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The U.S. Experience Presented by the Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States and Belgium

The U.S. Experience Presented by the Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States and Belgium. Mission. Why the U.S.?. Wide array of options Collaboration of scholars Active development and presentation of research Not just academic study Internationalize your CV

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The U.S. Experience Presented by the Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States and Belgium

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  1. The U.S. Experience Presented by the Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States and Belgium

  2. Mission

  3. Why the U.S.? • Wide array of options • Collaboration of scholars • Active development and presentation of research • Not just academic study • Internationalize your CV • Opportunity to travel to the US

  4. Belgian Mobility

  5. Interesting Facts Top Graduate Institutions

  6. Your Options

  7. What you should know • Typically 5-7 years in length • 2 years of intensive course work before thesis • Admission varies: centralized/decentralized • Big names, not best names in your field • Reputation of your program

  8. Differences to Expect • No central government authority • No ranking system • Sometimes there are entrance exams • Application process- letters of recommendation, personal statements • Teaching and classroom styles • On-campus life and opportunities

  9. Start early 12 – 18 months…prior to departure Choose …1 – 4 programs to apply to Evaluate …your motivation & objectives Determine …all requirements Register …for any required tests Note …all deadlines on a calendar

  10. How to choose • Location • Academic fit • Size of department • Opportunities – teaching, publishing, conferences, alumni • Resources – desk, libraries, MBA programs and commercialization offices • Cost?

  11. Searching • Search academic publications to see where the authors are coming from • Network at conferences and through your current professors • Check the websites of professional organizations in your field http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools.aspx http://www.gradschools.com/ http://www.princetonreview.com/schools/gradSchoolResearch.aspx http://www.topmba.com/ http://www.phds.org/

  12. Transcripts

  13. Entrance Exams GMAT Graduate Management Admission Test GRE Graduate Record Exam • For admission to GraduateSchools (exceptLaw programs) • Subject-specific tests required for certain programs • Scores range from 130-170 and are available 10-15 daysafter the exam. They are good for 5 years. • http://www.takethegre.com/ • For admission to Business Schools • Scores range from 200-800 and are available 20 daysafter the exam. They are good for 5 years. • http://www.mba.com

  14. English Tests • $ 240 • Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris, Arnhem • Speak with a computer • http://www.ets.org/toefl • http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/ • € 198 • Accepted by many but not all universities • Speak with a human • http://www.britishcouncil.org/brussels-exams-ielts.htm • € 270 • Accepted by many but not all universities • 3 hours, Brussels • Score in 5 days • http://www.pearsonpte.com/PTEACADEMIC/Pages/home.aspx

  15. TOEFL Registration Fri., Oct 25, 2013Sat., Nov 09, 2013Fri., Nov 22, 2013Fri., Dec 06, 2013Sat., Dec 07, 2013Sat., Dec 14, 2013Fri., Dec 20, 2013

  16. Recommendation Letters

  17. Recommendation Letters • Develop strong relationships with academic and professional colleagues • Ask for letter of recommendation early and in-person • Talk about your motivation for applying • Provide them with resources like your CV to help them know what elements to include • Give them a pre-addressed stamped envelope • Follow up to make sure the letter is sent!

  18. Personal Statement

  19. Additional Documents • Compelling statement of purpose (research plan) • CV plus extracurriculars • Writing sample or portfolio • Interview (if required)

  20. Post-Doctoral Positions

  21. Purpose

  22. Purpose • Further training • Broaden research experience • Enhance teaching effectiveness • Make contacts with peers in field • Gain experience in grant writing & presenting • Opportunity to publish and position yourself for a full-time position

  23. Types of Positions • Research Associate • Usually in sciences • Employment, not training • Tax implications • Fellowships (sciences vs. humanities) • Specifically for training or research • Training grant can come from university, federal agency, or foundation or association 3. Internships/Apprentinceships 4. Jobs in the industry 5. Instructor positions 6. Assistant professor

  24. Finding a host • Network with your own contacts first • When you read articles, whose direction/scope appeals to you? • What impact does this individual have in this field? • Speak with present or past students/postdocs • Do they have time for you? • Is this field growing? • What next?

  25. Contacting Potential Hosts • Contact a year before you will finish your degree • More funding resources and number of positions with that adviser. Plus, it gives you an incentive to finish! • Write them a 1-2 paragraph email that BRIEFLY states • Any personal connections with them • Your reaction/questions about their research • Your academic fit • Any funding you will bring with you • You can follow up with more details later

  26. Once you have a host • Keep them informed of your progress • Be realistic about when you can actually arrive • Duration of training? • Goals during training? • Salary? Health care? • Visa? Family status? Student or professor? • Are you working on their project or your original works? • Collaboration with others?

  27. Letter of Invitation • On official department letterhead • Contact details included • Should outline: • Your official status – visiting researcher, professor, etc. • Specific dates of stay • Resources available to you – desk, mailbox, salary, etc. • Signed

  28. 3 Simultaneous Actions • Choose1-4 universities • Determinewhatisneeded to apply for each one • Look for financial support.

  29. Funding Sources • Personal funding • Loan • From a bank • From Lazard Foundation in Belgium • Money from U.S. university • Researchfellowship • Teachingassistantship • Salary • Scholarshipfromotherorganizations • Fulbright, BAEF, Rotary • http://www.fulbright.be/awards/non-fulbright-awards/

  30. Fellowships: Sciences • NRC Research associateship programs (science, engineering, atmospherical, aeronautical, OSHA, Energy, NOAA) • National Science Foundation • National Labs (ex. Lawrence-Livermore, Los Alamos) • National Academy of Engineering • American Western Universities (AWU) • NIH, NSF, HHMI • Foundations for disease research: American Cancer Society, Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Leukemia Society, March of Dimes • Industry: Pharma companies like Pfizer, DuPont, Amgen, Genentech, SAIC, Merck • General med research: Damon Runyon, Helen Hay Whitney, Charles King Trust, Jane Coffin Childs, Markey, Life Sciences

  31. Fellowships: Humanities • Woodrow Wilson Post Doc Fellowships in Humanities • Social Sciences Research Council • American Philosophical Society • Arts (Ahmanson, Getty)

  32. Fulbright Awards

  33. “ to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries " former Senator J. William Fulbright

  34. Who can apply? • Students, Researchers, Lecturers • Mid-careerjournalists • Languageteaching assistants • Secondaryschoolteachers *Anyone without a Ph.D. at the time of departure is a student!*

  35. Benefits • Up to $30,000 • Sickness and accident insurance • J-1 visa sponsorship • Discount on Brussels Airlines plane tickets to NY & DC • In-country programming– including Gateway Orientations, Enrichment Seminars, and the Occassional Lecturer Fund • Prestigious title and alumni network

  36. Eligibility • Belgian citizenship • English proficiency • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree • Academic excellence (generally a distinction every year or grand distinction in the last year of study) • Admission or affiliation with an accredited US university or think tank

  37. Conditions • No J-1 visa in the student or scholar categories within the past two years • Ambassadorial qualities necessary for educational and cultural exchange • Must return to Belgium/EU for 2 years following grant http://prado.consilium.europa.eu/en/searchByIssuingCountry.html

  38. Deadlines March 1: • Fulbright - Hays Journalism Grant • Fulbright Awards for GraduateStudy • Fulbright Awards for ResearchScholars & Lecturers • Fulbright - Schuman Grants December 1: ForeignLanguageTeaching Assistants Program SummerSeminar in American Studies Frank Boas Scholarships for Harvard

  39. How to apply July 1 – November 1 November 1 – February 1 As soon as possible Prepare Preliminary Application 3 letters of rec Transcripts Essays Provide letter of acceptance Interview Notification Final Online Application December 11 March 19 December 1 March 1 March/April

  40. Harvard BOAS • For candidates whose FIRST CHOICE is Harvard • International Legal Studies – Offers partial scholarship based on financial need and a travel grant from Fulbright Belgium • Graduate Studies Award – Offers one year scholarship and travel stipend. Preference is given to full-degree seeking students with at least one year of professional experience, but this award is open to Visiting Scholars, too. • Applicants must apply to Harvard and Fulbright at the same time, and they must email a copy of their final Harvard application to fulbright@fulbright.be for consideration during the scholarship selection process • Notifications in December and March • Unsuccessful applicants allowed to re-apply in the spring

  41. Journalism Award Earn a journalism degree or research how US journalists approach a certain aspect of the field Preference is given to candidates with at least two years of professional experience $15,000 or $30,000

  42. Fulbright Schuman • Graduate Study, Pre-Doctoral Research, Post-Doctoral Research, or University Lecturing • Open to all EU citizens whose projects relate to U.S.-EU relations, EU policy, or EU institutions • Must have minimum of three months experience in two or more Member States • Preference given to candidates with at least two years of professional experience • €2,000 travel stipend and €3,000/month

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