Study Placement in the U.S. Degree and non-degree studies 4.2.2015, University of Jyväskylä Johanna Lahti
Fulbright Center A service organization specialized in cultural exchange between Finland and North America. Promotes academic mobility between Finland and North America. Administers grant programs (about 80-90 grantees/year) and provides advising, training and information services for students, researchers and working professionals. Independent, private, not-for-profit organization Funding: the Finnish, U.S. and Canadian governments, the Finland-America Educational Trust Fund founded by the U.S. and Finnish governments, private Finnish foundations and Finnish higher education institutions. 80 % of the funding from Finland.
Higher Education in the U.S. Doctoral Degree Professional 3-5 years Degree (Medicine, law) Professional School University 3 to 4 years University Master s Degree 2 years Bachelor s Degree College or University 4 years Associate 1-4 years Technical School Community College Degree 2 years SECONDARY Secondary School High School Diploma 12 years PRIMARY Elementary School
Degrees Undergraduate level Associate Degree Bachelor s Degree Graduate level Master's Degree (professional vs. academic) Doctor's Degree First Professional Degree Certificates (not a degree)
U.S. Institutions of Higher Education Community Colleges/Junior Colleges Associate degrees Colleges Usually only Bachelor s degrees (sometimes also Master s degree programs) Often smaller than universities Universities Usually Bachelor s, Master s and Doctor s degrees Often large (teacher-student ratio can be high 1 to 60-100) Often engaging in major research projects Institutes Specialize generally in a specific field eg. Institutes of Technology (CalTech, MIT)
U.S. Institutions of Higher Education Public Institutions State Universities (usually public) Usually larger than private institutions Several different degree programs Usually bigger departments, more students, bigger class sizes In-state and Out-of-state tuition Usually lower tuition fees than in private institutions Offer more research opportunities for students Private Institutions Usually less students and smaller class sizes Usually tuition higher than in public institutions High quality education and programs in both institution types
Options Completing a part of your Finnish degree in the U.S. One semester or full academic year in a U.S. university/college Exchange programs or independently Taking classes (non-degree student/visiting student) Conducting reseach for your Master s thesis or Doctoral degree (visiting student researcher) Completing a full degree in the U.S. Degree student
Choosing the Right Program and Institution Consider your academic goals and career plans Do research and gather information on different schools from various sources. Get leads on specific schools by checking with professors, or professional colleagues (ask for suggestions) reading current articles, papers, and journals in your field of interest and noting where the authors attended school and where they currently teach at perfoming school searches with online search engines e.g. www.petersons.com joining internet discussion groups to see what the others have to say
Choosing the Right Program and Institution Find out details about curriculum (course selection) and faculty Exchange programs with certain universities (non-degree students) Find out are the schools involved in research or projects that match with your interests? (graduate students) Find out what are the costs and what kind of funding opportunities the school offers (degree students) If you wish to do non-degree studies, make sure it s possible in the institution you are interested in Develop a list of 10 to 20 universities offereing programs in your field of study Do further research on the schools and eliminate those that don t offer what you are looking for Choose about five to ten instututions to which you wish to apply Make sure the schools are accredited
Choosing the Right Program and Institution Tips from Fulbright alumni Cast a wide net. Consider lots of school and lots of advisors and contact them. (graduate students) Don't just consider a school because of its name. Wonderful resources exist in places you may never have considered or even knew about. Do not hesitate looking beyond the big-name schools. Find the best fit, not necessarily the best university. When choosing a university, remember that you are also choosing its campus and community. This experience can be just as rewarding -- and important -- as the academic experience.
Extracurricular Activities, Campus Culture and Services College traditions Student clubs Greek system (fraternities & sororities) Club sports College football (American)
Extracurricular Activities, Campus Culture and Services Well-funded scientific labs, Computing Centers, Writing Centers Libraries, Housing, Music and theater complexes, Athletic facilities, Concierge services Campus Police
University Application Process Online application Common attachments: Official copies of your study certificates Recommendation letters Essays Subject spesific material, such as portfolio Financial statement Application fee Interview / audition Test scores (SAT, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL) Medical Form Financial Assistance Application (deadline!) Read the application instructions carefully!
Degree Seeking Graduate Students Contact also the Professor Contact the person you want to work with Send an introductory e-mail If you don t have a pre-existing relationship with the person, very briefly (basic things in five lines) describe your research interest and how it might relate to the professor s research area Personalize your e-mail for the specific person and department Arrange a Skype meeting More info: Fulbright Center News 2/2012, Advice and Tips from Scholars and Alumni p. 18 issuu.com/fulbright-center-finland/docs/fc-news-212?e=4933113/2483153
Costs and Funding Tuition Other university fees, eg. technology fee, facilities fee Books Insurance Travel expenses Housing and living costs
Costs and Funding An Example of graduate studies costs for a full academic year Tuition and fees $ 21 200 Insurance $ 1 800 Books $ 1 900 Housing and living exp. $ 11 000 Flights $ 900 Miscellaneous and Personal $ 3 500 ======= $ 40 300
Costs and Funding Fulding sources Home country govenmental student aid and loan Home country scholarships and organizations e.g. Fulbright program Home university travel grants etc. U.S. university financial assistance, scholarships, fellowships assistantships Organizations in the U.S. Own savings Creative alternatives
Fulbright Program
Fulbright Program 155 countries, 51 commissions Explore Fulbright programs by country: http://eca.state.gov/fulbright
Fulbright-stipendiohjelma Suomessa Suomen kansalaisille Kaikkien alojen hakijoille (lääketieteessä poikkeuksia) Eri vaiheen opiskelijoille, tukijoille ja eri alojen ammattilaisille Yhdysvaltoihin saavutaan J1-viisumilla Stipendin lisäksi ohjelmaetuja: orientaatiot, sairaus- ja tapaturmavakuutus, maksuton viisumi, henkilökohtaiset neuvontapalvelut, vapaa-ajan toimintaa Yhdysvalloissa, stipendiaatti- ja alumniverkosto
Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders Environmental Stewardship ja Social Entrepreneurship 18-25-vuotiaille, kandidaatin tutkintoa suorittaville Eri alojen hakijat hakukelpoisia Viiden viikon opinnot ympäristötieteisiin tai yhteiskunnalliseen yrittämiseen, yhdysvaltalaiseen kulttuuriin ja yhteiskuntaan liittyvissä aiheissa Ohjelmaan osallistuvat erimaalaiset stipendiaatit suorittavat kurssit samassa yhdysvaltalaisessa yliopistossa (Kansas State University ja Indiana University, Bloomington) Hakuaika päättyy 18.2. klo 10 www.fulbright.fi/fi/stipendiohjelma-kandidaattitasonopintoihin/summer-institutes-european-student-leaders
Fulbright Center s Undergraduate Grant Kandidaatin opintoihin 1 lukuvuosi Koko tutkinnon suorittajille Renewalstipendimahdollisuus Soveltuu myös vaihto-ohjelmiin osallistuville Stipendihakemukseen liitettävä yhdysvaltalaisen yliopiston hyväksymiskirje Stipendi enintään 10 000 USD Hakuaika lukuvuodelle 2014-2015 alkaa helmikuussa ja päättyy 8.4. 2015 klo 10
ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant Maisteri- ja tohtoritason opinnot tai tutkimus 1 lukuvuosi Koko tutkinnon suorittajille Renewalstipendimahdollisuus Kaikki alat (lukuun ottamatta aloja joissa potilaskontakteja) Stipendihakuvaiheessa ei tarvitse olla vielä ylipistopaikkaa Yhdysvalloissa, pitänyt tehdä kuitenkin alustavaa selvittelyä Enintään 30 0000 USD + muut ohjelmaetuudet Seuraava hakuaika alkaa helmikuussa 2015 (lukuvuodelle 2016-2017)
Fulbright - Technology Industries of Finland Grants Soveltuvat alat mm. tekniikka, luonnontieteet, kauppatieteen Maisteri- ja tohtoritason opinnot tai tutkimus 1 lukuvuosi Koko tutkinnon suorittajille Renewalstipendimahdollisuus Kaikki alat (lukuun ottamatta aloja joissa potilaskontakteja) Stipendihakuvaiheessa ei tarvitse olla vielä ylipistopaikkaa Yhdysvalloissa, pitänyt tehdä kuitenkin alustavaa selvittely Stipendi 35 000-50 000 USD + muut ohjelmaetuudet Seuraava hakuaika alkaa helmikuussa 2015 (lukuvuodelle 2016-2017)
Fulbright Finnish Language and Culture Teaching Assistant -ohjelma Ensisijaisesti suomen kielen ja kotimaisen kirjallisuuden opiskelijoille, toissijaisesti huomioidaan myös yleisen kielitieteen sekä muiden Suomen kulttuuriin liittyvien aineiden opiskelijat Oltava vähintään aineopinnot suomen kielestä Maisteri- ja tohtorivaiheen opiskelijoille Stipendiaatti avustaa Suomen kielen ja kulttuurin opetustehtävissä ja voi lisäksi täydentää omia opintojaan kursseilla ja tai tehdä tutkimusta Hakuaika lukuvuodelle 2016-2017 aukeaa viimeistään alkusyksyllä 2015
Fulbright Schuman Program Tarkoitettu kaikkien tieteenalojen edustajille opintoihin, tutkimukseen tai luennointiin Yhdysvaltoissa Opinnoilla tulee olla jokin yhteys Euroopan Unioniin tai EU:n ja Yhdysvaltojen välisiin suhteisiin. Kaikkien EU-maiden kansalaisille Ohjelmaa hoitaa Belgian Fulbright-komissio www.fulbrightschuman.eu/grants-eu-citizens/
Stipendiaattivalintoihin vaikuttavat mm. Hakemuksen omaleimaisuus, innovatiivisuus, selkeys ja toteuttamiskelpoisuus Hakijan akateemiset ja/tai ammatilliset valmiudet ja pätevyys Perustelut opiskelu- tai tutkimusprojektin suorittamiselle Yhdysvalloissa Projektin merkitys alan tietämyksen kehittämisessä Projektin merkitys Fulbright-ohjelman tavoitteiden saavuttamisessa Hakijan soveltuvuus toimia Fulbright-ohjelman lähettiläänä Yhdysvalloissa Haastattelu on tärkeä osa hakemuksen kokonaisarviointia, valmistautuminen kannattaa.
Lisätietoa Fulbright Center www.fulbright.fi EducationUSA www.educationusa.info Peterson s EducationUSA www.petersons.com Occupational Outlook Handbook http://stats.bls.gov/oco/
Kiitos! Kandidaatin tason stipendiohjelmat: Johanna Lahti Maisteri- ja tohtoritason stipendiohjelmat: Karoliina Kokko P. 044 5535 278 p. 044 5535 268 johanna.lahti@fulbright.fi karoliina.kokko@fulbright.fi www.fulbright.fi www.facebook.com/fulbright.center.finland twitter.com/fulbrightfi