Studying in America..

This is THE site for undergrad studies in the US. You can do a rather detailed searches on schools. You will also need to take the SATs and possibly the SATIIs Subject tests. This will vary by school.

http://www.collegeboard.com/

Hope this helps.

Adrock-aka wrote: »

Kabuk1! great link, would you know if there is anything similar for graduate courses. In particular MBA's?

The following links should prove useful for MBAs and other grad programs:
http://www.princetonreview.com/
http://www.gradschools.com/
http://www.petersons.com/graduate_home.asp?path=gr.home

MBA program rankings:
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/

Are you able to go over to America and study for one semester or for the full year or does it depend on your course?
I'm going to investigate those links tomorrow when I'm actually in a broadband area and not stuck on dial up:(
I was planning on taking a year out after my first year and going over on a visa to simply work but if I could get over there and still be studying my course..........I'd be soooooooooo friggin happy!!!:D

ToniTuddle wrote: »

Are you able to go over to America and study for one semester or for the full year or does it depend on your course?
I'm going to investigate those links tomorrow when I'm actually in a broadband area and not stuck on dial up:(
I was planning on taking a year out after my first year and going over on a visa to simply work but if I could get over there and still be studying my course..........I'd be soooooooooo friggin happy!!!:D

The above links are geared more to those who are interested in completing a degree at a US university. If you're interested in studying in the US for 6 months to 1 year, you should look into study abroad. Your current university would be a place to start. There is also ISEP: http://www.isep.org/.

Study abroad is definitely the cheapest way to go as you pay home fees. You'll just need to ensure that you have funds for living expenses.

kabuk1 wrote: »

If you're interested in studying in the US for 6 months to 1 year, you should look into study abroad. Your current university would be a place to start. There is also ISEP: http://www.isep.org/.

Thank you so much:D

Checked it briefly but in the list of countries Ireland is not mentioned so I'll just get talking to someone from my college and see what I find out. Maybe they only have European swaps going at the moment

kabuk1 wrote: »

I know Boston College has agreements with NUIG, MUIM, Trinity and UCC:
I'd say your uni has some study abroad programs set up as most do. Hope this helps.

Problem is I'm not exactly in a 'University'. I'm in an Institute of Technology.
If you are studying abroad I don't think you are allowed to work to help support your funds.
I've investigated the USIT programmes. The USA internship would work out severely expensive well the arrival into the States would be the expensive part.
(unless I got a kind relative to pop €5,000 into me account and let it rest there for awhile until I got a bank statement showing it)

I've a friend in NZ for a year studying his course(same as mine) but he was doing his in a dublin college not sure which one.
I just have to think very seriously about what I'm going to do. As alot of the paperwork has to be sorted in the next few months and everything paid for by 31st March.

Best advice for anyone going away is :

• Sort out your passports now(esp if you need a new one)
• Get a Police Certificate from your local garda station
• Get a Police Certificate from any country you have stayed more than 6 months in (like I have to now from NZ-ask for 2)
• Check if you need a Medical done and sure get one done anyway even if you don't they are important!
• Try saving a little each week from now until then as it will all add up and you won't be freaking out about not having enough money. Every little bit helps even if you can only pop a fiver away some weeks!:D
• If you are planning on working and are allowed to work, get references from previous employers
• Or if you haven't had a job before get a reference from an Academic contact aka a lecturer you get on with!
• Get a letter from your college saying you are in a degree or whatever type of course and that you do intend to return to Ireland. (They are kinda paranoid about people not leaving the US!)
• If you are on any medication make sure you have a doctors note to accompany it otherwise they might dump it all in the bin at customs.
• Bring your student card,credit crad, and small change or notes for whatever country you are going too the bank will sort you out with that. (handy for ringing taxis,grabbing quick snack). Nothing worse than landing in a country and nowhere is open to change your money into the right currency:eek:
• Bring few copies of your CV and your USB with your CV on it.
• Photocopy your passport and other important documents and carry a copy in your suitcase and in your carry on luggage.
• ALL of your important documents should be carried in your carry on luggage.

Thats all I can think of now.
It's actually pretty long looking back over it now sorry about that but there is alot of things, simple things people forget or wouldn't think to do.

kickoutthejams wrote: »

Well said.

It's extremely tough for an Irish student to do an entire undergrad in the US. Most viable option is a one year study abroad during an undergrad in Europe.
It is possible to get lower tuition etc but for a free ride, the spots are incredibly competitive. And by this I mean you'll be looking at going against some of the best students the world has to offer. You'd need to be looking for private institutions, state institutions have lower fees (around 20k a year to out of state applicants) but scholarships are much thinner on the ground.

Postgrad funding is a hell of a lot easier to secure. Don't know too much about masters programs but most US universities give you a tuition waiver and a stipend (usually 12-18k a year) living expenses to PHD students in exchange for teaching or research assistantships.

Yes, funding for postgrad is definitely easier to get as there is much more of it. However, some Masters programs will not offer you the TA/GA position during you first year (as most masters are 2 years in the US), though other funding is there.

For undergrad, if you are an outstanding athlete, there is a possibility of a partial to full ride for that. Of the popular sports in Ireland, your best shot in the US would be the following:

Men and women's Rugby
Women's Field Hockey
Men and women's Football (more international players for the men)

I'm not saying an athletic scholarship would be easy to get, but there are options there. If you go to collegeboards.com, you can search for unis offering your major + sport + various scholarships and so on.