Before you start...
The amount of college-related information on the Internet may seem overwhelming at first. Be as specific as possible when starting your search. Most search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, offer tips on how to target your search.
As you visit different websites, bookmark or add to your Favorites the sites you find most helpful. Be sure to refresh pages, as updates occur frequently. If you are having difficulty understanding the language, try using the translation feature in your search engine or your browser.
Some sites may ask you to register in order to use their features. Be sure you know if registration is free, and always read the site’s Privacy Statement to learn how your personal data may be used.
In general, you should be able to find almost any college-related information you need on the Internet free of charge. Never provide credit card information without a parent’s approval.
The Council of International Schools (CIS) has selected the websites listed here as a convenience for readers. Unless otherwise stated, CIS and AC&U magazine are not affiliated with these sites or their content. Portals/directories• American Colleges & Universities - www.acuinfo.com Here you’ll find all the information and articles in this magazine and much more. Also, when you register on this site you’ll become eligible for a scholarship. • College Navigator http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/U.S. government-sponsored site that provides information on over 7,000 colleges and universities in the United States. • College Confidential www.collegeconfidential.com College search, admission advice, discussion forums, college visit reports, and much more. • Community College Directory www.community-college.org Use this helpful guide and search for hundreds of U.S. community colleges. • Council of International Schools www.cois.org Search a directory of CIS member universities/colleges. (Institutions that are CIS members have shown a strong interest in enrolling international students on their campuses.) • EducationUSA http://educationusa.state.gov This U.S. Department of State site has a lot of useful information for international students interested in attending U.S. universities and colleges. • International Student www.internationalstudent.com Offers a comprehensive collection of resources for international students. • Peterson’s www.petersons.com Search U.S. colleges and universities by name, location, or study program. • Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com Comprehensive site offering information on colleges and universities, financial aid, admission tools, and more. • The College Board www.collegeboard.com This site (along with individual college/university websites) is used most often by international students in CIS member schools. Choosing a career/majorYour school guidance counselor is a primary resource for both career planning and choosing a major field of study. Don’t forget that liberal arts is a broad field of study that can qualify you for many career fields.• MyMajors www.mymajors.com/ Developed by a college professor, this site offers a self-assessment that can generate five possible majors based on your experience and interests. • MyRoad www.myroad.comCollege and career planning site from The College Board (fee charged). University/college rankings
College comparisons and rankings are a function of the criteria on which the rankings are based. Be sure you understand how the rankings are done, and remember that even a highly ranked university may not offer the programs, location, or campus atmosphere that best match your needs and preferences. Keep an open mind, and don’t discount any institution based solely on its ranking.
• U.S. News & World Report www.usnews.com/collegerankings
• University of Illinois Library www.library.uiuc.edu/edx/rankings.htm Provides links to a variety of ranking sites and tips on using rankings. Financial aid, scholarships, and loansFinancial aid to non-U.S. citizens is limited at most institutions. You will increase your chances of getting aid or scholarships by inquiring at institutions that are committed to internationalism and/or are interested in increasing their international student populations. If you plan to apply for aid, it is virtually certain that your parents will have to fill out some sort of aid application. The paperwork is substantial, so start this process early.• FastWeb www.fastweb.com Search for scholarships and colleges.
• Findtuition www.findtuition.com Loans, scholarships, and financial information for all types of students.
• International Education Financial Aid www.IEFA.org/
Online Tools
Chat/Instant Messaging
You can communicate with students (and faculty) about issues that are important to you. For some questions, you’ll probably get better answers from a current student than you will from marketing materials. Ask about orientation, student housing, food, academic and social life, and what life on campus is like—for example, is it fun and exciting, all about studies, or somewhere in between?
Blogs
Online diaries kept by students can give you the real scoop about living and learning on campus. Faculty members also often maintain blogs on interesting academic subjects.
RSS Feeds
Information automatically sent to you electronically as it is published.
Personalization
By registering and supplying some (limited) personal information, a university can construct Web content that matches your specific needs and interests. Good websites are about meeting customers’ needs. Sites that ask for lots of personal information just to build your data profile for the institution’s benefit give you little in return.
Podcasting
Digitized recorded audio material that can be downloaded to your iPod for listening at your convenience.
VoIP
When you need to talk to someone in the admission office, depending on the country from which you are calling, services like Skype let you telephone from your computer over the Internet for free. E-mail the admission office to see if you can use VoIP. Even if you call “offline” and complete your call through the regular telephone network, the cost per minute of VoIP may be significantly less than a dialed call. | Online Tips
Update your browser
Use the “Check for updates” option in your browser’s Help menu to get the most current version.
Don’t block cookies
Cookies are bits of code websites install on your PC in order to identify you as a returning visitor. If your browser is set to block cookies, you may have to log in each time you visit a website.
Block pop-ups
Pop-ups that occur when you visit a university/college website are probably from spyware already on your computer from visiting other websites. Universities/colleges typically do not use pop-ups, nor do they sell luggage, magazines, airline tickets, or scholarship search services. Be sure your computer is running security software to prevent pop-ups and other spyware.
Install plug-ins carefully
If a site offers content that requires a browser plug-in, it should say so. Campus tours and student testimonials may require Flash or some other video plug-in. In general, if you have to download and install a browser plug-in to see content, be careful. Make sure the source from which you are downloading is safe.
Names matter
If your e-mail account name might create an unfavorable impression when received by an admission officer, consider using a more conservative name to deal with university/college e-mail.
Keep the bugs out
Make sure you are continually running dependable virus protection software. Sending virus-infected e-mail or files to a university doesn’t portray an organized, well-prepared student.
| 2009 |
