Stress blows problems out of all proportion, especially when you are nineteen and you’re currently attending University. [Read more...]
Student Visas, part II: Getting your papers in order
January 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
We discussed the pre-requisites for obtaining a student visa here. Now that you know what lies ahead and how to plan for it, it’s time to discuss the necessary papers- and there are a lot of them. The SEVIS I-20 form mentioned previously is essential but it’s only the beginning. We also talked briefly about the DS 160. That form can be submitted online. It is used by Consular Officers who then interview you before processing your information. The DS-160 will also ask that you upload a photo of yourself. As you may imagine, the application process presumes a certain level of technological savvy. [Read more...]
Your ticket to study abroad: the TOEFL exam
January 3, 2012 by 5 Comments
The TOEFL [Test of English as a Foreign Language] exam is a requirement for admission to almost every school in the United States. Additionally, many employers require passing TOEFL scores. The TOEFL was first developed by Dr. Charles Ferguson at Stanford University in California and has undergone many transformations since then. Since 2006, TOEFL has been administered via computer and pencil and paper tests are no longer given. [Read more...]
Studying abroad in the United States: selecting the best schools
December 27, 2011 by 2 Comments
As 2011 comes to a close, there are over fourteen million students enrolled in nearly 6000 schools of higher education in the United States. If you are reading this, chances are you may soon be one of them. But how to choose? There are a lot of issues for you to consider: what do you want to study? Do you have a niche- a small specialty area? Is there a specific professor or program you seek? Before answering these questions, it will help you to understand, in general terms, the type of schools you will find in the United States. [Read more...]
How I ditched 1,200 Facebook friends and lived to tell about it
December 23, 2011 by 1 Comment
Being an expat today isn’t what it used to be at all.
With a good smartphone we carry an entire social circle in our front pocket. The other day it dawned on me that I might be somewhat “cheating” as an expat because of this technological advantage. In the darker years, expats who didn’t have their social circle to summon with the flick of a finger became pressed to socialize in any way they could muster and this natural tension probably lead to the kind of social adaptation that leads to proper cultural assimilation.
