Jumping Into American College Life

It’s that time again for the North American Education supplement put together by the ever popular newspaper, DAWN!

The article this time around is rather interesting since it’s a compilation of all YOUR favorite posts that have been read the most times with added pieces here and there on statistics, facts and, of course, Stratford University.

So, while many of you will recognize parts of this article, there will be a few new things for your perusing enjoyment!

Taking A Giant Leap Into American Colleges

When talking to foreigners about attending colleges in America, there are many valid concerns that might cause some hesitation before fully applying oneself to begin narrowing down universities and then taking the next decisive step towards the college application process. Typically, the biggest concern that’s always at the top of the list revolves around money with the second biggest concern right behind it: Starting a new chapter of life in a new culture with brand new and unfamiliar surroundings.

These are valid concerns but in order to get past these hurdles of uncertainties, students need to first ask themselves some very important questions of why they want to study in America:

• Do I have the determination and willpower to follow through with what’s required of me to attend an American college?
• Do I have the dedication and motivation to complete the paper processes required?
• Do I fully realize all of my future benefits from studying in America?

With English considered as the universal language, it’s understandable that many people wish to study in an English-speaking country with the United States being at the top of that list. Enrolling in an American college allows the chance to fine-tune accents that will advance careers farther along back in your home country, develop different cultural relationships that helps in raising global awareness and increase the chances of gainful employment abroad after graduation.

These are all top-notch reasons for Pakistani nationals to enroll abroad and if that’s not enough for you, here’s an even bigger reason: If you consider the population of Pakistan – nearing the 170 million mark as of 2009 – with only 124 public and private universities available, out of which only eight public institutions and 18 private institutions have degree awarding statuses…well, then the need/desire to study abroad becomes very strong!

The irony of all of this is that while the majority of young people living in Pakistan dream of studying abroad, only a small percentage actually follow through with that dream.

So, what’s the problem then?

With tension surrounding world politics at an all-time high, ethnicity, language and religion make many people take a step backwards into a passive-aggressive approach towards applying for a college acceptance letter instead of a firm, much needed assertive approach.

For some, it truly is the financial aspect. Money is harder to come by these days with the economy in such a downward spiral. For others, the thought of change is the biggest cause of procrastination. Speaking English with your native accent can be pretty intimidating to think about or perhaps the feeling of being the new kid in class who has to fit in all over again is overwhelming. It could just simply be the fact that the largest change of all is going out into the world entirely independently and away from family and friends.

Perhaps one of the biggest personal fears of all is the ‘feeling alone’ factor. Without doing sound research, students tend to believe the negative rumors they’ve heard floating around rather than being pleasantly surprised and fully reassured by researching documented facts about American colleges and universities.

To give an example of documented research that’s widely available, students will find out that there nearly 300 languages spoken IN America, with one of the most culturally diverse locations found in its capital, Washington D.C. The U.S., as a whole, is full of people from all over the world; in fact, international students make up to over half a million of the United States’ population!

According to the Open Doors report, the number of international students at American colleges and universities increased by 3% to 690,923 during the 2009/10 academic year. “The United States continues to host more international students than any other country in the world,” said Allan Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education. “Active engagement between U.S. and international students in American classrooms provides students with valuable skills that will enable them to collaborate across cultures and borders to address shared global challenges in the years ahead.”

These validated facts are what makes Stratford University stand out, remaining at the top of international student acceptance rates and have kept it an ideal choice for international students all across the world! Stratford University’s student body and faculty consist of over 30 countries proving that a diverse student body is essential for a balanced educational experience.

Situated within the surrounding hub of the best culturally diverse location in the United States, Washington D.C., Stratford University is able to provide all of its international students the best services, easy transportation to and from campus, easy payment plans along with many other fantastic benefits that are intended to help make a smooth transition into college life.

Stratford’s International Student Office (ISO) is designed specifically for the benefit of all international students and is solely responsible for observing their international students’ experiences on campus while also developing workable strategies to keep their students involved within the community and campus life.

To help provide the best educational and career opportunities of foreign exposure and experience, Stratford University helps to provide schoolbooks, quarterly semesters that allow students to enroll year round and jobs that stay within student visa regulations both on and off campus.

This is only the beginning of all the benefits available to all international students; in other words, the world is at your fingertips and it’s up to YOU to make that first, assertive leap into taking hold of this amazing opportunity! Put your concerns into action by researching your possibilities and talking to International Education Advisors that have been provided by Stratford University, just for you, to ask any questions or voice any uncertainties you might face along the way.

With a little bit of guidance and a lot of initiative, you might surprise yourself with how much you’ll benefit from an extremely rewarding American college experience at Stratford University so why not include yourself as one of the 5,222 students from Pakistan currently attending American colleges?

After all, it’s YOUR education, YOUR career and YOUR choice!

Are you an international student who can relate to this? What are some of the problems you’ve faced along the way?