It’s helpful to break down the time between now and August 2013 into three six-month chunks of time, and know what you need to be doing during each of those phases.

January to June 2012 (Testing and University Search)

• Register and prepare for the SAT – I suggest doing this in May or June. The next available date is October, which is getting close to many universities’ application deadlines or deadlines for applying for prestigious scholarships.
• Register and prepare for TOEFL or IELTS – Check with the universities you are interested in to see if they require this of students from your country.
• Be fully engaged in the university search process – go to education fares, visit websites, talk with college counselors, meet with your school’s college counselor, seek the advice of admissions consultants.
• Have a goal of having identified 5 to 8 schools to which you would like to apply by May.
• Continue to be involved in extra-curricular activities
• Keep your grades up! GPA and class rank really do matter to U.S. universities.

July to December 2012 (Applications and Further Testing)

• Understand application deadlines as well as application deadlines for prestigious scholarships
• The summer is a good time to work on personal statements or essays you may be required to submit
• Begin to identify teachers and community members who know you well and can write a strong recommendation for you.
• Submit applications – September is the earliest I would recommend submitting applications. Most priority deadlines or prestigious scholarship deadlines will fall somewhere in November or December. Even for schools that don’t have deadlines, some of their merit-based scholarship for which they have limited dollars will have been awarded by January.  A good goal is to have your application in no later than December 15.
• If you want to try to improve your SAT score, you will have opportunities to do this in October, November and December. Remember that universities will use your highest SAT score when determining admission and financial aid.

January to August 2013 (Evaluating Offers, University Choice, Preparing to Travel)

• Sometime between January and April, you’ll receive final offers from universities and it will be time to decide
• Once you’ve decided, you’ll need to get your visa
• Forms forms forms! (housing form, health form and finalization forms)
• plane ticket and preparation for travel

Of course, there is a lot more that could be said about each one of these bullet points. The goal of this blog, however, is to raise awareness of the need to start the process early and to provide a point of reference for knowing if your on schedule in the university selection and admissions process.

LETU's Matthew Bradley

LeTourneau University graduate Matthew Bradley was recently recognized as the 2011 Texas Student Teacher of the Year. This is quite an achievement considering how Texas-based university and alternative teacher certification programs produced 25,004 new teachers in 2010 alone (New teachers struggling in tough market). Bradley graduated in May and did his student teaching in the spring of 2011 semester at Pine Tree ISD, teaching fifth grade language arts and 7th grade Texas history.

Bradley’s success is evidence that small-sized private universities are just as capable of producing outstanding individuals who can contribute to the wellbeing of society as well as stand out as successful individuals. ELI 360 would like to congratulate Matthew on his success and take this opportunity to encourage future students to consider the quality education available at each of our partner universities.

To read more about Matthew Bradley’s accomplishment, visit LETU’s website: LETU Graduate Named Texas Student Teacher of the Year

LeTourneau University is an interdenominational Christian university located in Longview, Texas, offering academic majors in aeronautical science, business, education, engineering, health care, the humanities and sciences. LeTourneau University also offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs for working adults online and at educational centers in Austin, Bedford, Dallas, Houston and Tyler.

Skye receiving the medal from Dr. Lanny Hall, president of HSU.

“The Julius Olsen Medal was established by Dr. and Mrs. Julius Olsen in 1914 in memory of their son, Julius Nelson Olsen, and was perpetuated through a bequest by Dean Julius Olsen, who was professor of physics at Hardin-Simmons University from 1902-1942 and dean of the university during much of that time.

The Olsen Medal is awarded annually at the spring commencement to the graduate who has the highest grade average, has exemplified the highest scholarly achievement, and has completed at least 90 semester hours of residence credit at Hardin-Simmons.

This year’s honoree has been named to the President’s List each semester he has been at HSU, and has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 4.00. He is a member of Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society; Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society for religious studies and theology; and Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology.

Over the course of his studies, he has received the Trustees Academic Scholarship, the Stone Memorial Scholarship for Christian Counseling, the Ray and Nancy Ellis New Testament Greek Scholarship, the Judge Ed F. McFadden Endowed Greek Scholarship Award, the Dr. and Mrs. W. B. Irvin Endowed Memorial Missionary Grant, the Logsdon School of Theology Award, and the Logsdon Dean’s Scholarship.

A student preacher in Ministerial Education Day since 2008, our honoree was a New Student Orientation leader, co-founder and leader of Revamp, a student tutor for Academic Advising and Communication Coordinator for ELI 360, a partner with HSU for International Student Recruitment.

This year’s recipient will continue his studies in the fall pursuing a Master of Arts in Family Ministry at Logsdon Seminary. A double major in Bible and psychology with a minor in philosophy, he is the son of Mr. Chee Khoon Ooi and Mrs. Lai Sheong Wong of Penang, Malaysia.”

-          Excerpt from “Special Awards Surprise Four Graduating HSU Students during Commencement”.

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Benjamin Skye first met Ted Presley in the summer of 2006 when Ted gave a presentation about private Christian universities in the U.S. Having had his interest stirred, Ben applied to Hardin-Simmons University through ELI 360 in March 2007 and was enrolled in the fall semester that same year. Born in Pennsylvania, Skye spent his entire life up until university in Penang, Malaysia and graduated in December 2006 from Chung Ling High School, Penang. ELI 360 would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ben and his family. His success is evidence that international students who pursue higher education at a private Christian university in the U.S. not only receive a high-quality education, but also have numerous opportunities to excel and develop as individuals. Students who are considering a university in the U.S. should be encouraged by Ben’s success and realize that it is not impossible to succeed academically in a foreign country.

You can read more about Ben’s experience at Hardin-Simmons in these following articles:

• Graduating International Student has a Passion for Helping Others Come to School in the U.S.
• Hardin-Simmons University Graduates 282 Students
• HSU Commencement Cheerleader Receives Hard-Won Degree

One of the primary goals for this trip was to promote several programs that ELI 360 has been instrumental in establishing between schools in China and our partner universities in the U.S.  Bowen and I were able to do this by visiting key administrators, giving presentation and interviewing students.  As a result, we are already working with applicants who will enroll in our partner universities as early as January 2011.

Another goal of this trip was to explore new opportunities and relationships, and, in general, to get a snapshot of the current international student market in China.  What I learned during this time of exploration is that many organizations in China have developed year-long programs that prepare students for study in the U.S.  These programs typically offer English language training along with courses for which U.S. university credit is awarded. Some of these programs provide the opportunity for students to take the ACT at the end of the program.  This is a unique opportunity since the Chinese Ministry of Education does not allow the SAT or the ACT to be offered to the general public in China.  Most Chinese students have to travel to Hong Kong or Singapore to take the SAT.

Some high schools are offering programs using AP courses, and there seems to be increased interest in using AP in China.  One Chinese education expert estimated that there are now about 150 high schools that have received approval from College Board to offer AP courses.

The increase in so-called U.S. pathway programs is a response to the rapid growth of the Chinese undergraduate market in recent years. The weakening U.S. dollar, higher student visa issuance rates to the U.S. and increased wealth in China have fueled much of this growth.  It has also been stimulated by the fact that Australian and UK education have become more expensive while, at the same time, immigration policies have been passed in these countries to limit an international student’s ability to gain permanent residency in these countries.

Taking all these factors into consideration, it is an opportune time for U.S. universities seeking Chinese undergraduate students to be working in China. But it is also important for institutions to understand the challenges and pitfalls.  Differences in culture, educational philosophies and educational systems are challenges to overcome, to be sure.  Also, many opportunities for U.S. institutions in China are in the private sector, which is competitive, chaotic and not well regulated.  There are trustworthy partners to be found ,but U.S. institutions must apply due diligence in vetting potential partners, and should employ a trusted Chinese intermediary whenever possible.

Institutions committed to overcoming the challenges of entering the growing Chinese market will not only find opportunities for increased revenue, but also enrich the student life experience of their campuses, and develop international awareness and expertise among staff faculty and students.

The New James D. Hughes Center for Art and Engineering at Lipscomb University.

The Drawing Studio located inside the James D. Hughes Center.

On October 26, 2010, Lipscomb University officially opened its new art and engineering building. The construction of the new James D. Hughes Center cost $4.4million and is the first phase of the new construction expanding the north side of the present campus. This new building will be housing both the Department of Art and Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering. Some of the facilities in the building include the John C. Hutcheson Gallery on the main floor, an outdoor sculpture work area, a photography darkroom, a lab for robotic systems engineering, a renewable energy technologies lab and so on.

In response to the grand opening of this new facility, Lipscomb University Provost states, “What we have today are two excellent programs moving into a space that is reflective of the quality of those two academic programs.” Lipscomb’s new art and engineering facility is but one example of the many expansion projects occurring at the various ELI 360 Partner Universities. The building projects undertaken by these institutions of higher education serve to reflect the university’s desire to provide its students with the best education through ensuring that the students have the most conducive environment for whatever coursework they are involved in.

Engineering students at work in the new robotics lab inside the James D. Hughes Center.

ELI 360 would like to congratulate Lipscomb University upon the grand opening of the James D. Hughes Center for Art and Engineering. We are proud to be associated with such a fine institution and we hope that the vision and passion showed by the administration will be an inspiration to the entire university family and student body.

To read more about the James D Hughes Center for Art and Engineering and its many impressive facilities, please click here.

If you are interested, you can also take a look at the Art and Engineering Programs at Lipscomb University by clicking on the links below:

Lipscomb University’s Department of Art

Lipscomb University’s Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering

Dr. Paul Jhin leads United Nations initiative to improve educational opportunities

Jhin named 2010 Alumnus of the Year

Bowld Student Commons is a great example of the commitment ELI 360 partner universities have made to provide students with modern facilities that enhance learning, as well as the student-life experience.

Turney Stevens

Turney Stevens, Dean of the College of Business at Lipscomb University was recently named one of 2009’s Most Influential People in Business Ethics by the Ethisphere Institute, a leading international think-tank dedicated to the advancement of best practices in business ethics.

Stevens was recognized along with leaders such as Bill Gates, Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke and United States President Barak Obama.

Read the full story here.

See the full list of those recognized by the Ethisphere Institute here.