Everything you

1. Commission for Educational Exchange
Between the United States of America and Belgium
Study in the US
2012

2. Mission
Research
Website
Education Language
Resource Email - Fulbright
Advising Teaching Journalism
Library Phone Assistant Grants
Center
European
Outreach Union

3. Why study in the US
• Wide array of options
• Flexibility
• Not just academic study
• Internationalize your CV
• Opportunity to travel to the US

6. Differences to expect
• Teaching and classroom styles
• On-campus life and opportunities
• Ranking system
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement

7. Some interesting figures
Top Undergraduate Institutions Top Graduate Institutions
New York University New York University
University of Cincinnati Harvard University
Clemson University University of Chicago
Miami-Dade College Stanford University
Boston University Columbia University
% Change
Type of Program % Number
(2007-2011)
Undergraduate 42.6% 385 +41.%
Graduate 34.2% 309 -7.5%
Non-Degree 14.8% 134 +152.8%
OPT 8.4% 76 +76.7%

8. Student Mobility

9. Types of institutions
Public
• Also called
State Schools
• Possible
Private religious
affiliation
• Two-year
schools
Community
• Also called
Junior College

10. Undergraduate (Bachelor) vs. Graduate Study
o Undergraduate Education
 4 years directly after High School (Lycée).
 End result = a bachelors degree (B.A. or B.S.)
o Graduate Education
 Higher degrees taken after completion of a
bachelors degree (MBA, Ph.D, J.D., M.D., etc.)

11. Start Early
12 – 18 months…prior to departure
CHOOSE …5 – 10 universities to apply to
EVALUATE …your motivation & objectives
DETERMINE …all requirements
REGISTER …for required tests
NOTE …all deadlines on a calendar

12. How to choose a program?
o Accredited?
o Size?
o Location?
o Number of international students?
o Majors offered?
o Cost?

13. Accreditation
• Chea www.chea.org/search
• Dept of Education
http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation

14. English tests
• $ 225
 € 185  250
• Brussels,
 Accepted by many  Accepted by many
Luxembourg,
but not all but not all
Paris, Arnhem
universities universities
• Reading, listening,
 Listening (30min),  3 hours, Brussels
break, speaking,
Reading (1h),  Score in 5 days
writing (4.5 hours)
Speaking (11-
• http://www.ets.or 14min), Writing
 http://www.pearso
g/toefl npte.com/PTEACAD
(1h)
EMIC/Pages/home.
 http://www.britishc aspx
ouncil.org/brussels-
exams-ielts.htm

16. Dates to remember
• 12 to 18 months before departure:
Evaluate your reasons
• June - September
Select 5 or 6 universities on the basis of their programs, degrees offered, accreditation, level of selectivity,
cost, location and size
• July - August
Find out which standardized tests are required
• August - September
Write to 5 or 6 universities to request application forms for admission and financial aid.
• October - February
Prepare transcripts and literal translations ,certified at the Commission
Have professors send recommendation letters
Send applications to universities well in advance of deadlines
• February - April
Wait for letters from the universities.
• March - April
Contact universities to which you have applied, but not yet received a response.
• April - June
Accept /Decline offers from other universities where you were also accepted. Contact housing
department and international student office.

17. Education USA – State Dept website

18. Graduate School

19. Graduate Education
• Master’s degrees
Typically 2 years in length
• Doctoral degrees (PhD’s)
Typically 4-6 years in length

20. Entrance Exams
GRE GMAT
Graduate Record Exam Graduate Management Admission Test
o For admission to Graduate Schools o For admission to Business Schools
(except Law and Business programs) o http://www.mba.com
o Subject-specific tests required for
certain programs
o New test starting Fall 2011
o http://www.ets.org/ gre

21. Revised GRE General Test
Paper-based GRE Approximate Score
revised General Test Report Mailing Dates
Dates View Scores Online
October 22, 2011 December 2, 2011
o Skip questions
November 19, 2011 December 30, 2011
February 11, 2012 March 23, 2012
o On screen calculator
o New scoring system
o http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/know

22. 3 Simultanious Actions
1. Choose 5-10 universities & prepare the
applications for each one.
2. Determine which tests are needed to apply &
take them (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, etc).
3. Look for financial support.

23. How to finance your studies
1. Personal funding
2. Loan from a bank
3. Fellowship from U.S. university
o Research assistantship
o Teaching assistantship
o Work Study (20 hrs/wk)
4. Scholarship from another organizations
◦ Fulbright
◦ BAEF
◦ Rotary
◦ Etc.