The Most Important Questions to Ask at US College Expo
US College Expo is Saturday, April 30, in downtown Toronto. When you attend, here are some questions you need to ask!
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If you're considering the United States for your study-abroad adventure, you need to attend the US College Expo. Reps from schools across the US will be ready to answer your questions — so you'd best have some good questions ready!
General advice
Don't feel compelled to ask every question on this list. Use it as a jumping-off point to decide which topics are most important to you. You may want to add your own questions to this list.
Question styles
Questions come in two forms: "open" and "closed." Open questions demand elaboration, and usually include one of the journalistic Ws: "who, what, where, when, how, and why." Closed questions, on the other hand, are usually "yes or no." For example:
Open: "What scholarships are international students eligible to apply for?"
Closed: "Do you offer scholarships to international students?"
In most cases, an open question will get you more information than a closed question.
Follow-up questions
Nothing shows you're paying attention more than a follow-up question, but they can be tough to come up with on the spot. The best follow-ups are open questions themselves.
Look for ways to connect the topic to your own life; your grades, heritage, extra-curricular activities, career goals, and so on. Getting specific can help.
School info and student life
You'll probably want to know about the campus feel — and schools love to talk about it!
Unique selling points
- What national or international recognitions has the school received?
- Which programs are most highly-ranked?
- Which professors and instructors stand out, in teaching, publishing, or industry experience?
- What are some of the most interesting facilities for students on campus?
Opportunities for students
- What relationships does the school have with other institutions around the world?
- What transfer agreements are already in place, and with which schools?
- What internship or co-op opportunities are open to students?
Student life and campus vibe
- How would you describe the campus feel?
- What's the school's general reputation among its students?
- How do students typically spend their free time?
- How many students study on-campus, and how many online? Which programs are exceptions?
- How many Canadian students come to campus every year?
- What are some of the highlights of student clubs, associations, and extra-curriculars on campus?
Housing, residence, and accommodations
- What's the local city or town like?
- How many students live in residence? How many beds are reserved for international students?
- What's the cost of living on- or off-campus?
- How difficult is finding an apartment for students from abroad?
Student supports and services
- What social and academic supports are available to students?
- Who can you contact if you need mental health support, writing help, or career advice?
- How much of these supports can be accessed online, remotely?
Application process
- What does the application process look like for a Canadian student? What are the dates and deadlines?
- Which programs are the most competitive?
- Given your current grades and experiences, are you likely to end up on a wait list if you apply?
- What can you do to maximize your chance at acceptance to your program of choice?
Graduate employment
- What percentage of grads are employed in their field within six months? A year?
- Who are the school's most interesting and accomplished alumni, and why?
- What does the grad to career pipeline look for your program of interest?
Faculty and teaching staff
Believe it or not, the people who do the teaching are actually pretty important to the whole "learning" thing. Skip RateMyProfessors.com and ask school reps themselves.
Contact hours
- How much time will be spent with instructors in lectures or labs? How much of the course is taught by TAs instead?
- How often do professors publish in their fields?
- How much access will you have to instructors outside of class — office hours, emails, etc?
Star power
- Who are some of the stand-out instructors at the school? What makes them impressive, and what do they teach?
- What research projects are faculty members working on right now? Can students contribute to this research?
Fees, scholarships, and loans
As a Canadian, you won't be eligible for American federal student aid (FAFSA), so be sure to investigate what opportunities you have to take a bite out of your tuition.
Tuition and fees
- How much will tuition cost each year? Is it consistent or subject to change?
- What's the difference in fees for studying part-time vs full-time?
- How much will you have to spend on ancillary fees, materials, and textbooks?
- What options are available for students who are struggling financially, or have a sudden emergency expense?
- Are tuition reductions available (pdf) for students from particular regions?
Scholarships and bursaries
- What awards will you automatically be considered to receive?
- Which awards will you need to apply for?
- What percentage of new international students receives a scholarship, and what's the average size of that award?
- Which departments offer their own scholarship programs, and will you be eligible as an international student?
Working on-campus
- Where can you work on-campus to earn some extra money? What are the hours like?
- When do TA positions become available, and are they open to Canadian students?
- Will professor-led research projects hire Canadian students to assist?
There's a ton to consider when you're thinking about studying in another country, so let the questions above help you. Knowledge is power, so come to US College Expo equipped with the knowledge you need to decide if studying in the United States is right for you.
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