International Student Handbook of U.S. Colleges 1999 (Serial)

Rating:
Summary: Beware of Figures
Review: The book in question has inadvertently misled many a readers.

The Financial Award quoted in US Dollars is not based on the financial assistance granted to Freshmen alone. The value quoted is the total amount granted for all Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior in the SAME Year. I wish this fact were mentioned. On verification with various colleges and universities concerned as to the authenticity of the Financial Assistance amount granted, only few colleges and universities approved the figures whereas the others did not approve the mentioned Financial Assistance amount. This book needs thorough updating. Deadlines and Test requirements mentioned are not updated. Besides, the book needs to mention categorically how much fund was awarded to Freshmen alone previous year.If possible, a country wise figure will be of immense help to all International Students.

Otherwise, the book is of a kind of its own and must be with everyone interested in studying in USA.

The Chart is very helpful.

Rating:
Summary: For potential internationals students, its required reading.
Review: This is a "must have" publication for any education professional working with international students interested in pursuing higher education in the United States. The International Student Handbook of U.S. Colleges 1999 bills itself (on the front cover) as containing "everything international students need to know about: ESL programs, required tests, application deadlines, financial aid, special sevices, and summer housing." Without a doubt, the book provides the most accessible and convenient format for retrieving this kind of information available today.

This resource is probably best used as a supplement to the services provided by an experienced guidance counselor, college counselor, or qualified independent college consultant. The book is divided into three parts. Part I is intended to serve as a primer for the international student just beginning to consider study in the United States. The section contains information as basic as a flowchart of the U.S. educational system and and explanation of our generic grading scale (i.e. A=4.0). Other sections target the more experienced student. Most of the information presented in the first section is material that college counselors will provide students while working with them during the application process. The availability of the information is a nice feature of the book, however, for those students who are negotiating the application process on their own.

For students living outside the United States and who need help with the application process, the last appendix in the book, found in Part III, lists International Advising Centers located around the world. Many of these centers have web sites and email addresses, so even if a student can't physically reach an advisor, they can "virtually." Another vitally important list appearing in Part III of the book is the "Directory of Colleges." Here is where anyone using this book will find complete mailing addresses for undergraduate and graduate admission offices, web site addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and fax numbers. Other sections in Part III cover international student enrollment, total financial aid for international students, ESL Programs, schools with conditional admission based on English language proficiency and a list of schools requiring or recommending SAT II: Subject Tests.

What is covered in Parts I and III is simply gravy. The real meat and potatoes, and the real reason to have this book on your shelf, are found in Part II. Here is where one finds, in an easily understandable chart format, answers to such important questions as: "Is there financial aid available for international students at the college my student is considering?" "If yes, how much and what is the average award?" "What tests are required and what are the application deadlines." Other important factors concerning commitment to international students may also be discerned by looking for colleges with an international student advisor, special orientation programs, summer housing for international students, and the availability of an ESL or similar type of language support program.

The limitation of the data provided is simply that not all colleges answer the questions completely. Even with this limitation, however, this resource is one of the only places where students and their counselors can find this information in printed form from a reliable source (The College Board).