Date: Saturday 25th February (Provisional TBC) 2012

Location: Westin Hotel, Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2

Time: 9.30am - 1.30pm

A full morning seminar providing students, parents and guidance councillors with an overview on preparing to study in the US at undergraduate level. A small cover fee of €5 will be charged.

The seminar will provide information on:

• SAT preparation
• US College application process
• Information on Sports and General Scholarships
• Insights from US College Students

This seminar is open to:

• Students
• Parents
• Guidance Councillors

A small cover fee of €5.00 will be charged.

Space is limited. If you would like to attend please email info@fulbright.ie. The date is provisional and may be subject to change.

Ideally, the process of applying for undergraduate study in the US will begin 1-1½ years before enrolment. For most students, this is during the spring/summer at the end of 5th Year. Do not panic if you are in 6th Year and are only getting started now. You simply need to work at a faster pace! Click here for further detail.

Choosing a University

In the US, there are both public (state-funded) and private universities.

• Public universities are state-funded institutions and are usually large in size. Foreign students pay out-of-state tuition, which is often higher than that paid by in-state residents. However, tuition fees at public universities are generally less expense than private universities.

• Private universities are supported by tuition fees, private donations and grants. They typically have a smaller student body and are more expensive to attend. However, private universities often have better facilities on offer and more funding set aside for international students or students with a household income less that €30-35,000.

Associates & Bachelors Degrees

At the undergraduate level, US universities offer both Associates and Bachelor's degrees. Please note the type of degree that is best suited for you depends entirely on your individual needs and strengths.

• Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.) or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees are offered at two-year colleges (also known as community or junior colleges). Associate degrees often focus on vocational or technical skills. Upon completing an Associate degree, students can either pursue a Bachelor's degree by transferring to a four-year university, or competitively enter the workforce.
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degrees are usually four years in length. Bachelor’s degrees in the US, follow the liberal arts philosophy and generally include core required courses, a major and electives.

Getting Started

• Use a university search engine to narrow your search to 10-20 universities meeting your criteria (see below)
• Once you've narrowed it down, visit each college website - for the most up-to-date information
• Begin with the admissions page for information on their selection criteria, application process, deadlines and selectively
• Then read the financial aid page for information on costs and funding options
• The student services and international students pages will provide you with information about campus life and activities
• If you know your intended major, you may also wish to check out the department's website as well.

Search Engines - Independent websites allow you to search for institutions by the subject you are interested in studying, by geographic preference, or by a range of other criteria that you specify.

• National Center for Education Statistics—College Navigator
• College Board—College Search
• CollegeNET—College Search
• CollegeSource® Online
• National Association for College Admission Counseling—International Student Resources
• Peterson's College Search
• The Princeton Review
• ThinkEducationUSA
• Hot Courses Abroad      
• Cappex
• American Association of Community Colleges—Community College Finder
• Center for Global Advancement of Community Colleges

Admissions Criteria

As a general rule, US universities will expect to see a similar type of qualification and results as Irish universities of a similar level of prestige and competitiveness. The following are all taken into consideration when applying to universities in the US.

• Academic Performance - Your academic abilities will be evaluated in the first instance by your results from Junior Certificate to your Leaving Certificate year
• Admissions Tests - Your academic aptitude will also be assessed through your performance on SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT
• Extracurricular Involvement - US universities are looking for well-rounded candidates and will be interested to learn about activities such as: paid and unpaid work experience, volunteering, sports, school activities, interests in the arts, hobbies, etc.
• Compelling reason for attending an institution - We recommend that students compile a thoughtful list of reasons why they believe each of their chosen universities is a good match for them, as well as why they are a good fit for the university, and refer to these lists when writing admissions essays and responses to short answer questions.

• The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of critical thinking skills
• It assesses how well you analyze and solve problems
• It has three sections - Writing, mathematics and critical reading
• Each section is scored on the scale of 200 to 800 and the writing section contains two subscores
• The SAT is typically taken by fifth and sixth year students. It is administered six times a year in Ireland. The total testing time for the SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes
• Some institutions may also require SAT 2 - subject tests - which measure the candidates' knowledge in specific subjects.
• Students can sit the SAT more than once.

How to register?

• The Fulbright Commission in Ireland is not a testing centre and cannot register you for the SAT
• Students should pre-register at least six weeks in advance on www.collegeboard.com
• Click here for a sample application which will guide you through the process ((Note: This is tailored to UK students but substitute Junior and Leaving Cert where neccessary).

How much does it cost?

• Reasoning Test: $49 Registration fee + International Processing fee of $29
• Subject Tests: $22 Registration fee + International Processing fee of $29 + $11 per test; + $22 for language with listening
• Standby testing an additional $43 fee is incurred
• International processing fee - $29

Where can I sit the SAT in Ireland?

There are 2 testing centres in Ireland and you can choose where you will sit the SAT when you register.

• Waterford - St. Augustines College, Abbeyside, Dungarvan
• Dublin - St. Andrew's College, Booterstown Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

• Saturday January 28th - Apply by December 20
• Saturday May 5th - Apply by March 27
• Saturday June 2nd - Apply by April 24

How can I prepare for the SAT?

• Carefully review the test requirements
• Access a study plan and free online practice tools such as SAT Skills Insight and The Official Question of the Day on sat.collegeboard.com/practice
• www.TestprepDublin.com runs comprehensive courses for the SAT Tel: (01)6127080
• Kaplan offers a number of preparation options for students in Ireland. www.kaptest.ie/courses/usa-undergraduate/sat/sat-preparation.aspx
• http://domesatreview.com
• An overview from College Board can be downloaded here

Students with Disabilities:

• Special accommodations (i.e. additional time) may be arranged for taking most admissions exams. Please allow 6-8 weeks for the process. For more information, visit the College Board website. For enquiries about taking the SAT with accommodations, please email ssd@info.collegeboard.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or ring 001 609 771 7137.

Funding is a challenge for both international and US students alike. However it is important to realise that scholarships are competitive and that students may need to 'collect' funding from a variety of sources. Therefore, it is important that students start their search for funding early.

Do not let the tuition rate put you off applying to study in the US. With funding being the norm rather than the exception in many fields you may find you are able to fund or part fund your studies through financial aid or scholarships.

Average tuition and fees

• $6,000 or less (two-year public, out-of-state)
• $17,725 (four-year public, out-of-state / often the same for international students)
• $25,143 (four-year private)
• Remember to factor in the cost of living, books and personal expenses which can be $8,500-$10,000 per year depending where in the US you will be based

Four main sources of funding

1. Personal/Family funds: Times have changes and this may not be viable for many families
2. Loans: Most US lenders require a US citizen to co-sign loans. Therefore Irish citizens must take out private loans from an Irish bank. If you are a dual US-Irish citizen, you can take out a loan from a US lender and also apply for US federal loans through the www.fafsa.ed.gov website
3. Scholarships & need-based aid from US universities: Many universities offer a number of scholarships which are both merit and need based (depending on an individual's family circumstances) for International students and this can be a key factor in choosing which institution to attend.
4. Scholarships from external funding bodies: Usually merit or niche based

•        IIE Funding for US Study Online

•        EducationUSA Financial Aid

•        InternationalScholarships.com

•        Guaranteed Scholarships

•        National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

•        NCAA Clearinghouse

•        NCAA Eligibility Center

•        National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)

•        National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)

•        College Coaches Online

• Location matters! Depending on where you live and study, costs for housing and food vary greatly in the United States. Suburban or rural areas in the South and Midwest of the United States generally have the lowest cost of living
• According to an EducationUSA survey, during the 2010-11 academic year more than 1,000 4-year regionally accredited colleges and universities
  • Awarded at least $10,000 in need or merit-based funding to international students, or
  • Had an annual comprehensive cost below $20,000, or
  • Brought their annual comprehensive cost to less than $20,000 with scholarships and financial aid