Nowadays, many more students are choosing to study abroad, and the USA is one of the top choices. Studying at a community college is a new trend for international students in general and for Vietnamese students in particular. According to 2010 statistics, more than 60% of Vietnamese students studying in the USA have chosen a community college. Here are some advantages of community colleges:
Dr. Le Nguyen Bao with Vietnamese students at a Community College in Lorain
* Flexible enrollment: While most American universities have high standards for student aptitude entry scores in TOEFL and SAT, enrollment requirements at community colleges are not so rigorous.
* Low cost: The average cost for tuition at a community college is $6,500 per year, which is much less than the fees at a four-year university. The visa application procedure, with proof of financial support, is also much simpler.
* Transfer option: Most community colleges have arrangements with universities to allow qualified students to transfer to a university to study for Bachelor’s degree after two years.
* Small classes: There are about 15 to 20 students in a typical community college class. This means that lecturers have more time to attend to individual student needs and that students have more time for interaction with their peers.
Additionally, modern facilities, internship opportunities, experiencing the American culture and the excellent support services for international students are other benefits available at community colleges.
Today, many community college programs are listed by Vietnamese Overseas Study Centers. However, great care should be taken in selecting a suitable community college, because sometimes these study centers do not provide adequate information to potential students, often recommending low-ranked community colleges. Parents and students should check the official ranking of any American university or college using the website http://www.chea.org, produced by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Students may also enroll in international partnership programs at recognized universities in Vietnam. Usually, these universities have partnerships with renowned foreign universities and colleges. With its broad international experience and reputation, Duy Tan University is one of the most rational choices for such an education in Danang.
Recently Duy Tan University has steadily expanded its partnerships with several well-known universities and colleges in USA, such as California State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Seattle Pacific University, Pennsylvania State University and the Lorain County Community College (LCCC) in Ohio.