Yesim Erez, our founder, has achieved the Certified Educational Planner title

We are proud to announce that Yesim Erez has achieved her CEP title, joining the group of around 300 Certified Educational Planners globally. The American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP) awards the CEP credential to professionals who have demonstrated the highest level of competence in educational planning. This prestigious recognition is reserved for the most skilled and experienced counselors, whether they work independently or within schools.

Amerika'da Liberal Arts Eğitiminin Farklılıklari

Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'nde Liberal Arts eğitimi, öğrencilere geniş bir bilgi yelpazesi sunarak eleştirel düşünme, problem çözme ve iletişim becerilerini geliştirmeyi amaçlar. Bu eğitim sistemini sizlere tanıtmak amacıyla bu hafta özellikle Ohio bölgesindeki Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison ve Wooster gibi Liberal Arts kolejlerini gezdik. Özetlemek amacıyla, bu eğitim sisteminin bazı farkları ve faydalarını aşağıda listeliyoruz:

Geniş ve Çok Yönlü Eğitim: Liberal Arts eğitimi, öğrencilere bilim, sanat, beşeri bilimler ve sosyal bilimler gibi farklı alanlarda dersler alarak çok yönlü bir eğitim sunar. Bu, öğrencilerin çeşitli konularda bilgi sahibi olmalarını ve farklı perspektiflerden bakabilme yetilerini geliştirmelerini sağlar.

Geleceğin Mesleklerine Hazırlık: Gelecekte hangi mesleklerin popüler olacağını veya hangi becerilerin talep göreceğini kesin olarak bilemiyoruz. Ancak Liberal Arts kolejleri, öğrencilere geniş bir bilgi tabanı ve esnek düşünme becerileri kazandırarak, onları gelecekteki belirsiz kariyer yollarına en iyi şekilde hazırlar. Bu okullar, öğrencilerin hızla değişen iş dünyasında başarılı olmalarını sağlayacak yetkinliklerle donatır.

Çeşitlilik ve Finansal Destek: Liberal Arts kolejleri, öğrenci çeşitliliğine büyük önem verir ve çeşitli kültürel ve akademik geçmişlerden gelen öğrencileri kabul ederler. Özellikle Türkler dahil olmak üzere uluslararası öğrenciler, bu okullarda farklı perspektifler kazandırarak zengin bir öğrenme ortamı oluşturur. Bu okullar finansal yardımlar sunarak, yetenekli öğrencilerin maddi engeller olmaksızın eğitim almalarını sağlarlar. Öğrencilere burs ve mali yardım paketleri sunulmaktadır.

Küçük Sınıf Boyutları: Bu okullarda sınıf mevcudu genellikle küçüktür. En büyük sınıflar bile yaklaşık 30 öğrenciyle sınırlıdır ve ortalama sınıf boyutu yaklaşık 15 öğrenci civarındadır. Bu durum, öğrencilerin derslere daha fazla katılım göstermesini ve öğretmenleriyle birebir etkileşimde bulunabilmelerini sağlar.

Akademik Danışmanlık: Liberal Arts kolejlerinde akademik danışmanlık büyük önem taşır. Bu sistemde profesörler, öğrencilerin danışmanları olarak görev yaparlar. Bu, öğrencilere akademik kariyerleri boyunca kişisel rehberlik sağlar. Liberal Arts kolejlerinde yazın okulda kalarak profesörleri ile beraber araştırma yürüten birçok öğrenci ile tanıştık.

Sosyal ve Kulüp Faaliyetleri: Bu okullarda hafta sonları aktif kulüp etkinlikleri düzenlenir ve sporcular için çeşitli faaliyetler bulunur. Öğrenciler, sosyal etkinlikler aracılığıyla hem eğlenir hem de farklı ilgi alanlarını keşfederler.

NYU Tandon School of Engineering, by Guest Blogger, Kayra Oguz

When deciding between universities in the US there are many varying factors that you may have to consider. For me, the biggest deciding factor after academic alignment was the lifestyle I would have during college. As I made the decision that small towns and campus universities weren’t meant for me, NYU stood out as one that allows a college experience with full freedom of having a city life. With its 11 schools embedded throughout the city of New York, NYU also showed an opportunity to travel to its campuses within several cities across the world. The appeal of living in a big city with much to explore didn’t let me doubt my choice of NYU for one minute.

However, something a lot of students don’t realize is that if you are applying to Tandon School of Engineering, you will end up further from the heart of the city than you would expect. Did you know that NYU Tandon is not in Manhattan? I for sure was not aware of this until after I was offered a place to study here. Me included, it is almost shocking the number of people that were unaware of the location of Tandon until the very day of move-in. Once I got accepted, of course, the first step was to go online and try to find any and every piece of information that was available on Google, Youtube, Instagram, and even Reddit. I don’t know about my peers but I definitely struggled to find details that provided more than what was given on the school website, which was mostly on academic programs, courses, and statistics. Nothing to be found about the social life or the ambiance of the school, whether or not Brooklyn would be the right choice, what the dorm life would be like, and so on. Anything that was elaborated on under these subtitles was about the Main Campus, targeted at Stern, Tisch, and CAS kids. My lack of resources contributing to my decision to attend this school of the university is what motivated me to write this blog. By reflecting upon my first semester and my current position here, I will do my best to communicate all that I have observed. Academics, extracurriculars, social life, and work life, and not only how I balanced these but how the school is supporting and guiding me to do so.

Addressing what seems to be the biggest question mark in all applicants’, and even current students’ heads: Does being in Brooklyn matter or make a difference? I would argue yes, unfortunately, against what everyone would like to believe. However this yes does not automatically mean that the Main campus schools are better than Tandon and Brooklyn. experience is just slightly altered. Brooklyn, when compared to Manhattan, seems to have a slower pace and less of the advertised “New York City”s popping lifestyle. Nevertheless, it is a good area to live in if you are looking for more stability and a chiller vibe. Firstly location wise it is obvious that the Main campus has easier and faster access to Manhattan and the quote on quote Main area of New York City. There is a wider variety of school buildings, including lecture halls, classrooms, dining halls, and dorms. However, Tandon students still have permission and access to use everything that is in Brooklyn, you are still close enough to the heart of the city and the main campus of NYU which is better known by everyone. New York City in general is a place where the metro lines run through the whole city and can get you to almost every corner that you would want to reach. Especially between Tandon and Washington Square Campus, there are multiple lines that allow you to travel back and forth whenever, with less than half an hour travel duration. In most cases, going by car anywhere is far worse than taking the metro as the NY traffic is unbearable. It’s more likely that you will cycle, walk, or ride the metro a lot faster than driving or being driven. 

You still get the city university experience, only combined with the experience of a campus university. You have the power and choice to decide whether to study “on a campus” or “in a city” which is not a choice that the Main campus students are presented with really.

Studying at Tandon, specifically, requires the skill of maintaining a balance between social and academic life if you are a student looking to both have THE college experience and be successful after graduation. Similar to many other universities in the US, once you enter your college life you will be left alone with your abilities to explore, plan, and execute whatever it may be that you want to be involved in, both socially and academically. Although location wise you are further from the ongoings in the main campus of NYU, if you desire to be more involved with the activities of those other schools you are welcome to, as long as you put in a bit of effort. Tandon has similar social activities to that of the main campus but less in the amount of options I would say. There is still Greek life and parties if you are looking for those groups, however, Tandon’s clubs are more academically inclined compared, at least in my experience. That does not mean you cannot find academics on the main campus, as some schools also offer very rigorous clubs to students who are interested in particular areas of study. You are free to join any frat or club and social activity in and out of school on both campuses. That being said, when you are a STEM student at Tandon, academic responsibilities besides social doings arise. I would rethink Tandon studies and science if you aren’t prepared to spend a large portion of your days holed up in Dibner, an empty room in Jay 370 (if you’re lucky), or at Bobst where you’re offered a change of location in exchange for a quick metro ride.

If you are a student looking to be involved in some more hands-on work rather than just regular university courses, Tandon has many opportunities up for offer. Starting with the well-advertised MakerSpace, you can find anything from 3D printers to laser cutters and sewing machines suited for individual projects. Otherwise, there are VIP (virtually integrated projects) teams and Professor research laboratories you can always apply to be a part of.

Another difference would be that there is a tighter community of people that study and work at Tandon. In an exact juxtaposition of what is said about NYU’s main campus, that ‘you can see an entirely new set of people every time you step out of your classes’, in Tandon it is quite unexpected to bump into many unfamiliar faces after a year. This arguably makes it a lot easier to make friends and stick with familiar groups of people which in my case provided stability and helped keep a social and academic balance in my lifestyle in New York. This doesn’t mean that I don’t still meet a handful of new people all the time. For me though, the stress of the academic rigorousness of Tandon is softened by the familiarity of my surroundings.
Still, whenever I have free time I take the opportunity to go up to Manhattan to join Main campus events and clubs, alone or with friends. And if I’m not at a Wash Square event, I am having dinner at a new restaurant, or wandering around Central Park or Soho. No place is unreachable, even if you live in Brooklyn, so honestly, reaching the correct answer to the question of differences between the main campus and Tandon is in your hands. After a year in the city studying and socializing, you will be able to figure out which part of New York appeals to your lifestyle. What I can assure you is that you will find an area that speaks to your desires from the many of the city and academics, clubs, and activities whether in Tandon or on main campus.

Regardless, Tandon may not be everything you expect, but that for sure comes with some pleasant surprises as well throughout your 4 years. As long as you strive to work and are ready to explore and be involved, you will be greeted with many chances and opportunities.

Financial Aid Strategies for International Students

Finding enough aid to be able to afford tuition can be stressful, especially if you are an international student.  You typically do not qualify for the types of aid domestic students are entitled to. Do you know which universities offer the amount of aid you need?  Do you have a school counselor who can direct you on finding the right balance of academics and financial aid?  Do you know if universities in different countries typically offer scholarships?  If the answer is no, read on.

Your first question should be:  What is my academic profile and how does an international admissions officer view it?  Did you attend a high school which offers a curriculum typically accepted by selective international universities such as the IB or AP curriculum?  Or did you study for, and take the AP tests independently, and attain higher scores such as 4s and 5s?  Are your extracurriculars and essays at a level where you feel comfortable?  The profile you present reflects your readiness for college.  There are universities at varying levels that will constitute a good fit for you, but if you have done your homework in preparation, you will qualify for entry into more selective institutions. 

The second question would be your budget.  Talk with your parents and understand the exact annual limit you can afford.  We often hear “I can pay 50%”, or things like “We will pay the entire tuition if she gets into an Ivy League university”.  But 50% of what expense? You need to first develop an understanding of the cost of attendance across markets.  Living expenses can cost as high as $15,000 per year in the US, and slightly lower in Europe, depending on the city your desired universities are located.  Hong Kong, for example, would cost about half of that amount.  Tuition varies from over $60,000 per year in some US institutions, to a few thousand dollars in certain public institutions in Italy.  So it's important to do your homework.  

Lastly, you need to understand the types and amounts of aid that may be offered in each market.  Bear in mind that as an international student, the higher the profile you present, the more ready for college you are, the more these institutions will want to offer you merit aid.  

There are also a few need blind institutions in the US such as Amherst, Princeton, Harvard and Yale but you must first get in, which is a probability that has dwindled to the lowest of single digits over time and it's fair to say that you have to be truly outstanding to gain admission.  The remainder of the institutions in the US, the only country where literally dozens of institutions offer merit and/or need based aid for international students, look at your level but also what you can afford.  So it's important for a family to realize that they need to set their budget very realistically and honestly.  Asa  rule, the higher the family budget, the higher the chances of admission. 

Lastly, there is a list of full tuition scholarships which you can often find on the university’s website. Some of these will require your high school to nominate you.  A good example is the Lester Pearson scholarship at the University of Toronto.  If your high school is one that regularly sends students abroad, then talk with your college counselor to see if they can nominate you.  If you do not have a college counselor, you will need to find an English speaking advocate at your high school to first apply to be a school which can nominate a student, and then put in your nomination.   Other types of scholarships vary by country and institution, some come in smaller amounts but provide much needed help.  An example is the Netherlands Scholarship, offered by the Dutch Ministry of Education at participating institutions to students in the non-European Economic Area countries.

Finding aid has to do with where you apply.  For that, you need good research and an early start.  As always, check out the videos on our YouTube channel to find out more. 

Yurt dışında üniversite okumak isteyen öğrencilere nasıl bir hazırlık süreci tavsiye edersiniz?

Yurt dışında okumak ve genelde üniversiteye hazırlanmak için sürece 9 ya da 10. sınıftan itibaren hazırlanmaya başlanılmasını öneriyorum.  En iyi sonuç, bu aşamada başlanıldığında alınmaktadır çünkü Türkiye’deki eğitim ile yurt dışı eğitim arasındaki farklar yalnız İngilizce dil bilgisinden ibaret değil ve bunları gidermek zaman istiyor.  Bir öğrencinin belirli bir konuya odaklanmış olması ve imkanları dahilinde üstünde araştırma yapıp konuyu içselleştirmesi bekleniyor.  Örneğin psikoloji eğitimi almak isteyen bir öğrenci bu konuda yaz derslerine katılabilir, okulunda psikoloji kulübüne üye olabilir hatta evvelden yoksa o okulda bu kulübü kurabilir.  Bu aktiviteler, üniversiteye öğrencinin bu konuya gerçek bir eğilim duyduğunu ve iyice araştırmış olduğunu ifade eder.

TOEFL ya da IELTS gibi İngilizce sınavları ve SAT standart testlerinden iyi netice almak çok önemli. Üniversiteler Türkiye’deki okulları iyi tanımadıklarında bu testlere bakıp seviyeyi ölçüyorlar. Bu nedenle bu testler yabancı öğrenciler için çok önemli.

Ayrıca öğrencinin kendi işini takip edebilen, hakkını aramayı bilen insan olması ve bunu ifade edebilmesi gerekiyor.  Üniversiteler, bu profilde insanların başarılı olduğunu biliyorlar ve aradan onları özellikle seçiyorlar.  Eğitim danışmanı olarak bizler böyle eksikliklerin zamanında giderilmesini sağlıyoruz ki öğrenci üniversiteye girebilsin, tamamen hazır olarak gitsin ve gittiğinde başarılı olsun