Special Lecture for Math Science Camp January 2016

Korea Winter Camp Lecture

EducationJanuary 2016

College Options

College Options

1. Four Year Universities 2. Two Year Colleges 3. Boarding Schools

Four Year UniversitiesAdvantages

1. More choices of classes2. Final destination3. BA/BS degree4. More research opportunities5. More top notch professors (may not be teaching oriented)

Four Year UniversitiesAdvantages

6. More resources – ● Study abroad opportunities ● Exchange programs ● Internships ● Student–run clubs ● Honor societies ● Off campus service projects

Four Year UniversitiesDisadvantages.1. Expensive (about $45,000–$65,000 Tuition Only)2. More competition3. Larger gap from high school4. Harder General Education courses5. Require TOEFL/SAT6. 3 S’s: Study – Sleep – Social

Two Year CollegesAdvantages.1. Inexpensive (about $8000)2. Less competitive environment 3. Easier General Education courses 4. Serve as a stepping stone – Bridge between high school and universities5. Host families 6. Easier to learn English

Two Year CollegesAdvantages7. AA degree8. Another chance for good universities9. More chance for Study–Sleep–Social10. Accessible without TOEFL/SAT Intensive English Program 11. TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee)

Boarding SchoolsAdvantagesg

1. Better social experience2. More personal attention 3. Greater chance to attend top universities4. More rigorous course selections5. Better chance to be proficient in English6. Easier for international students to assimilate

Boarding SchoolsDisadvantages

1. Expensive (about $40,000 in tuition) 2. May not be right for young students3. More peer pressure 4. At least 2–3 years of residence requirement

What Admission Officers Are

Looking

1. Passion 2. Impact 3. Challenge 4. Likely to succeed 5. Mature/Independent

6. Willing to share and to receive7. Do things right vs Do the right things8. Well rounded students vs Well rounded class

Activities That Enhance

Admission Chance

Skills Admission Officers Value1. Communication (Verbal and Written) 2. Team Work3. People Management 4. Time Management 5. Set Priorities 6. Multi–tasking 7. International Experience 8. Handle failures

How to Acquire These Skills

1. Publishing articles or books2. Making written and verbal presentations3. Managing Projects 4. Managing people working for you, with you, and people whom you work for

5. Managing deadlines 6. Knowing which task is more important than others.7. Knowing which project should be done first8. International Competitions

9. International Conferences and Exchanges10. International Travel and Summer Camps

Education Differences

Asia – Treat both high school and college students as high school students

US – Treat both high school and college students as college students

Asia – Promote memorization of facts and formulas, speedy calculations, formula applications, Study for examinations

US – Promote creative thinking, logical reasoning, taking risks, Study for curiosity and passion

Asia – What to do How to do it

US – What to do What would happen Why do it Why not do others

Asia – Emphasis on getting the right answers

US – Emphasis on asking the right questions

Asia – Promote competition

US – Promote sharing and working together as a team

Asia – Promote uniformality and conformity

US – Promote diversity and uniqueness

Asia – Promote tradition

US – Promote new techniques and improvement Explore areas no one had touched before

One of the most important parts when filling out a university application is the Personal Statement or Essay. One can see the Education Differences by study those Essay topics.

ESSAYS – Talking vs. Writing.

Sample Topics – What matters to you most and why?– Why choose our school?– Name one thing you regret you did and wish

you could do it over. What would you do differently the second time?

– Name one thing you wish you have and why?– Recount an incident or time when you

experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from that experience?

Sample Topics– Name one major flaw in your character and

explain how you plan to change it.– Identify three of your major weaknesses. What

is your plan to improve them?– Reflect on a time when you challenge a belief

or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

– Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve.

Sample Topics– Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or

informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

An essay that many admission officers thought was one of the best admissions essays they'd ever read. The topic was “Why Did You Do It?”

She wrote this essay about how she goes to France for three months as a foreign-exchange student. Some kid starts teasing her and picking on her, and she was, like, "It was annoying, but he's 15 years old. He's just a boy."

Until one day he spit apple chunks into her hair. So she was pissed. She had just washed her hair. And being an Indian woman, she made a comment about how difficult and how thick her hair is and it's very difficult and time-consuming to wash.

So he spit in her freshly washed hair, and that was not going over well with her.

So she took a banana from the cafeteria and she let it rot. And the next time she saw him, she smushed it up in his face. She's telling this story — the readers are hysterically laughing —. They were thinking this is the nicest girl they've ever met, she's adorable. They can't believe she did that.

She wrote about how she is very tolerant of other people. She herself looks different from other people. She's traveled all over the world; she's very open-minded. But the one thing she will not stand for is bullying, especially after her hair has been messed with. 

The point is, students pigeonhole themselves and write about topics they think are what colleges want to hear. Just tell a story about something. It can be as silly or serious as you want it to be.

Berkeley’s essay topic #1 for 2015 – Describe the world you come from. For

example, your family, community or school – and tell us how your world has

shaped your dreams and aspirations. (Pick one and be descriptive. Keep your response relevant; focus on events that happened in the three or four years of high

school.)

Berkeley’s essay topic #1 for 2015– What are the challenges or opportunities you

find in your community? – Do you identify with one or more cultures?

Can you speak more than one language? What has that allowed you to do in life?

– What is a typical day or week in your life, and how do you manage to accomplish everything?

– What is your school like? Describe the program and why you enrolled.

– How are you challenging and enriching yourself in school to prepare for college?

Berkeley’s essay topic #1 for 2015 – If you hold a leadership role: Did you apply or

were you nominated? What does that role mean at your school or in your community? How did you grow in this role?

– Do you have a major or career in mind? What is it and why did you choose it? Are there any courses and/or extracurricular activities you have completed to get you started in this area?

Berkeley’s essay topic #2 for 2015 – Tell us about a personal quality, talent,

accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to

the person you are?

(Choose a topic that has not been addressed in detail in another section of the application. Keep the information relevant to your personal experiences.)

Berkeley’s essay topic #2 for 2015– Make a list of four things that describe

you (e.g., athletic, a leader, first in my family to go to college, started

a club, own my own business, etc.)– Now ask a friend or family member

to do the same thing.

Berkeley’s essay topic #2 for 2015– Did anything overlap? Can you see

areas where you want to share more information? If so, consider using this topic to respond.

– What do you consider one of your strengths?

– What activities, awards or honors do you wish to discuss?

.

Common Problems Facing International Students Studying in the U.S.

1. Homesickness –The first six monthsThe first return homeThe first set back

2. Peer PressureMoneyAcademicBoys/Girls/FriendsSaying No

3. Pressure from HomeMoneyGradesBoys/Girls/FriendsDaily Live

4. Freedom/IndependenceNo rule to follow

5. Benefits/ResponsibilityGet up any time vs

Late every timeSleep at any hour vs

Not enough sleepEat anything at any time vs

Irregular eating habitSpend money any way vs

No moneyStudy any time any way vs

Failing

6. FriendsYou are who your friends areYou eat what your friends eatYou do what your friends doYou go where your friends goYou gather with the same groups of

people your friend gather Parents – Get to know your child’s

friends

Prepare for Overseas Colleges

1. Part time work and summer jobs2. Encourage to attend more international events3. More household work – cooking, washing dishes, washing clothes, dealing with trash, cleaning up after yourself4. Develop people skills – Do ordering in restaurants, Grocery shopping, Store shopping, Solving disputes, Agree/disagree

with others, Agree to disagree, Respect, Tolerance

Prepare for Overseas Colleges

5. Financial management – Comparison shopping, Budgeting, Needs vs Wants, Plan B, Plan C6. Not everything is perfect – Handle obstacles, Handle failures, Learn from failures, Learn from mistakes7. Learn to handle success – Get others to be happy with your success

Prepare for Overseas Colleges

8. Develop communication skill – Talk to parents, Parents “talk to” not “lecture at” students, Learn what can say and what cannot say to friends and others9. Set priorities – To do list, What to do first and what can be put off, Task list in order of importance

Prepare for Overseas Colleges

10. Learn to say “NO” – Learn when to say “NO”, Learn when not to do what others tell you to do, Learn when to do what others think it cannot be done11. Take risks – Accept risks that is within your sphere of tolerance, Worst scenarios, Grain of salt, Know where your head is – over your head

Prepare for Overseas Colleges

12. Bad is bad, Good may not be good - Fool you once, shame on him, Fool you twice, shame on you, When it is too good to be true, usually it is, No free lunch, You get what you pay for, Who is your best friend?

Prepare for Overseas Colleges

13. Maturity – Maturity is measured on how you handle adversities. “Gossips” always come back to bite. Be responsible to yourself and family and others. Always put yourself in other person’s shoes. You should not treat others in ways that you would not like to be treated,

Progress in CollegesYear 1 – General and basic courses such

as English, History, Math, Sciences, Languages, Humanities, Social Sciences, Fine Arts. Explore interests by joining academic and social clubs.

Year 2 – More general courses. Try out basic and intermediate courses for your intended major. Narrow your club choices to those that interest you most.

Exchange programs. Summer internship.

Progress in CollegesYear 3 – Declare major. Upper division

courses for your major. Courses for your minor. Exchange programs and summer internships. Initiate networking with professors, alumni, companies, etc.

Year 4 – Advanced courses for your major. Write thesis. Research assistance. Internship. Prepare GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT if you are interested to go to graduate schools. Explore various networks if you plan to join work force after graduation.

Things to Consider After Graduation

Student visa Work visa

Working vs Attending Graduate School

Return Home vs Stay

Jobs you like vs Money you like

Legacy in Private Universities

Time to start your college

planning is when you are

in junior high school.