If you are an international student, then this is the perfect tool for you. In this class we dive into the many resources available to help you navigate your college search in the USA. When finished with your class, please enter your email address. Here we will send you your answers, along with a certificate of completion. You will have the ability to also share your answers with your teacher, counselor, or parents. Click play below to start class now!

Welcome, international students, to The College Tour. If you are looking to study in the US, this class is designed to help you find a college that is the right fit for you! There are approximately 2,500 colleges and universities, along with 900 community colleges in the United States. That’s a lot to choose from, but don’t be overwhelmed – we are here to help. So let’s begin our amazing journey together… sound good? I’ll see you in the next video to begin our class.

After watching the video above, click next below to continue.

The first question we get asked a lot from International Students is, “What is the difference between a College and a University?” So, to start off this class, let’s clarify this question. Both colleges and universities grant undergraduate degrees. They are generally academic equals. But a university must meet some additional requirements to earn its name. A University refers to an institution that offers graduate programs (meaning a Master’s or Doctorate degree), separate from their undergraduate programs. A College awards undergraduate degrees within a broad scope of academic areas. Colleges include both two-year institutions, such as community colleges offering Associate’s Degrees, and four-year schools offering Bachelor’s degrees. OK… so now that you know the difference between a college and a university… let’s dive into our next section of the class. I’ll see you in the next video, everyone.

There are many useful resources out there for international students. And over the next few chapters of this class, we are going to highlight a few of them that will greatly help you on your journey.
The first resource we want to bring to your attention is EducationUSA. Their website is www.EducationUSA.state.gov. Please bookmark this website as it is an amazing resource for international students. ​​EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student Advising Centers, located in more than 175 countries and territories. Chances are, there is an advising center in your country. We have heard first-hand that these advising centers are amazing and can help you in person navigate coming to a school in America. Their website (www.EducationUSA.state.gov) has all the information on where to find their advising centers, will walk you through the ‘Five Steps to Studying in the USA’ and much, much more. So please bookmark their website and use them as a resource. And I’ll see you in the next section of our class for another important resource.

The second resource we want to put on your radar is the Common App. Their website is www.CommonApp.org. This website as well, has a lot of information to help you get prepared for studying in the USA… but even more, it allows you to fill out ONE application and use it to apply to multiple different institutions. In addition to saving time with one application, the Common App can help you get connected with everything you need to apply to college, research financial aid and scholarships, get advice from counselors, advisors and mentors. So please bookmark the CommonApp.org… and I’ll see you in the next section for another amazing resource.

The third resource is right here at TheCollegeTour.com. Here you can watch all the episodes of The College Tour TV Series. Each episode tells the story of one institution, all told through the lens of real students. No one else tells a more authentic story of what it is like being a student on campus, than this series. So have some fun and watch a bunch of episodes to get a feel for different types of institutions. In addition, at TheCollegeTour.com you can do more research on colleges, on our ‘Tour’ pages. Here, you can watch videos and get helpful information on the institution – the size, location and much, much more. And if you like what you see, you can click on the ‘Tour Now’ or ‘Apply Now’ button for more information. We also have multiple digital series on our website, where we talk directly with college presidents, admissions departments, counselors, and much more. So make sure to check out the digital series as well. We also have a blog, with some great insight into the world of higher education here in the USA. So please make sure to bookmark TheCollegeTour.com and download The College Tour App to make sure you are getting the latest information we provide. All tools offered at The College Tour are free!
OK everyone, let’s recap the three key resources to help your college journey: Education USA, the Common App and TheCollegeTour.com. Now that you are armed with a few resources to help your college search journey… let’s dive into the next section of the class.

America is a BIG country, consisting of 50 states. Each state has different climates, topographies, and cultures. Learning more about the Location of these institutions is really important… so let’s make sure it is the perfect fit for you. For some – you might want to be in a small campus town in a rural area. Some might want to go to school where the campus is right in a major city. Some might want to go to school right next to a major city, so you have access to internships. Some of you might love a snowy winter and want to go to a 4-season campus, while others may be more comfortable going to college in the South, where it’s warm year-round. Some of you might want a location that is close to world-class adventure. Some of you might not yet know. There are no right or wrong answers here. This is merely a tool to get you to start thinking about it.

Watch one or more videos from each of the categories below and list what type of location you liked the best and why. And I’ll see you in the next video.

The United States is a melting pot of many different cultures. And Campus Culture is an important aspect of choosing the right college for you. Each college has its own vibe, traditions, academic programs, school spirit and much more. Finding one that matches your personality will enhance your college experience greatly. Watch some of the videos below to get a sense of some different ‘campus cultures’. Once finished, write your answer of the kind of campus culture you are looking for. And I’ll see you in the next video.

There are many different types of colleges and universities out there. There are large state universities, smaller private liberal arts colleges and community colleges. There are schools that focus on agriculture or research, while others that are more technical. There are also schools with various affiliations – religious schools, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCU’s, etc. So which one is right for you? Watch some of the videos below and write down which college type makes sense for you and why. And I’ll see you in the next video.

At some point in your college journey, you will need to choose your Major. I bet there are some of you out there that have always known what you wanted to be as a professional… but I bet there are a lot more out there that don’t know. But we are here to help – whether you want to study engineering, entrepreneurship, aerospace, nursing, communications or any of the hundreds of other majors out there. Below is another group of videos with real college students talking about their majors. Watch some of the videos and write down one or more majors you are interested in. And I’ll see you in the final video.

For the final section of this class, we want to highlight the MANY amazing international students who have been featured in The College Tour TV Series. Each one of these students were very brave and traveled from another country to study here in the United States. Your next assignment is to watch some of these videos and get to know your fellow international students, studying in America. These students know what it’s like to be in your shoes and most of them would be happy to answer your questions. So if there is a student below that you would like to connect with… try to find them on LinkedIn and connect. Most of them would be very happy to answer your questions. Who knows, maybe you will make an international friend in the process. OK everyone… I’ll see you in the last video to wrap up this class.

First off, congratulations on making it to the end of this class!

You have now heard stories from your peers with various backgrounds, who attend different types of colleges and gotten an idea on a wide range of subjects. Remember, we are here to be one of your resources whenever you need us. Just go to thecollegetour.com, watch episodes, research more on our ‘Tour’ pages, watch our digital series Navigating Financial Aid, Ask Admissions, and have fun! We hope you enjoyed this class. I hope to see you on campus real soon! Take care, everyone!

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