Dakota State University gives Japanese Student More Than Just an Education

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With a bit of encouragement from his father Yusuke Kojima decided to study in the United States. “I’m from Japan and when I decided to come down here my father offered me that if I wanted to go down to the U-S or not, but first I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and my father really wanted me to go down to the U-S because there might be better opportunities for jobs and my future if I come down here and get educated in the U-S, so that is the reason why I came down here.”

Yusuke is attending Dakota State University, but that wasn't his first introduction to an American college was in Louisville. “Right now I’m currently at Dakota State University in South Dakota and I use to go to the University of Louisville. I was there taking an ESL course, English As A Second Language and I wasn’t taking any other course there, just English.”

Dakota State University not only offers Yusuke the field of work he wants to pursue one day, but it also affords him the opportunity to enjoy one of his hobbies. “Well, my current advisor daughter was attending the University of Louisville taking a Japanese class which is where my advisor was at that time and she actually told me about South Dakota University and my hobby is skiing and she told me that if I came here I could ski down here, so I was kind of interested,” he says.

“Then I found out that South Dakota University has much more there like smaller class sizes and it is a small university so it may be a good place to go as I found out so that is the reason I came down here. [Also] I wasn’t sure what I was going to do at that time and later on I found out that they have web graphic design major so that is another reason to be here.”

Adjusting to American culture and language is a challenge sometimes for Yusuke, but academically he says he is doing fine. “The language barrier is a primary problem for me. The class itself is really nice because we have small classrooms and everyone is helpful to me, but sometimes there are words that I still cannot get like some of the U-S culture, but classes are going really good and the relationship with the faculty is nice,” he says.

“The thing is we have only twenty people in the class at most so the relationship with the faculty is really close and they can understand me well and I can understand them well so that really helps me in class.”

When it comes to the international population at Dakota State University, Yusuke says it is a small community of students. “There’s not many international students at the university probably me and another Japanese [student] is currently there. There are a few, but not many people are involved with an international club,” he says. “I’m actually the president of the international club and since it is a small university me and one other member is in the club.”

Yusuke has another year before he graduates. He says he will go back home to Japan. “Well after I graduate, I am currently thinking about going back to Japan and look for a job as a graphic designer and I am still not sure I if will work here in the States, but my plan is going back to Japan and work as a graphic designer.”

Advice Yusuke has for other international students..... “People who are just thinking about coming down here or they are not sure about it, they are scared or worried, then I say just come here and you will be fine. I know what people worry about like coming here and the language and people might be harmful to them or something, but I say everyone is nice and people usually try to understand me and understand other people so I say come here and you will be fine, just down think to hard and have fun!

Full-Tuition Fellowships from Top B-Schools

Here's a look at some of the basics about full-tuition scholarships at some of the leading MBA programs
by Alison Damast

One of the management education world's greatest secrets is the wide variety of full-tuition fellowship programs at business schools. There are more than you might think—University of Virgina's Darden School of Business, for example, offers 61 full-tuition fellowships—and it is well worth taking the time to look into them during the application process. It could save you a cool $150,000, the average price for a two-year education at a top business school. We've rounded up some of the top schools' full-tuition fellowship programs, along with how to apply for them.

School: California Berkeley (Haas)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Haas Merit Scholarship; Haas Achievement Award; Maxwell Fellowship; White Fellowship
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: 14
How to apply: Automatic for Haas Merit Scholarships and White Fellowships; Haas Achievement Award requires optional essay as part of the application; the Maxwell Fellowship has a separate application.
Special requirements: Students must remain in good academic standing.

School: Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Dean's Scholarship; Consortium Fellowship
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: Not available
How to apply: Dean's Scholarship automatic consideration; Consortium application

School: U. of Chicago
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: The Dennis W. and Jane B. Carlton Fellowship; The Distinguished Fellows Program; The Wallman Fellowship; The David W. Fox Fellowship
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: 11
How to apply: Most admitted applicants are automatically considered at the time of the appliation, but many have additional interviews that are required as part of the final selection process.
Special requirements: All of the fellowships have a mentoring component, whether corporate or alumni. The Distiniguished Fellows are mentored by a professor.

School: Columbia
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Feldberg Fellowship; Kopf Fellowship; Project Charity Trust; Alexander Bodini Real Estate Fellowship; Margaret B. Greenawalt Scholarship Fund; Mario Gabelli Fellowship; Goldman Sachs Foundation; Heilbrunn Fellowship; Various Corporate Fellowships
Number of full-tuitiion scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: About 25
How to apply: Automatically considered

School: Cornell (Johnson)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Park Leadership Fellows
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: Up to 25
How to apply: Separate application
Special requirements: Participate in leadership curriculum, attend Park Speaker events, and complete a service project.

School: Duke (Fuqua)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Keller Scholarship
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: About 25
How to apply: All admitted applicants considered

School: Harvard
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: HBS Fellowship Program
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: 25
How to apply: Complete and submit financial aid application upon admission to Harvard Business School.
Special requirements: Scholarships are awarded based on financial need.

School: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Dean's Fellowships
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded: 10-12
How to apply: Automatically considered by the Admissions Committee
Special requirements: Maintain minimum GPA requirement during the four semesters.

School: University of Michigan (Ross)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship:Ross Fellowships; Consortium Fellowships
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded: Approx. 45
How to apply: All applicants automatically considered for the Ross Fellowship; all applicants who through the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM) are automatically considered for the Consortium Fellowship.
Special requirements: None

School: New York University (Stern)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Consortium Fellowships and Dean's Scholarships
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: 42
How to apply: Automatically considered

School: Pennsylvania (Wharton)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Howard E. Mitchell Fellowship
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: 10
How to apply: Selection for the fellowships are made by a fellowship committee based on personal background, academic and extracurricular achievements, leadership, community involvement, strong interpersonal skills, integrity, and their response to the essay question. Admitted student who fits the criteria for the fellowship must complete a separate financial aid application.
Special requirements: The Office of External Affairs requires a one-page résumé and a one-page biography. This information is shared with the companies that financially support the Howard E. Mitchell Fellowship program. Also, the 10 recipients will be a part of a large network and leadership program with other Mitchell Fellows and alumni.

School: Stanford
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Charles P. Bonini Partnership for Diversity Fellowship; Mohammed bin Rashid Fellows Program; Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship, all outside merit-based fellowships. The school also offers fellowships through their financial aid office based solely on financial need.
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: Not available
How to apply: All have a separate application process and requirements.
Special requirements: The Bonini fellowship requires an internship.

School: U. of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Carolyn and Harold Anderson MBA Premier Fellowship; Bank of America MBA Fellowship; The Thomas M. Belk MBA Fellowship; Thomas W. Hudson, Jr. MBA Fellowship; Richard H. Jenrette Fellowship; Jay Edward Klompmaker MBA Fellowship; Peter G.C. Mallinson MBA Fellowship; The Michaux Family MBA Premier Fellowship for Real Estate Students; Tiger Fellowship; Consortium Fellowship; Forte Fellowship; Kenan-Flagler Business School FellowshipNumber of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: 20How to apply: Automatically considered, except Consortium Fellowships which require a target="_blank">separate application to the Consortium for Graduate Study in ManagementSpecial requirements: Maintain academic eligibility

School: UCLA (Anderson)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Dean's Fellowships
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: Not available
How to apply: Either at time of decision or separate application
Special requirements: Maintain academic eligibility

School: Virgina (Darden)
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: Darden Jefferson Fellowship; Batten Entrepreneurial Scholarship; Batten Innovation Scholarship; Batten Media Scholarship; Batten Technology Scholarship; Class of 1957 Charles Abbott Scholarship; Darden Foundation Trustee Scholarship; Darden School Foundation Consortium Fellowship; Darden School Foundation Scholarship; IRC International Scholarship; Robert E. Lamb II Scholarship; Robert E. Lamb II Dean's Scholarship; Landmark Communications Scholarship; Pendleton Scholarship
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: 61
How to apply: All admitted applicants considered, excepted for the Batten Media Scholarship, which requires a separate application. Students who are considered for the Jefferson Fellowship must come to the school for an interview.
Special requirements: The only fellowship with a requirement is the Jefferson Fellowship, which requires students to do a research paper.

School: Yale
Name of full-tuition scholarship/fellowship: The Laura Cha (Shi Mei Lun) Scholarship; Gordon and Betty Moore Fellowship; Consortium Fellowship
Number of full-tuition scholarships awarded to 2008 entering class: 11
How to apply: All applicants considered for merit scholarships; Consortium application
Special requirements: Gordon and Betty Moore Fellowship: After graduation, grantees agree to work for at least three years in environmental or conservation organizations in the Andes-Amazon region.

Report: Foreign Language Study in US at Highest Level Since 1960

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A new study shows significant increases in foreign language study in the United States since 2002. From VOA's News York bureau, correspondent Barbara Schoetzau reports Arabic is leading the surge.

The survey by the Modern Language Association of America finds that the study of Arabic has increased a whopping 127 percent, and the number of schools offering Arabic study has doubled since the last nationwide survey in 2002.

Spanish continues to be the most studied language at US higher education institutions, but interest in Asian languages is growing with Chinese up more than 50 percent.

The Modern Language Association has been tracking language enrollment for half a century. The group's executive director, Rosemary Feal, says the number of enrollments is now at an historic high. She says the increase reflects a growing recognition on the part of students and government that languages play a role in an ever smaller world.

"First of all, we think that they know that they are going to be better prepared in their careers and in their lives as citizens. And we also know that there is a lot more support for language study today, support in the form of federal dollars, support also in the form of technology," she said.

The study finds that students continue to study traditionally taught languages such as Spanish, French and Italian and that interest in classical languages such as Greek and Latin remains strong.

Karin Ryding, a professor of Arabic at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, says she is pleased that the survey found growth both introductory and advanced level courses in foreign language. She says practicality is one of the motivations.

"I don't think this is just a temporary spike in enrollments. I think these figures indicate a real shift of interest on the part of American students. Young people today understand that the world is now truly and inevitably smaller. They are coming to the study of Arabic and other languages with serious professional goals in mind. I include work with international organizations, diplomatic service, global environmental efforts, humanitarian relief efforts, security studies, international communications and media studies," she said.

The survey's findings are based on language study enrollments at 2,800 colleges and universities across the United States between October 2006 and August 2007. This report is the group's 21st survey.

Top US Business Schools Draw More International Students

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A Masters Degree in Business Administration, or MBA, was once considered a key to having a successful business career. In recent years, enrollment in full-time MBA programs has dropped, and some business leaders have said the degree is overrated. Victoria Cavaliere reports from VOA's New York Bureau that one of the country's top business school deans says an MBA still opens many doors and is drawing more international students than ever.

In 2005, the Wall Street Journal reported that applications to full-time MBA programs in the United States had plummeted as professors and graduates questioned the degree's cost and value in the workplace.

Meantime, the newspaper said that tuition was climbing and a typical two-year MBA degree can now cost as much as $100,000 .

One of the nation's most prestigious MBA programs is the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University in New Hampshire. Tuck's Dean, Paul Danos, says full-time MBA programs are well worth the cost.

Danos says more than ever, foreign students are willing to take out loans for an MBA. He says 37 percent of Tuck's MBA students are now foreign -primarily from India and China.
"I think the MBA is still a wonderful ticket to success. And the students are much more sophisticated now, they're broader when they come to us. They are older, and they are more socially aware and they are much more international," he said.

Danos says an MBA from elite schools like Harvard, Stanford or Dartmouth still enable graduates to get the highest paying jobs after school and puts them on track to becoming CEOs. The professor says the explosion of part-time and private MBA programs that are especially popular in India and the United States do not offer students the same quality of education.
"It's a matter of resources, and it's a matter of not that much accreditation. You don't have to meet a lot of standards to set up as a school, it seems to me. It's pretty laissez faire. And it's very mixed in terms of quality. But it's certainly not achieving the level of the best universities," he said.

Danos says top MBA programs adapt to changing times, though core curriculum, like finance, marketing, and accounting remain the same. He says business schools are teaching courses on business ethics and the impact of business practices to a new generation of MBA students.

U.S. College Admissions: All Pain, No Gain?

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The U.S. Census Bureau says a college graduate will earn almost twice as much money as a high school graduate during a career. That has led to increased competition to get into traditionally prestigious colleges and universities. VOA's Crystal Park takes a look at the college application process.

There are more than 2,600 four-year universities in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. But even with that range of choice, large numbers of high school students are applying to the same select group of prestigious colleges.

High school senior Bhavna Batra works at an accounting firm three times a week, but not for money. She's participating in an internship program for class credit and experience, which she hopes will win the attention of some colleges.

Bhavna BatraToday, any edge is important for those hoping to be accepted by a prestigious school. Yale University, a member of the select group of universities known as the Ivy League, set a record this year, by accepting fewer than nine percent of those who applied.

Part of the problem is that there are more college age students in the United states than ever -- the population is growing, and the children of the large post-World War II "Baby Boomer" generation are now in high school and college. Acceptance rates are also lower because students are applying to more elite schools -- apparently in the hopes of getting into at least one.

Sharon AlstonSharon Alston is the director of admissions at American University in Washington D.C. "There are just simply more students of college going age, so it's really a demographic pattern that we're seeing<' she explains. "In addition to that, in this age of technology, we're also seeing more students, and then more students applying to more colleges because it's very easy to do that."

Students can now apply online instead of filling out pages of documents by hand. A few years ago, each student applied to 3 to 5 schools on average. Today that number is much higher, says college freshman Brian Kalish, who now leads campus tours for prospective students. "Most kids apply to around 5 to 7 colleges, but some of my friends went as high as 18 different colleges."
These days many students begin preparing as much as three years before admission time -- picking courses, getting involved in school activities, and studying for admissions tests.

Fran LandauAt Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, a career center has been set up to help students prepare for college. Counselor Fran Landau says she's seeing increased pressure on everyone involved in the process. "I'm finding that students are more stressed out and worried about college than they have ever been before," she says, "and I think they're feeling an increased competition and colleges are feeling an excess number of students who are applying more so than ever before."

Students are forced to meet higher standards. For Bhavna, it can be overwhelming. "It's been very stressful only because there's so much you have to do," says the high school senior. "It's like deadlines, essays, teacher recommendations, test scores -there's so much."

And Brian Kalish says getting the letter with the coveted word "Congratulations" makes it all worthwhile. “This school sent me an e-mail and I screamed so loud that my parents came running, one from downstairs," he recalls. "'Brian! What happened?' they asked. ‘I made American [University]!’ Then I fell onto my bed and almost collapsed."

Educators say students should relax. They say a good education is available at many schools in the United States, which is considered to have the finest higher education system. And they say the most important thing is for students to find a school where they feel comfortable.

More International Students Studying in US

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The U.S. Department of Commerce says American higher education is the country's fifth largest service sector money-maker. International students contribute about $13.5 billion to the U.S. economy each year. A new report this week is announcing an increase in the number of international students in the U.S.


Nour, who is from Lebanon, is spending this year in the United States. She came a few months ago, and July's Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon is still fresh in her mind. She says it was hard to leave her family.

"Most people were shocked," said Nour Christidi. "They were like, 'How can you go after everything that has happened?' It is like you are a traitor. But I thought it was important. And especially after I got here, I realized how important it was to come here."
Nour is one of nearly 565,000 foreign students studying in the U.S.

The Institute of International Education, or IIE, keeps track of them. In a new report, the group says student levels are holding steady for the first time since 2002. It also says more foreign students are enrolling in the United States.

"I would never be able to meet so many international students back home," she said. "It's just incredible. I've met people from India, from Sweden, from Mexico, from all over the world, and it is just amazing."

India continues to send the most students followed by China and South Korea. Business continues to be the leading course of study.

Sang Min Lee is a student from South Korea. He says the mix of cultures offered in Washington, especially in the business community, was the reason he chose to study here.

"If you don't go to the Middle East, if you don't go to Europe, you can meet Europeans, you can meet people in Middle Asia [Middle East] right here in the U.S," said Sang Min Lee.

This year especially saw an increase in Middle Eastern students, due to programs like Saudi government scholarships.

Allen GoodmanAllan Goodman is the IIE's president. He says only about 150 U.S. campuses host one-half of the foreign students. He would like to see more colleges participate.

"International students bring a huge and valuable dimension to America," said Allan Goodman. "Most Americans don't have a passport. Most Americans don't travel abroad."

Still, more U.S. students are choosing to study abroad. This year shows a trend away from Europe and toward non-traditional countries, including China, Argentina, Brazil and India. Goodman says this should continue.

"More and more of the world is affecting how we live, how we create our economy, where we create our jobs, where we create our business," he said.

"No matter where they go in the United States, they will find a family, a friend, a mosque, a church, a temple to worship at," noted Goodman. "They'll be welcomed as students. They'll be welcomed as young citizens. They'll be welcomed as people."

And Nour agrees. She cautions future exchange students from making the mistake of associating only with people from their own countries.

"That's not the point in coming," she said. "I would definitely advise them to come, meet American people, try to listen to the other side and keep an open mind and stay positive. And definitely voice your opinion. It is really important that you do that."

US Seeks More Foreign Doctors, Medical Students

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Recent studies suggest the United States health care system will soon experience a shortage of doctors and medical professionals. This is leading to increased efforts to attract foreign doctors and medical students to the United States. John Featherly narrates.

Experts say several states have or will soon experience shortages of physicians in a variety of specialties, including cardiology, radiology, surgery and pediatrics.

Dr. Susan Wolfsthal, the director of the University of Maryland's Residency Program, says the United States needs more doctors in all specialties. "There are some parts of the United States where there are many, many physicians and it is very easy for patients to have access to clinical care. And then there are other areas of the United States where there is less and there might be only one physician for many thousands of patients."

This shortage is putting pressure on American medical schools to increase enrollment and on the U.S. government to allow more foreign doctors into the country.

U.S. Congressman Rob Simmons says the United States needs these foreign nationals. "We have people who come to the United States to provide nursing care and medical care and gosh knows we need all the help we can get."

Educators, including Wolfsthal, say foreign students can gain valuable experience and knowledge studying in the United States and working in U.S. hospitals. "You get the same exposure, you get the same opportunity to see whether this is something you are interested in and they also get to see you in action."

Sonia Yousef, a rheumatology fellow at the University of Maryland, says foreign students should try to have well-rounded experiences before coming to the United States.

"So you should try to do some volunteer work, anyways it’s good, and that looks good on your resume as well. So that is probably the fourth thing, but it is not as important as clinical experience."

Wolfsthal says universities value the diversity international students bring. "When you have international graduates they bring, as someone from another institution would, they bring a different perspective, they have different interests and so they bring that to the program."

Experts and educators say foreign medical students and doctors gain a lot from their time spent in the United states. They say working in American hospitals and studying at universities in the United States gives foreign students and doctors a chance to work with the latest technology and to grow professionally.