Posts Tagged ‘study abroad’

93 International College Blogs to Broaden your Horizon

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
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hjl / Ho John Lee

My College Guide believes that college blogs are a great and wonderful tool that you can use to learn more about the colleges and universities that you are interested in. After reading our giant 101 College Blogs to Put You in the College Mood article, we figured some of you may have been thinking “study abroad” and were perhaps left wondering about the existence of international college blogs!

We’ve found a slew of international college blogs (93 of them to be exact) to aid you in your international college search. From the Imperial College London Blog with the clever snapshots of students complete with mini-movie previews to athletic blogs like the ones found at Simon Fraser College, Vice Chancellor blogs at Macquarie University, or the arts at RMIT, you’ll find something to keep you entertained – and informed!

1. Aarhus University (Arhus, Denmark) 32. Laurentian University (Sudbury, ON, Canada) 63. University of Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
2. Acadia University College (Wolfville, NS, Canada) 33. Linkoping University (Linkoping, Sweden) 64. University of Auckland (Auckland, New Zealand)
3. Ambrose University (Calgary, AB, Canada) 34. Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) 65. University of Birmingham (Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK)
4. Aston University (Birmingham, England) 35. McGill University (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) 66. University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
5. Australian Catholic University (Melbourne, Australia) 36. Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) 67. University of Cambridge Newnham (Cambridge, England)
6. Bishop’s University (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada) 37. Mount Allison University (Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada) 68. University of Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark)
7. Brandon University (Brandon, Manitoba, Canada) 38. Mount Royal University (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 69. University of Derby (Derby, England)
8. British Columbia Institute of Technology (Burnaby, BC, Canada) 39. Mount Saint Vincent University (Halifax, NS, Canada) 70. University of the Fraser Valley (Abbotsford, BC, Canada)
9. Brock University (St Catherines, Ontario, Canada) 40. Murdoch University (Murdoch, Australia) 71. University of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland, UK)
10. Canadian Mennonite University (Winnipeg, MB, Canada) 41. National University of Ireland Galway (Galway, Ireland) 72. University of Helsinki (Helsinki, Finland)
11. Cape Breton University (Sydney, NS, Canada) 42. Newport School of Art, Media, and Design (Newport, South Wales) 73. University of Kent (Canterbury, Kent, England)
12. Capilano University (North Vancouver, BC, Canada) 43. Nipissing University (North Bay, ON, Canada) 74. University of Leeds (Leeds, England)
13. Cardiff University (Cardiff, Wales) 44. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (Edmonton, AB, Canada) 75. University of Leicester (Leicester, England)
14. Carleton University (Ottawa, ON, Canada) 45. Ontario College of Art and Design (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) 76. University of Limerick (Limerick, Ireland)
15. City of Bristol (Bristol, England) 46. Queen’s University (Kingston, ON, Canada) 77. University of Manchester (Manchester, UK)
16. Concordia University (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) 47. Queen’s University Belfast (Belfast, England) 78. University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)
17. Coventry University (Coventry, England) 48. Quest University (Squamish, British Columbia, Canada) 79. University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia)
18. Curtin University (Bentley, Perth, West Australia) 49. RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia) 80. University of Notre Dame Australia (New South Wales, Australia)
19. Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia) 50. Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen, Scotland) 81. University of Nottingham (Nottingham, England)
20. Delft University of Technology (Delft, Netherlands) 51. Ryerson University (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) 82. University of Oxford (Oxford, England)
21. Dublin City University (Dublin, Ireland) 52. SAIT Polytechnic University (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 83. University of Sheffield (Sheffield, England)
22. Ecole Polytechnic Federale de Lausanne (Lausanne, Switzerland) 53. Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC, Canada) 84. University of Southampton (Southampton, England)
23.Edge Hill University (Ormskirk, Lancashire, England) 54. Stockholm University (Stockholm, Sweden) 85. University of Sydney (Sydney, Australia)
24. Emily Carr University of Art and Design (Vancouver, BC, Canada) 55. St Stephen’s University (Stephen, NB, Canada) 86. University of Toronto (Toronto, ON, Canada)
25. Erasmus University Rotterdam (Rotterdam, Netherlands) 56. St Thomas More College (Saskatoon, SK, Canada) 87. University of Sunshine Coast (Queensland, Australia)
26. Fliders University (Adelaide, Australia) 57. Swinburne University of Technology (Victoria, Australia) 88. University of Warwick (Warwick, England)
27. Griffith University (Gold Coast, Australia) 58. Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops, BC, Canada) 89. University of Western Ontario (London, ON, Canada)
28. Imperial College London (London, England) 59. Trinity Western University (Langley, BC, Canada) 90. University of the West of Scotland (Glasgow, Scotland)
29. James Cook University (Queensland, Australia) 60. University of Aberdeen (Aberdeen, Scotland) 91. University of Windsor (Windsor, ON, Canada)
30. Jonkoping University (Jonkoping, Sweden) 61. University of Adelaide (Adelaide, Australia) 92. University of Winnipeg (Winnipeg, Canada)
31. La Trobe University (Victoria, Australia) 62. University of Alberta (Alberta, Canada) 93. York University (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

101 International Colleges and Universities on Twitter

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Where in the World will you go?  International Colleges and Universities on Twitter!

My College Guide knows that the thought of studying abroad is very alluring — whether you study summer abroad, a semester, or a year! You may be happy to know that Twitter isn’t only used by US colleges and universities – you can find more than a few international colleges and universities as well!

As always, we have made it more than easy for you to find your favorites or get to know a few international universities to help you find the perfect fit – just follow our Twitter list! If you want a few more resources on study abroad, My College Guide has them! Check out Explore the World and Earn College Credit from the online version of our 100+ page annual magazine or ask our College Admissions Guruit’s free and anonymous!

Abertay University (Dundee, Australia) RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia)
Acadia University (Wolfville, Nova Scotia) Saint Francis Xavier University (Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada)
Algoma University (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)
American University Cairo (Cairo, Egypt) Stockholm University (Stockholm, Sweden)
Aston University (Birmingham, England) Stow College (Glasgow, Scotland)
Australian Catholic University (Melbourne, Australia) Swansea University (Swanseas, Wales)
Australian National University (Canberra, Australia) Swinburne University (Melbourne, Australia)
Bangor University (Bangor, Wales) Teesside University (Middlesbrough, England)
Brock University (Niagara, Ontario, Canada) Trent University (Peterborough, Ontario, Canada)
Capilano University (North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) Trinity University College (Carmarthen, Wales)
Concordia University (Montreal,Quebec, Canada) Trinity College Dublin (Dublin, Ireland)
Coventry University (Coventry, England) University College Dublin (Dublin, Ireland)
Cranfield University (Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England) University of Aberdeen (Aberdeen, Scotland)
Curtin University (Bentley, Western Australia) University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) University of Bath (Bath, England)
Dublin City University (Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Scotland) University of Bradford (Bradford, England)
Durham University (Durham, England) University of Canberra (Canberra, Australia)
Edge Hill University (Ormskirk, Lancashire, England) University of East Anglia (Norwich, England)
Edinburgh Napier University (Edinburgh, Scotland) University College Cork (Cork, Ireland)
Edith Cowan University (Bunbury, Western Australia) University of Calgary (Calgary, Canada)
Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia) University of Cambridge (Cambridge, England)
Hebrew University Jerusalem (Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem) University of Chester (Chester and Warrington, England)
Jonkoping University (Jonkoping, Sweden) University of Derby (Derby, midlands, England)
Keele University (Keele, Staffordshire, England) University of Dundee (Dundee, Scotland)
Kings College (London, England) University of Essex (Colchester, Loughton, England)
Kingston University (Kingston, London, England) University of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
La Trobe University (Victoria, Australia) University of Glouchestershire (Cheltenham/Gloucestershire, England)
Lebanese American University (Beirut and Byblos, Lebanon) University of Gothenburg (Gothenberg, Sweden)
Leeds Metropolitan University (Leeds, England) University of Guelph (Guelph, Ontario, Canada)
Linkoping University (Linkoping, Sweden) University of Huddersfield (Huddersfield, England)
Loughborough University (Leicestershire, England) University of Hull (Hull, East Yorkshire, England)
Lund University (Lund, Sweden) University of Kent (England, Belgium and France)
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) University of Leeds (Leeds, England)
Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester, England) University of Leicester (Leicester, England)
McGill University (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) University of Lethbridge (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada)
McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) University of Limerick (Limerick, Ireland)
Memorial University (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada) University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)
Mount Allison University (Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada) University of New South Wales (Kensington, Sydney, Australia)
National University of Ireland Galway (Galway, Ireland) University of Otago (North Dunedin, New Zealand)
National University of Singapore (Singapore) University of Oxford (Oxford, England )
Nottingham Trent University (Nottingham, England) University of Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada)
Oxford Brookes University (Oxford, England) University of Reading (Reading, England)
Quatar University (Doha, Quatar) University of Sheffield (London, England)
Queen Mary University (London, England) University of South Australia (Adelaide, Australia)
Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) University of St Andrews (St Andrews, Scotland)
Queen’s University Belfast (Belfast, Northern Ireland) University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland)
Regents College (London, England) University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen, Scotland) University of Ulster (Northern Ireland)
Ryerson University (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) Vancouver Island University (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
York University (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Winter at Westminster: A “Cool” Study Abroad Alternative

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Like the sound of “study abroad” but aren’t sure about the whole “abroad” part of it?  My College Guide presents to you Winter at Westminster at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah.  This has to be one of the most unusual study abroad alternatives My College Guide has seen so far — for starters, it takes full advantage of the conveniently located Wasatch Mountain range.

Winter at Westminster: part of Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah's alternative study abroad program.

Courtesy of Westminster College SLC

So maybe the last thing on your mind right now is cold, snow-filled Winter – but when that blazing sun and heat disappears — you’ll definitely want to turn back to this one!  Winter at Westminster sounds like a good fit for snow-loving, ski-wearing,snowboarding daredevils.

As with any typical study abroad program, it doesn’t matter what college you regularly attend (you can be from anywhere) – you simply have to apply as a full-time visiting student!  But it just wouldn’t be college if there wasn’t some work involved!  W@W students do have a full course load Monday through Thursday – but Friday and Saturday?  That’s reserved for fun!

Johanna Daley, the Associate Director of Communications at Westminster College, spells it out: “In addition to their academic schedule they participate in Winter at Westminster activities and events (back country skiing/snowboarding, yurt camping, avalanche training, guest lectures, bobsledding, and more) and are given passes to the Canyons and Snowbird or Alta [snow resorts].  Many also take advantage of the internship program and get internships in the winter sports industry.”

She says that, “The program is for any college student with a love of skiing and/or snowboarding. They don’t need to be advanced, but they need to have a reasonable amount of experience on the snow…and a novice would not be able to participate in all the activities (like back country days).”

Ever wanted to try yurt camping?  Winter at Westminster students have!

Courtesy of Westminster College SLC

Westminster College is also partnered with the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and is the official educator!  Daley elaborated, “About 37 of their (USSA) athletes are Westminster students and 14 of them competed in the 2010 Olympics.”

One Westminster College SLC freshman student, Bryon Wilson, even snagged a bronze medal in Men’s Freestyle Moguls at the 2010 Winter Olympics!

Want more?  Check out the Winter at Westminster online video contest entries, the W@W Blog, or the Winter at Westminster Facebook Page for an insider’s view.  While My College Guide may not understand all of the W@W jargon, like Gloobs, Noodlers, and SPORS, one thing is for sure – this might just be a college snow-lover’s dream come true!

Women’s Colleges: Relevant, Rewarding, and Definitely NOT Old Fashioned!

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Forget the stereotypes: women’s colleges are not man-hating, prissy, stuffy, or old-fashioned!  My College Guide talked to Nancy Peterson, the Assistant Director of Admission from Agnes Scott College (Decatur, GA), Jeffrey Hodges, the Director of Public Relations at Hollins University (Roanoke, VA), Karen McDonald,  the Acting AVP, Integrated Marketing and Communications of Saint Mary’s College (Notre Dame, IN), and the Dean of Admission, Ken Huus, of Sweet Briar College (Sweet Briar, VA) to find out why they believe a women’s college is not to be so easily dismissed!

It’s almost impossible to define an Agnes Scott College student, but a few words do come to mind: feisty, bright, creative, thoughtful, interesting, socially aware, accepting of one another, and lifelong learners.

Courtesy of Agnes Scott College

So – Why a Women’s College?  Why is a women’s college still a relevant choice?
Agnes Scott College: When is seeking an environment that allows you to be engaged in your education and that also fosters your independence irrelevant?  It’s not a matter of keeping up with the times or making women’s colleges relevant, it’s a matter of providing women with the opportunities and experiences they want.

Hollins University: Hollins pursues an uncommon mission to provide women the opportunity to find their own voices and seek their own individual dreams and goals. We help them gain confidence to compete in a still unequal world and give them the tools to make the world a better place for other women, children, and men.

Saint Mary’s College: Why NOT a women’s college?  Everything we do is to educate women, that is our mission and our focus. It’s not a matter of keeping up with the times or making women’s colleges relevant, it’s a matter of providing women with the opportunities and experiences they want. At that point, a young women must determine if a women’s college is the right fit for her.

Sweet Briar College: Women’s colleges are possibly more relevant today than ever before.  Where else can a young woman truly focus on her career preparation and planning than in a place that is completely dedicated to her success.  Recently, we’ve become more overt about helping our students prepare for life after college – jobs, graduate school preparation, etc. – so that they get both a great education and become prepared for the world that will welcome them upon graduation.

Our students really do the best job of describing all that is special about Sweet Briar and their women's college education.

Courtesy of Sweet Briar College

What kind of student should consider a women’s college?
Agnes Scott College: Every high school girl should consider a women’s college.  Women who want an environment where it’s not only okay to be a smart girl, but the norm to be smart will find a great fit at a women’s college. I think at heart, students who come to women’s colleges are ones who want to put their education and academic experience above all else. That’s not say you won’t have a lot fun while a student, but your classmates are going to be focused on academic excellence — so you should be serious about being a student.

Hollins University: The type of student who should consider a women’s college is one who wants discussion instead of lectures, hard questions instead of pat answers. Instead of being told, they want to see for themselves. Instead of play-by-the-rules learning, they want to discover things for themselves. We seek out women with strong personalities and ambitious goals, and who want to express themselves in their own unique way.

Saint Mary's College: The best way for a young woman today to get a true understanding of single-gender education is to talk to a current student or an alumnae; better yet, visit a women's college, attend a class and stay in a residence hall to see for themselves what life at a women's college is all about and whether it is for them.

Courtesy of Saint Mary's College

Saint Mary’s College: A young woman who wants to be engaged (both inside and outside of the classroom) and is interested in developing her leadership skills. At Saint Mary’s, everything that is done by students is done by women. If there is a student initiative, every facet of it will be planned and executed by women. That alone is fundamental and important — it builds confidence and grows leadership skills.

Sweet Briar: I truly believe every young woman owes it to herself to at least consider a women’s college.  It’s a powerful experience, to live and study in a place that is completely focused on the success of young women.

So, if a student chooses to attend a women’s college — will she never see a man again?
Agnes Scott College: A women’s college is not a convent. Students aren’t locked up at night, never to see a male for the next four years. Here’s what reality looks like: Agnes Scott College is part of a consortium for cross-registration: our students can go to any of the member institutions to take classes, and their students can come here. So there is a chance that in your four years you’ll be in a co-ed class.  We’re located in a metropolitan city with a population of over 5 million people- and about 100,000 of that number is college students. So if you aren’t out and about and having fun, you’re trying really hard not to.

Agnes Scott College offers social events almost every weekend. They might not all be big events all the time, but you can stay on campus and have a good time.

Courtesy of Agnes Scott College

Hollins University: Nine co-ed colleges and universities and one men’s college are located within driving distance of Hollins. And, there are on-campus activities throughout the academic year that coeds from other area schools enthusiastically attend, from the Fall Party and Mayfest outdoor concerts to the Fall Formal and Spring Cotillion dances.

Saint Mary’s College: Yes, you will see men on campus and in the classroom! The exciting atmosphere of a large, comprehensive university – along with its academic, social, and athletic opportunities – is open to Saint Mary’s students through our distinctive relationship with the University of Notre Dame. Saint Mary’s students can take classes and attend sporting events at Notre Dame, as well as participate in a variety of clubs, sports, activities and organizations such as Notre Dame’s marching band, or write for the Observer, the daily newspaper published jointly by both colleges. There is a fluid social life between Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame (as well as Holy Cross College) — students attend dances and campus-wide activities, and join service and social organizations open to students on both campuses.

Sweet Briar: Funny, funny.  Young men from local colleges (and there are 7 within an hour) are here rather regularly for dances, parties, Homecoming, Winter Formal, Spring Fling, and just for a fun weekend.  The academic environment is all-female, but the social environment is virtually coed.

At Saint Mary's College, we utilize small group activities and collaborative teaching and learning techniques we know work for women.

Courtesy of Saint Mary's College

Any advice for a student considering  a women’s college?
Agnes Scott College: Don’t let other people’s stereotypes/pre-conceived notions get in the way of you making the right decision about college. When you tell people that you are thinking about this women’s college or that one, you might get some raised eyebrows and people saying “why would you ever go to a girl’s school?” or worse! But remember — your college years are not about your best friend, your next door neighbor, your grandmother’s friend that you run into at the grocery store — they are about YOU. Turn it around and ask them, “Why wouldn’t I consider a women’s college?”

Hollins University: Visit. Take a campus tour, sit in on classes, chat with students and professors. Websites and printed materials are great for providing an overview of the experience at Hollins and other women’s colleges, but there is no substitute for actually seeing first-hand what life at a women’s college is like. Even a student who doesn’t think she would be particularly interested in attending a women’s college should at least tour one – many young women are pleasantly surprised to find many of their preconceived notions about the single-sex environment to be wrong.

Hollins University students find that they are as much colleagues with their professors as they are pupils, often partnering with them in their research and writing.

Courtesy of Hollins University

Saint Mary’s College: Visit our campus. Attend a class, meet with a professor or talk to a coach. Try on college life by spending the night in a residence hall.  That advice serves a prospective student no matter what institutions they are considering. It’s not about choosing a women’s college, it’s about choosing the right college for the individual, an institution that meets their criteria and provides them with overall experience to succeed.

Sweet Briar: Just consider the possibility with an open mind.  It’s really not possible to fully appreciate any college’s personality without setting foot on campus.  The physical campus is stunningly beautiful and must be seen to appreciate.  And our students really do the best job of describing all that is special about Sweet Briar and their women’s college education.