COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAM | FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY TRANSFER
JOB OPPORTUNITIES/RESUME BUILDING | F1 VISA HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM | SUMMER PROGRAMS
Community College Program
Your travel experience with YFU doesn’t have to end with a high school program! Our Community College Program provides an incredible opportunity to continue your academic studies while advancing your intercultural awareness.
Program Options
English as a Second Language Program
- An intensive English language program designed to improve English language skills
- Students must participate in this program if CELT score is below 200
- Program begins in August or early January
- Homestay or college dorm housing options
Academic Program
- Provides academic and career training in a number of fields
- Semester or year program
- 16 credit hours per semester
- Homestay or college dorm housing options
- Earn a certificate in your focus of study
Two Year/Degree Program
- Academic coursework that leads to an Associate’s Degree
- The two-year program is designed to develop career goals while offering transferable credit to a four-year university where student can obtain a Bachelor’s Degree
- Total of 64 credit hours of tuition
- Homestay or college dorm housing options
- During the second year, students are expected to live in an apartment independently, at their own expense
- Students are responsible for finding their own housing accommodations during the summer
Partnering Community Colleges
- Fox Valley Technical College – Appleton, Wisconsin
- Northcentral Technical College – Wausau, Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin – Marinette – Marinette, Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin – Richland – Richland Center, Wisconsin
- Ellsworth Community College – Iowa Falls, Iowa
- Independence Community College – Independence, Kansas
- Neosho County Community College – Chanute, Kansas
- Lincoln Trail College – Robinson, Illinois
- Olney Central College – Olney, Illinois
- Wabash Valley College – Mt. Carmel, Illinois
- Northwest State Community College – Archbold, Ohio
- Roane State Community College – Harriman, Tennessee
- Gadsden State Community College – Gadsden, Alabama
- Whatcom Community College – Bellingham, Washington
Benefits of YFU’s Community College Program
- Attend an intimate community college located in a close-knit community
- Smaller class sizes that foster more discussion and interaction between students and educators
- More potential for one-on-one educational support
- A more affordable option for obtaining an associate’s or bachelor’s degree
- A Campus Coordinator who helps you with class enrollment and getting involved in campus organizations and activities
- Opportunities to participate in American cultural college experiences at least once a month
Four-Year University Transfer
The Community College Program offers valuable career training and academic coursework to prepare you for an Associate’s Degree. It also prepares you, if you wish, to transfer to a four-year college degree program! Here is a list of universities that facilitate the transfer process from our partnering community colleges:
- Iowa State University
- University of Iowa
- University of Northern Iowa
- Buena Vista University
- Briar Cliff University
- Colorado State University
- Michigan Technological University
- Upper Iowa University
- University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
- University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
- Rasmussen College
- Southern Illinois University
- Ottawa University
- Northern Michigan University
- Grand Canyon University
- Herzing University
- Lakeland College
Gadsden State Community College
- Ashford University
Independence Community College
- Kansas State University
- Newman University
- Rogers State University
- Southwestern University
Lincoln Trail Community College
- Ball State University
- Eastern Illinois University
- Franklin University
- Illinois State University
- Indiana State University
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Lakeview College
- McKendree University
- Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
- University of Evansville
- University of Southern Indiana
- Western Illinois University
Neosho County Community College
- American Public University
- Emporia State University
- Baker University
- Cowley College
- Friends University
- Ottawa University
- Newman University
- Kansas Wesleyan University
- Pittsburg State University
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Southwestern College
- Sterling College
Northcentral Technical College
- Lakeland College
- Rasmussen College
- University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
- University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
- University of Wisconsin – Stout
- Western Michigan University
Northwest State Community College
- University of Akron
- Bowling Green State University
- University of Cincinnati
- Cleveland State University
- Kent State University
- Miami University
- The Ohio State University
- Ohio University
- Youngstown State University
- University of Toledo
- The University of Dayton
- Lake Erie College
- John Carroll University
- Same as Lincoln Trail College
- East Tennessee State University
- King University – Knoxville Campus
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Savannah College of Art & Design
- Tennessee State University
- Union University
- University of Wisconsin – Madison
- University of Wisconsin – Madison
- Same as Lincoln Trail College
- International students who attend Whatcom, have traditionally had no trouble in transferring to the university of their choice. As long as they express this interest to their academic advisor at the beginning of their program. The list of school which previous students have attended can be found above.
If transferring to a four-year university sounds intriguing, you must go through the application process for whichever university interests you. Here are some tips for a successful application!
College Essay
The transfer process often requires the student to go through the same steps that first-time applicants go through. Therefore, you will most likely have to write an essay that portrays your skills, experiences, and ambitions. Here are some steps to take and questions to think about to write an outstanding college essay.
Step 1: Personal reflection
- Getting all of your ideas on paper, while staying organized, can be difficult. You may not know where to even begin. After all, it has been awhile since your first study abroad experience, and you’ve been attending community college for a year now. Therefore it is important to think about how you have grown through this entire experience and how it has impacted your view on life. Ask yourself the following questions, and jot own some of your ideas.
- What made you want to begin the unique experience to study abroad?
- Think about how you prepared for this experience and what your expectations were. In what ways were your expectations met or not met?
- What goals did you set for yourself before you traveled abroad?
- How did you achieve those goals? Or how did those goals change over the course of your travels?
- What passions and interests were you able to continue and pursue while abroad?
- How did you enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills while abroad?
- Use specific examples of situations that helped you gain these skills.
- Key words: decision-making, problem-solving, conflict resolution
- How were you able to adjust to other cultures?
- What personal mechanisms did you use to adapt?
- Key words: open mindedness, communicativeness, flexibility and adaptability, strong sense of self, a widened perspective, global understanding, etc.
- How did you overcome challenges, and how did they strengthen your leadership skills?
- What steps did you take to become more independent, without parents, siblings, teachers, and coaches to fall back on?
- Key words: self-reliance, resourcefulness, confidence, etc.
- What made you want to begin the unique experience to study abroad?
Step 2: Talk about your experiences to advance your future goals!
- Once you have brainstormed how the experience impacted you, it is important that you connect this experience to your future experiences. Did this opportunity help you discover a new passion? Consider new ideas for a future career path? Prepare you to be a successful student or employee?
- What can you contribute to your college/university of choice because of your time abroad?
- Will you want to take advantage of study abroad opportunities, mentor international students at your college/university, join an international club, etc.?
- How do you think that your study abroad experience can assist you personally with your studies?
- What passions can you continue to pursue?
Remember, this is your chance to stand out! What makes you different from the rest? Don’t sell yourself short; be egocentric and give all of your fine qualities. This will be unique to the individual so there is no right or wrong answer. This is your time to shine!
Additional Helpful Tips:
Stay away from restating your college transcript or primarily focusing on your academic achievements as a student.
Writing an essay gives you the chance to distinguish yourself from the rest of the applicants. Don’t be afraid to write a personal essay that captures your unique personality.
Make sure you’re aware of the deadlines and requirements for admission. Some want ACT, others want SAT, while some focus on certain extracurricular activities or philanthropic volunteerism.
Recommendations
If the university you are applying to requires a recommendation, make sure to think about who respects and knows your abilities best.
- Did you work closely with any of your professors on a subject that you had an interest in?
- Have you had intellectual discussions with any of your professors that demonstrated your knowledge and skill level to them?
- Did you do any research with professors that could assess your research skills in a positive manner?
- Have you had any jobs in which your boss would be willing to write you a recommendation?
When asking for recommendation letters, be sure to allow ample time for the recommender to brainstorm ideas and write the letter. It might be helpful to explain to the recommender what university program you are applying to and how your skills would fit the program. After they write you the recommendation, write a thank-you note to let them know you appreciated their support and time!
Scholarships
Scholarships are out there for every type of student, you just have to find them! Browse your university website to check out any college-specific scholarships available. You can also browse scholarship databases that offer thousands of opportunities. Lastly, be sure to check local businesses that grant money to students for college in the form of scholarships. You’d be surprised at how many scholarships you can find that cater to your needs, and how much they add up!
Top scholarship search engines:
bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
- As the organization behind the SAT and AP exams, College Board upholds high standards for the scholarships they allow on their site. This site is especially helpful because the scholarships apply to a broad area of interest and application rather than institution-specific scholarships.
- College Net is a website that hosts student forums based on various topics of the college application process. Each week, whichever student receives the most votes for leading an interesting forum will be awarded a scholarship of $3,000-$5,000. This site gives you the best of both worlds: to easily gather information about the college application process while simultaneously getting the opportunity to win scholarships!
- As its name suggests, Scholarship Points is based on a point reward system. The more points you collect—by simply reading blogs, taking quizzes, playing online games, and performing other daily activities—you become eligible and gain access for more and more scholarships. It’s definitely a fun and unique way to search for scholarships!
- Fast Web, Scholarships, and Scholarship Monkey are all enormous scholarship database sites that constantly receive updates on newly available scholarships.
Job Opportunities/Resume Building
If you plan to stay in the U.S. over the summer and need to find a place to live on your own, it might be helpful to consider getting a part-time job.
Remember, an F-1 Visa allows you to consider a part-time job at your university, but prohibits any work outside the school you are attending. Working 20 hours a week at your university can be an exceptional experience, allowing you to get to know your school a little better while earning some extra cash!
Resumes
Applying for jobs can be stressful and scary, but having a well-rounded and concise resume helps the process! Here are some great resume-building tips!
How can you promote your unique traveling experience in your resume? Employers—especially university employers— are always searching for people who embody intercultural awareness and understand the increasing diversity of our world. You learned essential innovative skills during your time abroad that will help you stand out in a pool of applicants. Here are some helpful tips to write a successful resume!
- Mold your study experience in the U.S. and at home to cater to your skillsets and strengths
- Make connections between your travel experiences and what you want to accomplish in the future
- Include skills/characteristics acquired from study abroad experience
- Language proficiency/fluency
- Cross-cultural communication
- Country-specific skills
- Independence
- Financial responsibilities
- International knowledge/awareness
- Ability to cope with failure
- Flexibility/Adaptability
- Realistic Expectations
- Open-mindedness
- Sense of self
- Curiosity
- Tolerance for differences
- When writing a resume, use creative verbs to describe your accomplishments
- Differentiate between country-specific and universal skills you have learned from traveling
- What skills are best suited for the job you are applying for?
Basic Resume Template
Resume Sample
F1 Visa High School Program
YFU international students now have the opportunity to return to the USA for a second year of exchange!
Just like the J1 visa program, students who select the YFU Education Select F1 Visa High School program are:
- Placed with a carefully screened and selected host family or in a secured dormitory with 24-hour staffing
- Provided travel assistance at major airports
- Enrolled in an accredited school
- Given access to counseling, tutoring, worldwide assistance and 24-hour emergency support through their dedicated Area Representative and YFU’s specialized staff
- Participate in 3 or more orientations with fellow YFU students
In addition to all of this, students accepted into the YFU Education Select F1 Visa High School Program may have access to other benefits that our traditional J1 visa students do not, depending on the school and on the student’s performance and behavior. F1 students may be allowed:
- Choice of location and school; students can make their selection based on academic programs, extracurricular activities and community offerings
- Advanced Placement (AP) course access (courses vary dependent on your selected high school)
- Options for specialized coursework as well as the option to enroll in college level classes
- Depending on your current high school status, F1 students may obtain an American High School diploma.
- Students can choose from public, private, or boarding school options
- Flexible deadlines; students are guaranteed a placement as late as June 30
- Option for longer term study; students can choose to study from one year up to four years an receive a diploma
For more info, visit our website!
Summer Programs
Did you enjoy your time in the US? It doesn’t have to end! Join YFU’s summer cultural study tour to immerse yourself in a two-week life-changing travel experience to the U.S.
YFU’s high school student summer program is the perfect way to advance your English skills, celebrate Independence Day with an American host family, and immerse yourself in a unique American city!
Choose from 5 culturally-packed, diverse cities:
- Washington, DC
- San Antonio, Texas
- Denver, Colorado
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- St. Louis, Missouri
What does the program tuition cover?
- Enrollment in YFU Culture and Language classes
- YFU sponsored activities
- 24- hour participant support
- Placement with a supportive host family
- A welcome orientation
- Insurance
- Pick-up and Drop-off assistance from airport
For more info, visit our website!