An EducationUSA Center? What’s That? A whole lot of things . . check it out!

Over the last several months, Yemeni students have shared their first-hand experiences and advice about studying abroad—in the U.S., Canada and Qatar. We’ve also learned about ways to stay in touch with students who are abroad. Getting advice from alumni and current participants is invaluable—they offer a lot of ideas about where to start. Of course, it is also useful to receive additional guidance from experts and professionals working in the field of international education.

 
For studying in the U.S., there are centers around the world called EducationUSA centers, funded by the U.S. Department of State. These U.S. Department of State centers provide students with up-to-date information about studying and training in the U.S.
 
EducationUSA advisors supervise the centers and the advisors usually have experience studying in the United States themselves. The advisors arrange for presentations year-round about all aspects of American education and higher education for students interested in studying in the U.S.

 
EducationUSA centers can be of great assistance in embarking upon the international education journey. Here’s one Yemeni student’s account about how an EducationUSA center made a positive impact on his educational plans. “My name is Waddah. I am from Hadhramout, specifically from the town of Shihr, where I did my elementary and secondary school studies. In the gap year following secondary school, I traveled to Aden and joined AMIDEAST Aden as a student to improve my English language skills. I then started college in 2003 at the University of Aden, majoring in what was then a new department, Information Technology . . . I first became interested in the idea of education abroad when I was studying English at AMIDEAST where there was a small EducationUSA library, and then especially after attending a talk by the educational advisor, Mrs. Marcia Bull. She talked about studying in the U.S. and about how to prepare to be qualified for academic scholarships and opportunities.”
 
Waddah’s story continues: “I had already joined the University of Aden and was actually thinking that after this I will apply for a master’s degree scholarship. However, from AMIDEAST I found out about a special U.S. Department of State two-year undergraduate scholarship. I saw an ad posted at the AMIDEAST Aden reception. It sounded like an interesting program and then I didn’t hesitate to ask AMIDEAST Aden’s friendly staff to get more information about this great opportunity.”
 
Waddah was not initially thinking about studying abroad, but his interest grew with exposure to the small EducationUSA branch library of around 100 titles and resources that can help guide students about studying in the U.S. Waddah also cites his interaction with American visitors to the center’s cultural hours as well as qualified instructors at AMIDEAST with furthering his interest in studying abroad. Waddah successfully applied for this scholarship—the Department of State’s PLUS program—which funded three years of study in the U.S. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science in June 2008.
 
Today Waddah’s journey is continuing: “I am currently studying for my master’s degree in computer science at the University of Calgary where I am also a graduate teaching assistant. I found out about this opportunity by both searching on the internet and following some of the advice I had got from Mrs. Marcia which included:
 
“Think carefully of what you want your academic future to be before you make your final decision; that is you should think about what you want to study before you choose the country and the university.”
 
“Get timelines and schedules and plan ahead of time so that you don’t miss the deadlines.”
 
“Use different kinds of resources (the Internet, educational experts, AMIDEAST staff and visitors, and the EducationUSA library located at AMIDEAST Aden and Sanaa offices in Yemen) to get as much information as you can about opportunities and funding possibilities.”

 
“Explore the website of the university you wish to apply to.”

 
“Prepare yourself to be qualified enough for what you are applying for.”

 
“Be confident and trust yourself that you deserve whatever you are applying for.”

Waddah believes: “International education opportunities are not difficult to get, you only need to work hard on getting [what you want] and you should never give up. I believe that without AMIDEAST—its staff and the EducationUSA library, after Allah and my parents, I wouldn’t be able to reach the achievements I have achieved.”
 
So check out the EducationUSA center! For visitors during the week of November 16 through 20, EducationUSA centers across the world will be undertaking a variety of activities to support International Education Week.

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