Studying In Canada-Advice On Where To Begin...

I recently was on an International Students Forum and came across a question that an International student asked: 

“I wish to do my masters in Canada, please can you let me know any university in Canada that I can apply, that will accept me, and please let me know the requirements.  What I need to do, to have admissions this year?”

To answer this question effectively, there are a few of questions you should ask yourself:

What do I want to study my masters in?

What part of Canada do I want to live in?

This is a good place to start it has all the universities in Canada listed (see web link), each province and institutions have different requirements, so it is important to pick the school you would like to attend first.

www.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University ... admissions

Here are a few more resources:

Post-Secondary Application Service of British Columbia

Ontario Universities’ Application Centre

Ontario College Application Service

List of colleges in Canada

List of Universities in Canada

Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

List of Canadian Universities by endowment

General requirements for Graduate Studies: This listing provides a general outline of requirements for students interested in applying to a university graduate program in Canada. Please note that specific requirements for institutions will vary and students are encouraged to check directly with the institutions they are interested in for specific admissions requirements.

Completion of an acceptable undergraduate degree from an accredited/recognized university

High level of academic achievement in previous studies

Strong reference letters

Written Statements

Standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). 

If English isn’t your native language you will have to take an English Placement Test the standard test most international students take for TOEFL.

Good luck for those of you that are interested in studying in Canada and have additional questions please contact Bearla International Studies: info.bearla@gmail.com

And please watch this space for our brand new website to be launched very soon...

Elizabeth Koukladas & Amber Williams-Directors

Bearla International Studies.

Texas Community College Feels The Heat.

A Texas Community College feels the heat. As the federal government steps in and takes away federal aid due to the students in loan default.  

The federal government is keeping an eye on for-profit institutions, which seem to have the highest rate of default in the nation. The U.S. Department of Education now tracks defaults among federal loan recipients for three years after they leave college.  Two-years has been the standard but Congress expanded the “cohort default rates” into the 2008 reauthorisation of the Higher Education Act, this law governs federal financial aid.

Since the 2008 they have found that the default rates under for-profit are higher. In the for-profit sector there was a 21.8 percent default on average, compared to 13.6 rate under the two-year metric.  The three-year study showed 13 percent at all public institutions, including four-year institutions and 8.3 percent at private, nonprofit institutions.  At two-year rates the public four-year was 9.6 percent and 5.2 percent at privates schools.  Just a warning if the default goes above 30 percent the institution will lose all federal aid, including the Pell Grant. 

I think that 30 percent default is to high and it should be more like 25 percent, I have worked for a for-profit school in the past and I am sad to see that the default rates are at a 21.8 percent.  For those of you interested in a for-profit school always ask to see the default rate, this will let you know if graduates or drop outs are able to pay back their loans.  This is very important to you because if a former student isn’t able to pay back their loans it is most likely they are not working or their position isn’t paying enough, this reflects badly upon the institution also.  An education is not just about the accomplishment but it about your future career and your earning potential.

Bearla International Studies

Elizabeth Koukladas Director

Green Card Lottery And The American Dream.

The Green Card Lottery, provides around 55,000 green cards annually to people from all over the world, who want to move to the United States. The Green Card Lottery is an official US State Department, government run program. If you happen to be lucky, then all you have to do is enter and wait for the results-generated at random by a computer. 

There are a couple of requirements in orders for you to be able to enter the lottery in the first place. They depend on whether you are from a qualifying country-depending on how many people from your country have emigrated to the USA annually for the past 5 years. Eligibility is also decided upon whether  you completed your hight school education or national equivalent, and which country you are currently residing in when you apply. Applications are now only taken online and do require stringent questioning. Once the application has been completed it is then passed to the government for approval and then entered into the lottery.

If you are crying out to live the American dream, then I suggest the lottery is well worth entering, 55,000 green cards distributed annually is pretty good. I have known two people who have won, so its not that rare. 

You can get your application checked before you submit it for government approval. Many are disqualified because their applications where filled out incorrectly. There are services available to you who are able to help you with the application, just make sure you find a reputable one.

I hope you have a chance to enter and if so, good luck with your entry!

Amber Williams-Director.

Bearla International Studies

info.bearla@gmail.com

Urgency For Blended Education.

Khan Academy recently unveiled new online math resources tied to the Common Core State Standards.  Materials feature interactive high-tech user interfaces and sophisticated back-end software that adapts to individual learning – represent a critical step for the field free “open education resources,” or OER.  Another program that has been rolled out is “deeper learning,” which is similar to the online math course but for other topics.

This has caused traditional education to step up its methods; online courses that are aliened with core state standards are challenging the more traditional style of education.  Causing an urgency for a blended education and for those of you that do not understand what a blended education is, it is based on both online and classroom instruction. 

I was lucky enough with my MBA degree to have a blended education; I found it to be more interesting with both styles and a more modern approach to education.   The reality is that most educational institutions should be rolling out a blended method of education it is teaching students to be more technologically adaptable.  Hats off to Khan Academy we could learn a few things from their program.

Co-Owners, Bearla International Studies

Elizabeth Koukladas & Amber Williams

info.bearla@gmail.com

Students And Educators Crying Out For Educational Reform.

International educators and students urged representatives on Capitol Hill last week to push for immigration reform as part of NAFSA‘s annual Advocacy Day. Amongst other issues the bill is proposed to provide a direct citizenship path for undocumented immigrants,  comprehensive, ‘commonsense’ immigration legislation and The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Act, which would fund one million students to study abroad for credit annually by 2020.

The USA's current immigration law was drafted in the 1950's so, needless to say it is extremely out of date and no longer fit for purpose. I thoroughly agree with NAFSA and I am sure anyone in their right mind would also agree when they claim, “Educated students are exactly the kinds of immigrants we should encourage to stay in the United States. We should not force them, before they even start their studies, to say that they have no intention of staying, working, and contributing to the economies and communities of the United States after they graduate.”

A brighter future from the economy is within reach. The USA (and many other nations) need to step up and take advantage of any resources possible to boost the economy. As we all know-sitting on your behind and waiting for radical but necessary changes to take place is a a naive and lazy mans game.  

I know these things take time to change, but this bill has been waiting to be signed by the republicans for seven months already. Despite the efforts of the democrats, republicans Jeff Denham of California, David Valadao of California and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida — have said that they will not sign the petition. Obama remains doubtful that the bill we be passed. 

I am never one to give up, I hope and believe that pretty much anything is possible. It may take MORE time, but I look forward to this type of education reform and many others in the future. We simply cannot keep living our lives by the laws outlined in the 1950's, especially when you take into account the contribution of foreign students to the US economy!

Find out more at: http://www.nafsa.org

Co-Owners Amber Williams & Elizabeth Koukladas
Beala International Studies
info.bearla@gmail.com

Do The Education Department Sufficiently Oversee Student Loan Borrowers?

Washington – Senate Democrats have several questions directed to the Education Department.  The major question was 'how do you oversee the companies that manage payments of student loan borrowers.'  Federal students loans are not managed by the government, they are managed by companies that loan money and or credit, these companies are making billions on interest and of course are extremely profitable, lucky them. 

James Runcie is the chief operating officer of Federal Student Aid, he defended the government agency contracts with loan servicing companies.  Runcie defended the agency by stating, “the department’s model for measuring how well its services are performing has worked well” (how much do you want to make a bet that his mom and dad paid for his education).  Runcie also stated “The metrics in that formula – which include data about loan defaults and satisfaction surveys of borrowers, colleges and department employees – have all improved since the four-servicer program began in 2009”, according to Runcie. The Department of Education that oversees the agencies stated that they would renew the contracts that are ending in June 2014 and extend those contracts through to July 2019. 

According to Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts they have been informed of negative comments from borrowers about Sallie Mae and Senator Warren pointed to the federal government’s investigation on three agencies over its loan servicing practices.  The only comment from Runcie was “We strictly monitor their compliance to the contracts.  And we’re very open to looking at those contracts and seeing if there’s additional terms and things we should put in there.”  Both Senators were not pleased by Runcie's answer, and Senator Warren fired off  “I’m very concerned about re-upping a multimillion-dollar contract with Sallie Mae, when Sallie Mae has demonstrated time and time again that it’s not following the rules.” 

Regardless, education cost is a tough pill to swallow but it is a reality.  The options of not going to school and finding a profession are more costly with regards to your salary expectations.  I do wish that the government would step in and find a better method to help students pay for their education.  If you remember a couple of months ago I wrote a blog on a university that required students to pay a percentage of their salary towards student loans after graduation, meaning depending on their income the payment would be manageable.  And what about past graduates that are paying how are they protecting those students?  I would personally like to thank Senator Warren and Harkin for leading the way in this debate but come on federal government step up and make the difference to those who are trying to make their lives better by pursuing their education.  Thanks for listening to my rant, comments are always welcome, you may rant below.

Co-Owners-Elizabeth Koukladas & Amber Williams

Bearla International Studies

info.bearla@gmail.com

Do The Education Department Sufficiently Oversee Student Loan Borrowers?

Washington – Senate Democrats have several questions directed to the Education Department.  The major question was 'how do you oversee the companies that manage payments of student loan borrowers.'  Federal students loans are not managed by the government, they are managed by companies that loan money and or credit, these companies are making billions on interest and of course are extremely profitable, lucky them. 

James Runcie is the chief operating officer of Federal Student Aid, he defended the government agency contracts with loan servicing companies.  Runcie defended the agency by stating, “the department’s model for measuring how well its services are performing has worked well” (how much do you want to make a bet that his mom and dad paid for his education).  Runcie also stated “The metrics in that formula – which include data about loan defaults and satisfaction surveys of borrowers, colleges and department employees – have all improved since the four-servicer program began in 2009”, according to Runcie. The Department of Education that oversees the agencies stated that they would renew the contracts that are ending in June 2014 and extend those contracts through to July 2019. 

According to Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts they have been informed of negative comments from borrowers about Sallie Mae and Senator Warren pointed to the federal government’s investigation on three agencies over its loan servicing practices.  The only comment from Runcie was “We strictly monitor their compliance to the contracts.  And we’re very open to looking at those contracts and seeing if there’s additional terms and things we should put in there.”  Both Senators were not pleased by Runcie's answer, and Senator Warren fired off  “I’m very concerned about re-upping a multimillion-dollar contract with Sallie Mae, when Sallie Mae has demonstrated time and time again that it’s not following the rules.” 

Regardless, education cost is a tough pill to swallow but it is a reality.  The options of not going to school and finding a profession are more costly with regards to your salary expectations.  I do wish that the government would step in and find a better method to help students pay for their education.  If you remember a couple of months ago I wrote a blog on a university that required students to pay a percentage of their salary towards student loans after graduation, meaning depending on their income the payment would be manageable.  And what about past graduates that are paying how are they protecting those students?  I would personally like to thank Senator Warren and Harkin for leading the way in this debate but come on federal government step up and make the difference to those who are trying to make their lives better by pursuing their education.  Thanks for listening to my rant, comments are always welcome, you may rant below.

Elizabeth Koukladas-Director   

Bearla International Studies

info.bearla@gmail.com