11 Things You Can Do This Summer That Don't Involve Saving the World

Pandemic put a damper on your summer plans? 

Looking for something else to do?

Sure, you could create a virtual mentoring program, start a non-profit, or finally get around to developing that coronavirus vaccine.

Or you could do less. 

You could just decide to do… well, you.

Here are some ideas, inspired by my friends Whit and Ed.

1. Find a screwdriver and go around the house using it to tighten everything you can with it. 

2. The Northern Lights are on livestream all the time.

3. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has guided meditation videos with jellyfish, turtles, and other relaxing critters.

4. These 12 museums worldwide are offering virtual tours.

5. Check out these four great sleep apps.

6. Tons of great board games have gone digital. If you haven’t heard of Humble Bundle, here’s the gist: you can pay $1 and get a bunch of games. Or you can pay more and get more. I heart games.

7. Harry Potter at home! I’m reading it now with my daughter so…

8. Turns out we should all be doing squats.

   And, okay, if you want to get a little productive: 

9. Read The Uninhabitable Earth or Doing Good Better.

10. Actually, Project Gutenberg has been making books in the public domain free for years. 60,000 free books.

11. Here’s a list of 450 Ivy League courses that you can take online for FREE.

Want more ideas? Click here and either search for the word “pandemic” or just scroll down.

Applying to College Abroad: A Guide for American Students

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Click to scroll)

• Essential Tips for Applying to Universities Outside the US
• Canada
• UK
• Ireland
• Europe
• Australia & New Zealand
• Hong Kong & Singapore
• American Universities Overseas

Written by David Hawkins of The University Guys

Just as international students from around the world head to the USA for their college education, US high school students can find their dream university in other countries. 

If you’re an academically and socially mature student interested in a truly international education--and a cheaper and more specialized three-year degree--read on.

Essential Tips

• While studying in college abroad for your education sounds exotic, be careful not to confuse this opportunity with an extended vacation. It is not for everyone!

• Knowing the entry requirements for non-US colleges is critical. A US high school diploma and SAT scores won’t be enough in some countries; your offer may be conditional on achieving certain scores on AP exams or SAT Subject Tests. 

• You can use your federal student loans at non-US colleges. All the information and the list is here: studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/international

• Many non-US colleges will require you to apply to their university via their own application portal. However, some international universities will allow you to apply via the Common App.

Canada

The Canadian university system is a public system, with tuition subsidized by the government of each province. That means tuition is typically cheaper than many US universities. As of 2018/19, the average annual tuition fee for an international student is just over $20,000, with the most expensive around $35,000. A key difference is that you must apply to a program at the time of application. There’s a lot of flexibility, though; many students choose Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees.

Essential Tips

• A degree in Canada takes four years to earn;

• Each program has subject prerequisites, which are listed on the university websites, and minimum academic standards for achievement.

• Students either apply directly to the university or to a province-wide system (such as OUAC for Ontario).

• Each university will have different application timelines and its important to check them all in advance;

• Very little writing is required for Canadian applications; many students will not need to write a single essay for their application.

UK

The UK (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) also runs a public university system, so expect to pay $20,000 annual tuition. However, the amounts charged for each subject at each university vary greatly, so make sure to check. To do this, simply Google ‘international tuition fees’ and the name of the university to find their information.

The British model of university education is very different from the US model; students must apply to one course of study and have little flexibility to switch or take classes outside of that course. If you’ve been accepted to study Biology, for instance, almost every class you take will be Biology. This early specialization means that a degree in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland takes only three years; Scottish universities offer the option to take a range of classes, so a degree there takes four years.

Essential Tips:

• Many subjects offered only at the postgraduate level in the US can be studied as an undergraduate in the UK; you can study law or medicine, for example, straight out of high school.  However, be careful--practicing law or medicine in the US after graduation might require extra credentials.

• The UK runs a central applications system called UCAS, which all applications must go through (unless you use the Common App). The limit – either way – is a maximum of five applications.

• The deadline for most programs is January 15th. but for more specialized courses (e.g., Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine) or at Oxford and Cambridge, the deadline is October 15th.  You may need to take unique standardized tests for some of these programs, so plan accordingly.

• For most UK programs, you only have to write one essay: a 47-line academic personal statement.

• UK admissions rely heavily on your achievement in external exams or standardized testing. Universities want you to achieve certain SAT, ACT, AP or SAT Subject Test scores in order to gain a place.

IRELAND

Ireland is a hidden-gem destination for US students, who have traditionally overlooked it and instead focused on the UK. It’s a shame, as Ireland has great universities with amazing options for students. 

A degree takes four years in Ireland, which allows some flexibility. You must still choose your program of study at the time of application. Tuition fees can get quite expensive for medicine, but for most other courses it’s much cheaper than the US.

Essential Tips:

• Don’t be confused by some of the names of Irish universities: Trinity College Dublin and the University of Dublin are the same thing. National University of Ireland has four universities and one college;

• Some people get the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland confused, and the politics here are complicated. For the purposes of applying, the universities in Northern Ireland are on UCAS as they are administratively part of the UK;

• If you hold an EU passport, you must apply to universities via the Central Applications Office (CAO), which has a matching procedure in August whereby students are allocated to their final place based on their exam results. Non-EU passport holders apply directly to each university.

EUROPE

Beyond Ireland, countries across Europe offer a wide range of degrees taught in English. The Netherlands (where almost everyone speaks English fluently) is the most popular destination, but almost every European country—from Scandinavia and the Baltics in the north to Malta and Cyprus in the south—has some options for English-speakers.

Europe’s public and private universities offer different levels of service at very different price points: don’t expect to have office hours, dorms, extracurricular activities, student medical services and even a cafeteria at universities with very low tuition. Public universities typically don’t offer dorms (though there are some exceptions), have very large classes and no access to professors, but can charge tuition of under $10,000 a year down to completely free. Private universities charge more (though typically still much less than in the US; expect around $25,000 a year in tuition) and will offer more in terms of dorms, clubs, and the student experience.

Essential Tips:

• Most European degrees are similar to the British model: you apply for the subject you want to study and it is typically three years of study. There are some exceptions, such as the Liberal Arts and Sciences colleges in the Netherlands;

• The early specialism also means that you can study law, medicine, dentistry and related subjects straight from high school;

• You will need to meet the high school diploma equivalency in the country where you are applying, which typically involves external exams: AP, SAT, ACT or SAT Subject Tests;

• As each county has its own university system, expect to deal with different requirements and timelines depending on which country’s universities you are applying to.

• Some US universities allow a freshman year in Europe (or indeed, further afield) or have 2+2 arrangements with European universities

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Going much farther away from the US, the university sectors of Australia and New Zealand are well worth considering. The big difference here is that the southern hemisphere runs their academic year on a different calendar: in Australia and New Zealand summer happens in December, so the university year starts in late January or early February and runs through mid-December.

Both countries base their university systems on the UK model but offer more flexibility to choose electives and switch between courses.

There are forty-three universities in Australia and eight in New Zealand, all of which are regulated by their respective governments. All, except for three in Australia, are public universities.

Essential Tips:

• Australian universities offer students a combined or double degree pathway leading to two separate bachelor’s degrees. A standard degree is three years, but students who do well can stay for an additional fourth year and gain a degree with honors.

• Apart from medicine, expect to pay a maximum annual tuition of around $24,000 in Australia and around $18,000 in New Zealand.

• Both systems require you to apply directly to each university and will want to see evidence of your achievement (or predicted achievement) in external examinations such as SAT, ACT, AP, or SAT Subject Tests.

HONG KONG & SINGAPORE

Many options are available to study in English across Asia, in Japan, Korea, Malaysia, China, and India. However, two standout destinations with established English educational systems and populations fluent in English are Hong Kong and Singapore. Hong Kong, the special administrative region of China, was run by Britain for many years. The university system historically worked on the UK model. In 2012, however, the length of the degree was expanded from three to four years, allowing greater flexibility of study. Hong Kong has 21 higher education institutions, eight of which are public universities that are well-regarded internationally.

Singapore has some world-class universities among its total of 34 institutions, including six public universities. As Singapore has developed its education system in recent years, it has introduced new universities in partnership with US institutions. Yale-NUS College offers a liberal arts education. The Singapore Management University was created in partnership with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Essential Tips:

• Tuition fees in Hong Kong range from $11,000 to $34,000 per year depending on the university and program, In Singapore you’ll pay between $12,000 and $37,000. Bear in mind that the cost of living can be very high in both cities.

• When applying to a program of study, you need to prove your academic credentials through achievement (or predicted achievement) in some external examinations such as SAT, ACT, AP or SAT Subject Tests.

• Applications are made directly to the universities; timelines will vary between each university.

AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES OVERSEAS

Many American – or American-style – universities can be found around the world. These are typically based on one of two models:

• Branch campus overseas: Some universities have a branch campus that shares their name but is based in another country. These are more than just study abroad centers; students can gain their entire degree here. Well-known examples include NYU Abu Dhabi & Shanghai, Northwestern University Qatar, Marist College Florence, Suffolk University Madrid, SUNY Korea, and Temple Japan;

• American Universities Abroad: Other institutions hold an American accreditation and offer degrees on the US model, but have no US-based home campus. Some are members of American Universities Abroad (www.americanuniabroad.com) but many others exist, usually entitled the ‘American University of…’, Before applying to these schools, check the institution’s accreditation. Admission works on the US model at these US-style institutions; indeed, many are on the Common Application.

Questions to Ask on a College Tour (60+ examples)

Heads-up: this post was put together with our good friends at TS College Tours, and most of the questions below are theirs. They have TONS of resources and information at their website: https://www.tscollegetours.com/

Majors/Colleges

• Does your school offer any unique majors?

• Can students easily change their major? 

• What majors get the most resources and research money on campus? 

• What’s the student-faculty ratio in my major?

Admission

• Do you consider financial need when making admissions? (need-blind or need-aware?)

• What percentage of students double-major?

• What percentage of students return for sophomore year?

• What percentage of students graduate in 4 years? In six years?

• What’s the job placement rate for last year’s graduating class?

• How long does it typically take recent grads to find a full-time job in their career field?

• Is there a limit on credit hours, and any extra credit fees I should know about? 

• What are the rates of acceptance for early decision, regular decision, and waitlisted students?

Financial Aid

• Do financial aid packages usually change after freshman year, or stay the same?

• What kinds of need-based scholarships are offered? In my major?

• What kinds of financial aid are offered here?

• What’s the average amount of financial aid given?

• What percent of students accept loans?

• What percent of students have merit-scholarships?

• What kinds of work-study opportunities available on campus?

In the Classroom:

• What’s the average class size for freshmen? 

• What’s the common teaching style? Socratic? Lectures? Project-Based?

Answers to the following may be major-specific, btw:

• How much writing do freshmen tend to do? 

• How much reading? 

• Do faculty members teach the courses, or do TAs?

• How often are students asked to work in groups on projects?

• How often do students perform class presentations?

Student-Faculty Interaction:

• How do students typically get to know faculty and join research positions?

• What are examples of some research opportunities other students have participated in?

• In what ways are faculty members accessible and supportive to students?

• Aside from grades, how else do students receive feedback on their assignments?

• How often do students get to speak with their professors about their career plans?

• How often do students and faculty work on committees or projects together outside of class?

Campus Learning Opportunities:

• What percentage of students do community service?

• How many students participate in community-based projects?

• Do students get the opportunity to TA or tutor other students?

• What honors programs are available?

• Are there any distinctive learning communities on campus?

• How many study-abroad opportunities are available?

Career and Academic Advising

• How diverse are the internship opportunities?

• What are the major partner companies that students intern with?

• How often do students meet with their academic advisors?

• How long do students receive advising after graduation?

• What networking or career fairs are held each year?

• Are there opportunities to network with alumni on campus?

• What kinds of on-campus or local part-time jobs are available?

Campus Culture

• What percent of students on campus participate in Greek (fraternity, sorority) life?

• How large is the student government, and what opportunities are available?

• What’s an example of something that student government has done for the school? 

• How often do students interact with other students of different social, political, or religious backgrounds?

• How often do students interact with other students of different races or ethnicities?

• How many international students are on campus?

• How has the administration dealt with issues of sexual violence?

• How has the administration dealt with issues of discrimination?

Campus Services:

• Is there a late-night shuttle service?

• Are any buildings open to students 24/7?

• Where do students go to study on campus? 

• Which late-night study spots or lounges are available to students on campus?

• Could you tell me about the library services available?

• What tutoring services are available to students?

• What computer labs and IT services are available for students?

• Are there any art or music practice spaces available to students who aren’t majoring in the arts?

Dorms and Residential Living

• How are the dorms and halls different from one another?

• What portion of dorms are shared rooms, apartments, or other?

• Are the dorms located all over campus or just in one place? 

• What off-campus living opportunities are available to freshmen, and how do they compare to dorm amenities?

Dining:

• What are the meal plan options?

• Which restaurants are included in the meal plan, and which aren’t?

• How late are restaurants open on campus?

• How many local businesses are on campus, and how many are national chains?

• What kinds of coffee shops are on campus?

Questions for students not leading the tour:

• How are the vegetarian/vegan options?

• How prevalent is recycling and composting?

Health and Fitness Services

• What services are offered at the health center?

• What are the fees for prescriptions at the health center?

• What mental health services are available on campus? 

• Are the mental health counselors licensed, or are they graduate interns?

• How does the campus deal with stress and testing?

• How many IM sports teams are on campus?

• Is there an IM team for my sport? Meet-ups?

• Are the athletic fields available to all students?

• Is access to the gym free?

• What are the gym hours, and how busy is the gym?

• What facilities does the gym include?

• Are there any nature/outdoor activities hosted on campus?

• Does the campus have yoga studios?