I'm Brazilian- How Can I Study Abroad?

Good news for you is that the college admissions representatives are on a mission to find you- Brazil is ripe for recruiting and all you need to do is become more knowledgeable about the process so you can find the right college match for you! My 1) Start early. You have three years to work on this and us Americans have four. Not only do you have a year less to become comfortable with the planning and necessary steps, but most students in the area do not have an accredited college counselor (which is why I have decided to step away from the American School of Brasilia and help you out) who is familiar with both the Brazilian and American systems. 2) Research. Using a all-inclusive site like www.collegeboard.org is a fantastic way to see action plans, SAT test questions and dates, do college searches based on your needs, and much, much more. 3) Visit. When college fairs come to Brasilia, and are open to the public, GO! There is nothing like getting information straight from the source and if you can't visit their campus over vacation, then meet them while they are in your neighborhood. Even if your dream school is not attending, it is important for you to see all types of schools out there and practice those social interview skills. 4) What about financial aid? Listen, if they are sending reps to Brasilia- they most likely have money in their financial aid basket available. Always ask about international aid! 5) Look at the Common Application www.commonapp.org to see what type of criteria is generally expected of applicants. Although admissions committees realize that each country, and every student has different educational opportunities, it is important to see the information that will be expected from you so you can plan around it. For instance, community service and extracurricular activities that have made an impact on your life are important holistic factors.

Beyond Brazil

Brazil is opening up to the world faster than the Ipê tree blossoms. As much as tourists from the States, Canada, Europe and other places clamour to see the sincere beauty that is Brazil and its people, many Brazilian yearn to find a way to study abroad- be it during high school, for university, or graduate school. The role of the college counselor does not have a place in Brazilian institutional systems because entrance to university here is through testing- the Vestibular. Likewise, university admissions officers, although they may smartly have hired a Brazilian representative for those ever-growing amounts of brasileiro applicants, there is not much information to understand a students' educational background relevant to rigor. Like anywhere else in the world, high performing high schools (high performing is based on how many students do well on certain university entrance exams- and what numerical spot the tester achieved for their area of study- yes you can only choose one major prior to entering college here) have their reputation- and more often than not produce great thinkers- and excellent test-takers. The movement to create a whole child here in Brazil, based on experience, will take a few more Ipê seasons to grow. That much I can tell you. These kids are testing machines- and the three years of high school are repetitious of one another in subject, while they advance annually in depth. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Sociology, Philosophy and Brazilian Social Studies make up the core. You will also find several English courses offered at lower grade levels- and more often than not- the high schools have outsourced a language program to help prepare students for the influx of English-based opportunities. Or at least look good on paper. Rarely will you find students that have done life-changing volunteer work or have leadership roles - and although you may find a fabulous soccer player- you may get a laugh if you offer to recruit them into what it means to be a soccer player in the States. After almost a decade in Brazil, I would like to see Brazilian schools become more educated on the process of studying abroad. I would like Brazilian parents to cut the cord and to be a little more giving of their children's inherent ability to adapt and add to other cultures, and I would like Brazil itself to foster the need to educate students on a more holistic spectrum- which includes finding articulation agreements between post-secondary schools here and there. The momentum for a movement of such magnitude needs to start with asking the right questions: Students ask: What is the process? When should I start? What value can I bring back to Brazil from studying outside? What does it mean to do volunteer work or be on a student council? Where do I find counseling that will build my skills? Parents ask: How can I give my child the best opportunities? How is the admissions process different from the Brazilian process? What will we learn through my child? What person or business is accredited in terms of counseling? Brazilian schools and educational governing bodies ask: What is a school profile? Who should guide our students? What is the importance of hosting educational fairs for study abroad? How can we support, galvanize and MODERNIZE our educational system? How can we look at transfer credits? What person or business is accredited in terms of counseling and how can we support the initiative? Universities: How do we read Brazilian applicant files? How can I understand a school's profile? Which schools are the most rigorous and what is the index used? What resources do the students have for getting more information about our university? Is it valuable to go visit Brazilian schools? If so, which one? Who will set this up? Where do I find the most recent trending articles about each school? Beyond Brazil there is a world ready to enlighten us- just as much as the sun tans our buns on Copacabana.Let's blaze the college trail together! My services to help you answer these questions and pose your own are officially open! Brazil College Counseling has officially launched. Please contact msemilydobson@gmail.com for more info.

FAFSA- (for US kids) New and Improved and on YouTube

Please click on the link to read the article about the less tedious FAFSA. And taken from the UCLA "FinAid Fundamentals" course--- a YouTube video has been unearthed! A plus for those who hate to read directions! Even though you still have to read them...it is a nice support system option.

"...short video clip developed by the U.S Department of ED. Arne Duncan (Sec. of Education) encourages students to seek out FA info....clip provides great tips for students to start researching the Financial Aid (FA) process."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NQ2UakBwL8

Podunk Community College- Eww! So not prestigious. Brand name only please.

Oh- stop being a snob and start making a match. Just because you want to go to colleges that you have heard of- doesn't mean that they are the best- or more accurately, that they are the best for you. Listen carefully-my international students- you are not living in the States or Europe- so you have not heard the latest buzz. Ever ask what US NEWS bases their "Top Colleges" on? Is it how much money the university gets? How many kids they deny? How many people have heard of the schools? Should you not consider the credibility and WAY in which ratings are done? I can tell you this- they were not done with your personal needs in mind. For example- you are from the West Coast- you may not have heard of the College of William and Mary- one of the oldest colleges in the US. Probably because that is "East Coast" knowledge and it seems more of a secret society to those who know how competitive it is to get in. Now you know. How many other secrets are out there?

True story: Bob gets into Harvard. Bob goes to Harvard. Bob does average at Harvard. Bob applies for a job. Potential boss asks Bob what he did at Harvard. Bob names a few hobbies, but relies on the fact that he gradated and has a Harvard diploma. Potential boss belives that his evolutionary company needs someone who has gained more skills and not just a diploma. Bob is not hired. Boss finds a person from Community College of Nebraska who revolutionized the corn-husking machine. Potential boss thinks this would be great since it offers a different perspective and also shows skills his company is looking for. Bob moves back in with parents and has no job for a while. Corn guy gets a great job, makes sure employer and clients get new perspective of a "home-grown" kind of guy. Company gets great press for Corn guy's great heart, philosophy, and ability to look past money making and status. Corn guy has made the company a Fortune 500 company.

Fact or Fiction:

University of Oklahoma is just a school where they have cows and tractors.
State Universities like Georgia State are for poor people or people with bad grades.
Hamilton College is a small school and no one goes there.

PLease click on the title for some PERSPECTIVE.

Fortune 500 Scholarships

You know all those super uber-rich companies? They want to help with your education. Check out the link in the title and follow your nose!

Will colleges/bosses REALLY look at my Facebook or Orkut?

"In a 2008 survey of 320 admissions officers from top colleges, the education experts at Kaplan learned that roughly 10% visit social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace to learn more about applicants. Be sure to check out the Kaplan press release. The bottom line: an applicant's web information made a positive impression about 25% of the time and a negative impression 38% of the time. "

Click on title to read more.


"According to a 2009 study by Internet security firm Proofpoint, 8 percent of companies with more than 1,000 employees have fired someone for social media actions -- a figure that is double what was reported in 2008. Yet it probably comes as no surprise that Facebook firings are on the rise. Cases of employers firing employees for social media slip-ups have been consistent in the news over the past few years."

Read full article here:

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2349-Workplace-Issues-12-Ways-to-Get-Fired-for-Facebook/?cbsid=9a50cb3db1d54b359f0f8fc48c5a7535-336693637-RB-4&sc_extcmp=JS_2349_home1&cbRecursionCnt=2&SiteId=cbmsnhp42349&ArticleID=2349>1=23000

Does Attending College Fairs Make a Difference?

I get this question all the time- and the basic common sense answer is "Yes!" And all the while I am thinking- how could you NOT be dying to go?!!? You have no clue where to go to school, you think all of Canada has snow year round, and the Ivy Leagues are the only schools that exist in the States among a select few other names. Time to re-boot that attitude!

But I get it- you really want to know why you need to go. Honestly,there is no better way to debunk misconceptions, gain perspective and confidence, and learn about yourself than to go to a college fair and interact. But if you don't believe me- believe the professionals.

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) says:
Every year, more than 400,000 students attend National College Fairs seeking information about colleges, universities and other postsecondary institutions.

Free and open to the public, National College Fairs and Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs allow students to interact with admission representatives from a wide range of postsecondary institutions to discuss course offerings, admission and financial aid requirements, college life in general, and other information pertinent to the college selection process.

College Admissions Representatives Say:

Response #1

Hi Emily!

My answer (and you’re more than welcome to make it not anonymous) is that part of the college search and research process is going to the fairs and actually SPEAKING TO A REAL HUMAN! I actually think the best reason in favor of going to these fairs is specifically because you don’t know if you want to go to a school or not. By speaking to an admissions rep or alumni who is at the fair, you’ll get a much more accurate picture of what each specific school has to offer, and what their “fit” might be with you. Then, should you decide that you want to move forward and research that institution more deeply, and perhaps even apply, you’ll have a person who will be a resource for you – admissions officers value face to face interaction as much as students and counselors do – we *love* to meet students! You don’t have to talk to every school at a fair, but targeting several is a great idea. It’s as important to rule schools out as it to rule them in.

Happy to talk more about this should you want!

Ainsley

Ainsley Parker, C'03, GSE'09
Regional Director of Admissions
The University of Pennsylvania

Response #2

4-Year Private US University

Attending college fairs, as long as it’s not too much a burden in terms of time and efforts, is a good idea. Of course, you shouldn’t just attend all of them, but only those with schools that you’ve interest for. The representatives at these fairs can give you invaluable information about the school and their programs, even if you don’t know what you’d like to major in or if you’re going to attend that school. At this point of your college search, the key is gather information, not eliminating schools based lack of interest. I say, if you have interest in a school (for whatever reason), find out about them through all means possible (including attending college fairs). One useful tip is to find out who the representatives may be at these college fairs. Are they admission staff? Are they alumni? Are they current students? If they are admission staff, then you’re in luck, because these are the experts that you need to talk to (and leave a good impression with). If they are alumni and/or current students, then they can give you information about what it is like being a student at the school, though they may not be able to answer specific admission questions.


So- get out there and make yourself more than a Common Application or an email case number. Show them the 3-D you!