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[00:01.00]HOST:Today we begin a series of reports about how foreign students can prepare to study at a university or college in the United States.
[00:13.30]Shep O'neal tells us about the first steps.
[00:17.98]A copy of this script can be found on the Special English web page at the address www.voa.gov/special.
[00:36.13]ANNCR:Experts agree.The most important advice is to plan early if you want to study at a college in the United States.
[00:46.34]In fact,the experts say to begin planning at least two years before you want to start your studies.
[00:55.46]You might begin by talking with people who have studied in the United States.
[01:01.23]Their experiences could save you time and effort.
[01:06.93]Then visit an American educational advising center.
[01:12.70]There are more than four-hundred such offices throughout the world.
[01:19.65]The Public Affairs Office at the United States Embassy in your country can tell you where the nearest one is.
[01:29.53]There you will find and educational advisor to answer your questions and offer information.
[01:39.22]Every center should have information about American colleges.
[01:45.75]Some educational advising centers have computer programs to help.
[01:52.62]One example is a CD-ROM program called US Academic Explorer:A Guide to Higher Education in the United States.
[02:06.18]The program shows an imaginary American college.
[02:10.85]It tells about each building,such as the student center and the library.
[02:17.80]It answers questions about food,housing,health care,social customs and banking.
[02:27.26]It even shows a day in the life of a student.
[02:32.87]The CD-ROM also provides information about higher education in the United States.
[02:40.47]It shows a national map.And it includes interviews with international students.
[02:48.83]The students talk about their American college experiences.
[02:54.68]They discuss English language requirements,money,personal safety,making friends,dating and other subjects.
[03:08.24]You can hear one student discuss all these issues or hear many students answer just one question.
[03:19.37]The CD-ROM does not contain information about any one American college or university.
[03:29.58]The advising center should have books to provide that kind of information.
[03:37.19]Many centers also have computers that can be used to search for information about American colleges on the World Wide Web.
[03:48.55]This computer information describes each college's programs and gives an address where you can write or e-mail to get more information.
[04:02.52]Next week,we will explain how American higher education is organized.
[04:10.23]HOST:This week on our series for foreign students,we explain the structure of university education in the United States.
[04:20.34]This information can prevent costly mistakes.
[04:25.43]You would not want to begin studying at a school that could not provide the degree you need.
[04:33.04]Remember,a copy of this script can be found on the Special English web page at the address www.voa.gov/special.
[04:50.85]Shep O'neal has information you will need as you consider American universities.
[04:58.37]ANNCR:Studying in the United States does not mean choosing a university that offers only the traditional four-year degree.
[05:07.65]You may want to consider a school that offers a certificate program.
[05:13.26]These programs are one year or less of training in areas such as office work,computer programming or automobile repair.
[05:25.15]When you complete the program,you receive a certificate stating the skills you have learned.
[05:32.67]Make sure that any program you want to enter offers a certificate that is accepted by employers in your country and in the United States.
[05:45.29]You may also choose a two-year junior college or community college.
[05:50.72]Such programs lead to an Associate degree.
[05:55.50]Some two-year programs prepare you for skilled trades or technical jobs in such areas as electronics and building.
[06:07.47]Many colleges and universities accept community college work as the first two years toward a four-year Bechelor's degree.
[06:18.67]And a year at a community college costs much less than at a traditional four-year-college.
[06:27.79]Four-year college programs lead to a Bachelor's degree.
[06:34.24]During the first two years,you generally take subjects such as English,history,mathematics,science and languages.
[06:48.14]What you take the last two years depends on your major area of study.
[06:56.50]If you already have a college degree,you may be considering an American graduate school.
[07:05.28]You must continue your education in graduate school if you want to be a medical doctor,lawyer or college professor.
[07:17.58]A Master's degree usually takes two or three years of full time study.
[07:26.36]A Doctoral degree,or Ph.D.,takes three to six years.
[07:33.96]Some colleges,universities,hospitals and laboratories also offer a chance to do scientific research.
[07:44.17]You may want to communicate with one of them to see if you can do research in a subject in which you are interested.
[07:55.12]Next week,we will discuss getting your higher education on a computer.
[08:01.73]HOST:Today we continue our series about how foreign students can attend an American college or university.
[08:11.00]Remember,this script can be found on the Special English web site at www.voa.gov/special.
[08:27.30]One way to earn a degree at an American college is to stay at home and use a computer.
[08:34.67]But you should find out if such a degree is recognized in your country before you decide to get an education online.Shep O'neal has more.
[08:48.72]ANNCR:American universities have been offering classes online through computers for a number of years.
[08:56.58]Researchers say that seventy-five percent of all American universities will offer online work by the end of this year.
[09:08.29]Students who have taken online classes say they like them because they do not have to travel to a building at a set time to listen to a professor.
[09:21.01]Professors say they have better communication with students through e-mail notes than they do in many traditional classes.
[09:32.14]Now,some newly created colleges are offering academic degrees online.
[09:40.00]One is Jones International University in Englewood,Colorado.
[09:46.87]It offers both bachelor's degrees and master's degrees.
[09:52.57]It has about one-hundred students,but is seeking many more.
[09:59.75]The University of Phoenix in Arizona has been offering online degress since Nineteen-Eighty-Nine.
[10:08.94]It has more than twelve-thousand students.
[10:13.12]Officials say they try to provide students with a social experience as well as an educational one.
[10:22.50]For example,in some programs,groups of the same six students progress through all their classes together.
[10:32.38]They communicate by computer.
[10:36.40]Another online school is UNext dot com or Cardean University,near Chicago,Illinois.
[10:46.77]It began operations this past summer.
[10:50.79]It is offering business education and training now,but has plans to expand.
[10:58.58]Cardean University uses a problem-solving method of teaching.
[11:04.43]Students attempt to solve real problems in their classes online instead of reading information.
[11:14.54]Anyone with a computer can find information about these schools and others on the Internet by using a web browser.
[11:25.25]Type the name of the school and the browser will give you its address.
[11:31.78]Each college will tell you about its programs,costs,and many other important facts.
[11:40.97]Experts advise,however,that you do not give money to any school that says you can get a degree without doing any work.
[11:53.64]These are illegal operations.
[11:58.32]HOST:We continue our series about how foreign students can attend college in the United States.
[12:06.60]Remember,this script can be found on the special English Web page.
[12:13.78]The address is www.voa.gov/special.
[12:24.00]We have already explained how to begin your search at an education advising center.
[12:32.54]And we told about studying online by computer.
[12:38.65]Now,it is time to make a list of American colleges and universities that most interest you.Steve Ember has more.
[12:52.21]ANNCR:Be sure to choose more than one college.
[12:55.97]Directors of foreign student admissions at American colleges say each student should apply to at least three schools.
[13:05.92]First,you must get applications from the colleges.
[13:10.02]An application is a form you must complete if you are asking the college to admit you as a student.
[13:18.88]You should request applications at least eighteen months before you want to begin studying in the United States.
[13:28.15]You can find the address of the admissions office in the catalog of each college.
[13:35.10]A catalog is a book that tells all about the school.
[13:40.04]You can also find such information on the college's Web page on the Internet computer system.
[13:48.82]For example,the Ohio State University provides application forms on its Web pages.
[13:56.84]You can answer all the questions on the computer and e-mail the application directly to the university.
[14:05.87]Or you can copy the application forms to your computer,print them,complete the questions and mail them.
[14:15.98]Or you can fill out a computer form to ask the university to send you an application in the mail.
[14:24.94]If you cannot use a computer at all,write a letter to the address given in the catalog.
[14:32.65]Ask the college to send you the international admission application.
[14:38.84]Write the letter clearly.List the schools you have attended,and any degrees you already have.
[14:48.22]Explain what you want to study and what degree you are seeking.
[14:54.41]Explain when you want to begin studying.
[14:59.27]You will receive a letter or application from each school.
[15:04.47]Complete the application and send it back.Then you must wait until the college makes its decision.
