More than 55,000 international students
are enrolled in California educational institutions, making "the
Golden State" the most popular place for international students
who wish to continue their education in the United States.
While many factors influence a student’s decision to study
here, these are three major reasons to consider for selecting California
as your destination for continuing education.
1. A Variety of internship and networking opportunities.
As the gateway to the Pacific Rim, California offers students opportunities
in establishing worldwide business contacts or in gaining work experience
at top American companies. California’s educational system
is among the finest in the United States; students benefit from
the school reputations and the contacts these institutions offer.
California’s major cities are international centers for the
variety of industries: entertainment and fashion in Los Angeles,
finance, international commerce, and computers in the San Francisco
Bay Area; and research and technology in San Diego.
If your goal is to advance your career or obtain job experience,
ask prospective schools about internship programs. Internships provide
you with the opportunity to gain work experience at a U.S. company;
these are often short-term, unpaid positions which allow you to
apply the principles you have learned in your course work.
2. High-level educational institutions.
California is home to more than 1,300 higher-education institutions
that offer all types of degrees: certificates, associate degrees,
bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees.
Such a vast number of choices may seem overwhelming. To start the
process, you may want to consider several factors: your goals, the
type of environment that would help you achieve those goals, and
the cost of both the education and living expenses. (For more guidance,
please read the article, "Questions to Ask When Choosing a
U.S. College"). When you prefer the challenges or the security
and friendliness of a small college, you will be sure to find the
right match in California.
Private universities, such as the University of Southern California
and Stanford University, may be more expensive than other institutions
but are world-renowned for their excellence in education. There
are distinctive small colleges as well, each with unique features.
Mills College in Oakland, for example, is a small private liberal
arts college with an undergraduate school for women only. Pepperdine
University is an independent Christian university overlooking the
ocean at Malibu.
The University of California is supported by taxed paid by residents
of California. Non-residents, including international students,
pay tuition fees. Currently, 7,000 international students are enrolled
in the nine campuses that make up the University of California:
Berkeley, which is the oldest, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside,
San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. Each campus offers a balanced
program covering all basic areas of study. Each campus has its won
identity, based on its locale, size, and student population.
Offering even more diversity is the California State University
system, which has more than 20 campuses throughout the state. The
emphasis of these campuses is more on undergraduate programs; entrance
requirements are a bit more relaxed than the University of California.
You also can attend a community college. American community colleges
offer two-year programs, which are more accessible, flexible, and
often more personal than larger institutions. The education also
is less expensive. Community colleges are excellent alternatives
for students who want to learn the culture and the language before
tackling the rigors of a large university, or for students who have
not yet decided on a field of study. Students often can transfer
these educational credits to larger universities, if they decide
to pursue their education further. If this idea appeals to you,
be sure to find out the policies of credit transfer from both the
community college and other institutions you might plan on attending.
For more information, particularly about the larger institutions,
check out the World Wide Web (a good place to start is the World-Wide
Web Virtual Library: Education at: http://www.csu.edu.au/education/library.html),
contact each campus directly, or ask your local representative for
brochures. If you don’t know who to contact, start with the
local office of the Fulbright Commission, or inquire at the local
U.S. Embassy or consulate office.
3. A world-class destination.
With its diverse landscape and metropolitan centers, California
offers students a way to extend their education with travel, culture,
and recreation.
When it comes to recreation and leisure, California ranks number
one. Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world, offers
a number of attractions: Hollywood, Disneyland, Universal Studios,
Magic Mountain, and Knott’s Berry Farm.
In the cultural mecca of San Francisco, you can enjoy world-class
cuisine, opera, and art, as well as such famous landmarks as the
Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and cable cars.
If the big cities leave you breathless, you can slow the pace by
visiting California’s natural wonders. Some of the world’s
most breathtaking scenery lies within California’s borders
and in its neighboring states of Arizona, Utah, and Oregon. Enjoy
the mild climates and miles of beaches from San Diego to Santa Cruz.
Farther north, in San Francisco, and the towering redwoods and the
famous wineries of Napa Valley. California also is the home to Lake
Tahoe, Yosemite, and Death Valley. You can travel easily by train,
bus, automobile, or airplane, and you can stay at a number of excellent
student hostels. Wherever you go, you will be welcomed by California’s
friendly residents who, as a whole, embrace diversity.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a U.S. College
1. What are my main goals and objectives?
2. What type of environment would help me achieve those goals?
3. Is the school reputable? What is the depth of the curricula?
4. Will I need transportation or is public transportation readily
available?
5. What are the housing accommodations like? How do they compare
in quality and price to similar institutions?
6. What is the average cost of meals and housing in the college’s
location?
7. How does the cost of tuition and books compare to other similar
programs?
8. How many other international students are enrolled?
9. Is the staff for international students adequate? Do they respond
reasonably quickly to my needs?
10. What are the biggest strengths of the institution? What are
the major drawbacks?
The Author: Rita Kasperek, UC Berkeley Extension, California
Please visit: http://www.berkeley.edu/unex
This article first appeared in Studying Abroad magazine
