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5 Tips to Help International Students Select U.S. College Classes

By U.S. News & World Report

As an international student, choosing college classes online might be something new to you. When I was in high school in China, students had no say in choosing courses and the curriculum was fixed for everyone.

However, when you start at a college in the U.S., you have to select your own courses from all of available classes you school offers. Honestly, it was a pain for me when I tried to plan out my first quarter’s schedule, especially because I was doing it from far away. Here are some tips on how incoming freshmen can choose classes wisely and properly.

Check out [five ways to prepare for freshman year at a U.S. college.]

1. Make sure you take enough classes: First things first. As an international student, you must register for at least 12 credit hours per semester in order to maintain your immigration status.

2. Start with courses in your m ajor : Major courses are classes that your major department requires you to finish in order to receive a degree in that program. They usually make up a significant part of your college curriculum and the requirement for those courses can vary significantly between different departments. Therefore, it is very important to consult with your major adviser and plan out your course schedule with him or her if possible.

However, if you are not able to do that, you can also consult your major in your college catalog, which will likely contain several sample schedules for your major. If you have doubts while reading the catalog, make sure to email your major adviser to clarify your confusion.

Many major courses are sequential, meaning that you are not able to take the next level course if you do not meet the prerequisite. Meanwhile, it is the often case in college that courses are not offered every term. For example, level one math may only be offered in the fall, and if you don’t take it then, you may be unable to take the level two math course. You may even have to wait for an entire year to take the first course, which might even postpone your graduation.

Watch out for [ four academic surprises of new international college students.]

3. Consider e lective c ourses : Elective courses are courses that you can choose based on your intrests. Usually, elective courses can fulfill a college’s general education requirements and they can typically be any courses outside your major field.

Since electives are courses outside your major, why don’t you choose something you are interested in? That way, you will have more motivation to study it and your grade will probably be better.

If your major is currently undeclared, taking electives in different fields can help you have a basic idea of what other fields are. For example, I got admitted as a undeclared social science major. In my first quarter of college, I took introductory courses in both to economics and civil engineering and I found a fit for myself studying civil engineering, so I declared that my major. Most importantly, those courses I took could be counted as general education, so it was not a waste of time.

In freshman year, it is a good idea to boost your GPA since entry-level courses are relatively easy. Therefore, I recommend international students avoid pure literature and art classes. Those classes can be challenging for international students.

Learn to [improve academic English skills before arriving at a U.S. college.]

4. Understand the requirements for s cience m ajors : Science-intense majors usually have a lot of physics, chemistry and biology classes to take and those courses will have a lab portion. Please do not get confused by the number of units each lab portion has.

There was one quarter in my first year where I took three science courses and they all contained a lab portion. I thought I could handle them because each lab portion was only one unit. However, I found myself struggling with too heavy a course load. One unit lab actually takes three hours per week at my school, and there were also pre-lab exercises and post-lab reports. Therefore, I suggest not taking more than two labs per term.

5. Investigate honors programs: Many schools have honor programs. It is definitely a privilege to be in a honors program, since students typically get to take courses specifically designed for the program. Meanwhile, students in some honors programs have registration time before everyone else. This means you won’t have trouble getting to take courses that you want.

I hope these tips can help you choose classes and avoid some mistakes. If you have friends who attend to the same school you’re starting, they can serve as a good resource as well.

More from U.S. News

3 To-Dos for International Students Ready to Submit College Applications

Demystify the Variety of Degrees Awarded at U.S. Colleges

4 Facts for International Students About Liberal Arts

5 Tips to Help International Students Select U.S. College Classes originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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