You might remember we have previously shared advice from visa officers for getting your student visa.  They explained how to set yourself up for a successful visa interview by applying early, coming prepared with the correct paperwork properly filled out, and being able to show that you will return home after your studies.

In a new piece in the State Department’s DipNote blog, Consular Officer Monica Shie, who serves in New Delhi, India, adds her own perspective on what visa officers are looking for from you when you go in for an interview:

Every day in New Delhi, eight or nine officers interview hundreds of people seeking visas to the United States. Because we try to serve as many applicants as we can, the interviews are quite short — only two to three minutes. A lot of the information that we need is already there in your application, but we like to hear from you, personally, about your travel plans. Sometimes, visa applicants bring stacks of documents, and they seem disappointed when we do not look at all that paperwork. But the idea of a personal interview is to speak with you face-to-face — not to examine documents.

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The State Department has announced that, as of April 13, it is raising the visa processing fee for student visas. The fee will now be $160, up from $140.

What other costs can you expect?

Students from some countries may pay a visa reciprocity fee.  Look up your country here: Reciprocity by Country

As a student, you will also need to pay a SEVIS fee of $200.

We’re searching the web to find webinars and other online events of interest to prospective international students. Check here each Friday to find out what’s coming up in the next week.

Your end of the bargain? If you attend, report back and let us know what you learned! (Use the comments, the Facebook page or just email me – jstahl@voanews.com). And also please share any online events you’ve found that we haven’t.

Reminder: March 31

Hobson’s: Virtual College Fair – Asia
More details: http://hobsonsevents.com/
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Yesterday we shared some advice for anyone whose university admissions decisions didn’t turn out as they might have hoped (Read: Battling a University Rejection? 5 Stories to Get Inspired).  But what if you’re facing the opposite situation?

Acceptance letters (Creative commons photo by Flickr user Adrian Ho)

Getting into too many schools can sound like a great problem to have, but having to choose between options comes with its own stresses.

And this applies double for international students, since you face unique choices and obstacles that your American counterparts don’t have to consider.

Here is some advice to answer a few of the big questions you may be asking as you try to weigh your options and come to the best decision:

How can I get a sense of the campus atmosphere if I can’t visit the campus in person?

Get on the mailing list (or today’s equivalent) so you’ll be notified of nearby alumni and admission office-sponsored events in your area. Visit websites of the schools you are most interested in often. Look for announcements of online chats or other opportunities to connect with students and faculty.

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You might remember our recent discussion about why international and American students often don’t mingle, sparked by a video of some very brave MSU students sharing their own opinions on the topic.

Blogger Anniken, who is from Norway and studying in the U.S., saw the video and had her own take on it, suggesting that the problem comes down to different styles of communication:

Thinking about that video though, from Michigan State University, a first key to success might be to learn how to small-talk. Small-talk is not something we do a bunch of in Norway, and so that has been a challenge for me.

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I was with my dad on the way home from one of my softball games when my brother called and said that he letter had come in the mail. I couldn’t get home fast enough, but I was terrified.

Creative commons photo by Flickr user David Morris

If you applied to study in the U.S. for next year, I’m sure you can relate to Jaime’s emotions while waiting for her admissions decision to arrive.  And if you’ve already received your letter, you might be able to relate to what she felt next:

I held the envelope up to the light and read the words “We regret to inform you.” At the time I was devastated…

Or you might relate to Thuy’s experience after receiving an acceptance letter from her dream school, the California College of the Arts, and realizing just being accepted might not be enough:

The amount of money I estimate I will need to pursue this two year MBA program is $100,000 … My family is not rich, so the cost of $100,000 is really a burden. … After I got their admission letter, I sent CCA an email to explain my financial difficulty and seek assistance from the school. At present, I am anxiously waiting for CCA’s response on any kind of financial aid they could offer.

We wish everyone could be accepted to their top choice school, and with enough financial aid to afford to go. And if you are one of the lucky ones, congratulations!  Leave a comment to share with others your tips for success.

But, if you are one of the many students who received a letter reading, “We regret to inform you,” or a nice fat admissions letter with no accompanying financial aid package, take heart.  Here are 5 stories to inspire you and show you that one admissions decision doesn’t have to make or break your future.
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Today’s additions to the Glossary of Confusing Words are the words “faculty” and “alumni.”

Olesya suggested them, saying she had come across them while preparing for the TOEFL, and asking:

What’s the difference between these terms?

Good question! Here’s the answer:

Faculty = The professors and instructors of a university

If you want to see an explanation of all the different types of faculty members, we covered that in a previous Glossary post.
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We’re searching the web to find webinars and other online events of interest to prospective international students. Check here each Friday (yeah, we’re a couple of days late this week.  Sorry!) to find out what’s coming up in the next week.

Your end of the bargain? If you attend, report back and let us know what you learned! (Use the comments, the Facebook page or just email me – jstahl@voanews.com). And also please share any online events you’ve found that we haven’t.

Coming up next week:

March 29

EducationUSA: Applying for a Student Visa
10am US eastern time
More details: http://www.educationusa.info/edusa_connects/
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Yes, you do.

http://ask.metafilter.com/92416/Why-do-some-people-wear-shoes-indoors

We’re searching the web to find webinars and other online events of interest to prospective international students. Check here each Friday to find out what’s coming up in the next week.

Your end of the bargain? If you attend, report back and let us know what you learned! (Use the comments, the Facebook page or just email me – jstahl@voanews.com). And also please share any online events you’ve found that we haven’t.

Coming up next week:

March 21

CollegeWeekLive: Virtual College Fair
More details: http://www.collegeweeklive.com/en_CA/guest/college_events

EducationUSA: Maintaining Your Student Visa Status
12n US eastern time
More details: http://www.educationusa.info/edusa_connects/
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Many thanks to Hassabo, who submitted today’s addition to the Glossary of Confusing Words: public and private schools.

I think these terms have different meanings in American – British context and are therefore confusing to many Arab students and parents.

Absolutely right.  “Public school” means something a bit different in the U.K. than it does in America.  Here’s what an American means when they say “public school”:

A public school or university is an institution that is supported mainly by public funds and managed by government officials.  At the university level, you’ll also hear these referred to as “state schools.”

Private schools are the opposite – schools that are not funded and operated by the government.
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Thanks to Kari Barber for putting together an inspiring profile of our blogger Alex! Find out why Alex blogs:

When you write something from your heart and then someone reads it and is like, “I’ve been through the same situation … and thanks for offering some direction in your work,” that’s just amazing.

And hear some of the funniest questions his American classmates have asked him about Uganda:

Some of the questions I get from my American friends…like, “Oh, is there water in Uganda?”

I was forwarded an email today from a 60-year-old man in China who said he dreamed of studying in the U.S. when he was young.  Now that he can afford it, he wrote, he is too old, but he still holds onto his dream.

It was such a sweet email, so I started looking through the State Department website to find out whether someone who doesn’t need a degree and isn’t really college age could still fulfill a dream of studying in the U.S.  And I found this:
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We’re searching the web to find webinars and other online events of interest to prospective international students. Check here each Friday to find out what’s coming up in the next week.

Your end of the bargain? If you attend, report back and let us know what you learned! (Use the comments, the Facebook page or just email me – jstahl@voanews.com). And also please share any online events you’ve found that we haven’t.

Coming up next week:

March 15

Mount Holyoke: Study in the USA Webchat
8am US eastern time
More details: http://www.fulbright.be/2012/01/12/march-15-study-in-the-usa-webchat-mount-holyoke-college/
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