Haverford College

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2014/09/24/eastern-pennsylvania-college-road-trip-haverford-college?int=95a608

Bryn Mawr College

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2014/09/24/eastern-pennsylvania-college-road-trip-bryn-mawr?int=95a608

US schools which offer the most financial aid to international students

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/2014/09/23/10-colleges-that-award-international-students-the-most-financial-aid?int=ae4109

Solutions for Common Application mistakes

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-admissions-playbook/2014/09/15/students-offer-solutions-for-common-college-application-mistakes?int=95a608

Need blind vs Need based policies in US Colleges

Provides excellent explanation of need based vs need blind policies of US colleges

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/international-student-counsel/2014/09/16/contrast-need-blind-need-based-aid-policies-in-us-college-search?int=95a608

US Colleges with high application fees

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/2014/09/16/colleges-that-charge-the-most-for-applying?int=ae4109

US News Infographic on Paying for college

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2014/09/16/infographic-paying-for-college?int=ae4109

List of US post secondary institutions that have pending Title IX sexual violence investigations pending

Please see attached link for list

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/sites/default/files/copy_of_ocr_sexual_violence_-_open_investigations_-_higher_ed_-_7-23-14.pdf

Things to know about US college experience before applying

US News article

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/international-student-counsel/2014/09/09/what-to-know-about-the-us-college-experience-before-applying?int=ad9009&int=ad9009

10 questions every parent, student should ask about campus safety

Parents and students, please read this article.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2014/09/09/10-questions-every-parent-student-should-ask-about-campus-safety?int=ae4109

Questions College Financial Aid Officers wish parents would ask

Questions College Financial Aid Officers wish parents would ask

 http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2014/09/10/7-questions-college-financial-aid-officers-wish-parents-would-ask?src=usn_tw

US News Latest ranking of US universities is available. Please see link below.  You should use the rankings very carefully.  Remember "fit" is more important than rankings.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/princeton--williams-take-top-spots-in-u-s--news-best-colleges-rankings-153155189.html?soc_src=copy

My Favorite College Essay Tip

My Favorite College Essay Tip

Is There An Easier SAT Testing Date?

Is There An Easier SAT Testing Date?

Applying to College Early Decision

Applying to College Early Decision



Interesting article on applying to College early decision

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Aerial of HWS

It was a beautiful morning when we visited Hobart and William Smith Colleges  (HWS).  We had a beautiful view of the area as we neared HWS.  HWS is located in the Finger Lakes Region.  It is one hour away from Rochester.  We drove through a small picturesque town to get to the colleges.

Total enrollment is 2368.  Total international population is 123 which represents 5.2% of the student body.

Five most popular majors are Economics, Art/Architecture, Psychology, Environmental Studies, Media and Society.

Financial aid is available to international students but they must complete the College Board's CSS Profile. HWS offers merit based scholarships and need based grants to International students.  The average amount of award is $34,267.  HWS does not offer 100% tuition scholarships.  The minimum family contribution is $3500. 

Scholarships
HWS is test optional.  However, some scholarships require SAT/ACT scores.  Biggest scholarship is $25,000.  See link to scholarship page    http://www.hws.edu/admissions/merit_based.aspx

I feel it is incumbent to mention that HWS that there was a recent article in the NY Times and other publications re a female student being sexually assaulted on campus.  The article is "Reporting Rape and Wishing she hadn't:How one school handled a sexual assault complaint" I know that HWS has taken several measures with respect to security as the Head of Security met with the group of college counsellors whilst we were on the tour.

Academics
Every student has to have 2 areas of concentration - either a major and minor or a double major.  The first of the majors must be a disciplinary major i.e. biology, music etc, the other must be interdisciplinary e.g media and society.  The rationale is that students need to have different perspectives to be able to do well in the world. 

HWS students must complete a course of study which includes
HWS's eight educational goals and objectives
First year seminar
Passing 32 courses.

The 8 educational goals are:
Effective communication skills
Critical thinking and argumentation skills
Quantitative skills
Experience scientific inquiry and understand nature of scientific knowledge
Appreciation of artistic expression
Grounded foundation for understanding differences and inequalities of gender, race and class
Critical knowledge of the multiplicity of world cultures
Foundation for ethical judgement and action

University of Rochester

Our trip to University of Rochester was on the afternoon of July 13 and it was still raining. Our first view of University of Rochester campus.

University of Rochester is located in Rochester, NY.

Colleges/Schools/Departments
School of Arts and Sciences
Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Eastman School of Music
Simon Business School
Warner School of Education
School of Medicine and Dentistry
School of Nursing

Most popular majors are Psychology, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Economics and Political Science

Acceptance rate is 36%

International students represent 16% of student body

Financial aid
University of Rochester offers financial aid to international students.  The average amount of award is $20,679. University of Rochester has a 2 billion dollars endowment and it offers both need based and merit based scholarships to international students  Please note it is not need blind.

U of Rochester is oriented around self directed curriculum.  Students design their own major. U of Rochester does not have any general education courses.

U of Rochester has one of the best music schools in the world and has both conservatory and acdemic programmes up to the Ph.d Level.


Graduation rate is 87%

 Inside the foyer of Rush Rhees library

 Wilson Commons

The tunnels

For prospective students who are afraid of the cold in Upstate NY, U of Rochester has a series of connecting tunnels between several buildings.  Some of them are decorated by student groups

 

Inside the Eastman School of Music

A stage inside Eastman School of Music

Another stage in Eastman School of Music

Rochester Shuttle Express

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

RIT Global Village


RIT is located in Rochester in New York.

It was a rainy, bleak morning when we visited RIT.

College of Engineering

Toyota Production Systems Laboratory in College of Engineering

The total enrollment is 18,292.  International students represent 11% of the student body.  Rochester is the 3rd largest city in New York state. RIT has a 58% acceptance rate. Graduates receive a BFA os BS degree

Academics
RIT has 9 colleges
College of Applied Science & Technology
E. Philip Saunders College of Business
B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
College of Health Sciences and Technology
College of Imaging Arts and Sciences
College of Liberal Arts
National Institute for the Deaf
College of Science

RIT is test optional for international students( meaning you do not have to take the SAT or ACT).

RIT has over 20 accelerated dual degree programmes

RIT is a part of the Rochester Area Colleges consortium.  Students are able to take courses at the other schools at no extra charge.

The University calendar features 15 weeks of teaching.

Financial aid
Financial aid is offered to international students.  The average amount of the award was $8000. International students are eligible for merit scholarships. Merit scholarships can range up to $16,000. Applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships once completed application has been submitted.

Cooperative education
One of the features of the RIT experience is the cooperative or co-op education.  Co-op is full time, paid work experience directly related to course of study and career interests. Many of RIT's academic programmes require co-op. The length of a co-op can be one term or two consecutive terms.  Students get experience from internships and other work options.

Campuses
In addition to the main campus in Rochester, RIT has campuses in Dubai and Croatia.  Person can apply directly to Dubai, Kosovo and Croatia.

Academics
Top 15% of applicants are invited to participated in RIT's Honor programme.

Rankings
RIT is listed in 2014 Princeton Review's "Best 378 Colleges"
RIT's student incubator, the Simone Center for Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship ranked No 1 in the nation

  
 

Upstate New York Tour

I participated in the Upstate New York Overseas Counselor Tour from July 12 - 17, 2014.  It was a whirlwind tour which allowed the counsellors to visit 10 institutions

Rochester Institute of Technology
University of Rochester
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Ithaca College
Syracuse University
Colgate University
Hamilton College
Skidmore College
Union College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

I will be posting information and photos from each visit. 

Look out for later blogs