Study in the USA ® has announced that it will publish the first-ever Vietnamese language magazine for distribution in the coming year to students and parents in Vietnam. This special pocket-size edition will feature content especially appealing to Vietnamese students, including information and articles about four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, high school completion programs, the popular 2+2 option, visa issues, intensive English programs and the US education system. It will be distributed free of charge to attendees of IIE US Higher Education Fairs, StudyUSA Higher Education Fairs and Community College Fairs in Vietnam in Fall 2013 and Spring 2014.
This will be the sixth foreign language magazine published by Study in the USA, after Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic. Given that parents are the key decision-makers and that very few have a reading knowledge of English, it’s essential this information be made available in the local language.
Study in the USA was founded in 1978 by Peggy Printz as a response to Asian friends asking how their children should choose and apply to universities in North America. It was the first publication promoting U.S. programs to international students and continues to be the leader in its field. Today, Study in the USA operates with the mission of providing helpful information about U.S. higher education to international students and to connect them with reputable programs. Ten regional magazines, including a boarding schools & summer studies issue, are published by Study in the USA each year for students and their parents. More than 300,000 copies are distributed annually in 123 countries.
StudyUSA.com, which is an award-winning website, contains profiles of hundreds of quality American programs in fourteen languages. It features in-depth articles and current news stories about international students and the US educational system, including university admissions, scholarships and testing. It also provides online advisors who will answer admissions questions and offer personal assistance with unique situations. A company of principles, Study in the USA only accepts listings from schools, universities, institutions and programs that meet the highest standards of integrity and excellence in education and service to international students. With these practices, Study in the USA has helped millions of students find US programs.
A note to my US higher ed colleagues: For information about advertising opportunities and a chance to contribute to this new magazine, contact Travis Drageset, Marketing & Social Media, Study in the USA at (206) 622-2075 or marketing@studyusa.com. StudyUSA is also looking for high-quality student testimonial videos for its website.
Disclosure: Study in the USA is a client of Capstone Vietnam, of which I’m managing director.
High School Completion Programs in Washington State: Off to a “Running Start”
28/12/2011A community college program in Washington state that allows student to earn a Washington high school diploma and a university transfer associate degree in just two years, is all the rage among Vietnamese students and parents. Green River Community College, for example, which calls this program High School Completion Plus, highlights the key advantages on its website: Save Time and Money, Earn Dual Degrees and Fast Track.
In addition to saving time and money, killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, high school completion programs enable students to make a smooth linguistic and cultural adjustment and better prepare them for study at a four-year college or university. For Vietnamese parents of means who cannot afford an overseas boarding school (40-50k per year) these programs are a cost-effective and attractive option for their children to obtain a quality education, something that is in short supply at home. There are about 22 Washington community colleges that actively recruit international students.
High School Completion Programs & Student Visas
Based on my experience, consular officers set the bar a bit higher for those who wish to participate in these programs. The student must be able to explain why s/he is transferring from a Vietnamese high school (in some cases a talented and gifted school) to a high school completion program in the US and what her/his long-term plans are. The legislation (PDF) on which the high school completion program is based was enacted by the Washington State Legislature in March 1990 and updated in September 2011.
Vietnamese Students & Washington State
According to the Open Doors 2011 Fact Sheet for Washington (PDF), Vietnam ranks 3rd among all places of origin with 9.4% of total international student enrollment in that state of 17,811, which amounts to 1674 students. This amounts to just over 11% of total Vietnamese enrollment at US colleges and universities in 2010/11.
Categories: Commentary, Programs
Tags: community colleges, high school completion programs, high school students, Vietnamese students, visa policy
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