College

[Joeybaby]

I am just about to start my last year of secondary school in Irealnd. During this year i have to dicide where to attend college. Im interested in going to colege in florida, is there anyway as how i can go about applying? any help or information would be greatful!

James - by the way im using my younger brothers profile

[esprit]

Select a US college, go to their website and click on International Students. It will tell you how to apply for the college and when you get a place how they sponsor you for an F1 international students visa by issuing you a 1-20 and putting you on the SEVIS computer. Part of that process involves proving that you or your parents have enough money to pay your fess, health insurance, halls fees and for food and books. I think it is around $26,000 a year they ask you to show. You do this via bank statements or a letter from the bank. Or prove you have got a scholarship.

To get your university place, you will fill in an application form which usually includes one or two essays. You will also need to submit transcripts from previous schools, showing results of exams. GSCEs and A levels. You should try and sit SAT or ACT and submit the scores as well, I think you can do them in the UK, not sure about Ireland.

Once the 1-20 is issued you apply for an interview at the embassy, yours would be Belfast or Dublin as I am not sure whether you are from the north or south. You cannot apply more that four months before your first term starts and cannot enter the country on your F1 more than 30 days before. They ask for various forms at the interview, proof you have paid your SERVIS fee and proof you are maintaining a permanent residence in your home country as part of the premise of F1 is no immigrant intent. You also need to prove sufficient funds again. If you are lucky they will issue you with an F1.

Many people to be frank cannot afford the fees. You need to think hard about this. For more detail on how to apply for F1 see the embassy website at http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/fapply.html

[mizzy]

i was reading an article in a mail on sunday "you" magazine quite recently about studying in the US and how the cost of a degree can be less over there

they mentioned a london based organisation that holds regular recruitment days with US admissions officers coming over especially for those days

may be a shot in the dark but you could check out their website for contact details or for a copy article

Mizzy

[CarolAnn]

Thanks for such detailed information Julie. I am sure James will find that useful. I would not be surprised to be looking in the US ourselves, when the time comes for college/university[msnwink]

[Jill]

Also have a look at the Fulbright Commission. When our son went to University of Miaimi we found them very helpful. http://www.fulbright.co.uk/

[Joeybaby]

thanks for all the info. are the colleges in Florida the best or the worst within america?

[MTP]

Probably not terribly highly regarded

[Jill]

Our eldest son went to University of Miami to study tropical marine biology and had a wonderful time. Our younger son is off next year to University of California, Berkeley to read Chemistry. Our understanding of the American system is that within the overall universities the individual departments are graded separately unlike universities in the UK. You need to know what subject you are wanting to study and then see how that department is ranked against other universities for the same subject.

[andrewmckay5]

James,
another avenue to consider may be a UK university course that has an exchange year with a US university. Depending on your career objectives a UK degree "may" be more relevant to future employers.
I went to Manchester University on a 4 year course and the 3rd year was spent at the University of North Carolina.
andrew

[Joeybaby]

theres only one problem i dont live in the uk i live in Ireland but i suppose ther emight be something like that over here!! Does anybody know of anything like the Fulbright Commission in Ireland? And im interseted in doing either Structual Engingeering or Sports Science where would be the best places in america for that does anybody know?

[esprit]

University of Florida in Gainesville is highly regarded.

Have a search for the various colleges via http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/index.jsp
You can search against varying criteria,

[Deb]

My nephew has just started a 4 year scholarship at Eckerd College, St Petersburg. Take a look at the website: http://www.eckerd.edu/ - its a fantastic setting, we hope to go and see him in November. I think his course is Sports Management. Luckily for his Mum & Dad they only have to find 10% of the fees of approx $35000 per year. He was helped by Sports-Ed agency who specialise in sport scholarships, he was offered places at several colleges throughout the USA but opted for Florida.

[Jill]

If you are thinking of doing a structural engineering degree will you also consider becoming a chartered member of the Institution of Structural Engineers of Institution of Civil Engineers (more general insitution)? If you were to consider becoming chartered you should get in touch with the Institutions before making a decision to see if they will accept an American degree or if you would need any additional exams.