates a good mix of activities and perspectives.  Contrary to any stereotypes Americans might hold about North Dakota, universities in the state boast the full range of cultural facilities, including art museums, theatres and concert venues.  In short, you won’t find a lack of a social life to be a problem.

North Dakota has art museums, and don't let people tell you differently!

Tourist Sites

We’ve already mentioned the nature, but it’s worth mentioning again.  I’d also like to put a word in for the culture in North Dakota – it is at the same time the state with the largest church-going population in the U.S., and a state with a large Native American population.  As such, it really offers a very unique view into several different American subcultures.  If you’re interested in experiencing new cultures, it’s an attractive choice.  And let’s not forget Theodore Roosevelt National Park, home to some of America’s great vistas.

Wow. Enough said.

Weather

Are you by any chance familiar with the Billy Joel song, “I Go To Extremes?”

Darling I don’t know why I go to extremes
Too high or too low there ain’t no in-betweens
And if I stand or I fall
It’s all or nothing at all
Darling I don’t know why I go to extremes

Little known fact:  it was written about the weather in North Dakota.  OK, not really.  But it could have been.  North Dakota, according to Wikipedia, “has some of the most extreme temperature variations on the planet.”  If, like Billy Joel, you go to extremes, this could be the place for you.  Having said that, North Dakota’s heat waves last only a day or two according to this site on North Dakota’s weather.  In fact, if you are interested in studying in North Dakota, but are scared by the weather, visit this site and it’ll cheer you up.  You can learn that

Winter is the grandest season of all to many North Dakotans. It is the season for snowmobiling in open and uncrowded fields, for such vigorous outdoor recreation as ice skating and ice hockey, for basketball, and for visiting with friends and neighbors. There is no medicine like a crisp North Dakota winter morning to put spring and vigor into the steps of old and young alike.

And also that

North Dakota’s delightful summer season is at its best in June, July and August, and is perfect for all outdoor activities. The days are warm, sometimes even hot, but nights are one-blanket cool for restful sleep.

Can I come too?

Cost of Living

Here’s some good news. It costs roughly half of what it would take to live in New York to live in Fargo, North Dakota (51.2%, to be exact). And salaries are only 24.8% lower.  Translation:  it’s a good place if you’re on a tight budget.

Source is here.

Notable Universities

Here’s a list of North Dakota’s fine universities.

Posts in this Series

1. Choosing a University in the U.S.: North Dakota (This post)
2. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Minnesota - 12 Aug
3. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Alaska - 31 Jul
4. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Utah - 24 Jul
5. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Colorado - 21 Jul
6. New myUface Guide and New Series - 20 Jul

OK, folks, get ready.  Today we’re going to a state that most international students aren’t even thinking about:  Alaska.

But why aren’t they thinking about it?  Do they know that Alaska is the largest state?  That it certainly is one of the most beautiful states?  That it has a modern city as its capitol?  Or that it has more than 6,000 miles of coastline, more than the entire continental United States?  Or that, like every other U.S. state, it has great universities that are looking for international students?

No?  Well, put on your shorts and t-shirts (Alaska is warm in the summer, folks), and let’s head up the great north!

Activities

Alaska is a paradise for those who love outdoor adventure.  There are, of course, your normal outdoor activities:  hiking, fishing, camping, etc.  But why stop there?  Try whale watching, glacier-hiking, sea kayaking, or dog sledding.  The vastness and variety of Alaska’s natural landscape means that you can engage in practically any outdoor activity . . . well, OK, maybe not surfing.  If you’re an indoors sort of person, um, let’s see . . . OK, maybe it’s not the state for you.  There are some historic sites, and wonderful opportunities to experience native culture, and the culture of Russian settlers.  Also, many of Alaska’s outdoor wonders are easily accessible in cars, so if you’re not the adventurous type you can still experience the beauty of Alaska.

Extracurricular activities

With an abundance of natural beauty, you shouldn’t be surprised if many of Alaska’s universities have every possible kind of wilderness club.  Alaska is also a natural place to practice photography, painting, or other visual arts.  Snowboarding and skiing are also common extracurricular activities.  If you’re interested in biology or other natural sciences, you can expect a lot of activity in that sphere as well.

Social Activities

Friends, I’m not going to lie to you.  I was not able to locate much information on social life at Alaska’s campuses.  Judging from student reviews, however, social life isn’t too bad, coming in with a C+ grade.  They must be doing something fun, even if I can’t figure out what it is.  I’m sure they have all the normal student activities (parties, dances, concerts, etc.), and besides, there’s too much to do outside!

Tourist Sites

OK, quick exercise.  Guess how many national parks are located in Alaska.  If you guessed “10,” you’re wrong, on the low side.  Alaska has a whopping sixteen national parks.  I won’t list them all here – you can see them via this link for yourself.   Worth special mention is DeNali National Park, home to North America’s tallest mountain.  You could live in Alaska all your life, traveling to a natural tourist site every weekend, and not see all there is to see.  IT IS THAT BIG, PEOPLE!

Weather

OK, it’s impossible to sum up the weather in Alaska.  It would be just as hard as talking about the weather in the United States.  But a few quick points:

1. It’s not as cold as you think.  Some regions in Alaska actually have fairly mild winters, with daytime temperatures above freezing, even in the winter
2. The amount of sunlight is very high in the summer months, and very low in the winter months.  Most of the populated part of Alaska gets about 6 hours of nighttime in the summer, and 18 hours of daylight (the opposite is true in the winter).

Other than that, you’re going to need to read about it yourself.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Anchorage, Alaska is 33% less than in New York; salaries are only 5% less than in New York.  Source is here.

Notable Universities

Here is Wikipedia’s list of Alaska’s universities.

Posts in this Series

1. Choosing a University in the U.S.: North Dakota - 12 Sep
2. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Minnesota - 12 Aug
3. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Alaska (This post)
4. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Utah - 24 Jul
5. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Colorado - 21 Jul
6. New myUface Guide and New Series - 20 Jul

Great question today about myUface.  A student wrote to ask when the site would be fully operational.  He notes that we had mentioned before that it might be ready by the middle of July.  So, he wonders, what’s going on?

Great question.  Right now at myUface we are focused on two things:

1)  Completing the site so that it’s useful for students and easy to use.

2)  Reaching out to universities to partner with us.

I’ll be totally honest:  both are taking longer than we’d planned.  But not so much longer than we planned.  I would say you can expect to see a fully functional site sometime in the next few weeks.  And sometime soon after than you can expect universities to begin using myUface to meet international students.

In the meantime, please, keep reading the blog, keep researching universities, and keep thinking about your career goals.

We begin our look at choosing a university in specific U.S. states with my home state, Colorado.

Activities

Colorado has a very diverse array of activities, many of which are centered on the Rocky Mountains, which roughly divide the state into two parts:  the eastern plains and the western, mountainous slopes.  If you like the outdoors and activities in them, Colorado is going to be a great place to study.  Hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, rafting, birdwatching, nature photography, camping, snowboarding, ice skating – the list is almost endless.

Extracurricular activities

Because of the wonderful natural setting of many of Colorado’s universities, there are a number of clubs that encourage students to involve themselves in the great outdoors.  In addition, clubs or volunteer groups that seek to protect or preserve the environment are very common.  Finally, because many students partake of an active lifestyle, sports are very much a large part of most students’ experience.

Social Activities

Many of Colorado’s universities are situated in medium-large sized towns such as Boulder, Fort Collins, Greeley or Colorado Springs.  Because these towns are somewhat dependent on their student populations, there will tend to be a large amount of student-oriented bars, clubs, and other businesses, serving to create good opportunities for a healthy social life.

Denver, the capitol, is a fairly large city.  It lacks the size and frenzy of mega cities like New York or L.A., but does have many, if not all, of the same amenities (clubs, mega-malls, stadiums for concerts, etc.)

Tourist Sites

The number one tourist site by far in Colorado is Rocky Mountain National Park.  The other main tourist attractions in Colorado are the ski resorts.  There are a number of other national parks and wonders to be seen, including ancient native american dwellings at Mesa Verde.  If you love natural beauty, you could spend years in Colorado and not even scratch the surface.

Weather

Colorado has a reputation for crazy weather.  It’s one of the few places on earth where it can be hot and sunny one hour and cold and snowy the next.  If you like predictability in your weather, Colorado is probably not for you.  Overall, though, the weather is quite good:  hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but without much humidity, with long falls and winters.  Here’s the summary from the Colorado Climate Center.

Cost of Living

One quick note on how I’ll be providing this information:  I’m going to use New York City, one of the most expensive places in the U.S. (and the world), as a baseline.  I’ll then tell you:

a)  how much less it costs to live in another place; and

b)  how much less employers pay

I’m including the data on employer’s pay because it gives you an idea of the overall quality of life there.  If, for example, the cost of living is 10% less but the average salaries are 25% less, it probably means people living in that location have a lower standard of living than in New York (at least in financial terms).  If, on the other hand, the cost of living is 25% less but people make only 10% less, the standard of living is probably higher than in New York.  Does that make sense?  If not, let me know.  Anyway, onto the data for Colorado.

The cost of living in Denver, Colorado is 39% less than in New York; salaries are 12% less than in New York.

Notable Universities

Here is Wikipedia’s list of Colorado universities.

Posts in this Series

1. Choosing a University in the U.S.: North Dakota - 12 Sep
2. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Minnesota - 12 Aug
3. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Alaska - 31 Jul
4. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Utah - 24 Jul
5. Choosing a University in the U.S.: Colorado (This post)
6. New myUface Guide and New Series - 20 Jul

This week I received a very important question and I wanted to  answer it immediately.  Here it is (edited somewhat for grammar and spelling):

I am new to blogs and I am not sure how I am supposed to comment on what you write or ask questions.  Can you help me?

This is a great question, and I apologize for not writing about this sooner.  It’s good to remember that not everyone is familiar with all of the new internet technologies that have proliferated in the last years – and that’s OK! I actually completely understand where you’re coming from – I have no idea, for example, what “Twitter” is or how in the world I should “Tweet.”

I’m going to give you a short answer today.  I’m also going to make this question the subject of an upcoming podcast, and I’ll also put together an instructional video about this subject.  Thanks again for the question.

How to Ask Questions

I can tell by the fact that the reader did succesfully ask a question that he knows how to do this, but it’s worth repeating.  To ask a question of this blog, all you need to do is send an e-mail to:  blog@myuface.com.  That’s it.  If you want to ask a question for the podcast, send an e-mail to:  podcast@myuface.com.  We answer EVERY question we receive.

How to Make a Comment

When you click on the title of any blog post, that post will open in a separate window.  Down at the bottom of a post there’s an empty box beneath the words, “Leave a Reply.” Type your comment in this box and click on the button that says, “Submit Comment.”  Follow the instructions, and that’s it!

Generally speaking, I’ve found that international students are much more likely to submit questions than leave a comment, and that’s fine.  However, I urge you to make comments so that other readers of this blog can share their own opinions and experiences.  Our goal here is to build  an online community of international students, so please, comment!

Why Ask A Question

Let’s say that you’re trying to find the answer to a questions about studying in the U.S.  Sure, you can research that question yourself.  But you could also submit it to us, and we’ll research it for you. We’ll post the answer in the blog or speak about it on the podcast.  Seriously, it’s our job.

So please, ask questions, make comments.  We’ll be happy to do your research for you!